What the Real Work of Protecting Democracy Demands of Philanthropy Now

Plus, how the Biden administration can help fix problematic charitable-giving laws, and a millionaire’s quest to donate his estate raises questions about charities meeting donors’ needs ADVERTISEMENT [Advertisement]( [logo] [Read this newsletter on the web](. OPINION [Philanthropy’s Inauguration March: What the Real Work of Protecting Democracy Demands Now]( By Joe Goldman [image] Not since Watergate has our nation faced such a significant opportunity — or, indeed, an imperative — to remake our system of government. The next few years will be a make-or-break moment that will shape how the American people regard their democracy. ADVERTISEMENT [Advertisement]( OPINION: BIDEN AGENDA [We Need to Fix Problematic Charitable Giving Laws. The Biden Administration Can Help.]( By Roger Colinvaux [image] It’s time to overhaul tax laws that favor wealthy white donors, encourage delayed giving, and fail to prevent nonprofit fraud and abuse. FROM OUR ARCHIVE [Millionaire’s Quest to Donate Estate Raises Questions About Charities Meeting Donors’ Needs]( By Debra E. Blum [image] Lowell Smith sent anonymous letters to about two dozen charities, laying out certain fundraising practices and asking the organizations to contact him through an intermediary if they believed they were doing “everything on the list.” GIFTS ROUNDUP [Retired Tech Executive Gives $10.4 Million for Responsible Technology]( By Maria Di Mento [image] Plus, three universities and a mental health foundation land major donations Paid for and Created by Ellucian [Advancement in Uncertain Times]( How can institutions break silos and foster a sense of shared responsibility for supporting and furthering the institution’s mission? Advancement teams are key to helping chart the path forward toward solutions. Improve Your Profile on Charity Rating Sites Join us Thursday for a free briefing. See below for details. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate nonprofits that helped organize the rally in Washington, D.C., that led to the attack on the Capitol. Ron Wyden, a senator from Oregon who will likely become chairman of the committee as Democrats take control of the Senate, said the groups should lose their tax-exempt status if they "played a role in inciting or committing violence and other illegal acts." Two groups involved in organizing the rally were Turning Point Action and Women for America First, both 501(c)(4)s. Some rallygoers, including members of the far-right Proud Boys, received donations to pay for travel expenses, legal costs, and even body armor through the GiveSendGo Christian crowdfunding site. The site's CFO said he is "not comfortable" hosting fundraising events from the group but was reluctant to shut them down based solely on a public outcry. ([CNBC]( and the [Washington Post]( Plus: Other news on fundraising by the insurrectionist groups: - Before the Capitol Riot, Calls for Cash and Talk of Revolution ([New York Times]( - Nonprofits Helped Organize the Pro-Trump Rally Before the Capitol Siege — but They Probably Won’t Suffer Any Consequences ([Conversation]( The National Rifle Association has filed for bankruptcy and plans to move to Texas from New York, where it is the target of legal action. New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking to dissolve the organization over claims that top executives illegally siphoned off millions of dollars from the organization for themselves and their associates. The gun-rights group, which has laid off dozens of employees and canceled its annual conference last year, said it is in solid financial shape. One board member said the group wants "to get all the litigation in a place where we’ve got an even shake." In response, a major donor plans to lodge a complaint with U.S. bankruptcy court in Texas court to keep $60 million worth of the NRA's debt out of the bankruptcy proceedings, on the ground that those debts were fraudulently incurred. Dave Dell'Aquilla, who has given more than $100,000 to the group, said the NRA acts like a shady "old boys' club," and he wants to hold it accountable for misuse of funds.([Associated Press]( and [Guardian]( The New Administration - Charities and Academic Centers with Biden Ties Pose Ethics Quandary for His Administration ([Politico]( - The Estate Tax May Change Under Biden, Affecting Far More People ([New York Times]( - Broad Institute’s Eric Lander Stepping Down to Become Biden’s Science Adviser ([Boston Globe]( More News - Anonymous $40 Million Gift Will Pay for Law School for 50 Civil-Rights Attorneys ([NBC Connecticut]( - Minn. Attorney General Files Appeal in Otto Bremer Trust Case ([Twin Cities Pioneer Press]( — subscription) - The Trump Administration Bailed Out Prominent Anti-Vaccine Groups During a Pandemic ([Washington Post]( - School Choice Lawsuit Surge Pushes Possible High Court Fight ([Associated Press]( - Buffalo Bills Fans Donate to Lamar Jackson’s Favorite Charity After Victory Over Baltimore Ravens ([Washington Post]( Arts and Culture - Trump Tried to End Federal Arts Funding. Instead, It Grew. ([New York Times]( - D.C.-Area Museums Lean on Donors, Digital Realm to Survive Painful Era ([Washington Business Journal]( — subscription) Subscribe to the Chronicle The Chronicle of Philanthropy is dedicated to helping nonprofits care for their clients and staff, manage financial setbacks, and stay connected with donors. Please consider subscribing, so that we may continue to provide essential news, resources, and analysis to the nonprofit world. [Subscribe Today]( Editor's Picks GOVERNMENT AND REGULATION [Nonprofits Would Be Eligible for New Federal Aid Under Biden Stimulus Plan]( By Dan Parks [image] The measure also contains numerous provisions that would relieve the burden on nonprofits crushed by soaring demand from Americans in need of food, housing, and other basic necessities. OPINION [Charity Navigator’s New “Impact Score” Tells Us Little About a Nonprofit’s True Value]( By Liz Dozier and Lisa Pilar Cowan [image] Attempts to quantify success based primarily on return on financial investment, ignore the complexities of nonprofits’ work and their impact on the communities they serve. OPINION [To Advance Racial Equity, Foundation Boards Need to Take an Active Role]( By James Canales and Barbara Hostetter [image] A philanthropist and chief executive explain how they transformed a family philanthropy’s governance system so it helped accelerate a commitment to fighting racism. OPINION [Our Democracy Is Faltering, but We Can’t Rely on Philanthropy to Save It]( By Ellen Friedman [image] When private wealth and philanthropy continually come to the rescue, we lose sight of the benefits of a representative democracy in which taxes provide for the common good and elected representatives uphold and respect the democratic process. NONPROFITS AND POLITICS [Ga. Senate Runoff Shows Philanthropy’s Power to Mobilize Voters]( By Alex Daniels [image] Political donors poured more than $800 million into the two U.S. Senate races in Georgia. But a coalition of nonprofits with a much smaller budget may have made a huge difference in getting people out to vote in the run-off election, which resulted in a pair of Democratic victories last week. Job announcement Senior Director of Development, National Academy of Sciences. [Visit jobs.philanthropy.com]( for more details. ADVERTISEMENT [Advertisement]( Paid for and Created by CCS Fundraising [CCS Survey Shows Improved Fundraising Trends and Evolved Donor Engagement Tactics]( Gain insights into fundraising outcomes, impacts, and evolving donor engagement tactics via CCS Fundraising’s newly released third-edition report, Fundraising Impact of COVID-19, highlighting results that indicate improved virtual solicitations. Note to Readers Because of Inauguration Day, we will not be sending Philanthropy Today on Wednesday. We will be back in your inbox on Thursday, January 21. Meantime, we will continue to update our site as usual, with new grants and other articles. How to Manage Trust Indicators and Ratings to Improve Fundraising in 2021 Join the Chronicle and our expert guests on Thursday, January 21 at 3:30 pm ET for this free Chronicle briefing. You'll learn how to improve your organization's profile on charity-monitoring sites and get tips and strategies to ensure accuracy and help attract, retain, and recapture donors. You'll also gain a better understanding of the information these organizations share about your nonprofit. Senior Editor Eden Stiffman will be joined by guests from three organizations that help donors determine where to give: Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance. [Register today to join the conversation.]( Job Opportunities [Program Officer]( Episcopal Health Foundation [Senior Director of Development, National Academy of Sciences]( The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [Senior Director of Development, National Academy of Medicine]( The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [Senior Accountant]( Association for Computing Machinery [Search the Chronicle's jobs database]( to view the latest jobs in philanthropy. 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