Packard Foundation Creates New Position to Direct Justice and Equity Grant Making

Plus, grant makers should turn over the decision making to those on the Covid front lines (opinion), and donor-advised funds don’t pass the democracy smell test (letter to the editor) ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. TRANSITIONS [Packard Foundation Names Its First Director of Justice and Equity Grant Making]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, Robin Hood has hired a New York City official as its next chief program and impact officer, and the president of Covenant House International is retiring in March. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Lessons for the Next Stage of Covid Grant Making: Turn Over the Decision Making to Those on the Front Lines]( By Ruby Johnson and Jody Myrum [STORY IMAGE]( A collaborative of grant makers supported nonprofits in more than 100 countries — and learned that bravery, resilience, and organizing power point the way to successful philanthropy. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR [Donor-Advised Funds Don’t Pass the Democracy Smell Test]( A former director of development says DAFs widen the power imbalance between donors and nonprofits. Webinars [Craft an Annual Communications Plan That Pays Off at Year’s End]( [STORY IMAGE]( To get the best fundraising results at the end of the year, it’s essential to stay connected with donors all year long. Join us for advice on planning month-by-month outreach on different communication channels. You’ll also get a sample plan you can adapt now to raise more. Join us live on February 10, or on demand. [Register today.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | university of virginia [A Deep Dive Into Neuroscience Discoveries at UVA]( Learn the standard for stroke care and breakthrough epilepsy research. A good start for NICU babies. Optimism around autism. Erasing tremors. Mapping unknown areas of the brain. UVA researchers are responsible for all that and more. NONPROFIT NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE An organization that claims to have raised about $900,000 to support those charged in connection with the January 6 attack on the Capitol has raised concerns among charity watchdogs — and some of the people the money is supposed to help. The Patriot Freedom Fund was launched last year by New Jersey resident Cynthia Hughes, who has made the rounds in right-wing media, attracting support from former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon and a $100,000 donation from right-wing provocateur Dinesh D’Souza. Some families wonder, though, whom the group helps, how it chooses its recipients, and how much money it has given to the January 6 defendants. As of December, the fund’s website had disclosed only that it was “working with 9 criminal defense attorneys that represent 28 defendants,” out of more than 700 people who have faced federal charges stemming from the Capitol riot. The organization’s three-member board includes only family members — Hughes, her sister-in-law, and her 24-year-old son — which one charity expert said undermines the independent oversight that donors should expect. The fund is in the process of applying for tax-exempt status, but it has not yet registered as a charity in New Jersey, which requires groups to register within 30 days of raising at least $10,000. A fund spokesperson said it complies will all relevant laws and regulations. ([NPR]( The NAACP is pushing to maintain its relevance to younger generations and making itself heard in debates over climate change, student debt, and the pandemic response. The country’s largest and oldest civil-rights organization led the charge against school segregation and racial violence, and its traditional areas of focus included voting rights and criminal justice reform. It has started to produce streaming content for CBS, and a much of its work force was hired in the past year. “We had to reinvigorate the organization,” national president Derrick Johnson said. With a seven-attorney law firm that works with lawyers across the country, the NAACP has a longer reach than many other civil-rights organizations. It counts the president and vice president among its members, and Johnson said its finances are healthier than ever. The organization had tens of millions of dollars in assets in 2020. ([Associated Press]( More News - Why Getting Congress to Fund Help for Children in Poverty Is So Hard ([Conversation]( - Arizona State to Use $25 Million Gift for Free Online Education ([Bloomberg]( - YouTube Star MrBeast Rethinks Old Notions of Philanthropy ([Star Tribune]( - Developers Pleaded to Buy His Island for Years. In a Final Rebuff, He Gave It to the Nature Conservancy. ([Washington Post]( Opinion - Good Things Can Come From Guilt ([Spectator]( - Anti-Choice Organizations Claim They’ll Help Pregnant Women. Where Have They Been? ([Nation]( - We Welcome the WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times Merger, but Nonprofit Ownership Is No Panacea ([Chicago Tribune]( Arts and Culture - Theodore Roosevelt Statue Removed From New York’s Museum of Natural History ([Washington Post]( - A New Coalition Amplifies Disability Culture in the Music Industry ([New York Times]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP [New Nonprofit Leaders of Color Bring Change but Also Face Hurdles]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( At least 20 big nonprofits appointed leaders of color in the past year. The new CEOs face daunting challenges in some cases — past charges of racism by employees or clients — but many are finding ways to move their organizations forward. OPINION: DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP [As Nonprofit Leaders Pass the Baton, Let’s Use This Moment to Close the Race Gap.]( By Sean Thomas-Breitfeld and Frances Kunreuther [STORY IMAGE]( Half of nonprofit CEOs are getting ready to make a transition, a study released today finds. Since many of them are white, we have a chance to make a big stride on diversity — but only if foundations, nonprofits, and others tackle succession planning, training, and funding. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION [Latinx Group for Fundraisers and Nonprofits Expands Its Membership and Programs]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( Somos El Poder provides professional development to help member organizations boost their fundraising revenue. FUNDRAISING EVENTS [Tips for Planning a Hybrid Fundraising Event]( By Lisa Schohl [STORY IMAGE]( Event-planning experts explain how to entertain donors, maximize giving, and keep staff and supporters safe. GIVING [Pandemic Hits Collection Plates, Budgets at Many Churches]( By Haleluya Hadero and Holly Meyer, Associated Press [STORY IMAGE]( An untold number of congregations across the country that have struggled to stay afloat financially and minister to their flocks, though others have managed to weather the storm, often with help from the government and donors. SPONSOR CONTENT | university of virginia [A Deep Dive Into Neuroscience Discoveries at UVA]( Learn the standard for stroke care and breakthrough epilepsy research. A good start for NICU babies. Optimism around autism. Erasing tremors. Mapping unknown areas of the brain. UVA researchers are responsible for all that and more. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join Our Webinar]( — Research Many nonprofits bring in the bulk of their annual fundraising revenue in the last few months of the year. To get the best results, it’s essential to stay connected with donors all year long. Join us for detailed advice on planning month-by-month outreach, tailoring messages for various communication channels and to different groups of donors, and ensuring no donors are overlooked. You’ll get easy, proven tactics and a sample plan to adapt now — so you can raise more at year’s end. Join us on Thursday, February 10, at 2 p.m. Eastern. [Register today.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES Apply for the top jobs in philanthropy and [search all our open positions](. 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