People Are Equally Likely to Donate at In-Person and Virtual Events

Plus, foundation demands for expensive reporting from grantees means often-neglected groups are still left out (opinion), and Instagram has added fundraising to Reels to help nonprofits ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. DATA [In-Person and Virtual Event Attendees Are Almost Equally Likely to Donate, New Report Says]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( The survey of 1,000 event attendees sought to uncover what elements of an event make attendees feel engaged, safe, and motivated to give. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Foundation Demands for Expensive Reporting From Grantees Means Long-Neglected Groups Are Still Left Out]( By Michael Nelson [STORY IMAGE]( Most community-based groups led by people of color lack the resources to provide in-depth data about the success of their programs, placing them far behind in competing for grants. If donors truly want to cede more power to these organizations, they need to consider less costly approaches to determining effectiveness. RAISING MONEY [Instagram Adds Fundraising to Reels to Help Nonprofits]( By By Glenn Gamboa, Associated Press [STORY IMAGE]( Instagram users can now attach donation buttons to their Reels, turning the short videos into fundraisers. Meta, formerly Facebook, will collect and pass along the donations to the nonprofits at no charge, paying the processing fees itself. Webinars [Building Ties With DAF Donors: Where to Start]( [STORY IMAGE]( The number of donor-advised fund accounts in the U.S. surpassed 1 million in 2020, and grants to charities from the 10 largest DAF sponsors totaled $22.41 billion. But billions more remain in DAFs waiting to be funneled to nonprofits, in part because it can be difficult to identify and cultivate supporters who give through them. Join us on April 28, at 2 PM Eastern — or on demand — for advice on building ties with DAF donors. [Sign up today.]( [Smart Ways to Strengthen Your Next Grant Proposal]( [STORY IMAGE]( It’s unclear whether foundations will continue the increased giving and looser requirements that marked the initial response to the pandemic. Yet many nonprofits leaders are still seeing increased demand for services, so competition for grant is as competitive as ever. How can you strengthen your next grant proposal to make a stronger case for support? Join us on May 12 to get advice from a program officer and a grant-writing consultant who has helped secure millions from foundations. [Register today.]( NONPROFIT NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE Now that the left has caught up with, and even outpaced, the Republicans’ longtime lead in political and philanthropic fundraising, some on the right seek to rein in the power of mega-donors. Not long ago, Republicans nurtured a system of wealthy individuals and large corporations that funded right-wing causes while reaping tax breaks. But the country’s richest people are now mostly tech moguls who skew heavily Democratic. They have supported abortion rights, gay rights, voter-registration drives, elections administration, and other causes embraced by the left. Talk at some conservative gatherings is of revoking tax-exempt status for wealthy foundations or endowments or even banning “so-called perpetual foundations that exist after the death of their benefactor.” This newfound suspicion of the deep-pocketed jibes with the rise of right-wing anti-elite populism and comes as today’s superrich are amassing fortunes, and arguably political firepower, unheard of a few decades ago. ([Puck]( The foundation that runs fourth president James Madison’s home in Virginia has fired a handful of senior staff after they advocated for a bigger role for descendants of people who had been enslaved on the historic property. Montpelier’s executive vice president and chief curator, director of archaeology, and spokeswoman were dismissed Monday, along with three others who were fired or suspended last week. They had been among 40 Montpelier staffers who created a petition protesting the board’s abandonment of a pledge it made last year to set aside half of its board seat for descendants. So far, only five descendants sit on the board, which is authorized to include up to 25 members. The board’s chairman had cited “difficult relationships” in leading a vote to sever its relationship with a committee of descendants. The fired employees say they are being punished for speaking out, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which owns the site, has condemned the firings. Montpelier President Roy Young has said he cannot speak about the dismissals because they are personnel issues. ([Washington Post]( Opinion - When Bathrooms Have Naming Rights, Has Branding Gone Too Far? ([Los Angeles Times](. Plus: See a Chronicle article about [naming rights](. - Rethinking the Role of Nonprofits in Fight for Racial and Economic Justice ([NYN Me]( - Is My Copay Coupon Charity — or a Bribe? ([Los Angeles Times]( More News - After 2 Years, Extinction Rebellion Returns ([New York]( - How a Charity Played a Role in the Downfall of the N.Y. Lieutenant Governor ([New York Times]( - Schweitzer Family, Schweitzer Engineer Labs Donate Historic $20 Million to Washington State University ([KXLY]( Arts and Culture - Arts Groups Got Creative About Fundraising During Covid. Here’s Why That’s Likely to Stay ([Seattle Times]( - Toledo Museum of Art to Sell 3 Paintings to Invest in More ‘Diverse’ Art ([Toledo Blade]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS INCLUSIVE GRANT MAKING [A New Effort Aims to Help Foundations Better Fund Black-Led Nonprofits]( By Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( Abundance is a collaboration between three Chicago-area grant makers, Chicago Beyond, the Grand Victoria Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. GIFTS ROUNDUP [Artist Amy Sherald Gives University $1 Million to Honor Young Black Woman Killed by Police in 2020]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, Augustana College and four other universities receive big gifts. ACCOUNTABILITY [State Punishes Grant Maker That Misused More Than $600,000 From Ford, California Endowment, and Other Funds]( By Marc Gunther California’s attorney general said top executives and board members knew the fund was using money in ways that ran counter to what donors wanted. GIVING [What Giving Tallies Miss: New Report Finds Significant Charitable Activity Outside of Nonprofits]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( Many gifts of cash and goods aren’t counted because they don’t go to formal charities. OPINION [An Urgent Response Is Needed to the Dire Staff Shortages Facing Nonprofit Government Contractors]( By Jody Levison-Johnson and Ilana Levinson [STORY IMAGE]( Most government contracts don’t cover the total cost of providing services and restrict funding for expenses such as raises and benefits. Philanthropy needs to offer more flexible funding to make up the difference, and political leaders should enact policies that address contract shortfalls. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Fundraising Webinars: How to Make Virtual Events Accessible to People With Disabilities - Cover image of a woman in a virtual meeting] [Watch On-Demand]( — The number of donor-advised fund accounts in the United States surpassed 1 million in 2020, and grants to charities from the 10 largest DAF sponsors totaled $22.41 billion. That’s roughly double the amount the 10 biggest foundations gave that year. Yet billions more remain in DAFs, waiting to be funneled to nonprofits. How can your nonprofit find and strengthen ties with supporters who give through DAFs? Join us for a 75-minute session on Thursday, April 28, at 2 p.m. Eastern — or watch on demand at your convenience for expert guidance on adding DAF donors to your fundraising strategy, connecting with fund sponsors and professionals who counsel DAF donors, and handling these gifts properly. Sign up by April 21 to get the early-bird rate. 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