Charity Advances Equity by Creating a Guide to Precise and Inclusive Language

Plus, Gerry Lenfest left bequests totaling $100 million to two Philadelphia institutions, and Claremont McKenna College gets $140 million from an alumnus ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. COMMUNICATIONS [Charity’s Guide Helps Charities Use More Equitable Language]( By Geetha Murali and Cristi Hegranes [STORY IMAGE]( International nonprofit Room to Read worked with Global Press to evaluate its communications and update language to preserve the dignity of all people and cultures. ADVERTISEMENT GIFTS ROUNDUP [Billionaire George Roberts Gives $140 Million to His Alma Mater]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the Museum of the American Revolution received $50 million apiece, and Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning got $25 million. Webinars [Thursday: 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 this Thursday, April 28, at 2 p.m. Eastern — or on demand — for advice on building ties with DAF donors. [Sign up now and join us on Thursday.]( [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 The foundation behind plans for America’s 250th birthday celebrations is a toxic, sexist workplace rife with mismanagement, according to a lawsuit in federal court. Four former female executives with the America 250 Foundation say they witnessed “cronyism, self-dealing, mismanagement of funds, potentially unlawful contracting practices, and wasteful spending” during their tenure at the organization, which is the “operational arm” of a commission that includes members of Congress. For example, foundation chairman Daniel DiLella hired friends and steered contracts to businesses with which he had “personal dealings or relationships,” according to the suit. The organization aims to raise $250 million ahead of celebrations in 2026. Three lawmakers on the commission have called for an investigation into the women’s claims. DiLella, who is not paid as chairman, would not comment on the lawsuit but said its coffers were empty when he took over in 2018, and he donated $250,000 and raised around $3 million from friends. ([Washington Post]( While military aid is speeding to the front lines of battle, the movement of humanitarian aid from governments and international organizations is painfully slow, say officials on the ground. The assistance is “either bogged down in warehouses in Poland and western Ukraine or idling at the border in long lines of trucks with insignias of big aid organizations such as the World Food Program, International Red Cross, Mercy Corps, and others.” In response, Save Our Allies, a small nonprofit based in North Carolina, is using U.S. special forces veterans with expertise in war zones to coordinate with local churches and community centers to get assistance where it’s needed most. The nonprofit’s founder, Sarah Verardo, said groups like hers help out until larger aid organizations “can get their supply lines established.” Critics say the involvement of members of the military risks blurring the line between humanitarian and military missions that helps protect aid workers. But Save Our Allies says its activity is solely aid-focused. ([Boston Globe]( More About Charity and Ukraine - Nestlé Rejiggers Operations to Keep Supplying Food in Ukraine ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription)\ - Why This Malden, Mass., Resident Went to Poland to Help Ukrainian Refugees ([Boston Globe]( - U.K. Freezes Bank Account of Russian Oligarch’s Charity That Donated at Least $10 Million to the ‘Royal Hospital’ Used by the Queen ([Insider]( More News - James Madison’s Plantation Vowed to Share Power With Black Descendants. Then Things Blew Up. ([Washington Post]( - A New Nonprofit Wants to Rewrite the Playbook for How the U.S. Government Funds Science ([Stat]( - Conn.'s Social Service Nonprofits See Big Raises for Unions and Ask: Why Not Us? ([C]( Environment - Man Behind Earth Day Says There’s Too Much Greenwashing ([Wall Street journal]( — subscription) - Tijuana Trash Is Flooding Into San Diego. Here’s the $60,000 Fix. ([San Diego Union-Tribune]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS DONOR RELATIONSHIPS [A New World: Fundraisers Navigate Changed Interactions With Donors]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( Fundraisers say the way they communicate with donors has changed. Conversations have gotten deeper and more meaningful — and donors know what they want to support. RESEARCH [Giving Increased the Last 3 Months of 2021 Over the Same Period in 2020]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( But the number of people who gave at the end of last year fell 5.7 percent from 2020 levels. OPINION [Book Bans Threaten Students Nationwide. Here’s How Philanthropy Can Fight Back.]( By Suzanne Nossel [STORY IMAGE]( Grant makers that focus on education, democracy, and culture need to support organizations battling coordinated book banning campaigns in school districts and libraries across the country. INDIVIDUAL PHILANTHROPY [Muslim American Giving Aimed at Poor Totaled $1.8 Billion Last Year, Study Shows]( By Dan Parks [STORY IMAGE]( The study found the biggest share of gifts to meet faith obligations went to international organizations. EQUITY IN ACTION [How a White Nonprofit CEO Rewired His Brain as His Organization Overhauled Itself in a Racial-Equity Effort]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( Michael Adams, CEO of SAGE, has led the nonprofit’s push to re-engineer itself to focus on support and advocacy for LGBTQ seniors who are people of color. Plus: Read all 15 profiles of people who are [driving discussions about equity](. SPONSOR CONTENT | AFP ICON Use code CHRONICLESPRINGBREAK to save $150 on your last-minute registration for AFP ICON 2022 (May 2-4 in Las Vegas). Visit [afpicon.com]( 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. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Senior Director of Alumni and Gift Success]( Auburn University [Senior Director of Membership and Enrichment]( Auburn University [Fund Development Director]( Leelanau Conservancy [Vice President of Philanthropy (Fundraising)]( Project C.U.R.E. [DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT]( MCC Theater [Director of Marketing and Business Development]( Orr Group [Search other jobs.]( NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK What did you think of today’s newsletter? 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