Education Groups Fear Economy Will Hurt Fundraising

Plus, Jeff Bezos says giving is hard, a trope that goes back to Andrew Carnegie (opinion). Also, PetSmart Charities commits $100 million to expand access to veterinary care ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. You can now follow The Chronicle on [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. RESEARCH [Educational Fundraisers Worry Economy May Keep Them From Meeting Goals, Survey Says]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( The drop in confidence may be a side effect of fundraiser vacancies and overwork among those who remain on staff at colleges and independent schools. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Jeff Bezos Says Giving Is Hard. That Trope Goes Back to Andrew Carnegie]( By Benjamin Soskis [STORY IMAGE]( When invoked too zealously, it can deflect attention from what grantee leaders often find most difficult about philanthropy: a lack of urgency, a failure to deliver resources expeditiously, and the imposition of burdensome restrictions. GRANTS ROUNDUP [PetSmart Charities Commits $100 Million to Expand Access to Veterinary Care]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, Fidelity Investments is awarding $250 million to efforts to enable students of color to enroll in college, and Wells Fargo pledged $20 million to its Invest Native program for economic development in Indigenous communities. Webinars [Fundraising Events in 2023: How to Plan and What to Know]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join Our Next Webinar — Fundraisers planning events have a lot to juggle: keeping people safe from illness, entertained, and inspired — while staying within budget as expenses rise. How can you plan a successful event this year — and maximize results — amid uncertainty? Join us Thursday, February 9, at 2 p.m. Eastern for actionable advice and real-world examples from two experts. They’ll share proven ways to build community, raise more money, and create a plan that can be adapted if circumstances change. [Register Today.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | Plan International [What Does Equality Look Like? Girls Have the Answer]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online As veteran nonprofit leader Ben Jealous takes the reins, the Sierra Club is emerging from a period of self-examination and tumult, pushing for a sharper focus on equity in environmental issues and within its own ranks. In the past few years, some leaders of the organization have acknowledged its “substantial role in perpetuating white supremacy,” beginning with founder John Muir’s acceptance of white supremacist shibboleths. It has also dealt with a rape allegation against a senior employee and an outside review that found the organization tolerated bullying behavior by senior staff. Jealous, who expanded the membership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during his five years as CEO, offers measured praise for Muir and is philosophical about the Sierra Club’s recent troubles. He wants to deal with gender, racial, and pay equity while broadening the group’s lens to include issues such as voting rights, which he says are inextricably linked to environmental justice and protection. ([New York Times]( Background from the Chronicle: [An Activist Turned Mainstream Environmental Leader]( and [Benjamin Jealous Leaves the NAACP a Far Stronger Place]( Jeff Bezos’s plans to give away most of his $120 billion fortune raise many questions that he has so far left unanswered. Beyond which charities and causes will get the money and when, philanthropists and activists wonder how much of his giving will be reputation laundering, considering the toll that e-commerce giant Amazon has taken on the environment. Further, they wonder whether he will make riskier bets than he has so far and whether he will become more transparent about this approach. Bezos “kind of has a habit of rushing with these big announcements and then not having a lot of detail to answer some of those follow-up questions,” philanthropy scholar Rhodri Davies said. ([Vox]( Nonprofits and Public Policy - Pittsburgh Mayor Plans Audit of Organizations Claiming Tax Exemptions ([Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]( - Minn. Bills Would Give Tax Breaks to Nonprofit Health Organizations ([Law360]( - Bill Would Require Government and Nonprofit Wash. State Employers to Pay Interns ([Olympian]( More News - Extreme Israeli Group Takes Root in U.S. With Fundraising Bid ([Associated Press]( - Americans Are Invited to Play a Direct Role in Helping Stem the Refugee Crisis ([NPR]( - Blue Cross of Louisiana Sale to Health Care Conglomerate Could Create Multibillion-Dollar Foundation ([Greater Baton Rouge Business Report]( Nonprofits Under Stress - Agencies, Nonprofits That Help Coloradans Pay Utility Bills Scramble to Keep Up ([Denver Post]( - Citing Inflation, Many Ariz. Nonprofits Report Decrease in Year-End Donations ([Arizona Republic]( - Des Moines Youth Nonprofit: We Will Not Let Shooting Stop What ‘We Are Called to Do’ ([Des Moines Register]( Opinion - Middle-Class Philanthropy Is Collapsing ([National Review]( - Kenneth Roth’s Reward for Slandering Israel ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS OPINION [End the Charitable Tax Exemption and Remove the Conflict of Interest Baked Into Big Philanthropy]( By Jeffrey Cain [STORY IMAGE]( At a time of growing distrust in philanthropy and stagnant or declining giving, it’s no longer tenable to maintain a system that allows donors to reap rewards through the nonprofits they fund. ECONOMIC OUTLOOK [Nonprofits Enter 2023 With Inflation Cooling and Job Market Still Strong]( By Sara Herschander [STORY IMAGE]( Organizations are seeking loans and taking other steps to help keep workers, and those who are trying to build or renovate facilities are facing high borrowing costs. Meanwhile, foundation assets have been hit hard, so it might be tougher for nonprofits to obtain grants in the coming year or two. FINANCE DATA [Foundation Assets Plummeted Nearly 20% Last Year, Putting Grant Making at Risk]( Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The drop comes after three years of gains, so that might mitigate the pain of the losses. INNOVATION [Nonprofit Registry Launches New Dot-Giving Domain to Help Charities Raise Money]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( The new domain can be used by charities to complement their main site and make fundraising more efficient or by individuals to create sites to solicit gifts for charities or by corporations to highlight their social-responsibility programs. OPINION [How Grant Makers Can Help State Policy Makers Advance Smart Approaches]( By Tom Perriello and Karundi Williams [STORY IMAGE]( This month, a new crop of young elected leaders is stepping into power in state houses and city council chambers nationwide. Philanthropy needs to invest in programs to help them do their jobs effectively and fulfill the promises of the campaign trail. SPONSOR CONTENT | Independent Sector [Bridging Technology and Opportunity to Create Equity for Black Pittsburgh]( Data is showing that although Pittsburgh is experiencing an economic resurgence rooted in technology, 76% of majority Black neighborhoods are in high or extreme poverty. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Watch Our Webinar]( — Fundraisers planning events have a lot to juggle this year: keeping people safe from illness, entertained, and inspired — all while staying within budget as expenses rise. How can you plan a successful fundraising event this year — and maximize results — amid uncertainty? Join us for a 75-minute webinar on Thursday, February 9, at 2 p.m. Eastern as two successful executives share actionable advice and real-world examples of what's working now. Whether you’re planning in-person galas, small gatherings, or virtual events, our expert guests will share proven ways to build community — and raise more money at your next event. Plus, they'll highlight ways to create a flexible plan that can be adapted if circumstances change. [Register today.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Senior Philanthropy & Alumni Relations Officer]( Frontier Nursing University [Executive Director of Alumni Relations]( Massachusetts Institute of Technology [Individual Giving and Events Manager]( THE CITY [Director of Development, Advocacy Coalition]( The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care [Program Expansion Officer & Interim Executive Director, Middle School Education]( Compass Academy Network [Executive Director | FULLY REMOTE | Cancer Education & Advocacy]( Patient Empowerment Network [Search other jobs.]( NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. 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