A Small College Switches Its Fundraising Approach and Wins a $500 Million Pledge

Plus, nonprofits are still struggling to bridge the digital divide, and what grant making in Russia shows about how to address the assault on American democracy (opinion) 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 [Apple News]( [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. BEHIND THE GIFT [McPherson College Aimed to Bring Big Donors Into the Fold — and Won a $500 Million Pledge]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( The small liberal-arts institution shifted its fundraising strategy. The college now seeks to inspire potential supporters with a bold vision for its future instead of just meeting with their lawyers and accountants. ADVERTISEMENT INTERNET ACCESS [Nonprofits Are Still Struggling to Bridge the Digital Divide]( By Sara Herschander [STORY IMAGE]( Eighty percent of organizations in a new study said they are not able to achieve their missions because they or the people they serve have limited internet access. OPINION [What Grant Making in Russia Taught Us About How to Address the Assault on American Democracy]( By Yelena V Litvinov and Tatyana Margolin [STORY IMAGE]( A dissident lawmaker is expelled by the legislature’s majority for supporting a popular protest movement. The lawmaker argues that the move was politically motivated following his participation in a protest. Outside experts call the expulsion a dangerous sign of increasing authoritarianism. Webinars [Today: Optimize Your Data and Segment Donors]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join us today, May 11, at 2 p.m. Eastern for a 75-minute session to learn simple steps you can take right away to enhance your donor records and customize your outreach to give supporters information and appeals that resonate. We’ll share real-world examples of personalized messages that make the most of donor data to improve fundraising results. Can’t make the live event? Watch on demand. [Sign up now.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | Amazon Web Services [Supercharge Your Fundraising Efforts with Financial and Tech Support]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Social-service providers are seeing surging demand and confusion with the end of the Covid-19 public health emergency and its expanded safety-net programs. Food pantries continue to be strained by inflation and the end of extended food-stamp benefits in March, while legal aid services are getting a flood of appeals for help from people trying to understand how their lower benefits were calculated. Meanwhile, states are moving to kick people off Medicaid who no longer qualify, as the pandemic-era moratorium on cancellations ends. In some states, one single, backed-up agency is the contact point for anxious and confused recipients of multiple programs. ([Associated Press]( Minnesota’s richest and most generous philanthropy aims to become more transparent and accessible under a new CEO. The $9 billion Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, made up of two foundations, gave out about $300 million last year, mostly to national and international causes. Its modus operandi has been to research and approach potential recipients and not to announce gifts. A recent survey found that many Minnesota nonprofits find the organization “mysterious and inaccessible,” and new CEO Heather Kukla says it is simplifying its grant processes and has posted information about grants on its website. Kukla noted that the philanthropy was born from years of anonymous giving by its namesake, an agribusiness heiress who left her fortune to the foundations when she died in 2006. “Fast forward to where we are today. We recognize that transparency is important, and we want to be transparent about our giving,” she said. ([Star Tribune]( Background from the Chronicle: [Awaiting $9-Billion, the Cargill Philanthropies Prepare to Grow Big]( More News - Elon Musk Joins a Long List of Billionaires Who’ve Said Giving Away Money Is Hard — Including Andrew Carnegie ([Market Watch](. Background from the Chronicle: Opinion: [Jeff Bezos Says Giving Is Hard. That Trope Goes Back to Andrew Carnegie]( - Nicaragua Orders Red Cross to Close, in Ortega Government’s Latest Crackdown on Civic Groups ([Associated Press]( Nonprofit Innovation - The Creative, $6.25 Million Deal Conservationists Are Using to Block Mining Near Yellowstone ([Washington Post]( - This New York Girl Scout Troop Is the First of Its Kind. Here’s Why ([CNN]( - S.C. Town to Spend Opioid Settlement Funds on Unique Police, Nonprofit Partnership ([Post and Courier]( - Charity or Business? Some Consumers Still Confused by Value Village ([Crosscut]( Arts and Culture - The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art Is Looking for a New Director — Again ([Art Newspaper]( - Renowned Dance Nonprofit in Mass. Announces Plans to Replace the Doris Duke Theatre, Destroyed by Fire ([Boston Globe]( Note: In the links in this section, we flag articles that only subscribers can access. But because some journalism outlets offer a limited number of free articles, readers may encounter barriers with other articles we highlight in this roundup. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. Editor's Picks OPINION [The End of the Covid Health Emergency Must Not Spell the End of Progress Toward Health Equity]( By Amy Pisani [STORY IMAGE]( While the Covid-19 public-health emergency officially ends Thursday, the need to vaccinate all people in the United States and prepare for future pandemics must continue. Recognizing this reality, the Biden administration last month announced plans to support ongoing Covid-19 vaccine development… ARTS AND CULTURE [Race, Shakespeare, and a Theater’s Fight to Survive]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( The Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s artistic director — the first person of color in the role — departs amid criticism that her plan to save the American theater drove away donors and patrons. Supporters say bias and racism marred her tenure. WORK AND CAREERS [Bonuses Can Help Nonprofits Stretch Budgets and Retain Fundraisers]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( Workplace culture plays a crucial role in how well incentive compensation works to draw in potential hires. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP [Philanthropy Roundtable CEO Elise Westhoff Is Stepping Down]( By Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( She says she wants to focus more on her family and that her efforts as CEO to raise the group’s public profile through sometimes controversial opinion articles and public appearances have appealed to the values that the group’s members share. AFFORDABLE HOUSING [Grant Makers Support Affordable Housing to Further Many Other Causes]( By Eden Stiffman [STORY IMAGE]( Donors and foundations that seek to improve education, health, and economic opportunity are backing solutions to fix the housing crisis. SPONSOR CONTENT | Independent Sector [Relationships that Build Power]( A generation of youth passionate about their communities starts with fostering meaningful relationships. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join Our Next Webinar]( — The most successful fundraising shops can segment donors — grouping them according to their areas of interest and their preferred methods of communication. How can you ensure your data is reliable and then use it to maximize your fundraising results? Join us on Thursday, May 11, at 2 p.m. Eastern (or on demand) for a 75-minute session to learn simple steps you can take right away to enhance your donor records and customize your outreach to give supporters information and appeals that resonate. We’ll share real-world examples of personalized messages that make the most of donor data to improve fundraising results.[Register today.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Major Gifts Director]( Native American Rights Fund [Director of Institutional Advancement]( University of Rio Grande [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. 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