The Ups and Downs of Racial-Justice Giving After George Floyd’s Murder

Plus, how to cut the jargon that’s holding back nonprofits. Also, IBM and Google are committing $150 million for quantum computing 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](. SPECIAL REPORT [3 Years After George Floyd, Foundations Say They’ve Changed. Many Racial-Justice Nonprofits Disagree.]( By Alex Daniels, Marc Gunther, and Sono Motoyama [STORY IMAGE]( Foundations say the summer of protests following his murder changed them forever. But for many racial-justice nonprofits, the free-flowing supply of grants proved to be short-lived. Plus, see the rest of our [June issue]( posted online today. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Vague and Generic Narratives Are Holding Back Nonprofits. Here Are a Few Tricks to Cut Out the Jargon]( By April Bo Wang [STORY IMAGE]( The overuse of grandiose and unclear language prevents nonprofits from telling stories that inspire the people they need to reach. ChatGPT, Google, and regular humans can help them change those patterns. GRANTS ROUNDUP [IBM and Google Commit $150 Million for Quantum Computing]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, the University of Kentucky has received $100 million for its College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, and Yosemite National Park will use a $17 million grant to restore its most popular trails and make other improvements. Webinars [Attract Corporate Support for Your Fundraising Event]( [STORY IMAGE]( In-person events are back, bringing lots of joyful reunions, but rising costs for food, entertainment, and more are a challenge. Securing corporate support for your next gathering is a smart way to defray costs and strengthen ties with corporate donors. Join us for a 75-minute webinar on Thursday, June 8, at 2 p.m. Eastern, to gain insights into the corporate-giving landscape in 2023, which strategies are working now, and why. [Register by June 1 to get the early-bird rate.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | The James Irvine Foundation [Supporting Human Trafficking Survivors with Life-Changing Opportunities]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online A national Black Lives Matter nonprofit faces slower fundraising and slashed expenses compared with the spigot of money that opened during racial-justice protests in 2020. The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation raised just over $9 million in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and reported assets of about $30 million. That compares with $79 million in revenue and $42 million in assets during the previous tax-filing period. BLM has cut its spending by more than half, for example shaving grants to Black-led grassroots groups from $26 million to $4 million. The organization has been dogged by accusations of financial mismanagement, particularly in conservative media, but a board member said an outside auditor found “that our financial outlook is healthy; there is no fraud or abuse within the organization.” The foundation plans to post the new financial documents on its website ([Associated Press]( From a control room in Chicago, experts with the Jewish Federations of North America watch for threats against synagogues and Jewish communities across the continent. Established after the 9/11 attacks, the Secure Community Network has beefed up in the past five years, spurred by the 2018 shootings at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It went “from a small office with a staff of five to a national organization with 75 employees stationed around the country.” Sitting at a bank of monitors, experts with backgrounds in the military, intelligence, and social media log threatening anti-Semitic posts, doxxing of prominent Jews, gunshots, or other signs of danger. Part of a $162 million federally and privately funded effort that also includes full-time security directors at 93 Jewish Federations, the center aims ultimately to secure “every single Jewish community” on the continent. In March, the Anti-Defamation League reported “3,700 instances of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism or assault around the country last year alone, the highest number in 43 years of keeping track.” ([New York Times]( More News - Vatican Questions $17 Million Donation to Impact Investing Fund, Moves to Prevent Similar Gifts ([Associated Press]( - Epstein Aftershocks & a Gates Divorce Deadline Loom Over Couple’s Philanthropy ([Puck]( - James Beard Foundation, Whose Awards Honor Chefs, Is Now Investigating Them ([New York Times]( - Charity Set Up to Support San Diego Mayor’s Office Withholds Finances, Other Records From Disclosure ([San Diego Union-Tribune]( - Boy Scouts Agree to Sell a Poconos Camp for $7.8 Million, Part of Which Will Go Toward Sex-Abuse Settlement ([Philadelphia Inquirer]( - Tech Billionaire Donates $2 Million to Boost San Francisco’s Troubled Shopping Districts ([San Francisco Chronicle]( - Israeli Rights Group to Tel Aviv Museum of Art: Cancel Upcoming Conference With Christie’s on Holocaust Restitution Properties ([Jewish News Syndicate]( Opinion - Elaine Chao: Asians Are Part of the American Story. They Deserve a Place on the Mall. ([Washington Post]( 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 FUNDRAISING LEADERSHIP [Unrealistic Fundraising Expectations Are Causing Stress. Here’s How to Set More Practical Goals.]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( It’s crucial to consider past fundraising, collaborate in goal setting, remember that fundraising is a long-term project, and — especially important right now — factor in the economy. ADVICE [6 Ways Nonprofits Can Take Action Amid Economic Uncertainty]( By Michelle Legaspi Sánchez [STORY IMAGE]( Leaders should analyze finances, collaborate when possible, and communicate clearly and frequently with stakeholders, among other steps to steady a nonprofit’s course through choppy economic waters. 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. NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT [How the Ford Foundation Helped Grantees With an Unusual Problem: a Surge of Cash]( By Sono Motoyama [STORY IMAGE]( Staff burnout, lack of clarity about an organization’s values, and the pace of hiring are among the challenges that prompted nonprofit leaders inundated with surprise gifts to turn to consultants — and one another. OPINION [Philanthropy’s Divisions Reflect America’s Politics — Not Its People]( By Chris Stackaruk [STORY IMAGE]( Nonprofits and foundations have spent weeks debating and deconstructing an essay on pluralism that most Americans wouldn’t bat an eye at. That kind of response raises questions about how the social sector can ever succeed at healing the nation’s divides. SPONSOR CONTENT | Independent Sector [Leading by Example: Profound Impacts by Lifting Up a Community]( The outcomes of their efforts were not only institutional changes and legislative wins, but also outcomes that helped shape key community leaders. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join Our Next Webinar]( — In-person fundraising events are back in full force, but rising costs for food, venues, and more, are making it harder than ever to stay within budget. How can your nonprofit attract corporate support for its fundraising events that help advance its mission? Join us for a 75-minute session on Thursday, June 8, at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn from two experts who have proven track records in securing corporate support for events. You'll gain insights into the corporate giving landscape in 2023 and better understand what businesses seek from nonprofit partnerships. Plus, you’ll learn how to approach corporations, common pitfalls to avoid, and what’s working best right now to secure corporate support. [Register by June 1 to get the early-bird rate.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Foundation Partnerships Director]( Relief International [Director of Development]( McLean School [Donor Relations Manager]( ACLU of Washington [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2023 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037