The Economy and the Federal Debt Debate Are Making Fundraising Tough

Plus, nonprofits advancing pluralism are jumping at new grants from an ambitious collaboration 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](. ECONOMIC OUTLOOK [Uncertain Economy — and the Nation’s Debt Debate — Snag Nonprofit Finances]( By Sara Herschander [STORY IMAGE]( Spending cuts the federal government is considering come at a time when the uncertain economy is making fundraising tough, leading one prominent nonprofit expert to reach a breaking point. ADVERTISEMENT BUILDING BRIDGES [Nonprofits Advancing Pluralism Jump at New Grants From an Ambitious Collaboration]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The New Pluralists has attracted $47 million from foundations as divergent in their political views as Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Charles Koch’s foundation as part of its work to build bridges. Eventually it hopes philanthropy will pour $1 billion into similar efforts. 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 | Amazon Business [Turning Unspent Budgets into Vital Resources]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Conservative sting operation Project Veritas is suing its departed founder, alleging misuse of the nonprofit’s funds and violations of his employment contract. In its filing, the organization says James O’Keefe spent lavishly on first-class travel, including $150,000 on luxury black-car service and a $10,000 helicopter ride to Maine; publicly berated Project Veritas employees and used them for personal tasks, including to clean his boat; and violated a nondisparagement clause after he was put on leave in February. He officially left the organization in May. Project Veritas also says O’Keefe violated his contract by seeking to recruit its employees and donors to a rival group he started upon his departure. O’Keefe did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, Project Veritas said it is “making major changes internally due to the nature of our past interpersonal and managerial issues.” ([Washington Post]( A national hotline for people with eating disorders is suspending a new chatbot after it counseled clients to engage in the same behaviors that fed their disorders. The National Eating Disorder Association took down the Tessa chatbot after users took to social media with their experiences, including being told to run a calorie deficit, lose weight, and weigh themselves weekly. Tessa came online in May, replacing employees who had just voted to unionize. At the time, the union warned, “a chatbot is no substitute for human empathy, and we believe this decision will cause irreparable harm to the eating-disorders community.” The association said it is investigating why the chatbot “may have given information that was harmful and unrelated to the program.” Tessa’s creator, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University, said this episode reveals the risk of automating human roles. ([Vice]( More News - Stony Brook U. to Receive $500 Million, an Uncommonly Large Gift ([New York Times]( - 3 Activists Arrested After Their Fund Bailed Out Protestors of Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’ ([Associated Press]( - Why NYC Nonprofits Are Moving to Evict Hundreds of Vulnerable Tenants ([New York Times]( - Anchorage Gave Her a $1.6 Million Grant Despite Prior Fraud Allegations. Now She’s Under Investigation Again. ([ProPublica]( - Twin Cities Nonprofit Aims to Curb Gun Violence Through Connections With Nature ([Minnesota Public Radio]( - $45 Million in Federal Grants Will Help Nonprofits Cut Energy Use in Buildings ([UPI]( - Holocaust Survivors Foundation to Adidas: Donate Yeezy Sales to Survivors ([Jewish News Syndicate]( Legacy - Carrolle Perry Devonish, Former Director of the Philadelphia Foundation and Celebrated Philanthropy Expert, Has Died at 85 ([Philadelphia Inquirer]( 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 | Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University [Supporting Your Team: Nonprofit Edition]( After thousands of conversations, this department discovered one of the top challenges among non-profit leaders was effectively supporting their teams 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 [Associate Director, Development]( University of Central Florida [Executive Director]( Eugene Symphony Association [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