The $1 Billion Donor Whose Work Was Like a ‘Master Class’ on Big Giving

Plus, the onslaught of anti-trans legislation demands a crisis response from philanthropy (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](. BIG DONORS [A $1 Billion Mystery Donor Who Did ‘Trust-Based Philanthropy’ Long Before MacKenzie Scott]( By Drew Lindsay [STORY IMAGE]( Why grantees of Diana Blank’s Kendeda Fund say she put on a “master class” during her 30 years of big giving. Plus: Why Kendeda [bankrolled operating reserves]( for grantees, and the [eco-friendly “living building”]( inspiring nonprofits. OPINION [The Onslaught of Anti-Trans Legislation Demands a Crisis Response From Philanthropy]( By Saida Agostini-Bostic and Elizabeth Barajas-Román [STORY IMAGE]( Several women’s funds across the country are showing what an effective response to attacks on trans rights looks like — and why the historic underfunding of the LGBTQ+ community is no longer tenable. Webinars [Take Your Grant Proposal Writing to the Next Level]( [STORY IMAGE]( Learn from the founder of a firm that has raised more than $300 million in public and private grants for nonprofits nationwide and from a fundraising executive who has attracted more than $130 million in institutional giving. You’ll get detailed advice on how to convey impact, tell your story in compelling ways, and make a persuasive case for support. Sharpen your next proposal and position your organization competitively: Join us on July 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern, or watch on demand. [Register today.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | The James Irvine Foundation [Creating a More Just Future: The Importance of Philanthropic Support for Black Worker Centers]( Virtual Event [Today: Putting A.I. to Work at Nonprofits]( [STORY IMAGE]( Some nonprofits are already harnessing A.I. to streamline operations, make more informed decisions, and lighten workloads by enabling employees to focus more on strategy and less on busy work. Get up to speed on how A.I. can help your nonprofit. Join us today, Tuesday, June 13, at 2 p.m. Eastern to better understand how to use the technology with care to increase efficiencies and meet your mission. [Register now.]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. Correction In Monday’s Philanthropy Today, an item about George Soros’s Open Society Foundations left out the word “million” in referring to the $125 million served for Soros’s super PAC. Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online MrBeast’s use of charity to vault to the top of YouTube’s algorithm inspires cheers and jeers. Jimmy Donaldson, a 25-year-old from North Carolina, became a social-media colossus after spending years studying successful videos, performing pointless stunts, and ultimately orchestrating outlandish acts of generosity — tipping a waitress with gold bars, offering people $100,000 to quit their jobs — or competitions. His recent funding of cataract surgery for 1,000 people around the world struck his critics as cynical self-promotion. But defenders say the revenue that comes with most-watched videos pays for the next selfless gesture, that his recipients seem appreciative, and that he and his younger viewers are open and unbothered about viewers’ role as “eyeballs” to help monetize the content. ([New York Times]( Since 2017, a Democratic Party operative and his companies have taken in more than $41.6 million from a New York City medical charity funded largely with government dollars. Founded in 2015, Somos Community Care was initially funded primarily by a Medicaid program that has since expired. It now relies on “contracts to provide Covid-19 testing and vaccination services to immigrant communities, for which Somos has received roughly $100 million in city and state funds.” It has inked lucrative contracts with Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman Henry Munoz and two companies he owns, putting him “among the highest-compensated individuals in the health-care sector in New York City or anywhere else.” Munoz’s team and representatives of Somos pointed to marketing work he had done for the nonprofit. His representatives also said he sends “the bulk of” the money on to other contractors, but their accounting still leaves $12.5 million for Munoz and his companies. ([Daily Beast]( More News - AGs Want Their Lawsuit Money Back: Mont. Joins Utah In Trying to Get Its Share of $280 Million Held by the Nonprofit National Association of Attorneys General. ([Wall Street Journal]( — subscription) - Orlando Museum of Art Ex-Director: Basquiat Plea Deal a ‘Cover-Up’ ([Orlando Sentinel]( - Republican Official Appears to Have Moved $1.3 Million From Nonprofit to Own Law Firm ([Guardian]( - Washington Post Publisher Fred Ryan Steps Down to Lead the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation’s New Center on Public Civility ([Washington Post](. Plus: Why Patty Stonesifer Said ‘Yes’ to Becoming the Post’s Interim CEO ([Washington Post](. Background from the Chronicle: [Hungry for Justice]( - Ida B. Wells Society Canceled Programs for Young Journalists After University of North Carolina Withheld Millions in Funding ([NC Newsline]( - Researchers and Technicians at MIT’s Broad Institute Organizing a Union ([Boston Globe](. Background from the Chronicle: [Here Come the Nonprofit Unions]( - Vatican Court Convicts Climate Activists For Damaging Statue ([Associated Press]( Opinion - Targeting Bail Funds and Stop Cop City Activists Is an Old Tactic ([Washington Post]( - How Established Nonprofits Can Foster the Next Generation of Philanthropists ([Crain’s Detroit Business]( 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. SPONSOR CONTENT | Amazon Business [Every Dollar Counts: Maximizing Your Budget]( When it comes to budgets, visibility is key. Discover how your organization can prepare for a better year ahead and never miss out on hidden unspent funds. Editor's Picks TECHNOLOGY [How Nonprofits Can Avoid A.I. Ethical and Legal Pitfalls]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( One big risk: feeding private information about donors into A.I. tools. If fundraisers want to write a thank-you note using A.I., experts advise stripping all identifying information from the samples they provide. CRIMINAL JUSTICE [Nonprofit Bail Funds, Fueled by a Surge of Funds After George Floyd Protests, Face New Challenges]( By Kay Dervishi [STORY IMAGE]( After receiving $140 million, the funds have experienced both transformative growth and major political backlash 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. 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. OPINION | WHAT WE'VE LEARNED [Federal Food Assistance Cuts Should Spur Charities to Rethink How They Feed Families]( By Dion Dawson [STORY IMAGE]( Last week’s debt deal and the recent end to pandemic-era food programs have left many charities worried about how to feed everyone seeking help. Instead, they should adopt approaches that ensure healthy food is always available to all who need it — regardless of congressional actions. RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our next webinar]( — Learn from two experts: the founder of a firm that has raised more than $300 million in public and private grants for nonprofits nationwide as well as from a fundraising executive who has raised more than $130 million from institutions. They'll offer detailed advice on writing successful grant proposals, vital steps to take before approaching a grant maker, and how to convey impact in ways that resonate with program officers. You’ll get tips on how to tell the story of your work and its impact, demonstrate need, and make a persuasive case for support. Don’t miss this chance to sharpen your next grant proposal and position your organization competitively. Join us live on July 20, at 2 p.m. Eastern, or on demand. 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