Sabbaticals Can Counter Burnout; Plus, How to Make the Most of Time Away

Also, to solve polarization, encourage more people to volunteer (opinion) ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. WORK AND CAREERS [Burnout Plagues Nonprofits, With Bad Effects for Mission. Sabbaticals May Help.]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( Sanctioned time off (with pay) has been growing among nonprofits and could help stop turnover and improve effectiveness. Plus: [‘A Sabbatical Isn’t a Fun Vacation’ — Experts Share How to Do It Right]( ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Want to Solve Polarization? Encourage More People to Volunteer]( By Eboo Patel [STORY IMAGE]( I’ve seen firsthand how volunteering can bridge deep political divides, says the author, who praises a new bipartisan report prescribing “Civic CPR” to bring the nation together. Webinar [Thursday: How to Attract Legacy Gifts]( [STORY IMAGE]( How can you inspire donors to include your nonprofit in their estate plans? Join us Thursday, August 17, at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn from two nonprofit fundraisers — one a lawyer and the other a former investment banker — who will share insights and steps to take to attract planned gifts through wills, donor-advised funds, and other giving vehicles from donors of all ages. Even small groups with limited resources can begin raising planned gifts. [Register now.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | The James Irvine Foundation [Reimagining Life After Incarceration: A Nonprofit Mission]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online A Montana judge has ruled that officials violated the state’s constitution when approving fossil-fuel projects without regard to their impact on the climate. On behalf of a group of young Montanans, lawyers from Our Children’s Trust, a legal nonprofit, argued that a state law prohibiting consideration “of greenhouse gas emissions and corresponding impacts to the climate in the state or beyond the state’s borders” in the approval process violated a provision of the Montana constitution that obligates the state to “maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.” Montana is a major center of fossil-fuel extraction. The state plans to appeal. A spokeswoman for the state’s attorney general called the ruling absurd, while Our Children’s Trust founder Julia Olson called it “a huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy, and for our climate.” Similar suits are in the courts in Hawaii, Utah, and Virginia. ([New York Times]( Plus: The Montana Youths Behind a Historic Climate Lawsuit, and the Places They Love ([Washington Post]( Opinion: More universities should launch philanthropic endowments to help their researchers’ medical discoveries make it to the marketplace. In a system that relies heavily on venture capitalists or drug companies, the gap between promising discovery and meaningful investment is too seldom bridged, and researchers’ work languishes in biotech’s “Valley of Death,” writes Roopa Ramamoorthi, director of a fund that supports next-step development of lab work at the University of California at San Francisco. These philanthropies, which are slowly taking root at universities, can support initial vetting and testing to address risks that might scare off investors, and they can bring a greater return to a university for its in-house work when a prepped discovery eventually makes it to the investment stage. Over three years, Ramamoorthi’s InVent Fund has backed 18 projects, four of which have been licensed or formed the basis of venture capital-backed startups. ([Stat]( Background from the Chronicle: [Quick Grants From Tech Billionaires Aim to Speed Up Science Research — but Not All Scientists Approve]( More News - Lawmakers, Nonprofits Laud IRS Effort to Create Direct File Pilot ([Bloomberg Tax]( - Musk Is Funding Fertility, Population Research in Tex. Project ([Bloomberg]( - Families of Covid Victims Sue N.Y. Nonprofit for ‘Creating’ the Virus by Funding Wuhan Lab ([CBS Austin]( - Why Is Oprah Getting Dragged for Her Philanthropic Efforts in Maui? ([Root]( - The Bail Project Loses Appeal, Meaning Ind. Law Limiting the Nonprofit Remains Active ([Indianapolis Star](. Background from the Chronicle: [Nonprofit Bail Funds, Fueled by a Surge of Funds After George Floyd Protests, Face New Challenges]( Nonprofits and Health Care - Northwestern, Univ. of Chicago Hospital Tax Breaks Under Scrutiny in New Report ([Crain’s Chicago Business]( - Community With High Medical Debt Questions Its Hospitals’ Charity Spending ([CBS News]( - St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter Pitches Wiping Away $110 Million in Medical Debt for Residents ([CBS News](. Background from the Chronicle: [Charities That Curb Medical Debt for the Needy Are Growing Fast — and Innovating]( Arts and Culture - With Black history Under Attack, Black Museums Are More Important Than Ever ([Baltimore Banner]( - International Museum Leader to Head New York’s Jewish Museum ([New York Times]( - 3 Southeast Asian Countries Say the Denver Art Museum Still Holds Their Stolen Heritage ([Denver Post]( - Peter Schumann’s Bread and Puppet Theater Is Going Strong and, at 89, So Is He. But What Will Happen to His Company When He Is Gone? ([New York Times]( - A View of the Met From Behind the Information Desk ([New York Times]( Legacies - Record Executive, Philanthropist Clarence Avant Saluted by Obamas, Clintons, Questlove: ‘Skillful, Savvy, Warm, and Wise’ ([Los Angeles Times]( - Watts’ Arturo Ybarra, the ‘Epitome of What a Community Activist Should Be,’ Dies ([Los Angeles Times]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE [How to Fight the Climate Crisis — and Save Your Nonprofit Money — Explained]( By Sara Herschander and Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( With more money available, nonprofits work to fortify themselves against the assault of global warming and curb their emissions. CLIMATE CHANGE [How Philanthropy Is Helping Cities Adapt to Extreme Heat]( By Eden Stiffman [STORY IMAGE]( Foundations are supporting efforts to reduce the impact of climate change and to hire chief heat officers. Plus: See our August cover story on [how nonprofits are confronting their own climate perils.]( OPINION [After 4 Decades in the Nonprofit World, I’m Troubled by Philanthropy’s Expanding Footprint]( By Craig Kennedy [STORY IMAGE]( In his new column, former foundation president Craig Kennedy explores what he sees as problematic changes in the social sector. BIG DONORS [MacKenzie Scott Has Given 17 Nonprofits $97 Million in the First Half of 2023]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Nearly half went to early-childhood education and development, but she also gave to strengthen maternal health, combat infant mortality, create affordable housing, and more. OPINION [In a Landmark Voting Case, Philanthropy and Nonprofits Were Crucial Players. Now We Need to Do More]( By Evan Milligan and Janai Nelson [STORY IMAGE]( Civil-rights and advocacy groups, powered by money from charitable donors, won a victory for Black voters, who are too often left out of decisions in Alabama and elsewhere. Now is a key moment to capitalize on that work to safeguard our democracy. SPONSOR CONTENT | The James Irvine Foundation [“The People’s Plan”: Economic Inclusion]( How one city in California created a roadmap to prove sustainable economic mobility is possible for struggling communities. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our next webinar]( — Even savvy nonprofits often overlook the potential of planned gifts. This is a costly mistake, experts say, because the average amount of a charitable bequest, one of the most common planned gifts, is more than $78,000. And if you’re not approaching loyal donors about planned gifts, another organization will. How can you inspire donors to include your nonprofit in their estate plans? Join us August 17 at 2 p.m. Eastern to learn from two nonprofit fundraisers — one a lawyer and the other a former investment banker — who will share insights and steps to take to attract planned gifts through wills, donor-advised funds, and other giving vehicles. Even small organizations with limited resources can take simple steps to attract these gifts and begin to lay the foundation for a future planned-giving program. Plus, our experts will share proven strategies for attracting these gifts. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](http://). [Director of Development, College of the Arts (Hybrid/Southern California)]( California State University Long Beach [Executive Director of Constituent Engagement]( Bryn Mawr College [Search other jobs.]( [Chronicle of Philanthropy Logo]( This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. 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