How a Big Gift to One University Will Fund Research at Others

Plus, how to stand out to donors; and career transitions in the social sector ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. MAJOR GIVING [$400 Million Gift to Caltech Will Fund Science Research at Other Universities]( By Kay Dervishi [STORY IMAGE]( As CEO of Cryogenic Industries, Ross Brown saw firsthand how scientific research shaped the technology that made his company a success. He also learned along the way that midcareer researchers “with restless minds” need funding. ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [Competition for Donors Is High; How to Stand Out in the Crowd]( By Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( Fundraisers aim to find — and engage — the donors who rate the organization’s work most important among the groups they support. TRANSITIONS [National Trust for Historic Preservation Taps New Leader]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, the Hudson-Webber Foundation will install a new CEO in January, and Robert Moody Sr., a philanthropist who was a member of the Moody Foundation’s board for more than 30 years, died on November 7. ONLINE FORUMS [December 5 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join us for Insights From the Field: Navigating Fundraising Uncertainty. Our panel of fundraising leaders will explore what’s working to attract donations during these challenging times. A just-released Chronicle survey of 1,000 fundraisers at nonprofits of varying sizes and missions provides fresh insights into the current fundraising climate. Learn how to keep your 2024 giving on track from the Chronicle’s exclusive research and our expert panel, including Ali Colbran of Feeding San Diego, CJ Orr of the Orr Group, and Whitney Philippi of Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. SPONSOR CONTENT | Amazon Business [The (Budget-Friendly) Nonprofit Guide to Sustainable Sourcing]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Anti-vaccine crusader and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. has used his connections and his famous name to make tens of millions of dollars over the years from nonprofits, law firms, and private companies, according to a report in the New York Times. Kennedy made his early reputation as an environmental lawyer but eventually came to lead the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, an organization that has spread vaccine misinformation. Along the way, he has earned salaries, payouts from lawsuits on which he served as counsel, speaking fees, and consulting fees in the six and seven figures, in addition to periodically receiving money from family trusts. ([New York Times]( In Los Angeles, the world’s largest AIDS charity runs a network of rundown, last-resort housing and has kicked out scores of tenants over unpaid rent while running high-profile campaigns against evictions. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has $2.2 billion in annual revenues and owns more than a dozen buildings in Los Angeles, where it provides housing to tenants, many of whom have physical and mental disabilities or suffer from addiction. Generally, the nonprofit offers no other services to those in need, and its properties are plagued by violence, power outages, and pest infestations. A lawyer for the foundation said it has helped people who would otherwise still be living on the street and has poured tens of millions of dollars into its properties, without receiving sufficient support from the city. ([Los Angeles Times]( Background from the Chronicle: [Affordable Housing: a Concern for Every Cause]( Israel-Hamas War - A.C.L.U. Sues DeSantis Over Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Group ([New York Times]( - Opinion: Support for Pro-Terrorist Groups: What Can Be Done? ([Giving Review]( - Five Miles and a World Apart, Younger Activists Dream of a New Peace Process ([New York Times]( - Legal Aid Society Denounces Union’s ‘Antisemitic’ Resolution Amid ‘Simmering’ Internal Turmoil ([New York Post]( More News - Walmart and the Environmental Defense Fund Forged an Unlikely Partnership. 17 Years Later, What’s Changed? ([Civil Eats]( - Israeli Gets U.S. Prison Time for Hacking Scheme That Targeted Climate Advocates Fighting Exxon ([Wall Street Journal]( subscription) - No More Needles? Gates Foundation Funds Patch-Style Vaccine Technology ([Reuters]( - Book Review: Bill Gates Says He’s Doing Good. This Author Strongly Disagrees. ([New York Times]( - ‘Black To The Land’ Farm Leans Into African American Heritage to Fight Climate Change ([Los Angeles Times]( - Sequoia Icon Michael Moritz Bets $300 Million on Reshaping San Francisco ([Bloomberg]( - Do Safe Injection Sites Increase Crime? There’s Finally an Answer. ([New York Times]( - ‘Frustration All Across the Board.’ A Day With Homelessness Outreach Workers in L.A. ([NPR]( - 679 Paintings. Sculptures. A Sword. The Met Moved Them All. ([New York Times]( - Opinion: Why Climate Protesters Should Keep Targeting Museums ([Art in America]( 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. Note to Readers We will not be sending Philanthropy Today the week of November 20 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. We will be back in your inbox on Monday, November 27. In the meantime, we will post any breaking news on our website. New Grant Opportunities Your Chronicle subscription includes free access to [GrantStation’s]( database of grant opportunities. [Performing Arts:]( Shakespeare in American Communities, a theater program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, aims to connect young people across the United States to Shakespeare’s plays. Grants are provided to nonprofit professional theater companies in the U.S. that produce Shakespeare’s works to support performances and workshops in middle and high schools and in juvenile justice facilities. Grants range from $15,000 to $25,000. Intent-to-apply deadline is January 25, 2024. [Education:]( The Advancing Informal STEM Learning Program seeks to fund research and practice, with a focus on investigating a range of informal STEM learning experiences and environments that make lifelong learning a reality. The current solicitation encourages proposals from institutions and organizations that serve public audiences and specifically focus on public engagement with and understanding of STEM. Application deadline is January 10, 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS FUNDRAISING [After Year of Down Giving, Charities Make Push for Big GivingTuesday]( By Emily Haynes and Rasheeda Childress [STORY IMAGE]( Matching gifts, social-media appeals, and collaborations with other groups are some of the strategies nonprofits are using to connect with donors. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP [Extra! Knight Taps News Veteran to Lead Its Plan to Revitalize Local News]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has named Maribel Perez Wadsworth its next president, making the Cuban-American news veteran the foundation’s first woman leader. DATA AND RESEARCH [Chronicle’s Exclusive Survey Finds Skittish Donors and Fundraisers Searching for a New Normal]( By Rasheeda Childress and Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( Most fundraisers said they expect their groups to raise enough money to meet their goals this year, but there’s a deep sense of unease about the economy. SPONSOR CONTENT | James Irvine Foundation [How Inclusive and Accessible Workplaces Support Economic Opportunity]( The philanthropic community plays a pivotal role in fostering authentic, disability inclusion in the workforce. ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our next webinar]( — Fundraisers and nonprofit communicators know how vital it is to inform and inspire donors regularly. Crafting an engagement plan for the whole year helps ensures nothing falls through the cracks, and it lays a strong foundation for year-end fundraising appeals. This 75-minute webinar on January 18 at 2 p.m. ET will help you map out a donor engagement strategy, which you can adjust in response to current events, and changing social or economic conditions. Plus, you’ll learn how to prioritize tactics and channels to ensure optimal results. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](http://). [Executive Director of Colleges and Schools in the Division of Advancement]( The University of Alabama [Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer]( AARP Foundation [Administrative Assistant / Personal Assistant]( figureflipping [Chief Development Officer, Global Leader in Arts Education]( Walnut Hill School for the Arts [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