Billionaire Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett’s Business Partner, Has Died at 99

Plus, a crisis in nonprofit mentoring; and why nonprofits should build ties with startups ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. PHILANTHROPISTS [Charlie Munger, Big Donor and Warren Buffett’s Business Partner, Has Died]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( The influential investor gave more than $500 million during his lifetime, primarily to build university student housing. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [A Nonprofit Mentoring Crisis Threatens Future Leadership of the Field]( By Eboo Patel [STORY IMAGE]( Nonprofit leaders have stopped giving advice and feedback to younger employees for fear of blowback. This is hurting the whole sector. CORPORATE SUPPORT [Why — and How — Nonprofits Should Build Ties With StartUps]( By Kyle Mitnick [STORY IMAGE]( A founder of several startups offers tips and examples to help you approach startup companies, get them involved, and build long-term relationships and sources of revenue. GRANTS ROUNDUP [Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Awards $117.6 Million to Help Homeless Families]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, the Kalahari Resorts and Conventions commit to $50 million for clean water; and a $30 million grant for a cancer center at Health Crown Point hospital, in Indiana. 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 | Classy [Combating Generosity Gaps: The Demise of the Scarcity Mindset]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Over the next 25 years, the Rockefeller Foundation plans to zero out the net emissions associated with investments from its $6 billion endowment. The philanthropy has already committed to divest from fossil fuels, but now it will push for “greater decarbonization” by, for example, hiring independent fund managers who invest in highly polluting industries and are willing to press for lower emissions, investing in funds that support companies working on climate-change solutions, and setting benchmarks to measure progress. Rockefeller executives said the process would be transparent to help guide other institutions that are struggling to reach net-zero emissions in their own investments. ([Bloomberg]( Background from the Chronicle: - [How the McKnight Foundation Is Investing Its $3 Billion Endowment to Fight Climate Change]( - [No Apologies: Rajiv Shah Stands by Rockefeller’s Top-Down Approach]( In the largest multiyear funding commitment in its history, the Mellon Foundation will double the money in its ongoing Monuments Project, to $500 million. Launched in 2020 as racial-justice marchers filled the streets and Confederate statues came down around the country, the effort has already put nearly $173 million into dozens of completed or ongoing projects that commemorate figures often left out of the public square. It is guided by a 2021 study finding that “women are often commemorated as mermaids or other fictional characters in public statues, and that half of the individuals most frequently represented in monuments were slave owners.” ([New York Times]( Background from the Chronicle: - [Statues of Confederate Generals Have Come Down. What Should Take Their Place?]( More on Foundations - Foundation of Late Chicago Entrepreneur Sue Gin Announces $21M Donation for Nonprofit to Fight Gun Violence in the City ([Chicago Tribune]( - New Foundation in New Mexico Pledges $200 Million Over Next Decade ([Albuquerque Journal]( More News - What Happened to Austin’s $515M Homelessness Fundraising Initiative? ([KXAN Austin]( - Backlash to Affirmative Action Hits Pioneering Maternal Health Program for Black Women ([Los Angeles Times]( - Donations to Hamas-Linked Charities Spike 70% Since Oct. 7 Attack, Israeli Officials Say ([CNBC]( - On Giving Tuesday, Nonprofits Are ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ as Americans Break Spending Records This Holiday Shopping Season ([Market Watch]( - Environmentalists Face Off Against Environmentalists Over Offshore Wind Projects ([Wall Street Journal]( subscription) - Mayo Clinic Announces $5 Billion Expansion of Minnesota Campus ([Washington Post]( - Vietnam Relied on Environmentalists to Secure Billions. Then It Jailed Them. ([New York Times]( - Wawa, Rite Aid, and Giant Customers Say They Have Donation Fatigue. Here’s Why Some Aren’t Rounding Up for Charity Anymore. ([Philadelphia Inquirer]( - Charlie Munger, Who Helped Warren Buffett Build Berkshire Hathaway, Has Died ([Bloomberg]( - The 3 Next Big Things in Tech From Nonprofit and Academic Organizations for 2023 ([Fast Company]( - Want to Donate to Charity? Here Are 10 Guidelines for Giving Effectively. ([Vox]( 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 BIG PHILANTHROPY [Fears That Charities Can’t Handle MacKenzie Scott Donations Are Unfounded, Study Finds]( By Maria Di Mento [STORY IMAGE]( Concerns that the recipients of large, unrestricted grants from the billionaire philanthropist would experience negative consequences have turned out to be untrue. Instead, nonprofits report expanded programs and more financial stability. GIVING [Most Trusted Charities? Veterans Groups. Who’s Falling? Religious Organizations]( By Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( Seventy percent of respondents said it was essential to trust a charity before giving — but only 20 percent said they highly trust charities. FINANCE AND REVENUE [Fiscal Sponsorship Is On the Rise, Allowing Groups That Aren’t Nonprofits to Accept Donations]( By Eden Stiffman [STORY IMAGE]( The last 20 years have seen larger growth in the field than the previous 50, and demand for fiscal sponsors has surged since 2020. SPONSOR CONTENT | James Irvine Foundation [How Can the Philanthropic Community Support Economic Opportunity?]( The philanthropic community plays a pivotal role in fostering authentic, disability inclusion in the workforce. Discover how funders and employers can partner with disabled communities. 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://). [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