4 Ways A.I. Can Drive Innovation and Impact

A post-affirmative action world demands more funding for Black leaders (opinion); and ‘Education Cannot Wait’ commits $500 million to serve refugee students and teachers ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. INNOVATION [4 Practical Ways Nonprofits Can Use A.I. to Drive Innovation and Increase Impact]( By Brandolon Barnett [STORY IMAGE]( When used properly, generative A.I. can help organizations of any size or mission expand their capabilities. Here’s how. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [A Post-Affirmative Action World Demands More — Not Less — Funding for Black Leaders]( By Cora Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( In 2024, let’s resolve to double down support for leaders of color and stand up against perceived legal threats. GRANTS ROUNDUP [Education Cannot Wait Commits $500 Million to Serve Refugee Students and Teachers]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, the Lilly Endowment gave almost $146 million to six colleges and universities in Indiana for community-development projects, and the U. of Massachusetts at Boston received $10 million to establish the New Balance Institute for Innovative Leadership in Sport. BIG PHILANTHROPY [What Do Universities Owe Their Big Donors? Less Than You Might Think, Explain 2 Nonprofit Law Experts]( By Ellen P. Aprill and Jill Horwitz [STORY IMAGE]( Donors shouldn’t try to control a charity through their gifts after the fact, and charities should reject gifts that are offered with strings attached that they aren’t happy about. WEBINARS [January 18, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( How can you keep supporters connected to, and inspired by, your cause in uncertain times? Join us for the webinar Developing a Donor-Engagement Plan for 2024 to get tips and tactics for mapping out a year-long strategy that you can adjust as conditions warrant. You’ll learn how to prioritize tactics and communication channels that get results, keep your cause top of mind among supporters, and lay a strong foundation for year-end fundraising appeals. SPONSOR CONTENT | Ganbina [All is Not Lost in the Fight to Solve Global Indigenous Disadvantage]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online The nonprofit Baltimore Banner has hired the head of the Economist magazine to lead it to sustainability. Bob Cohn, who helped bring the Atlantic into the digital era before going to the Economist in 2020, is charged with making the newspaper “a sustainable business at scale for local news,” according to hotel magnate Stewart Bainum Jr., who pledged $50 million to launch the Banner last year. An initial goal is to get subscriber numbers up from 32,000 to 75,000. ([Washington Post]( After five years and more than $15 billion in donations, Harvard researchers have spotted some patterns in MacKenzie Scott’s giving. The Amazon billionaire tends to give to larger organizations, with researchers speculating that she seeks recipients that can absorb big gifts. Her donations have tilted slightly toward the South, partly a reflection of her focus on educational institutions that serve primarily Black or Hispanic people. Over the years, Scott has given heavily to education-focused organizations, but in 2023 the top recipients were in health care, housing, and human services. ([Harvard Business School Working Knowledge]( More News - Fla.'s Billionaire Boom Yields a Windfall for the State’s Charities ([Bloomberg]( - Google Funds Leading Civil Rights Group’s New A.I. Policy Center ([Bloomberg]( - Benioffs Donate 282 Acres to Hawaii Island Nonprofit ([Hawaii Tribune-Herald]( - $750 a Month, No Questions Asked, Improved the Lives of Homeless People ([Los Angeles Times]( - The Kids Suing the EPA Over Climate Change Are Black and Brown Too ([Word in Black]( Foundation News - With New Leaders in Place, Alaska’s Rasmuson Foundation Pauses Grants During Reset ([Anchorage Daily News]( - Cargill-Backed Foundation in Minn. Shifts Dollars Away From Right-Wing Groups ([Minnesota Reformer]( - San Diego Foundation, Environmental Coalition Granted $22 Million for Barrio Projects ([City News Service]( - Hermès Billionaire Heir Moves to Cut Ties With His Charity Amid Plans to Adopt Gardener and Pass On Part of His Fortune ([Bloomberg]( Arts & Culture - British Museum Announces $63 Million Partnership With Oil Giant ([Hyperallergic]( - Why Some Ads for the New Movie ‘Migration’ Are Promoting a Nonprofit Bird Rescue ([Fast Company]( - Long-Running Legal Drama Over Franz West’s Estate Ends With All Works Donated to His Foundation ([ARTnews]( 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. A Note to Our Readers This issue marks the last Philanthropy Today of 2023. We have a lot more in store for you in the year ahead. Next month we’ll post a detailed look at the top trends for 2024. And in the spring we’ll debut the Commons Project, a new section of the Chronicle examining how nonprofits and foundations can close the nation’s divides, plus the results of an exclusive survey of the CEOs of the nation’s charitable organizations. You can read about these efforts and much more in a [letter from Stacy Palmer]( our chief executive. Philanthropy Today will be back in your inbox on January 2, and we’ll update our site whenever important news in the world of philanthropy occurs. All of us at the Chronicle send our deep thanks for your loyal readership — and wish you a peaceful new year. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to nonprofit news and analysis. EDITOR'S PICKS LEADERSHIP [The Departing Chief of One of America’s Biggest Foundations Talks Inequality, Climate Change, and Megadonors]( By Thalia Beaty, Associated Press [STORY IMAGE]( Larry Kramer, longtime president of the Hewlett Foundation, reflects on his early support of the fight against climate change and how grant makers can persuade other foundations to work together. OPINION [From ‘Data Lake’ to ‘Doom Loop,’ the Philanthropy Buzzwords We’ll Be Hearing in 2024]( By Lucy Bernholz [STORY IMAGE]( This year’s list highlights the nonprofit world’s tension between navigating A.I. and other new technology while keeping the focus on humans needs. PHILANTHROPY AND HEALTH [How a Debate Over Vaping Might Derail the War on Tobacco]( By Marc Gunther [STORY IMAGE]( Anti-smoking groups aren’t just fighting big tobacco. They’re fighting amongst themselves. SPONSOR CONTENT | Classy [Combating the Generosity Gap]( Classy and GoFundMe share how nonprofits can overcome the generosity gap and effectively connect with donors ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( — Fundraisers and nonprofit communicators know how vital it is to keep donors regularly informed and inspired by your work. The year ahead is likely to be filled with distractions — from ongoing economic uncertainty and geopolitical strife to a U.S. presidential election — so cutting through the noise will take creativity and thoughtful planning. How can you keep supporters connected to your cause in unpredictable times? Join us on Thursday, January 18, at 2 p.m. Eastern for a 75-minute webinar to get tips and tactics for mapping out a year-long strategy that you can adjust as current events or economic conditions warrant. You’ll learn how to prioritize tactics and communication channels that get results and lay a strong foundation for year-end fundraising appeals. Don't miss this chance to start the year off strong. [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