An Urgent Call for Funding to Protect Voting, Elections

Plus, looking to the future during Black History Month; and assessing the NRA after Wayne LaPierre ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. ELECTIONS [A Plea From Progressive Foundation CEOs: Make Election Grants Now]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( 20 foundations are speeding grants to protect voting and elections. Meanwhile, House GOP members are asking whether philanthropy is stepping into partisan politics. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [During Black History Month, Philanthropy Should Focus on the Future]( By Cora Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( While we can’t forget the past, a futurist approach ensures Black-led organizations can flourish for decades, not just a few years. ANALYSIS [Longtime NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre Is Leaving the Gun Group in Trouble but Still Powerful]( By Cari Babitzke [STORY IMAGE]( During most of the 33 years he spent at its helm as its executive vice president, the gun group’s membership, revenue and clout grew sharply. WEBINARS [February 8 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now]( [STORY IMAGE]( More nonprofits are relying on major gifts to hit fundraising goals, as giving at lower levels ebbs. Whether you want to attract new donors or inspire greater giving among current supporters, join us for Proven Strategies for Connecting with Major Donors. You’ll learn directly from two veteran fundraisers which strategies are working best in the current climate to attract support from wealthy individuals, proven ways to keep them in the fold, and how to deepen ties with them in the year ahead. SPONSOR CONTENT | James Irvine Foundation [Where Nonprofits Are Missing Out on Talent]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Lawyers defending the venture capital Fearless Fund’s grant program for women entrepreneurs of color told a skeptical appeals panel of three judges Wednesday that the grants are an exercise of free speech, akin to targeted charitable donations. The program is the object of a lawsuit filed by the same group that persuaded the Supreme Court to strike down affirmative action in college admissions. Here it argues that the grants are contracts given out on a discriminatory basis. ([Associated Press]( As climate-related disasters escalate, the sums raised via GoFundMe campaigns for affluent survivors tend to dwarf the donations to their poorer counterparts, thanks largely to the wider and better-heeled social networks that middle-class and wealthy survivors enjoy, according to researchers from the universities of Colorado and Wisconsin. ([New York Times]( More News - An Israeli Charity for Palestinians Grapples With Oct. 7 Attacks ([New York Times]( - Rubin Museum, Haven for Asian Art, to Close After 20 Years ([New York Times]( - First state-regulated drug use site in U.S. to open in Rhode Island this summer ([Boston Globe]( - N.C.A.A. Inquiry Takes On Growing Role of Booster Groups ([New York Times]( - Why the American Museum of Natural History is Closing Some Native American Exhibits ([NPR]( - British Charity Effective Ventures Agrees to Repay Millions in FTX Donations Case ([Civil Society]( - For Chicago’s New Migrants, Informal Support Groups Help Ease the Pain and Trauma. ([NPR]( - Houston’s Food Not Bombs in Court for Feeding The Homeless. What to Know About the Local Nonprofit ([Houston Chronicle]( - Donations Pour In to Replace Destroyed Jackie Robinson Statue on His 105th Birthday ([Associated Press]( - Dick Traum, 83, Dies; Marathoner Championed Disabled Athletes ([New York Times]( 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 DONOR ENGAGEMENT [Create a Smart Annual Outreach Plan to Keep Donors Close — and Boost Giving]( By Lisa Schohl [STORY IMAGE]( Development teams need a road map for staying in touch with supporters if they want to hit fundraising goals in a complicated year. Plus, find out what fundraisers are doing to [attract — and hold onto — everyday donors](. 2024 TRENDS [The Next Test of the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision: Race-Based Foundation Grants]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based venture-capital firm, and its associated foundation face a lawsuit arguing that its grants targeted to Black women entrepreneurs violate civil-rights laws. OPINION [Fewer People Want to Lead Nonprofits. What’s the Answer?]( By Frances Kunreuther and Sean Thomas-Breitfeld [STORY IMAGE]( A new study finds that aspiring leaders, especially those of color, aren’t being pulled into leadership through support and positive role models but are more often pushed into top positions to escape difficult work circumstances. SPONSOR CONTENT | Amazon Business [Two Nonprofits Share How They Expanded Their Pool of Donors This Year]( Chattanooga Zoo and Theresa's Fund experienced huge spikes in both monetary donations and wish list fulfillment. We're diving in to how they made this possible ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDED WEBINAR [Join our webinar]( — Charities’ dependence on wealthy donors is growing as giving at lower levels ebbs. Women continue to influence big giving and now wealthy millennial and Gen Z households are making their mark. How are big-gift fundraisers successfully cultivating donors? Are economic pressures causing any shifts in strategy? Join us on Thursday, February 8, at 2 p.m. Eastern for a 75-minute webinar to learn directly from fundraising leaders about the outlook for 2024 and how best to connect with wealthy donors in the year ahead. [Register now.]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Apply today](http://). 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