After Tight Giving Season, a Tough Year Ahead

Plus, why foundations should stick to their racial-justice principles (opinion); and a Q&A with the CEO of the Waverly Street Foundation ADVERTISEMENT [Philanthropy Today Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. GIVING TRENDS [Fundraisers Stare Down a Tough Year After a Tight Giving Season]( By Emily Haynes [STORY IMAGE]( What they hoped would be a strong year-end campaign in 2023 ended with some groups doing well and others floundering. ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Racial Justice Programs Under Fire: Foundations Are Running Scared When They Should Double Down]( By Lori Villarosa , Ben Francisco Maulbeck, and Gihan Perera [STORY IMAGE]( Perceived legal threats following the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling are causing grant makers to backslide, fueling notions that racial justice work is discriminatory or illegal. INTERVIEW [The Head of Laurene Powell Jobs’s Climate Foundation Has More Than $3 Billion to Spend — and a Deadline]( By Jim Rendon [STORY IMAGE]( Jared Blumenfeld says the Waverley Street Foundation supports community-based climate groups that have been largely overlooked by past climate philanthropy. [Rockefeller Foundation Pledges $80 Million to Continue Its Food Is Medicine Programs]( By M.J. Prest [STORY IMAGE]( Also, two real-estate development companies donated $20 million worth of land in Utah to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and the Ballmer Group has given $15 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions owing to food waste. WEBINARS [Tomorrow: Thursday, 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 | The California Endowment [Could Impact Investing Be the Future of Philanthropy?]( Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online Federal prosecutors have charged another 10 people in Minnesota in what they say was a $250 million conspiracy to defraud federal programs meant to feed poor children, bringing the total number of accused to 70, some of whom have pleaded guilty. ([Minnesota Public Radio]( South Dakota has apologized and agreed to pay $300,000 to a nonprofit that provides social services to LGBTQ people, after the organization sued the governor and former health secretary for terminating a $136,000 grant. The state cited contract violations, but the Transformation Project called the cancellation political, as officials rescinded the grant after South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem told a conservative media outlet that the state did not support the group’s efforts. ([Associated Press]( Background from the Chronicle: - [LGBTQ+ Nonprofits Get Less Than 1 Percent of All Charitable Giving, Report Finds]( More News - Jesuits in U.S. Bolster Outreach Initiative Aimed at Encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics ([Associated Press]( - Former Audubon Group Changes Name to ‘Bird Alliance Of Oregon’ ([Associated Press]( - First Migrant Families Discharged From Denver Shelters Rely on Nonprofits to Avoid Homelessness ([9News]( - Brooklyn Arts Nonprofit BRIC Lays Off 16 Employees ([Hyperallergic]( - At Little Free Libraries Across Boston and Beyond, There’s More Than Just Books on Offer ([Boston Globe]( Opinion - How Loud Billionaires Convert Their Wealth Into Power ([New York Times]( - What a Spat Over Nonprofits in Baltimore Reveals About Support of Black-Led Newsrooms ([Poynter]( - Return the Stolen Artifact, But Keep the Museum Label ([Hyperallergic]( 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 WORK AND CAREERS [Gen Z Is Open to Nonprofit Careers — but on Their Own Terms]( By Ben Gose [STORY IMAGE]( Young workers favor an informal work style and want a tightly defined work schedule. They’re also demanding changes in how organizations operate. Plus: See the rest of our [new issue]( published online today. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP [From Activist to Foundation Leader: Deepak Bhargava to Deliver ‘Lightning Bolt’ to Philanthropy]( By Alex Daniels [STORY IMAGE]( The new president of the JPB foundation will increase grant making to $510 million this year to support nonprofits focused on multiracial democracy and worker power. 2024 TRENDS [A.I. Is the Future of Work. That Doesn’t Have to Be Bad.]( By Sara Herschander [STORY IMAGE]( If A.I. can take care of busy work, burnt-out nonprofit employees may have more time to focus on what matters most. Plus, check out the rest of our [Trends 2024]( special report. SPONSOR CONTENT | Amazon Business [Three Ways for Nonprofits to Find Cost-Efficiencies in the Next Year]( From negotiating discounts to consolidating suppliers, we're sharing what works for other nonprofits so you can maximize your budget this year. 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://). [Director of Development]( Catalina Island Conservancy [Director of Development]( Mitchell Institute [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. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Philanthropy]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037