Announcing the speakers for our September 10 #philwebinar! We're looking forward to hearing pro tips from Paula Fynboh, Maggie McCoy, and Holly Moon will join host Ben Gose to share what's working now in small-shop fundraising. Early bird pricing ends Aug. 13. Register: https://phlnthrp.com/4zfQoWW

Code.org notched big success bringing computer science to middle and high schools. But AI overturned everything. Now the group is trying to pivot with a new leader and a new name at a time when coding education no longer has clear-cut benefits. https://phlnthrp.com/3Snhr1I

How Code.org is reinventing itself for the age of AI

Code.org rebranded as CodeAI after AI disrupted its mission. How one nonprofit is rethinking strategy and funding to survive tech disruption.

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Opinion: Most Americans across party lines oppose violations of democratic norms. So why does philanthropy fund as if they don't? To defend democracy, funders need to move past their ideological comfort zones. Read the full op-ed at: https://phlnthrp.com/3RMXyky

The Impact Stories Hub features case studies from philanthropic funders across the country — in their own words — on partnering with nonprofits to drive change in education, culture, health and community well-being. Explore the hub: https://phlnthrp.com/4c0v25V

Federal funding is shrinking. Midlevel donors ($1,000–$10,000/year) can provide 30%+ of a nonprofit's budget. Our Sept. 24 #philwebinar covers how to grow this program. Early bird price of $69 ends Aug. 27 at midnight ET. Register now: https://phlnthrp.com/4bJCVwm

Board members who freeze at the word "fundraising" can still become effective ambassadors. Nonprofit leaders and consultants share how to set clear expectations, train trustees, and pair them with staff to bring in gifts. Read the full story: https://phlnthrp.com/4zazton

How to turn board members into confident fundraisers

Board members often freeze when asked to fundraise. Experts share how clear expectations and training build confident donor ambassadors.

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Lead. Grow. Make an impact. Chronicle membership comes in three tiers, from full digital access to Premium perks like GrantStation and expert trainings. Memberships start at $12 a month — find the one that fits your mission. https://phlnthrp.com/3RFPLVF

Nonprofit leaders are navigating more political tension in the workplace than ever before. In an op-ed, Ilana Kaufman, CEO of the Jews of Color Initiative, shares 3 strategies for defusing conflict without letting it consume the mission. Read the full op-ed: https://phlnthrp.com/4yOQPXY

Chronicle CEO @stacypalmer.bsky.social talks with Barr Foundation President Ali Noorani on Aug. 11 about regional philanthropy, rebuilding trust, and working across divides. 🔗 Register: https://phlnthrp.com/3ROPiAo #AskTheCEO #thecommons #philanthropy

You have 48 hours to send a thank-you note before it hurts your odds of a repeat gift, fundraising experts say. Read the full story to learn why "on behalf of" backfires, and where AI thank-yous fall short. https://phlnthrp.com/4gfX4N0

9 Tips for Thank-Yous That Make Donors Feel Valued

Psychologists have unlocked new ways to help you speak your supporters’ love languages and cultivate lasting ties.

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A House Democrats report alleges Freedom 250 exploited its similar name to America250, redirecting donors' funds. Freedom 250 denies wrongdoing. An accounting professor says, if true, it could be charitable solicitation fraud. https://phlnthrp.com/4zaTfAn

Trump administration group allegedly misdirected donors from bipartisan charity

A report by House Democrats alleges Freedom 250 misdirected donors from the similar sounding America250.

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"It's time we harness the full power of our vast investments... to renew faith in an American Dream that works for everyone," writes Antony Bugg-Levine. Grants alone can't solve the affordable housing and jobs crisis. Read the full op-ed: https://phlnthrp.com/4xhWMLl

An influx of new foundation leaders is adapting to their roles as philanthropy tries to tell its story to a skeptical audience. New CEOs at Ford, Pew, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and more bring nonprofit experience that may help them navigate growing scrutiny. https://phlnthrp.com/3TCe5s4

Foundations look to new leaders to tell their story in a time of skepticism

New foundation leaders are called upon to take a more visible public role.

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Most nonprofits know they should have a succession plan — far fewer have one in writing. Learn how to build one that holds up during a leadership transition at our Sept. 17 webinar. Early bird pricing ($69) ends Aug. 20. Register: https://phlnthrp.com/4w5lXji

Paying staff living wages doesn't have to be an impossible hurdle. It starts with changing how you fundraise. Here is how leaders are shifting from a scarcity mindset to securing the unrestricted revenue needed to pay staff well. https://phlnthrp.com/3TX1kZ6

Want to pay staff more? Here’s how to raise the money

Nonprofit leaders share fundraising strategies to raise staff pay, from major gifts and unrestricted funding to donor engagement.

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Chronicle CEO @stacypalmer.bsky.social leads a live conversation with Arnold Ventures CEO Kelli Rhee on Aug. 18, covering the Arnolds' giving strategy, including new attention to sports betting's toll on men and boys. Free, with live Q&A. Register: https://phlnthrp.com/4vQe80O

Foundations have committed more than $500 million to train electricians, mechanics, carpenters and other skilled tradespeople — jobs widely seen as AI-proof. Read the full break down why grant makers are rushing into this space. https://phlnthrp.com/45GS0Lt

Small fundraising teams can still build lasting donor ties. Our Sept. 10 #philwebinar features leaders from a nonprofit that survived a funding loss and a national org that coaches its chapters. $69 discount ends Aug. 13. Register today: https://phlnthrp.com/4wijXo4 🗓️ September 10 | 2pm ET

Federal funding shifts. Inflation. Geopolitical crisis. Your donors are feeling the fatigue, but you don't have to lose them. Insights from #Bridge2026 conference on how top nonprofits are breaking through the noise. https://phlnthrp.com/4hfCHk

In polarized times, here are 3 ways to keep donors engaged

Experts at the Bridge Conference share nonprofit fundraising tips on branding, texting donors, and engaging supporters in a polarized environment.

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Why does religion remain stronger in the U.S. than in Western Europe? One factor: America's separation of church and state forced congregations to rely on donor funding, fueling a philanthropic tradition of religious colleges, schools and scholarships. https://phlnthrp.com/3TDbZrS

The financial dilemma that wound up helping U.S. churches thrive

The separation of church and state was an engine for the extraordinary growth of philanthropy, which helped fuel American churches’ growth and innovation.

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Opinion: The number of U.S. banks has dropped 75% since the mid-1980s. Foundations and nonprofits — sitting on more than $8 trillion in assets — are uniquely positioned to step in where commercial lenders won't. https://phlnthrp.com/4xhWMLl

As local banks vanish, foundations should fill the lending gap

With 75% fewer U.S. banks than in the 1980s, foundations are using mission-aligned loans to fund housing, jobs, and rural growth.

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George Norcross III, a former South Jersey kingmaker, gave $100M to Cooper University Health Care for education and job-training programs across South Jersey. And Vanderbilt U., Active Minds, and Cambridge U. all got multimillion-dollar gifts. https://phlnthrp.com/4xmozuc

⏰ Last chance! Our Aug. 6 #philwebinar tackles how to turn skeptical board members into real fundraisers — even in a tough funding climate. Join fundraising experts R. Romona Jackson and Adrienne Longenecker and host Rasheeda Childress. Register now: https://phlnthrp.com/4cecWx1

A $10B donor-advised fund was barred from Georgia after its CEO allegedly used donor money for personal expenses. A similarly named charity has now surfaced in Wyoming — one of the least regulated states for nonprofits. Read the full report: https://phlnthrp.com/4yR3WYs

AI didn't break your nonprofit's voice — it revealed whether you had one, writes fundraiser Michelle Flores Vryn in a Chronicle of Philanthropy op-ed. Her advice: pick one type of communication where human effort should stay non-negotiable. Read the full op-ed: https://phlnthrp.com/4tyS6z7

Some nonprofits are trading big-ticket galas for small, private dinners and virtual briefings — and finding they raise more from major donors at a fraction of the cost. How the "anti-gala" works: https://phlnthrp.com/4hLCi9d

Small events that win big gifts, no gala required

Nonprofits use intimate dinners and virtual briefings to deepen donor relationships and win major gifts — no gala required.

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Skip the fundraising gala? The Alpha-1 Foundation spent around $10K on 4 donor dinners this year that raised nearly $500K in major gifts. A new story from senior editor M.J. Prest looks at why nonprofits are ditching big galas for smaller events. Read the full report at: https://phlnthrp.com/4hLCi9d

A decade of record democracy funding — yet trust in institutions keeps falling. Rachel Pritzker, chair of the Democracy Funders Network, asks if philanthropy has been part of the problem, and what funders should do differently. Read the full op-ed: https://phlnthrp.com/4biw7pj

New analysis: Federal grants to everyday charities fell nearly 38% — from $35.4B to $21.4B — in Trump's first eight months back in office vs. the same period under Biden. Read the full report: https://phlnthrp.com/4pSe6UK

A $10 billion donor-advised fund went quiet after its last IRS filing in 2022. Georgia barred it from soliciting donors this summer. Now it appears to have resurfaced in Wyoming, where charity oversight is looser — leaving one question: What happened to the money? https://phlnthrp.com/4yR3WYs

Mysterious $10 Billion Crypto DAF Barred in Georgia, Appears to Re-Emerge in Wyoming

Fraudulent charities often shop for states with lax jurisdiction. A crypto-based donor-advised fund appears to have done that after Georgia authorities shut it down.

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