In Wake of MIT-Epstein News, ‘Whistleblower Aid’ Sees Uptick in Informants, Including Nonprofits
It’s unclear whether exposing a major controversy in the philanthropic world — whistle-blower Signe Swenson’s accusations against MIT — will pose a fundraising challenge.
By Eden Stiffman
Senior Editor
Southwestern U. President Will Take Helm of St. David’s Foundation (Transitions)
Also, a new director of foreign-policy advocacy joins the U.S. arm of the Open Society Foundations, and fundraisers at MIT and Brown depart due to connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Using Philanthropy to Eliminate Medical Debt (Podcast)
Through donors contributions, RIP Medical Debt has been able to forgive over $800 million of personal medical debt.
A Foundation Collapsed. Its Money Is Gone. What Happened Is Shrouded in Mystery.
Ford and other big grant makers that supported ZeroDivide have a lot of questions. So does California’s attorney general.
By MARC GUNTHER
Contributor
Oilman T. Boone Pickens, Who Showered More Than $500 Million on Oklahoma State, Dies at 91
With a net worth that once topped $1 billion, the brash Texan appeared on the Chronicle’s annual list of the biggest donors five times over the years. He also gave to help troubled children and the environment, among other causes.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Whistle-Blower Tells the Backstory of Jeffrey Epstein and MIT Media Lab
Signe Swenson raised concerns with her supervisors that she says were ignored.
By Eden Stiffman
Senior Editor
Grant Makers Should Tell Society How They’ll Use Their Wealth and Power, Report Says
Amid a rising tide of mistrust directed at all kinds of elite institutions, a new report calls on foundations and big individual donors to clearly articulate how they plan to use their wealth and power to make the world a better place.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
Bloomberg Philanthropies Commits $160 Million to Stop Teen Vaping (Grants Roundup)
Also, Co-Impact is giving $20 million to strengthen health systems in Liberia, and the Lowell Observatory receives $15 million to build a new astronomy center.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Jeffrey Epstein and Nonprofits: Recent News
Disgraced billionaire and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at least nine times and gave $850,000 to the institution, as officials there sought to keep the relationship under wraps, a new report says. Plus: The MIT report does little to settle the question of tech magnates’ complicity in Epstein’s philanthropy and reputation laundering.
Music Mogul Berry Gordy Jr. Gives $4 Million to Motown Museum (Gifts Roundup)
Plus, actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds gave $2 million for social justice and detained immigrant children, and five universities received big donations.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor