Calif. Says Blue Shield Backing Out on $140 Million Pledge
State regulators and consumer advocates accuse the nonprofit health-insurance company of reneging on a promise to donate an additional $14 million a year to charity for 10 years as part of a merger agreement, the Los Angeles Times writes.
Utah Groups File Suit Against Donor-Disclosure Law
Three nonprofits filed a court challenge Tuesday to a state law aimed at boosting transparency in electoral spending, saying the measure is written so broadly it would ensnare almost any organization commenting on political issues, The Salt Lake Tribune writes.
Fidelity Charitable Now Accepts Bitcoin Donations
The donor-advised fund manager is working with the bitcoin platform Coinbase, which converts the digital currency to cash at no charge. Donors’ tax deductions will depend on how long they have held the currency, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Family Foundations Boosting Clout in Detroit Region
Led by a handful of philanthropies set to significantly increase giving following the deaths of their wealthy founders, family-run funds are upping their impact in the southeastern Michigan, The Detroit News writes.
Ole Miss Alumnus Gives $25 Million for Sports and Scholarships
The gift from surgeon and entrepreneur Gerald “Doc” Hollingsworth includes a $15 million charitable remainder trust to establish an endowment to support athletic scholarships, the Sun Herald of Biloxi writes.
New Anti-Defamation League Leader Reflects on Paris Attacks
Social-policy guru and former White House official Jonathan Greenblatt sees tremendous pressure building on the Jewish community in Europe.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Facebook Debuts New Fundraising Tools
The new features include a “donate” button pilot project that will make it easier for users of the social-media site to give to charity with fewer clicks.
By Megan O’Neil
Contributor
Rick Cohen, Nonprofit Advocate and Journalist, Dies Suddenly at Age 64
The veteran activist headed the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy for nearly eight years and worked at antipoverty groups and government agencies before joining Nonprofit Quarterly.
By SUZANNE PERRY
Contributor
YouTube Helps Drive Donations, Google Study Says
Supporters doubled their viewing on charities’ online video a month before they gave, says a study by Google, which owns YouTube.
By HEATHER JOSLYN
Contributor
Gates Foundation Quietly Sheds Fossil-Fuel Stock
Tax documents show the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has reduced its stake in major oil, coal, and gas companies by two-thirds since 2013, The Seattle Times writes, and a new study asserts the foundation would have seen much greater returns if it had swapped fossil-fuel stocks for greener investments years ago, according to The Guardian.