France Charges Charity Officials With Funding Syria Fighting
French authorities have shut down an Islamic nonprofit and charged two of its leaders with financing terrorist activities in Syria, according to The New York Times.
After Nearly Closing, San Diego Opera in Solid Fiscal Shape
The San Diego Opera, which was slated to close down in the spring before it was rescued by a leadership shakeup and an emergency funding campaign, slashed its budget deficit and ended the last fiscal year with stable finances, U-T San Diego reports.
$25-Million Gift Boosts Holocaust Museum Education Programs
The donation from the family of Phoenix businessman William Levine will help the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum expand and diversify its outreach and education efforts, reports the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Cornell and Iowa State Receive $20-Million-Plus Donations
Cornell University announced a $25-million gift Thursday to buoy research on pediatric health and clinical-care programs for children with cancer, asthma, autism, and other conditions, campus newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun and New York Business Journal write.
Art Basel Teams With Kickstarter to Fund Small Art Groups
The international modern- and contemporary-art show known for its focus on high-end works and wealthy patrons has joined with Kickstarter to attract investment in smaller, experimental cultural projects, writes The New York Times.
Big Gifts Are Surging in 2014, Chronicle Tally Finds
The very wealthy have given at least $800-million more to nonprofits so far this year than they did at the same point last year.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Red Cross Misrepresented How Donors’ Dollars Are Spent
The American Red Cross has misrepresented to donors how their dollars are used, claiming it spends less on fundraising and other overhead costs than it does, according to an investigation by ProPublica and NPR
Judge Blocks Fla. City’s Limit on Feeding Homeless Outdoors
Fort Lauderdale was temporarily barred from enforcing a controversial new law that restricts giving food to homeless people outdoors and was ordered to enter mediation with activists who have been violating the measure since it took effect five weeks ago, the Sun Sentinel writes.
Amazon Includes Anti-Gay-Marriage Groups in Giving Program
The e-commerce giant, which is rated highly by gay-rights organizations for its corporate anti-discrimination policies, is drawing fire from some of the same activists because its AmazonSmile charity program allows customers to support groups that oppose marriage equality, writes The Seattle Times.
Anonymous $20-Million Gift Aids Crystal Cathedral Overhaul
The donation to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange in Southern California will support the renovation of its Christ Cathedral, formerly the Crystal Cathedral megachurch, built by televangelist Robert A. Schuller, the Orange County Register reports.