America’s Favorite Charities 2021
See our full ranking with data profiles of the nonprofits that earn the most support from individual Americans, private foundations, and corporate philanthropies.
By Michael Theis
Contributor
Dance as a Tool for Social Change Is Honored
It’s been a good year for choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, founder of the dance ensemble Urban Bush Women. She was named a MacArthur fellow, and her organization received $3 million from MacKenzie Scott.
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Big Shifts for Philanthropy: What’s Coming in the Decade Ahead
Where is philanthropy headed over the next 10 years?
How the Chronicle Conducted Its 2021 America’s Favorite Charities Survey
Our survey of the nonprofits that raise the most in gifts of cash and stock used data compiled from Internal Revenue Service Form 990 filings, surveys sent to tax-exempt organizations, and other sources.
By Michael Theis
Contributor
Is the Nonprofit World Afraid of Feelings?
A personal and emotional connection to a cause, along with a strong sense of urgency, are the most important motivators for giving. Yet fundraisers continue to prioritize data-driven approaches that often discourage people from donating more.
By Asha Curran and Woodrow Rosenbaum
A Legacy of Sackler: Let’s Reconsider Philanthropic Naming Rights
A court settlement with the family whose fortune was made in opioids set a new precedent, one that should influence how nonprofits think about plastering the names of their benefactors on buildings and programs.
By Benjamin Soskis
Contributor
Grant Makers Pour Dollars Into Improving How Kids Learn Amid Continued Covid Concerns
Foundations are especially concerned about finding ways to help the hardest-hit youngsters: those who come from low-income families as well as students of color.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Angela Williams has taken the helm of the nation’s largest charity with a powerhouse résumé behind her — and a long list of challenges in front of her.
By dan.parks
Contributor
How to Ensure People With Disabilities Can Participate Fully in Virtual Events
Organizations that don’t prioritize accommodations for people with disabilities at their events convey the message that they don’t matter.
By LISA SCHOHL
Contributor
4 Ways to Reshape Nonprofit Recruitment and Hiring
The head of a new nonprofit would like to transform the way nonprofits approach recruiting and hiring. Here’s how.
By Linda Nguyen
Contributor