Mo. Firm Goes Bankrupt With $22 Million Outstanding on Gift
A hotel company that filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday still owes most of a $30 million pledge by its late founder to help build an arena at Missouri State University, reports the Springfield News-Leader.
Charity Loophole Opens Way for Import of Endangered Animals
Hunters, breeders, and attractions like zoos, circuses, and theme parks have been able to get around federal restrictions on the import of endangered species by making donations of a few thousand dollars to conservation charities, Reuters reports.
Obituary: Gerald Walpin, Ex-Watchdog of U.S. Service Agency
The former Corporation for National and Community Service inspector general, whose tenure ended in controversy over an investigation of AmeriCorps grants, died Friday after being struck by a vehicle in a Manhattan crosswalk, writes The New York Times. He was 84.
For Muslim Charities and Donors, Peak Giving Season Is Now
The holy month of Ramadan, which concludes July 5, means a flurry of giving by the 3.3 million American Muslims — a donor market largely untapped by non-Islamic nonprofits.
By Rebecca Koenig
Contributor
Podcast: Fine-Tuning Fundraising to Draw Female Donors
Andrea Pactor of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy talks about what nonprofits can do to draw support from a growing class of wealthy women.
By TONY MARTIGNETTI
Contributor
Dark Money on the Rise in Statewide Elections, Report Says
The amount spent on electioneering in six states by nonprofit organizations that are not required to disclose donors has skyrocketed from $600,000 to $22 million in the last decade, the Associated Press writes, citing a New York University study.
Small Arab-American Museum Attracts Diverse Visitors
A Detroit-area museum focused on Arab history and contributions to culture and science has surprised observers by quickly earning national recognition and attracting many non-Arab visitors, writes The Detroit News.
Gifts Roundup: Israel’s Ben-Gurion University Lands $400 Million for Water Research
Other notable donations include $25 million to Carnegie Hall and $17.5 million to support cancer studies at the University of Michigan.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
George Lucas Museum Pulls Plug on Plan to Build in Chicago
Two years after the movie mogul formally selected Chicago as the home for his collection of art and film memorabilia, and more than 18 months into a legal battle over the project’s planned waterfront location, officials with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art announced Friday that they are abandoning their effort to build in the city, the Chicago Tribune reports.
GOP Insider Tapped to Head Conservative Bradley Foundation
Richard Graber, a lawyer, corporate executive, and longtime leading figure in Wisconsin Republican politics, has been named CEO of the $850 million Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, one of the country’s biggest philanthropic backers of right-wing groups and causes, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.