‘Philanthropy Changed My Life’: Elton John on What’s Next for His AIDS Charity
In an email interview with the Chronicle, the musician says he was “in a very selfish place and deep into addiction” before establishing his nonprofit. Now he’s working on new ways to stomp out the stigma of the disease and make sure the most vulnerable have access to treatment.
By Julian Wyllie
Contributor
Movember CEO Takes Top Job at Starlight Children’s Foundation (Transitions)
Also, the New Century Trust hires its next leader, and the Brookings Institution’s head of development has joined Resources for the Future.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
5 Steps Nonprofits Can Take to Make Research More Equitable
Here’s how nonprofits can incorporate the views and experiences of research subjects, whose firsthand experience can often lead to better solutions.
Research Can Perpetuate Inequity: New Guide Shows How to Change That
Among the tips, involve community members you hope to help before launching a research project.
By Michael Theis
Contributor
Gates Foundation Will Try to Answer the Question, Is College Worth the Cost?
The grant maker created a 30-member commission to explore the value that a variety of educational options can provide, including a four-year college, community college, and certificate program.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
4 Big Foundations Commit $20 Million to Promote the Census — and Call for More
Ford, JPB, Kellogg, and Open Society add new funds and issue a call for more grants, noting that the census affects a wide range of philanthropic missions and needs to be accurate.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
Social Change Can’t Happen Without Powerful Storytelling
All of us in the nonprofit world need to remember to make our stories accessible: It really doesn’t matter how smart your ideas are or how persuasive your pitch is if nobody can understand you.
By Cecile Richards
Contributor
Inside L.A. LGBT Center’s $57 Million Campaign
Lorri Jean, long-tenured CEO of the nation’s oldest gay and lesbian community center, reflects on how her organization got donors to give big and what’s changed for fundraisers in the post-marriage-equality era.
By HEATHER JOSLYN
Contributor
How a University Used Data Analytics to Improve Fundraising — and You Can, Too
Data shapes fundraising strategies and performance evaluations at the University of Iowa.
By BRENNEN JENSEN
Contributor
(Red) CEO Will Next Lead MusiCares (Transitions)
Also, the Glaucoma Foundation hires a new CEO, and Jean Vanier, who won the Templeton Prize in 2015 for his work helping disabled people, has died at age 90.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Rescuing Philanthropy From Business
The use of management principles is all the rage at nonprofits these days, but a new book calls into question whether that’s such a good idea.
By LESLIE LENKOWSKY
Contributor
Donor-Advised Funds Grow in Popularity as Tools for Impact Investing
Beyond Meat’s splashy IPO and a new venture fund launched Tuesday by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are the latest examples of investors using donor-advised funds to place bets on companies that try to achieve social good.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
A Fourth of Monthly Donors Who Started With a One-Time Gift Make Other Contributions, Study Says
It takes first-time online supporters nearly a year to give again, according to a new report from the fundraising platform Classy.
By HEATHER JOSLYN
Contributor
Tyler Cowen’s Free-Market Think Tank Takes Innovative Approach to Tech Grants
Emergent Ventures, a program at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, gives grantees wide latitude to pursue ideas with little oversight.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Washington Ballet Lands New Executive Director (Transitions)
Also, New Music USA appoints its next leader, and the CEO of the Tides Foundation will depart this year.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
Use Marketing and Positioning to Advance Fundraising
Generate interest and awareness of the benefits your organization provides, then convert that into donations.
By Bill Davidow
Contributor