Philadelphia Schools Group Pledges $35-Million for More Charters
The nonprofit Philadelphia School Partnership says it wants to “take cost off the table” as city education officials weigh applications for new charters that could enroll up to 15,000 students, The Philadelphia Inquirer writes.
September Opening Set for New Broad Museum in L.A.
Eli and Edythe Broad announced Thursday that the Broad, the downtown Los Angeles showcase for their exhaustive collection of contemporary art, will open on September 20, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Film on Campus Rape Could Take Philanthropy Activism to a New Level
“The Hunting Ground” should inspire college donors, legislators, and others to get serious about curbing sexual violence.
By Vincent Stehle
Contributor
Soros and Feeney Funds Backed Calif. Measure on Drug Charges
Private philanthropies contributed several million dollars to last fall’s successful campaign for Proposition 47, a California ballot measure to reduce drug-possession and minor-theft charges to misdemeanors, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Faith Charity to Sue Ky. for Denying Tax Breaks for Ark Park
Answers in Genesis, a nonprofit group that promotes a literal interpretation of the Bible, said Tuesday that it will file a federal bias suit against Kentucky for denying it tax incentives to help finance a Noah’s Ark-based theme park, reports The Courier-Journal of Louisville.
Nonprofit ECMC to Forgive Student Debt in Corinthian Deal
The nonprofit organization taking over more than 50 campuses from commercial educator Corinthian Colleges has agreed to forgive $480-million in private student loans, clearing the way for federal approval of the sale, The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press write.
Broad Foundation Hits ‘Pause’ on $1-Million Education Prize
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has put a hold on awarding its yearly prize for advances in urban school districts, citing disappointing academic results and difficulty finding qualified finalists, Education Week writes.
Alibaba Puts $129-Million Into Entrepreneurship Nonprofit
The Chinese Internet giant announced the creation of a new nonprofit aimed at helping Hong Kong entrepreneurs build businesses using Alibaba’s platforms, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Big 2014 Losses Spell End for $250-Million N.Y. Nonprofit
The Federation Employment and Guidance Service, one of the country’s largest social-service charities and a major provider of New York City programs for vulnerable populations, said Friday that it is shutting down after losing $19.4-million last year, Crain’s New York Business writes.
Stanford U. Gets $50-Million Gates Grant for Vaccine Work
The 10-year-grant announced Friday by the university and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will help establish a new Stanford center focused on harnessing the immune system to develop inoculations for AIDS, malaria, and other deadly diseases, reports Reuters.
Egypt’s Crackdown on Political Islam Hits Faith Charities
Major charities serving Egypt’s poor have been left reeling by the government’s crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood political organization, Foreign Policy magazine writes.
Economic Rebound Sends Art Museums on a Buying Spree
After years of reining in acquisitions amid the economic slump, art museums are again expanding their collections, with many riding the recovery to build up holdings in underrepresented areas like photography, decorative arts, and works by black, Asian, and Latin American artists, the New York Observer writes.
Ebola Failings Prompt WHO to Mull Global Volunteer Force
Chastened by criticism of the World Health Organization’s slow response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the United Nations affiliate’s executive board approved a set of reforms Sunday aimed at strengthening its disease-fighting capabilities, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times report.
IRS Audits Are Rare for Politically Active Nonprofits
Since the 2010 Citizens United ruling ushered in the era of “dark money” nonprofits spending tens of millions of dollars on political campaigns, the Internal Revenue Service has begun audits of just 26 organizations to determine if they are flouting restrictions on electioneering, according to the Center for Public Integrity.
Obituary: Peggy Charren, Pioneering Advocate for Educational TV
Ms. Charren, who was 86, founded Action for Children’s Television, a grass-roots advocacy group that helped revolutionize programming for kids, The Boston Globe writes.
Bloomberg Launches $48-Million Clean-Energy Effort
Bloomberg Philanthropies and California climate activists Mark Heising and Elizabeth Simons will fund the effort to help states and localities speed their transition to cleaner energy sources, The Hill and The New York Times write.