Donor-Advised Funds Channeled 30% More Dollars to Charities in First Half of 2020
People with advised funds provided $8.3 billion over the first six months of 2020 compared with the same time in 2019, according to a new report from the National Philanthropic Trust.
By Michael Theis
Contributor
We Need to Fix Problematic Charitable Giving Laws. The Biden Administration Can Help.
It’s time to overhaul tax laws that favor wealthy white donors, encourage delayed giving, and fail to prevent nonprofit fraud and abuse.
By Roger Colinvaux
Contributor
Foundations That Want to Support Local Journalism Should Take a Close Look at Alt Weeklies
For relatively small investments, philanthropy could help preserve some of the most important local journalism around—and fend off growing rightwing “news” sites.
By David Wallis
Contributor
In Defense of the Jewish Future Pledge
Endowments like this one are not some nefarious plot to control the world from beyond the grave. They are simply a way to set aside money to protect the values and institutions we care about for future generations.
Community Foundations Wrestle Over Whether to Accept Government Help
With Congress negotiating a renewal of the Paycheck Protection Program, debate may rise anew within community foundation over whether their pursuit of the loans would siphon funds from service-providing nonprofits.
By Alex Daniels and Michael Theis
Plan to Boost Donor Payout Faces Long Odds in Congress, but Some Advocates Say the Timing Is Right
A plan to rewrite federal rules governing how quickly money from foundation endowments and donor-advised funds must be given out to charity faces long odds in a new Congress that will be busy dealing with a lengthy list of other pressing issues, according to some nonprofit leaders.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
A Nonprofit Wish List for Biden: a Cabinet-Level Agency, Charitable-Deduction Changes, and More
Charities will see an about-face on many issues, but with a divided Congress, they may need to adjust their strategies. Here’s what to expect.
By Ben Gose
Senior Editor
Volunteerism Falls Sharply Amid Covid, Study Says
However, most people say they plan to resume their volunteer work when it’s safe to do so, according to a new study by Fidelity Charitable.
By dan.parks
Contributor
Letters to the Editor on Domestic Violence and About Fidelity Charitable
Insights on the prevention of domestic violence and a critique of an article about influence peddling on policies affecting donor-advised funds.
Donor-Advised Funds Aren’t All Warehouses of Wealth
A leader of a New Jersey Jewish fund says new proposals to regulate DAFs should recognize the stark differences in giving rates by those at commercially sponsored funds versus those rooted in a specific region.
Foundations Are Sending More Dollars to Donor-Advised Funds, Chronicle Analysis Finds
Congress is facing growing pressure to stop the transfers, which allow grant makers to keep secret many of the details about their giving.
By Marc Gunther
Contributor
$208 Million Committed in Crisis Relief Campaign That Billionaires Started
A new effort urges increased giving by foundations, donor-advised fund account holders, and wealthy individuals, with a special focus on democracy and racial justice.
By dan.parks
Contributor
$12 Billion Pledged Worldwide to Fight Covid-19 in First Half of 2020
However, the report by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Candid found relatively little funding earmarked for women, people of color, people with disabilities, and other historically disadvantaged groups.
By Michael Theis
Contributor
Nonprofits Plan for Year-End Fundraising — and Uncertainty
Charities are looking to existing donors, especially wealthy ones, to give during the last quarter of the year. The pandemic, record unemployment, and a divisive presidential campaign make planning tough.
By Emily Haynes and Eden Stiffman
#HalfMyDAF Movement Spurs $4.7 Million in Grants So Far, Co-Founder Says
A movement to spur more giving fast from donor-advised-fund accounts has generated about $4.1 million for 442 charities, according to data provide by one of the founders of the effort.
By dan.parks
Contributor
How the 2.4% Gain in Giving Last Year Points to What Will Happen in 2020
Giving was uneven last year, so some nonprofits — like those focused on education and the arts — had a big fundraising cushion before the pandemic hit. We show you how trends in 2019 point the way to what might happen by the end of 2020.
By Emily Haynes and Michael Theis