S. California Arts Groups Court Chinese-American Donors
With Southern California’s well-to-do Chinese-Americans expected to step up giving in the coming years, the region’s cultural institutions are expanding outreach efforts in a bid to expand audience diversity and donor pools, writes the Los Angeles Times.
Mega-Gifts on the Rise at Colleges, Study Says
While donations of more than $50-million were up in 2014, the total number of contributions greater than $1-million declined by 8 percent.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
Princeton U. Receives $300-Million Rare-Book Bequest
The late oil heir William H. Scheide, who built a library at Princeton University to house one of the world’s finest collections of rare books and manuscripts, willed ownership of the trove to the New Jersey institution, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Coldplay Star Makes 15-Year Pledge to Curate Benefit Shows
Chris Martin committed to using his considerable connections in rock and pop music to curate festivals put on by the activist group Global Citizen to spur anti-poverty work, writes the Associated Press.
House Passes Bill to Make Charity Tax Breaks Permanent
The legislation would affect gifts to food banks and land conservation as well as money moved directly from retirement accounts to charity.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
Elderly Donor Sues University for Return of $12-Million Gift
A 98-year-old philanthropist has gone to court in a bid to reclaim the 2013 donation to Chapman University, alleging the Southern California institution exploited his age to induce him to make the gift, the Orange County Register reports.
N.Y. Trust OKs Lease for Diller’s $130-Million Pier Park
The Hudson River Park Trust approved a lease agreement Wednesday with a group led by billionaire media mogul Barry Diller that aims to build a $130-million park and cultural center on the waterway, reports The New York Times.
Adelson Boosts Birthright Israel Giving by $40-Million
Billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has donated another $40-million to Birthright Israel, adding to the $140-million his family has already given the charity that provides free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports. The latest Adelson Family Foundation gift includes a $20-million challenge grant. Since 2000 Birthright has provided travel to Israel for some 350,000 young Jews.
The couple donated the money to their family foundation.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Watchdog vs. Self-Promotion: Why Donor Lists Matter
Competition over who gave the most has been with us since Carnegie and Rockefeller, but now rankings reflect tough questions about philanthropy itself.
By BENJAMIN SOSKIS
Contributor
More Tech Entrepreneurs Inclined to Give Now Instead of Waiting
But even as tech leaders increase their giving, some worry that too little is going to deal with problems in the Bay Area.
By Megan O’Neil
Contributor
A Science Charity Uses a Big Gift to Woo New Donors
The Foundation Fighting Blindness is trying to raise $100-million with the help of a $50-million donation from its founder, Gordon Gund.
By Michael Anft
Contributor
When Scientific Research Can’t Get Federal Funds, Private Money Steps In
Donors are pouring money into programs that are too experimental or obscure to qualify for government funds.
By Michael Anft
Contributor
How The Chronicle of Philanthropy Compiled the List of Top 50 Donors
The list shows how much wealthy people contributed in the past year.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Philanthropy 50 Over the Past Decade
See the total amounts donors on the Philanthropy 50 have contributed, plus learn how the size of the biggest and smallest gifts have changed over the years.
6 Graphics to Tell You More About the 2015 Philanthropy 50
Find out what causes and institutions fared the best in 2014, which states have the most big donors, and which got the most big gifts. Plus, see how giving differed between people who made their fortunes in technology versus finance.
By Maria Di Mento and Idit Knaan