Soros Foundation Closes in Turkey: Daily News Roundup
Days before the shutdown, President Tayyip Erdogan said George Soros “assigns people to divide nations and shatter them.” Plus, Chef Jose Andres has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; the Trump Foundation made no donations last year; the Trump Organization gave more than $500,000 to the Trump Foundation in 2017, according to a tax return; an effort to encourage people to include charities in their estate planning aims to raise $1 trillion; plus, articles about Giving Tuesday and more.
As the Bezos Billions Begin to Flow, a Picture of His Giving Philosophy Emerges
The Amazon founder has said little publicly about what motives his philanthropy, but a closer look at Mary’s Place and other early recipients of his giving reveals some common traits of nonprofits he likes.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Giving Rose 14% Last Quarter, Mainly Due to Big Gifts
Big donors have driven the growth so far this year, but nonprofits should be concerned that smaller contributors are giving less, researchers say.
By Timothy Sandoval
Contributor
Lawsuit Against Trump and His Nonprofit Allowed to Proceed: Daily News Roundup
A judge in New York State denied President Trump’s lawyers’ request to dismiss a suit against the Trump Foundation brought by the state attorney general. In other articles, after Facebook admitted using a controversial public-relations firm to research George Soros, his philanthropy says lawmakers should scrutinize the social-media site more closely; Phil Knight gave $109 million to his foundation; Jeff Bezos donated $97.5 million to groups that aid the homeless; and much more.
Trump Foundation, Soros and Facebook, Whitaker and DAFs: Daily News Roundup
The N.Y. attorney general filed the lawsuit in June accusing Trump and three of his children of misusing the grant maker to advance his presidential campaign. In other articles, Nike’s Phil Knight gave $109 million to his foundation; Jeff Bezos gave $97.5 million to help the homeless; House Republicans plan to hear testimony on whether the Clinton Foundation engaged in improper activities; a nonprofit with obscure origins and source of funds gave Matthew Whitaker $1.2 million. Plus much more.
Ford Foundation’s 2-Year, $205 Million Headquarters Makeover Is Complete: Daily News Roundup
The building has a soaring atrium and a saw-tooth skylight but also a smaller footprint with room for other foundations, plus a public art gallery and a touch-and-feel garden for the blind. Plus, the Trump administration’s Opportunity Zones could be a boon to distressed areas; Michael Bloomberg’s $1.8 billion gift to Johns Hopkins has prompted a variety of responses; Rhode Island prisons are working to get opioid treatment for inmates; and more about innovation and cultural groups.
Trump Administration Urged 4H Youth Group to Drop LGBT Policy: Daily News Roundup
The move helped lead to the CEO’s firing. Plus, housing units for homeless people provided by a New York City nonprofit are unsafe for children, according to a city review, and the group fails to see that residents get social services; a foundation CEO gets about $40,000 a year for working there two hours a week, according to a foundation report; giving circles account for a small fraction of charitable giving, but they’ve been on the rise; and much more.
Mayo Clinic Gets $200 Million for Medical School: Gifts Roundup
Also, a charter-school group and five additional universities got big gifts.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Nonprofits Are at Risk as the Wealthy Gain More Philanthropic Clout, Report Argues
A new analysis from the Institute for Policy Studies contends that tax-law changes are needed to rein in power of big philanthropy.
By Drew Lindsay
Senior Editor, Special Projects
Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg Gives $50 Million and Commits $50 Million More for New Foundation
The embattled chief operating officer of the social media giant came under fire this week for her role in hiring a political opposition research firm to discredit her company’s critics.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Michael Bloomberg Commits $1.8 Billion to Johns Hopkins: Updated News Roundup
Updated: The record-breaking gift will go to the Johns Hopkins University for financial aid so any student, regardless of family income, can attend the institution. Plus: AbbVie will give $55 million to groups that help low-income students succeed in school. Plus, the IRS says gift and estate tax limits will be higher in 2019; three people are under arrest for a GoFundMe campaign based on a fabricated story, which raised $400,000; a company launched by Bono’s daughter has created a tool to make donating and social activism simpler; Tennessee’s education commissioner will become head of a national education charity; and more news and articles.
Soros Says Facebook Campaign Was ‘Reprehensible’: Daily News Roundup
The president of Soros’s Open Society Foundations said he was “shocked to learn" that the social-media site had allegedly promoted a Soros conspiracy to discredit is critics. Plus, a former Google executive has started a nonprofit to fight sexism in the tech industry; the Baltimore Symphony has suspended its concertmaster, who was accused of inappropriate behavior; Brandeis gets $10 million to help Japanese students; and more about ideas and opinion.
$200 Million Gift Goes to Mayo Clinic for Medical Education: Daily News Roundup
Among other things, the money will fund scholarships and educational programs for artificial intelligence and other new technologies. Plus, after San Francisco voters passed a new tax on big businesses to fight homelessness, Airbnb is giving $5 million to the cause; the CEO of Citadel is giving $10 million to open Success Academy middle schools in Brooklyn and Queens; Forbes magazine releases a list of 30 social entrepreneurs under age 30. See read more on ideas, opinion, and innovation.
Money From Sale of Seattle Seahawks Will Go to Paul Allen Foundation: Daily News Roundup
No sale is imminent, but a report says that potential buyers are preparing to bid on the team and the sale “could set a record.” In other articles, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has given $200 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation; contributions to the Clinton Foundation have dropped for the third year in a row; the Washington Post looks at how the Southern Poverty Law Center defines hate; and more news and articles about big donors and gifts as well as ideas and innovation.
Boston U. Gets $25 Million: Gifts Roundup
Five other universities, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Semper Fi Fund all received big donations.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Harvard Medical School Gets $200 Million to Speed Up Research: Daily News Roundup
The money will go, in part, for data science and a lab space for biotech startups. In other articles, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s new CEO has been an executive with Arizona State and Stanford universities; and the Catholic Church has a history of moving priests accused of sex abuse into non-English-speaking immigrant communities, according to legal documents from child-abuse settlements that took place decades ago. Plus, more news.