‘You Never Get Anything Completely Right the First Time’
Billionaire hedge-fund manager Bruce Kovner and his wife, Suzie, pour money into efforts to help needy students afford a top-tier education, particularly in the arts.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Handle a ‘No’ Gracefully, and Other Tips From Big Donors
Bruce and Suzie Kovner give generously but have serious concerns about how some fundraisers approach philanthropists.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
U. of Houston Reportedly Secures $20 Million Naming Gift
After regaining naming rights to the campus basketball arena to raise money for its renovation, the University of Houston plans to rechristen the venue in honor of a $20 million donor, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Gifts Roundup: $75 Million From Ronald Perelman Boosts Arts at World Trade Center
The New York performance venue, scheduled to open in 2020, will be named for the billionaire financier.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Court Stops Construction of Diller’s $130 Million N.Y. Park
A New York State appeals court granted a preliminary injunction Thursday temporarily halting work on the Hudson River park project financially backed by billionaire media mogul Barry Diller, writes The New York Times.
$75 Million Perelman Gift Backs New N.Y.C. Arts Center
The donation announced Wednesday by billionaire businessman Ronald Perelman revivifies long-gestating efforts to include a multidisciplinary performance venue in the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, The New York Times writes.
From the Archives: A Look Back at the Philanthropy of Trump and Clinton
With the presidential contenders’ charitable work (or lack thereof) drawing intense scrutiny on the campaign trail, we look back to past Chronicle coverage of Donald Trump’s and Hillary Clinton’s philanthropy.
Market Turmoil Calls for Reviewing Fundraising Strategy, Experts Say
The economic fallout of the Brexit vote is likely to have a small negative impact on fundraising for U.S. charities.
By Eden Stiffman
Senior Editor
Mo. Firm Goes Bankrupt With $22 Million Outstanding on Gift
A hotel company that filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday still owes most of a $30 million pledge by its late founder to help build an arena at Missouri State University, reports the Springfield News-Leader.
Podcast: Fine-Tuning Fundraising to Draw Female Donors
Andrea Pactor of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy talks about what nonprofits can do to draw support from a growing class of wealthy women.
By TONY MARTIGNETTI
Contributor
Gifts Roundup: Israel’s Ben-Gurion University Lands $400 Million for Water Research
Other notable donations include $25 million to Carnegie Hall and $17.5 million to support cancer studies at the University of Michigan.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
George Lucas Museum Pulls Plug on Plan to Build in Chicago
Two years after the movie mogul formally selected Chicago as the home for his collection of art and film memorabilia, and more than 18 months into a legal battle over the project’s planned waterfront location, officials with the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art announced Friday that they are abandoning their effort to build in the city, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Couple Who Escaped Nazis Leave $400 Million to Israeli University
The late Howard and Lottie Marcus, who met and married in the United States after fleeing Hitler’s Germany, were longtime benefactors of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Foundation Plans Surge of Grants for Social Entrepreneurs
Draper Richards Kaplan, which provides unrestricted grants of $300,000 and other support, plans to back 100 new ventures in the next five years.
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
$25 Million Gift Puts Business Mogul’s Name on Carnegie Hall Boxes
The donation from Len Blavatnik and his family foundation nearly doubles the take to date in the venue’s $125 million capital campaign, according to The New York Times.
U. of Alberta Gets $42 Million for Women and Children’s Health
The joint gift from two medical foundations supports the Canadian university’s Women and Children’s Health Research Institute, Global News reports.