Today's Philanthropy Pulse
UNFI Foundation’s Charity Classic hits record $1.1M for food‑access grants
The annual Charity Classic golf event raised a record $1.1M, surpassing previous years’ totals. The fundraiser will allocate $50,000 grants to each of 22 grantees, supporting both rapid emergency relief and long‑term local food‑system resilience.
ARMS RACE
The Supreme Court’s Callais ruling sharply narrows the Voting Rights Act, allowing partisan redistricting to replace race‑based criteria. The decision sparks an "arms race" as both Republicans and Democrats eye the dismantling of majority‑minority districts in Southern states and beyond. Analyst Brian of Oath projects up to four House seats could flip in 2026 and as many as twelve by 2028, while Senate control remains marginal for Democrats. Economic headwinds, however, are currently muting market reactions to the political shift.
Artist Foundations’ Net Worth Has Nearly Tripled to $9 B., Led by Cy Twombly Foundation’s $1.5 B. In Art and Assets
Research by the Aspen Institute’s Artist‑Endowed Foundation Initiative shows U.S. artist foundations now control roughly $9 billion in assets, a 17% rise from 2018 and nearly triple the 2011 level. Five foundations—led by the Cy Twombly Foundation with $1.5 billion—hold more than half...
Mercy Fort Smith Hits $41 Million Goal to Expand Oncology Services
Mercy Fort Smith announced it has reached its $41 million fundraising target for Phase 1 of a major oncology center expansion, aided by a $2 million challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation. The project will double patient capacity and is slated for completion...
Metropolitan Museum of Art Announces $23M. Gift From Top 200 Collectors Jennifer Rubio and Stewart Butterfield
Jennifer Rubio, founder of travel brand Away, and her husband Stewart Butterfield, co‑founder of Flickr and Slack, have pledged a $23 million gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The donation is earmarked to fully fund the museum’s undergraduate and graduate...
How Narrative AI Insights Help Fundraisers Act Faster
Blackbaud has rolled out Narrative AI insights within its Online Giving product, turning raw donation‑form data into plain‑language recommendations. The AI synthesizes metrics, traffic sources and peer benchmarks to tell fundraisers not just what happened, but what to do next....
Tracking Climate Philanthropy Remains Elusive, Says Kavate
It’s been hard to track climate philanthropy during the past 18 months. Here’s what Michael Kavate learned from a dozen-plus conversations with green groups at the Skoll World Forum. Michael Kavate Reports: https://tinyurl.com/35un5jfz Related IP Resources: Skoll Foundation -https://tinyurl.com/mtkah79 Grants for Climate Change -https://tinyurl.com/mvh59bw7 Environmental...
Pedro Alvarez Pursues Clean Water for Everyone
Pedro JJ Alvarez has a goal - that every human being on planet earth has access to clean water. He is a 2026 Franklin Award winner. See what he's up to in 5 minutes. https://t.co/Jn35m6po10
Progressive Megadonors Bet Big on Content Creators
The Democracy Alliance, the progressive movement’s largest donor network, announced plans to pour tens of millions of dollars into a new media fund aimed at supporting content creators who reach young audiences. After a 2024 retreat, the group concluded that...
Five Good Things: When Trucking Shows up, From Crash Scenes to Community Giving
J.B. Hunt Transport honored 54 drivers who have logged up to 5 million safe miles, underscoring the company’s safety culture. Carrier celebrated planting 1,009,514 trees in 2025, moving toward its 5 million‑tree goal for 2030. Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund awarded more than...
Rockwell Automation Partnering with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Fork Farms to Create Clock Tower Farms
Rockwell Automation has partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and hydroponic specialist Fork Farms to launch Clock Tower Farms, a vertical farming facility inside Rockwell’s Milwaukee headquarters. The farm will house 72 Fork Farms Flex Acre systems managed by Rockwell’s PlantPAx automation, targeting...
Why Philanthropy Matters Newsletter April 2026 (#40)
Why Philanthropy Matters released its April 2026 edition, issue #40, continuing a series of bite‑size chapters that trace philanthropy’s long history and its future trajectory. The newsletter spotlights lessons for civil society, elite donors, and foundations operating in the US and UK,...
Royal Albert Hall Warns of 'Serious Consequences' For Charity as Bill in Danger of Falling
Legislation to amend the Royal Albert Hall’s charitable constitution, introduced in November 2022, is at risk of falling after a carry‑over motion was repeatedly blocked in the Commons before Parliament was prorogued. The private bill seeks to change rules on...
AmfAR Sustains HIV/AIDS Research Amid Funding Cuts
For over 40 years, amfAR has backed research efforts into HIV/AIDS, and is continuing to do so despite government cuts and a widely held perception that AIDS is behind us. Connie Matthiessen Reports: https://tinyurl.com/mr3t6zfa Related IP Resources: Grants for Diseases -https://tinyurl.com/akr4pv9h Grants for Science...
PVH Foundation Commits $10M to Fashion’s Next Generation
PVH Foundation has launched Runway Ahead, pledging $10 million through 2030 to support emerging fashion talent. The program partners with Harlem’s Fashion Row/Icon 360 and the CFDA to deliver grants, mentorship, fellowships, and scholarships. Designers selected will receive production funding and showcase...
Nonprofit News Funding Grows, Rural Gaps Remain
Support for nonprofit local news is on the rise, but there's still vast need in underserved rural areas. Here's how several funding efforts are shaping up. Martha Ramirez Reports: https://tinyurl.com/bp9vvn8c Related IP Resources: Journalism Grants -https://tinyurl.com/4nwuxehu Civic & Democracy Funders -https://tinyurl.com/4zbzy78h Report: Giving for Journalism...
1st Day of the Month - £1 Donation for Wildlife :)
Protect the Wild used its monthly £1 (≈ $1.27) donation drive to fund a series of high‑impact wildlife campaigns in April. A new animation about the Guga hunt amassed over 12 million views and helped the petition approach 160,000 signatures. The group...
Class I Briefs: NS, CSX
Norfolk Southern (NS) announced a Community Disaster Relief Grant Program to support nonprofits aiding communities hit by the South Georgia wildfires, with applications due by May 31. The railroad, which operates 1,700 miles of track and employs over 4,000 people...
Rethinking Wealth and How We Deploy It—Strategically
The article argues that left‑leaning movements must treat wealth as a strategic organizing tool, especially as political attacks on traditional grantmakers intensify. It cites the 180‑plus philanthropies that condemned Trump‑era investigations and the case of 18 Million Rising, which lost a quarter...
Peter Singer to Lead Dual Ethics Forums in Malta, Spotlighting Utilitarian Spirituality
World‑renowned ethicist Peter Singer will address two Philosophy Sharing Foundation events in Malta on May 30 and May 31, 2026. The open forum and annual lecture will examine utilitarianism, animal welfare, global poverty and effective altruism, drawing together philosophers, activists...
Childless Latino Philanthropists Fund Thousands of First‑gen Scholars
Hector and Gloria López never had kids. So through one of the largest Latino-founded private foundations in the U.S., they left their fortune to thousands of first-generation students they'd never meet. Ade Adeniji Reports: https://tinyurl.com/5fmszd43 Related IP Resources: Grants for Higher Education -https://tinyurl.com/2dx6h3mu College...
Creating a Fellowship to Cover Authors' Editing Costs
I have a new goal: One day fund a fellowship for authors to help them pay for professional editors, cover designers, etc without needing trad pub backing
Backbench MP Proposes Group that Would Push to End Automatic Charitable Status for Religious Groups
Backbench Labour MP Sam Carling is set to launch an All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) focused on spiritual and ritual abuse, with a core aim of ending the automatic charitable status granted to religious organisations. The proposal follows Carling’s recent references...
IRS May Tighten Form 990 Reporting for Nonprofits
The IRS is eyeing changes to Form 990—and nonprofits could see more reporting requirements ahead. Focus areas: fiscal sponsorship + government funding. Details are still developing → https://t.co/IyKZzykAJY
Microsoft Opens Applications For Changemakers Fellowships
Microsoft has launched the Elevate for Changemakers program, offering nonprofit leaders AI credentials, training, and a global fellowship. The initiative includes a LinkedIn‑backed AI for Nonprofits certificate, live and on‑demand skill modules, and a Changemaker Fellowship backed by Microsoft, EY,...
Fidelity, Vanguard Block SPLC Donations, Echoing Authoritarian Policies
When the private sector enforces Nuremberg (Trump) laws on behalf of the dictator. How dare you, @Fidelity and @Vanguard_Group. Fidelity and Vanguard Won’t Allow Donations to Southern Poverty Law Center https://t.co/hze7F1enDd
Mobile Giving Accounted for Most One-Off and Monthly Donations Last Year, Report Finds
A GoDonate report analyzing $38 million of gifts in 2025 shows mobile giving became the default donation channel. Mobile devices accounted for 58% of one‑off and 67% of monthly contributions, while desktop donations, though fewer, generated higher average values ($53 per...
Veteran Consultant Reveals Blueprint for Nonprofit Growth
Following the Skoll World Forum last week, the veteran fundraising consultant shared more about her approach to helping nonprofits expand. Wendy Paris Reports: https://tinyurl.com/4zknwh5r Related IP Resources: Skoll Foundation -https://tinyurl.com/mtkah795 Major Donors: A Guide to Securing Major Gifts -https://tinyurl.com/49w7jx3e What Is Capacity-Building Support for Nonprofits?...
Family Giving in Higher Education: A Unique Blend of Personal and Collective Philanthropy
The article highlights how family philanthropy in higher education blends personal alumni connections with the strategic rigor of a foundation. Using the fictional Johnson family, it shows how multigenerational donors can shape legacy while providing institutions with structured, long‑term capital....
Grantmakers Can Instantly Boost U.S. Voter Turnout
While grantmakers weigh how to tackle the deeper problems plaguing U.S. democracy, there's a strong, shovel-ready option to back right now. David Callahan Reports: https://tinyurl.com/bdd5dv65 VoterTurnout
Tiwa Savage Music Foundation Awards 2.1 Million Dollars
Nigerian artist Kotrell releases his debut album *And Everything In Between*, a soulful exploration of love, self‑care and cultural relationship myths. DJ Sholz curates a live‑mix at Tate Modern’s *Nigerian Modernism* exhibition, marrying Afro‑beat percussion with digital DJing to showcase...
Harvard Deepens Commitment to HBCUs with $1.05 Million Grant
Harvard University announced a three‑year, $1.05 million grant to the Association of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Institutions (AHRI). The grant, administered through Harvard’s Legacy of Slavery Initiative, will fund research infrastructure and technical assistance for the 15‑member HBCU coalition....
Major Funders Deliberately Avoid Tackling Sky‑High Inequality
With few exceptions, major funders are purposefully sidestepping the problem of sky-high inequality, guest author Larry Ottinger writes. Guest Contributor, Larry Ottinger Reports: https://tinyurl.com/yc34zx2n Inequality
The PhilTech Revolution: Why Philanthropy Is the Wealth Management Industry’s Next Growth Engine
Foundation Source, acquired by GTCR in 2023, is transforming philanthropy into a technology‑driven platform for wealth managers. Under CEO Joseph Mrak III, the firm has more than doubled assets under administration to $55 billion, now supporting 5,600 private foundations, 20,000 donor‑advised...
‘Categorisation Itself Is a Form of Barrier’: Disabled Entrepreneurs Warn Against ‘Single-Lane’ Thinking
A growing cohort of disabled entrepreneurs is warning that traditional categorisation creates a barrier to capital and market access. At the Skoll World Forum, leaders highlighted how "single‑lane" thinking limits the potential of the so‑called "purple pound" – the spending...
Charity Partner for Next Year's London Marathon Revealed
The London Marathon has announced the National Autistic Society (NAS) as its official charity partner for the 2025 race. Organisers aim to raise roughly £1 million (about $1.25 million) to support autism services across the UK. The partnership will feature dedicated runner...
Tefaf Awards $27,000 Grant to Restore 500‑Year‑Old Medici Tapestry at Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Tefaf Museum Restoration Fund has granted €25,000 (about $27,000) to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to restore the 500‑year‑old Medici tapestry "The Meeting of Dante and Virgil." The award marks the fund’s first support for a tapestry and will...
Zambia’s Nkhundye Village Biogas Plant Powers 100 Homes with Cooking Gas and Electricity
The Nkhundye Community Cooperative’s biogas plant is delivering methane for cooking and a small generator for electricity to 100 households in Eastern Zambia. Funded by German development agencies and implemented by the New Apostolic Church Relief Organization, the project illustrates...
The Travel Foundation Rebrands as Travel Forward
The Travel Foundation has rebranded as Travel Forward to highlight its focus on climate‑action and equitable tourism. The change comes amid record visitor arrivals, intensifying climate impacts and growing inequality that threaten destination economies. Travel Forward will continue its two‑decade‑long...
How AI Is Changing the World of Development Grantmaking
Rhodri Davies explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping development grantmaking, a topic featured in Devex. AI-driven analytics are automating eligibility screening, predicting project impact, and extracting insights from legacy grant data. Philanthropic foundations are adopting predictive models and real‑time dashboards...
Tesco Teams with 17 Hygiene Brands to Tackle Hygiene Poverty
Tesco has launched its sixth “Buy 2, and we’ll donate 1” hygiene product campaign, partnering with 17 brands and six major FMCG suppliers. The promotion, running until 8 June across stores, online and the app, triggers a donation of a hygiene...
Grantmaker Makes £10m Fund ‘Always Open’
The Robertson Trust has rebranded its Programme Awards as the Big Change That Lasts Fund, allocating roughly £10 million (about $12.8 million) for Scottish charities next year and scaling to the same amount annually by 2026/27. The fund, part of a £30 million...
Systems Change Needs Politicians
Anurag Behar argues that donor‑funded "systems change" projects in India rarely alter outcomes because they focus on bureaucratic expertise rather than political will. Despite massive budget increases—India’s health budget grew from roughly $4 bn in 2015 to $11 bn in 2024, and...
When Authenticity Gets Lost In The Mail
Nonprofit fundraisers are increasingly sending faux‑official surveys that mimic formal questionnaires, hoping to boost donor response rates. A recent study shows these mailings achieve higher immediate replies but are perceived as manipulative, disingenuous, and ultimately harmful to donor trust. The...
GDT Podcast / Season 9 / Episode 2
The Givers, Doers, & Thinkers podcast’s Season 9, Episode 2 features Jeremy Beer interviewing business leader and philanthropist Rob Hays. Hays reflects on the setbacks that built his resilience and how those experiences shape his approach to charitable giving. The discussion highlights...
Hotel Stay Offers New Way to Support Animal Welfare in Northeast Japan
A new concept room at Yunomori Hotel Shidotaira in Hanamaki, Iwate, will let guests support animal welfare by staying in a nature‑themed space. The project, backed by Morioka Zoological Park Zoomo, seeks ¥5 million (≈ $31,300) through a crowdfunding campaign ending May 24....
Clarendon Way Walk Celebrates 20 Years, Raising £2.3 Million for Charity
On June 7, the Clarendon Way Walk marked its 20th anniversary, drawing more than 12,900 walkers and generating over £2.29 million (about $2.9 million) for Naomi House & Jacksplace. The event highlights the growing appeal of heritage trails as fund‑raising platforms and underscores...
DIV Fund Scales Life‑Saving Solutions with Growing Backers
With roots in a shuttered USAID, the DIV Fund is working to scale cost-effective and life-saving solutions. Who's backing it so far? Constance Matthiessen Reports: https://tinyurl.com/nw9fmnnb Related IP Resources: Grants for Global Development -https://tinyurl.com/533vjt2t Report: Giving for Global Development -https://tinyurl.com/mrwhwzt6 Report: Giving for Global Humanitarian...
Six Decades of Impact, New African Leaders Emerging
60 years ago, @RockefellerFdn opened our Africa Regional Office. Six decades of on-the-ground partnerships later, the impact speaks for itself, from progress in nutritious school meals to access to universal energy abundance. This week at #AfricaXchange, we are building...
Untitled
Dematic has opened applications for its 2026 FIRST scholarship program, offering two $5,000 and ten $1,000 awards to high‑school students who have participated in FIRST Robotics Competition or FIRST Tech Challenge. The scholarship requires a 1,000‑word essay on the REBUILT...
Discussing Big Science Philanthropy with Todd White
NEXT WEEK: May 5 @ 10AM PT. We're having a live conversation with Todd White @DToddWhite (Director @TTIScience ) We'll be talking Big Science philanthropy, fundraising, and the mission at Thalion Initiative. RSVP: https://t.co/x90ffdjSOQ