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.
Michael Dell Funds ‘AI Native’ Medical Centre with $750M
Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell have pledged a $750 million gift to the University of Texas at Austin to create the UT Dell Medical Center, slated to open in 2030 as the nation’s first “AI‑native” hospital. The donation, the largest ever by a Texas donor, will fund the 300‑acre research campus, scholarships, student housing, and the Texas Advanced Computing Center’s supercomputer. By embedding artificial‑intelligence systems into the hospital’s design from the ground up, the center aims to shift care from reactive to predictive. The project will also partner with MD Anderson Cancer Center for specialist services.
Amazon Smile Excludes Conservative Charities After SPLC Vetting
Remember @amazon Smile, where you could direct some of your purchase dollars to your favorite charity? It used the @splcenter to vet charities, which of course means innocent conservative 501(c)(3) groups were excluded. They refused to fix it. https://t.co/uAj7UZoqPn
Wolverine Star Hugh Jackman Joins Ticketing Startup Humanitix as Head of Impact
Australian social‑enterprise ticketing platform Humanitix has appointed actor Hugh Jackman as its first Head of Impact. The company, which donates 100% of profits to charities, processed about $453 million in ticket sales last year and expects $535 million in 2026, with total sales...
Team‑Focused Model Drives Cancer Breakthroughs, Inspires Broader Biomedical Solutions
For the last five years, Break Through Cancer has been getting results with a deliberate, team-oriented approach. It’s a model that might help tackle other biomedical challenges. Paul Karon Reports: https://tinyurl.com/vf3mwzr5 Related IP Resources: Grants for Science Research -https://tinyurl.com/mpdstvy2 Diseases Funders -https://tinyurl.com/akr4pv9h Report: Giving for...
Independent Sector and Do Good Institute Release New Value of Volunteer Time of $36.14 Per Hour
Independent Sector and the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute announced that the national value of a volunteer hour has risen to $36.14, a 3.9% increase over 2024. The estimate, based on 2025 BLS wage data, applies to all 50...
Gates Foundation Launches External Review of Epstein Ties
NEWS: The Gates Foundation is doing an "external review to assess past foundation engagement with Epstein." Comes amid all the scrutiny on Bill Gates, the chair of the Gates Foundation. https://t.co/kpBwTnNTYR
6 Prospect Research Ideas That Save Time
Nonprofit leaders are urged to replace broad grant‑seeking with focused prospect research. Tools like Instrumentl, Foundation Directory and AI chatbots can streamline the search, but effective use requires evaluating eligibility, funder priorities, geographic history, and financial capacity. By narrowing a...
Stewardship After ‘Yes’: Creative Post-Award Stewardship Ideas
Post‑award stewardship often slips into a compliance‑only routine, yet it’s the primary venue for building donor trust. Creative, low‑effort updates—like thank‑you relays, one‑page impact receipts, three‑sentence postcards, and choose‑your‑own‑adventure emails—transform reporting into genuine connection. The article also highlights how professional...
.Org Impact Awards Nominations Open
Public Interest Registry (PIR), the steward of the .ORG domain, has opened nominations for its eighth annual .ORG Impact Awards. Applications are accepted from April 15 to May 27 2026 across seven categories, including Health, Education, DEI, Environment, Hunger, Community Building, and a...
Getting the Most Out of Monitoring Data: An Impact Investor Explores the Value of a Unified Approach
Root Capital has unified its global monitoring system, standardizing data collection across 13 countries and both its loan and advisory programs. In 2025 the organization achieved its first year of Social and Environmental Metrics (SEMs) for every client, unlocking economies...
Charity Chair Quits Due to ‘Hazardous Legal Environment’
Nigel MacLennan, chair of the classical‑music charity Playground Proms, resigned after concluding that the UK’s legal framework makes the trustee role unsafe. His departure follows a tribunal decision that rejected his claim for whistleblower protection, ruling that charity trustees are...
Energy Sector Joins 8-Hour Charity Challenge In Support Of Cash For Kids
Smarta Energy is spearheading an eight‑hour “Running 9–5” charity challenge on Earth Day, April 22, 2026, with Group Managing Director Kieran Dixon running continuously from 9 am to 5 pm. The event targets more than £10,000 (about $12,800) for the Cash for Kids...
Philanthropy Perceived as Reputation Laundering
The Global Situation Room’s Q1 2026 Reputation Risk Index shows philanthropy losing its moral high ground, now viewed as “reputation laundering.” Survey data reveal 87.3 percent of respondents think the sector fails to communicate its impact, while political pressure and DEI program...
Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette Sold to Nonprofit Venetoulis Institute, Avoiding Closure
Block Communications announced the sale of the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette to the nonprofit Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, preventing the paper’s slated May 3 closure. The deal underscores a growing trend of nonprofit ownership as a lifeline for struggling local newsrooms.
Iceland Foods CEO Takes on London Marathon Raising over £125,000 for Charity
Iceland Foods Group CEO Tarsem Dhaliwal is running the London Marathon on 26 April to raise money for the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation (IFCF). The campaign has already exceeded £125,000 (about $159,000), boosted by Dhaliwal’s pledge to match donations at a...
Faster Than Authoritarianism: Rapid Response as a Frontline Strategy for Democracy Defense
The article argues that rapid‑response intermediaries are essential frontline tools for defending democracy against authoritarian “flood the zone” tactics that rely on speed and confusion. It highlights a surge in demand for rapid‑response funding, citing Emergent Fund’s jump from 70...
Can We Save Our Vital Social Impact Infrastructure?
Social Enterprise Scotland has announced a partnership with SENScot and other stakeholders to co‑produce a unified voice for the Scottish social enterprise sector. The move follows growing concerns about the sustainability of grassroots and rural support structures. Recent setbacks—including the...
Media Companies Raise £250k for UK Nature Projects, Set Sights on £200m
Media companies, led by giffgaff and Ecologi’s ‘Media in Service of Nature’ initiative, have raised £250,000 (≈$317,000) to fund ten UK nature‑recovery projects covering about 14,000 m². The programme, now backed by 20 businesses, aims to scale the model across the...
Rainbow-Coloured Excavator Raising Much-Needed Funds for Children’s Hospice
True Group, a Leicestershire plant‑hire firm, has added a Komatsu 8‑ton excavator wrapped in a rainbow‑coloured livery to its fleet to support Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. The machine, decorated by Poly Graphics, will operate across the East...
Leading Charities Generated Legacy Income of Almost £2bn in the Space of a Year
UK charities have generated almost £2 billion in legacy income over the past year, roughly $2.5 billion. The figure represents an 8% increase from the previous period, driven by a surge in bequests from an aging donor demographic and the adoption of...
Historic Charitable Fund Worth £5.3m Transfers to Fellow Foundation
The historic Bishop Fox’s Educational Foundation, a charitable fund dating back to the early 1500s, has been closed and its £5.3 million (£6.7 million USD) of assets transferred to Somerset Community Foundation (SCF). The SCF will now steward the assets as the...
Charity Offers 'Stigma-Free' Food Poverty Service
A charity shop in Okehampton, Devon, has opened to combat food‑poverty stigma by letting voucher‑holding clients pick their own groceries. The Affordable Food Shop offers fresh and tinned items at roughly £2.50 per bag (about $3.20), sourced from surplus donations...
DIKENI Launches ‘Boundless Mountains & Sea’ Sustainable Fashion Initiative in Xi'an
DIKENI, a leading Chinese menswear label, staged its “Boundless Mountains & Sea · Oasis Gathering” event on April 18 in Xi'an’s Yunshan Lake forest, planting thousands of trees and showcasing a new sustainable‑focused collection. The initiative underscores the brand’s pledge to embed eco‑responsibility...
Buy Now, Die Later: Leigh Asks Benefactors to Think Hard About Bequests
Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh is urging affluent Australians to think seriously about leaving charitable bequests. His appeal comes amid high‑profile estate battles such as Gina Rinehart’s family litigation and the contested Lang Hancock estate, which have spotlighted the complexities of...
John Tu's Wife's Big Gifts Hint at New Philanthropy
Despite a fortune one estimate puts at nearly $60 billion, John Tu has a limited philanthropic record. But some recent big gifts from his wife, Mary, may be a sign of things to come. Michael Kavate Reports: https://tinyurl.com/bdzzuymk Related IP Resources: John and...
How to Create a Capital Campaign Plan That Gets Results
A capital campaign is a multi‑year fundraising effort that can raise millions for nonprofit projects such as new buildings, equipment or programs. Recent research shows about 95 % of nonprofits that launched a campaign in 2026 deemed it successful, often exceeding...
Monthly Giving: Reliable Funding Blueprint for Nonprofits
Monthly giving provides nonprofits with consistent, reliable funding, and it’s an increasingly popular way to give. This guide explains the basics of monthly giving and shares proven tips to get started (or strengthen the program you have): https://hubs.ly/Q04clGS30 ✅
Verify Your Donations Actually Benefit Your Chosen Cause
Worth double-checking charitable giving to make sure it actually helps the cause you care about
Wegmans Releases 2025 Impact Report, Highlighting $96.3 Million in Community Giving
Wegmans Food Markets released its 2025 Impact Report, revealing $96.3 million in community contributions, 36.8 million pounds of food donations, and a $3.1 million customer‑driven hunger campaign. The retailer opened three new stores, adding roughly 1,400 permanent jobs and expanding its footprint to...
Visa Foundation Boosts Pro Mujer to $4.4 Billion Micro‑Finance Platform for Latin American Women
Visa Foundation has pledged a total of $4 million—$1 million initially and $3 million over three years—to expand Pro Mujer's Emprende digital platform. The initiative targets 250,000 women entrepreneurs and supports a $4.4 billion micro‑loan portfolio that blends credit with training and health services.
Empowering Girls, Supporting Mothers: Bayer’s Holistic Approach to Maternal and Child Health
Bayer and The Antara Foundation have launched a two‑year, nutrition‑focused initiative across 800 villages in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena and Chhindwara districts. The program targets the critical 1,000‑day window—from conception to a child’s second birthday—while also reaching adolescent girls before they...
Charities Share More than £100,000 Seized From Criminals
Greater Manchester Police’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit recovered a record £18 million (about $23 million) in the last financial year and allocated more than £100,000 (approximately $128,000) to eight local charities through its Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme. Recipients include StreetDoctors, One...
End-of-Life Charity Launches £20m Appeal
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland has launched a £20 m (≈ $25.6 m) “More Than A Hospice” appeal to fund essential upgrades at its Rachel House and Robin House facilities and to broaden service options. The charity reported £26.2 m (≈ $33.5 m) income and £25.4 m (≈ $32.5 m)...
Donors More Likely to Trust UK Charities over International Causes, Research Finds
A new Third Sector study finds that 88% of UK adults gave to charity in the past year, but they show a marked preference for domestic organisations over international causes. Respondents rated UK‑based charities as more trustworthy, citing clearer impact...
Massimo Bottura's Food for Soul Runs 12 Global Refettorios, Turning Surplus Into Meals
Italian chef Massimo Bottura’s nonprofit Food for Soul now operates 12 Refettorio community kitchens in nine countries, rescuing restaurant surplus and serving thousands of meals daily. The model blends high‑end culinary skill with social impact, positioning the initiative as a...
Big Businesses Step up CSR Programs Amid Mideast Crisis
Big Philippine corporations are reshaping their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in response to the Middle East war’s ripple effects on fuel prices. Metro Pacific Investments Foundation plans to deliver roughly 500,000 food packs to fisherfolk in Batangas and transport...
Build Billions with Two Hours Daily, Give Back
Andrew Carnegie went from $1.20 a week to $309 Billion. When he retired, he gave away 90% of his wealth to build 2,509 libraries and funded multiple universities. But he barely spent 2 hours every day to build this fortune. Here's the entire...
Fidelity Bank Adds Two Schools to Orange Impact Initiative in Ghana
Fidelity Bank Ghana commissioned two new education infrastructure projects in Tema and Assin Wurakese, marking the 12th and 13th schools to benefit from its Orange Impact Initiative. The upgrades include a refurbished daycare, rainwater harvesting systems and a six‑unit classroom...
Meet Olga Rabinovich, the Philanthropist Singlehandedly Financing Brazil’s Film Talent
Olga Rabinovich founded the Olga Rabinovich Institute and its flagship Projeto Paradiso to fill a financing gap in Brazil’s film sector. The initiative provides small, rapid grants, training and international connections to a talent network of 264 screen professionals. Its agile,...
MacKenzie Scott Has Donated More than $26 Billion—But It’s Barely Made a Dent in Her Net Worth because of the...
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has given more than $26 billion since 2019, roughly 40% of her $42.7 billion net worth. She has reduced her Amazon stake by about 42%, selling or donating 58 million shares worth $12.6 billion, while the stock’s 47% rise added $2.35 billion...
Gates Foundation Funds One Quarter of Global Health
In my lecture this week on NGOs versus government programs in public health, I focused on the Gates Foundation. Why? Because ALONE they fund around 25% of all programs in global health. They have over $80 billion in assets and their operating...
East Anglian Air Ambulance Launches £8.2m Appeal for New Cambridge Base as Airport Closure Looms
East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has launched an $10.5 million fundraising appeal to build a new base at New Shardelowes Farm near Fulbourn, as Cambridge City Airport faces closure in 2030. The charity currently operates two hubs, and losing the Cambridge...
Royal Caribbean Group Officially Launches Royal Caribbean Group Foundation
Royal Caribbean Group announced the launch of the Royal Caribbean Group Foundation, formalizing its decades‑long charitable commitments. The foundation’s inaugural pledge funds a cutting‑edge emergency‑medicine residency program at Jackson Health System in South Florida. This effort dovetails with the company’s...
Undervaluing Social Return Carries Hidden Costs for Philanthropy
Foundations often set grantmaking payouts by comparing financial returns (Rf) to estimated social returns (Rs), using finance‑derived metrics like SROI. Because social outcomes are hard to monetize, Rs is typically measured conservatively, making Rf appear more reliable. This asymmetry drives...
Advancing Disability Inclusion in Agricultural Philanthropy and Rural Development Funding
Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest nations, faces severe infrastructure gaps, with only 29% electricity access and a subsistence‑based agricultural economy strained by rising fertilizer costs. An estimated 500,000 citizens—about 5.5% of the population—live with physical disabilities, many stemming...
Moby to Donate Profits From Coachella Performance to Animal Rights Organisations
Moby will donate 100% of the profits from his two Coachella performances to four animal‑rights organisations. The electronic‑music pioneer takes the stage on April 17 for the festival’s second weekend, following a debut set on the Mojave stage. His pledge...
Key Takeaways From CAUSE’s Higher Ed Landscape Report
Here's our take on some top findings from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's latest look at the landscape. Mike Scutari Reports: https://tinyurl.com/an2cm9am Related IP Resources: Grants for Higher Education -https://tinyurl.com/2dx6h3mu Major Donors: A Guide to Securing Major Gifts -https://tinyurl.com/49w7jx3e Donor Insights for...
Nonprofit Puts up $10M to Help Agencies Test AI Tools for Benefits Modernization
The Center for Civic Futures (CCF) has launched a $10 million Public Benefits Innovation Fund to help government agencies and partners test AI‑driven solutions for modernizing benefit programs. Grants range from $150,000 to $2 million and target backend process improvements, data utilization,...
Funders Must Push Regulation After Meta, Google Liability
Meta and Google were found liable for harms their platforms caused. Now is the time for funders to go all-in on pushing for regulatory action and a shift in attitudes. Martha Ramirez Reports: https://tinyurl.com/ytv5ksm3 Related IP Resources: Mental Health Grants -https://tinyurl.com/5755dnxy Grants for Public...
Research‑Driven Philanthropy Yields High Societal ROI
There's a lot of effective philanthropy out there. One thing I particularly admire about @Arnold_Ventures is the focus on doing research and getting empirical evidence on what works to address societal problems. Very high potential ROI.