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.
Sheila Busheri Launches Scholarship to Boost Future HealthTech Leaders
Healthcare executive Sheila Busheri announced the Sheila Busheri Scholarship, a new award that will support at least one pre‑med or medical student each cycle. The essay‑driven program, with a Jan. 15, 2027 deadline, seeks to cultivate leaders who will advance medical access and health‑technology solutions.
Trump Halts $7B Climate Fund; Creator Battles in Court
Today on Volts: Climate United was designed to disperse $7 billion worth of climate & clean-energy funds to underserved communities. Just as it had begun pushing money out the door, Trump killed it & rescinded the money. I talk with...
Quantum Open Source with Will Zeng and Ziyaad Bhorat
In this live‑streamed World Quantum Day episode, host Sebastian Hassinger talks with Will Zeng, co‑founder of the Unitary Foundation, and Ziyaad Bhorat, VP of Strategic Growth at the Mozilla Foundation, about their white paper calling for dedicated funding of open‑source...
Art Dealers Try Their Hand as Artists in This Unusual Exhibition
White Columns, New York’s oldest alternative nonprofit art space, launched the second "Art (by) Dealers" exhibition, inviting over 90 galleries and dealers to create original works for a benefit sale. Each piece is a uniform 12‑by‑9‑inch artwork priced at $500...
Foundation Set to Make £13m Available Across Five Funding Pots
The Foundation announced it will make approximately £13 million (about $16.5 million) available across five dedicated funding pots. The pots target climate action, digital inclusion, youth development, health and wellbeing, and arts and culture. Applications are set to open in the third...
Charities Risk Losing Credibility Amid Changing Political Environment, Event Told
At the Good Agency’s inaugural summit, senior charity CEOs warned that the sector’s credibility is at risk if it fails to ground community engagement in lived experience amid rising political polarization. Enver Solomon of Nacro highlighted how debates over trans...
94‑Year‑Old Kirsh Turns $29B Deal Into Philanthropy
At 94, Kirsh has seen his wealth soar following a $29-billion-dollar deal. Here's a look at his philanthropic pursuits and efforts against antisemitism. Wendy Paris Reports: https://tinyurl.com/2s48zvhc Related IP Resources: Jewish Funders: Foundations & Donors to Know -https://tinyurl.com/y2p822m2 Grants for Global Development -https://tinyurl.com/533vjt2t Grants for...
Prioritizing Cost‑Effectiveness Boosts Development Impact
Elina Scheja, chief economist of @Sida and I talked about how to help ensure Development Agencies use evidence on costeffectiveness to ensure their work has the biggest possible positive impact. https://t.co/1lChqOBHWs
“Clients Are Philanthropic” An Advisor’s Guide to DAFs
Wealth advisor Mike Flux launched his own donor‑advised fund (DAF) with a $35,000 CAD (≈$26,000 USD) in‑kind donation, using the vehicle to illustrate its low entry barrier and tax efficiency. He argues DAFs let clients pursue strategic philanthropy without the administrative...
Startup Profile: Sharely
Sharely is an embedded‑finance startup that builds infrastructure allowing investors to make tax‑efficient stock donations directly inside brokerage platforms. By embedding the donation workflow at the point of trade, the company eliminates the need for separate charitable‑gift paperwork and reduces...
Cox Science Center and Aquarium Announces New Hall of Science
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium received a second $10 million naming gift from Judy and the late Leonard Lauder, bringing their total contribution to $15 million. The donation funds the 75,000‑square‑foot Judy and Leonard Lauder Hall of Science, slated for completion...
Why OpenAI Foundation Should Focus on AI Psychosis, Delusion Not Grants
The OpenAI Foundation announced a plan to invest at least $1 billion in grants over the next year, a dramatic jump from the $7.6 million it disbursed in 2024 and the $40.5 million allocated through its People‑First AI Fund. Critics argue the foundation...
No Pledge Either Good or Bad
Peter Thiel has publicly denounced the Giving Pledge, labeling it an “Epstein‑adjacent fake boomer club.” The pledge, launched in 2010 by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, asks billionaires to commit to giving away at least half of their...
FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026: How Does It Affect Nonprofits?
The Indian government introduced the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026, tightening rules on foreign contributions to NGOs. It authorises a government‑appointed authority to seize assets funded by foreign money if an NGO’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or lapses without renewal....
City Solicitor Groups Announce Funding Support for LawCare in Three-Year Partnership
The City of London Law Society (CLLS) and the City of London Solicitors’ Company (CLSC) have forged a three‑year partnership with mental‑health charity LawCare, pledging a combined £45,000 (approximately $57,600) to bolster wellbeing initiatives. CLLS will contribute £10,000 ($12,800) annually...
Practical Ways Copilot Is Saving Charities Time
Microsoft 365 Copilot is helping The Salvation Army UK and Ireland streamline operations and boost impact. By migrating legacy data to the Microsoft cloud, the charity created a unified repository that Copilot can analyze, cutting report‑writing time and reducing administrative overload. The...
Civic‑Tech Nonprofits Deploy $10 Million Fund to Diminish State Vendor Lock‑In
The Center for Civic Futures and the Recoding America Fund announced a $10 million funding round to help U.S. states overhaul Medicaid, SNAP and other benefits platforms, aiming to curb dependence on entrenched government‑tech contractors. Applications open for nonprofits, early‑stage firms...
The Nonprofit Supporting Homeownership for a Black Town in Rural Mississippi
But God Ministries is constructing a 10‑home neighborhood in Jonestown, Mississippi, a 100% Black town of 852 residents with a median household income of $21,700 and 56% of residents living below the poverty line. The nonprofit’s effort follows earlier community...
Patagonia & Rodale Institute to Transition an Entire California County to Regenerative Agriculture
Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective is committing $1.55 million to the Rodale Institute’s Regenerate Ventura program, targeting a county‑wide shift to regenerative agriculture in Ventura County, California. The initiative already has 10,000 acres and 57 farms in the pipeline, with roughly 40% owned...
Podcast Episode 28: Evaluating and Funding a New Kind of Grant (Clubfoot Treatment)
GiveWell announced a new grant to MiracleFeet to expand free Ponseti clubfoot treatment in low‑ and middle‑income countries, following a site visit in Côte d’Ivoire. The program trains health workers, supplies materials, and educates communities, resulting in hundreds of children...
LACMA Opens $720 Million David Geffen Galleries, Adding 110,000 Sq Ft of Space
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) opened its $720 million David Geffen Galleries, a Peter Zumthor‑designed expansion that adds 110,000 sq ft of exhibition space and a 3.5‑acre park. The project, funded by a $150 million pledge from David Geffen and global partners, aims...
Funders Boost Mentor Training for Lasting Impact
Funders are stepping up to enhance mentorship by supporting training programs, aiming to empower mentors with skills to make a lasting impact. Wendy Paris Reports: https://tinyurl.com/yc3tdn7e Mentorship
People Are Angry (Again) About Colleges' Donors. Will Anything Really Change?
MIT and Harvard have overhauled donor‑review policies after the Jeffrey Epstein revelations, creating written guidelines and standing committees to flag reputational risk. MIT’s Gift Policy Guide mandates central review of gifts over $50,000 and can decline donations that could harm...
Meet the Donors Funding the Civil-Dialogue Boom at Colleges
Civil‑dialogue initiatives are exploding on U.S. campuses, with more than 500 organizations—90% founded in the last decade—and nearly 100 programs launched since 2023. Federal support surged as the Department of Education earmarked $60 million for civil‑discourse grants, while philanthropies such as...
Hard Rock Heals Foundation Donates $400,000 to Jamaica’s Promise for Hurricane Melissa Relief
The Hard Rock Heals Foundation’s “Stay Strong Jamaica” campaign raised more than $400,000 for Hurricane Melissa recovery, channeling the money through Jamaica’s Promise to fund housing, infrastructure repairs, and humanitarian aid. A benefit concert at Hard Rock Live featured top...
Adyen Expands Giving Program Worldwide
Adyen is scaling its free checkout‑donation platform, Adyen Giving, beyond Canada and the United States by partnering with adidas to launch the feature in Europe, Brazil and Mexico. The program helped shoppers at 216 adidas stores in Canada and the...
NPR Receives $113 Million in Charitable Gifts
NPR announced two of the largest gifts in its history, totaling $113 million, to fund digital innovation and support its network of public‑radio stations after Congress eliminated all federal funding. Connie Ballmer contributed $80 million earmarked for a technology overhaul, while an anonymous...
Untitled
PMMI’s Board approved the creation of the PACK gives BACK™ Charitable Foundation, a new 501(c)(3) funded with an initial $6 million from the association’s reserve. The foundation will operate independently, offering a matching‑gift program and the ability to make direct donations...
Gert Boyle’s Daughters Inherit Oregon’s Top Philanthropy
When Gert Boyle died in 2019, two foundations built by her daughters suddenly found themselves among Oregon's largest philanthropies. Here’s the story of the one you haven't heard of yet. Ade Adeniji Reports: https://tinyurl.com/5dun4enw Related IP Resources: Oregon Grants for Nonprofits -https://tinyurl.com/bdhdbx54 Grants for...
California Wealth Tax Threatens Local Philanthropic Giving
Philanthropists overwhelmingly give in their own states. By driving out billionaires, a California wealth tax threatens in-state charitable giving, especially since retained charitable ties could complicate residency determinations for those who depart. https://t.co/fL8uV8M8Zg
What If I Freeze with a Major Donor Ask?
Rhea Wong, a nonprofit fundraising coach, explains why the silence after a major‑gift ask is often misinterpreted as rejection. She argues that a polished pitch can trigger a donor’s defensive brain response, turning the conversation into a monologue rather than...
NPR Secures $113M for Digital Overhaul Amid Funding Cuts
NEWS: NPR receives $113M toward digital transformation and to offer stations greater services as the loss of federal funds takes a big bite out of budgets. $80M from philanthropist Connie Ballmer $33M from anonymous donor My initial story: https://t.co/4utjEOR0Un More to come
How Tactical Fundraising Questions Can Generate Bad Answers
The article argues that nonprofits often focus on tactical fundraising questions—such as mail frequency, TikTok use, or color choices—without first establishing a clear strategic framework. It stresses that meaningful answers to these tactics depend on fundamental strategy questions about long‑term...
Song without Beats Powers Magdi Yacoub Donation Campaign
The Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation launched “The Most Important Beat” campaign to fund treatment for children with congenital heart disease in developing nations. In partnership with Publicis Middle East and streaming platform Anghami, regional singers Abu and Dina El Sherbiny created a...
RONA Foundation’s 2026 Build From the Heart Campaign Is On
The RONA Foundation will launch its 2026 Build from the Heart campaign on April 18, pledging to allocate one million Canadian dollars (about $730,000 USD) to seven nonprofit groups for construction or major‑renovation projects. Fundraising will run through customer donations, a $5 contribution...
The Impact World This Week: 16 April 2026
The weekly roundup highlights the rise of place‑based impact investing, a strategy that directs capital to specific cities, regions or rural areas to generate measurable social outcomes. It notes growing participation from pension funds, local authorities and asset managers seeking...
Getting $750 a Month Didn’t End Homelessness—But Our Study Shows It Still Improved the Lives of Homeless People
The USC Homelessness Policy Research Institute teamed with Miracle Messages for a randomized trial that gave 103 homeless Californians $750 per month for a year. Nearly half of the cash recipients secured housing, but the control group achieved a similar...
Venture Philanthropy: Revolution Through Collaboration
Macmillan Cancer Support is establishing a second impact fund, Macmillan Ventures, with a target of £30 million (≈ $37.5 million) to be deployed over five years. The fund builds on a £3.5 million (≈ $4.4 million) pilot that backed AI‑driven diagnostics, upright radiotherapy and digital support...
Suman Roy on The Zero Hunger Project: Why a Scarborough Food Bank Founder Wrote the Book on Ending Global Hunger
Suman Roy, founder of Toronto’s Feed Scarborough food bank, released *The Zero Hunger Project: A Journey to End Global Hunger* in April 2025. Drawing on his hands‑on experience scaling Canada’s most replicated grassroots food bank, the 381‑page volume argues that...
Inside the Award-Winning Agency Helping Women at Risk of Homelessness
Equality Media + Marketing, a Melbourne‑based property marketing agency, won the 2025 REA Excellence Contribution to Local Community Award for its long‑standing partnership with the Women’s Property Initiative, a nonprofit that provides housing for women and children at risk of...
Honoring 2 Community-Centered Leaders in Health Philanthropy
Grantmakers In Health announced Mark Constantine of the Dogwood Health Trust as the 2026 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award winner and Gladys Vega of La Colaborativa as the 2026 Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy recipient. Both leaders are recognized for centering...
India’s Social Sector: Scaling Momentum to Improve Resilience and Close Funding Gaps
Research by The Bridgespan Group shows Indian funders are increasingly entering multiyear partnerships and covering core operational costs for nonprofits, signaling a shift toward true‑cost funding. The Pay‑What‑It‑Takes (PWIT) India Initiative, backed by six philanthropic partners and 15 nonprofit leaders,...
Mountain America, Idaho State Athletics, and Spud Kings Score Big for Operation Warm
Mountain America Credit Union donated $11,500 to Operation Warm through performance‑based partnerships with Idaho State men’s basketball and the Idaho Falls Spud Kings hockey team. The credit union pledged $50 for each 3‑point shot and each goal, generating $6,000 and...
McKnight Foundation Adds $20M to 2026 Grants
McKnight President Tonya Allen discusses why the foundation will disburse an additional $20 million in 2026 on top of an earlier five-year, $200 million payout increase. Mike Scutari Reports: https://tinyurl.com/465ry9pj Related IP Resources: McKnight Foundation -https://tinyurl.com/5yn2bmc4 Minnesota Grants for Nonprofits -https://tinyurl.com/55jy7nyb Grants for Immigrants &...
Grant Funding From Lilly Endowment Supports Growth of the Indiana FFA Organization
The Indiana FFA Foundation received a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to upgrade its Indiana FFA Leadership Center. Executive director Lisa Chaudion says the funds will modernize the hub that trains members in leadership and fosters lifelong connections. The...
Google Pours $10 Million Into AI Training for 40,000 U.S. Manufacturing Workers
Google’s AI Opportunity Fund is allocating $10 million to a new partnership with the Manufacturing Institute, targeting 40,000 U.S. manufacturing workers. The program will roll out two AI‑focused courses and expand the FAME network into 15 regions, addressing a projected shortfall...
Stop & Shop Named Official Grocery Store Of Boston Legacy FC
Stop & Shop has signed a multi‑year deal to become the Official Grocery Store of Boston Legacy FC, the National Women’s Soccer League’s newest franchise. The partnership focuses on combating food insecurity in Massachusetts through the retailer’s School Food Pantry...
Rapid‑Response Fund Saves Public Media After Funding Cuts
Here's the story of how the new pooled rapid response fund moved money quickly to keep public radio and television stations on air after Congress slashed their funding. Martha Ramirez Reports: https://tinyurl.com/n6ava72v Related IP Resources: Journalism Grants -https://tinyurl.com/4nwuxehu Donor Insights for Journalism -https://tinyurl.com/3yahvnt6 Report: Giving...
Asks, Awareness Spurred Nonprofit Giving In 2025
GivingPulse’s 2025 Year in Review shows a modest rise in overall charitable activity, with 97.2% of Americans reporting a contribution compared with 96.4% in 2024. Money, item donations and volunteering all edged higher, and 87% of respondents gave cash, up...
FTCT Expands Grant Access for Fashion Industry Families
The Fashion Textiles Children’s Trust (FTCT) has reduced the minimum trade‑connection period for current UK fashion and textile employees from 12 months to six months, effective April 2026. The adjustment reflects the rise of short‑term contracts and aims to deliver grant...