Philanthropy News and Headlines
Philanthropy News and Headlines
Philanthropy Pulse
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Nonprofit development leaders are being bombarded with AI tools promising to automate fundraising, but experts warn that AI should augment, not replace, human strategy. AI excels at speeding up prospect research, grant prospecting, content drafting, and workflow automation, allowing staff to focus on relationship building. However, trust, storytelling, and ethical data handling remain uniquely human responsibilities. Successful adoption hinges on clear policies and careful vendor evaluation.
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has appointed Keon West as its inaugural head of reparations, tasked with designing a programme to address the colonial roots of the trust’s endowment. West, a leading race‑equality researcher from the Runnymede Trust and visiting...
A new M+R AI study examined 3.8 billion nonprofit emails and found that messages containing personal stories generated a 29% lower response rate than story‑free emails. The analysis suggests that generic storytelling often creates a donor disconnect, diluting the call to...
Grant management often sits outside a nonprofit's core fundraising systems, creating hidden risks. A single spreadsheet managed by one staff member can become a single point of failure, leading to missed deadlines, unrecorded awards, and damaged funder relationships. Integrating grant...
The Opportunity Agenda, a two‑decade narrative‑strategy nonprofit, voted to dissolve in November 2025 after its leadership determined that a restricted‑grant‑heavy revenue model left no sustainable runway. A $4 million unrestricted grant in 2020 temporarily masked deeper funding diversification flaws, but by...
Lean funders are urged to add youth philanthropy to their portfolios as a strategic investment in community resilience. Programs like the Doll Family Foundation’s initiatives and the Community Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy engage hundreds of students in real...
Private and independent schools rely on net tuition revenue for 70‑80% of income, yet most charge less than the true cost of education, creating a funding gap. Development teams must close this gap through strategic fundraising, while admissions expand enrollment...
Four nonprofit leaders reflect on a turbulent year marked by shifting funding dynamics and heightened governance challenges. Bill Gates announced his foundation will spend its $200 billion endowment by 2045, reigniting the spend‑down versus perpetuity debate. The Center for Effective Philanthropy’s...
The article breaks down three fundraising tactics that feel like magic but are grounded in proven practice: donor‑centric storytelling, strategically chosen photos, and heartfelt thank‑you communications. It explains how each element must capture attention, stay relevant, and align with donor...
Bloomerang has launched "Penny," an AI‑driven fundraising strategist now available in beta on its Giving Platform. Built from thousands of consulting engagements, Penny analyzes each nonprofit’s full donor history to deliver real‑time, actionable recommendations. Early adopters, such as the Joe...
Recent research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy highlights that foundation leaders are grappling with heightened demand and tighter funding, prompting a reassessment of the traditional spend‑down debate. Tracy McFerrin and Ben Zeno argue that timing of asset depletion should...
Nonprofit peer-to-peer fundraising has evolved from simple walk‑run events to complex portfolios spanning dozens of event types, multiple digital channels, and over ten revenue sources. Tight budgets and lean staff force organizations to seek efficiency, making automated, multi‑channel messaging a...
The Macquarie Group Foundation released a new report urging corporations to take an active role in driving social impact through catalytic capital and strategic partnerships with impact intermediaries. The analysis emphasizes that European capital is increasingly directed toward impact‑focused investments,...
Private foundations face strict self‑dealing rules that prohibit any financial benefit to disqualified persons, regardless of intent or market value. Common pitfalls include below‑market leases, shared services, fulfilling personal pledges, indirect benefits, and seemingly minor expense reimbursements. The Exponent Philanthropy...
The Hershey Foundation, led by CEO Elizabeth Love, recently clarified its core values, enabling it to align more closely with partner nonprofits and respond effectively to a tightening funding environment. By articulating a purpose‑first framework, the foundation shifted from crisis‑mode...
The Salvation Army reported $154 million raised during the 2025 holiday season, combining $103 million from its iconic red kettle street collections and $51 million from digital donations. Contributions grew 4% in‑person and 8% online despite a shorter holiday period. The total approaches...
Nonprofit donors increasingly link trust to data security, with 92% favoring organizations that demonstrate clear protection measures. Silent Partner Solutions reports that strong security habits can reduce incidents by 30% and lift donor trust scores by 32%, yet only 28%...
Microsoft unveiled the Elevate for Changemakers initiative at its Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit, committing $5 billion in discounts, donations and grants to support AI adoption. The program offers a LinkedIn‑backed AI for Nonprofits credential, live and on‑demand training, and a global...
Creating comprehensive donor profiles is essential for nonprofits to track and leverage supporter information throughout the donor lifecycle. The guide defines donor profiles as digital records in a CRM that compile real‑world data, distinguishing them from fictional donor personas used...
GiveWise highlights that over 85% of Canadian wealth resides in non‑cash assets such as real estate, securities, and crypto, yet most charities only accept cash donations. This gap is costing the sector millions in potential contributions. The company’s GiveGenius button...
Donor analytics is becoming essential for nonprofits as supporters demand more personalized engagement and technology reshapes fundraising. By collecting, organizing, and interpreting donor data, organizations can identify demographic, psychographic, and giving patterns to tailor outreach and improve retention. Integrated tools—including...
Pathway Fund has opened the first phase of a £12 million (approximately $15 million) dormant‑asset allocation aimed at backing a diverse cohort of social entrepreneurs. The initiative taps unclaimed or idle capital, redirecting it toward ventures that address social challenges while promoting...
The piece likens Ukraine’s four‑year drone‑behavior dataset to a modern fundraising advantage, arguing that AI‑driven psychographic insight now trumps traditional donation histories. It shows how costly, generic direct‑mail campaigns resemble outdated military tactics that waste resources. Three capabilities—identity intelligence, autonomous...
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, philanthropists are confronting the stark funding gap between military spending and peacebuilding. The article argues that philanthropy, especially women donors, can close this gap by supporting under‑resourced, women‑led organizations that excel in mediation...
Word‑of‑mouth is the most powerful, low‑cost fundraising tool for nonprofits, but it isn’t purely luck. Jeff Brooks argues that being remarkable—clear, donor‑centric, and exciting—drives organic conversation. He outlines common pitfalls like jargon‑filled messaging and donor‑education overload, then offers concrete actions...
Nonprofits can improve donor retention by deploying targeted surveys that capture motivations, preferences, and experiences. Industry benchmarks show response rates between 15% and 50%, making surveys a reliable source of actionable insight. The guide outlines optimal frequency, six core question...
