Survey Finds Fundraisers Unsettled but Bullish; and a Grant Maker’s Unapologetic Top-Down Approach

Andrew Simon, the Chronicle’s editor-in-chief, offers a sneak peek at what’s in each new issue. Available exclusively to subscribers, this newsletter gives you perspective on the most important trends and developments we’re following — as well as background on how we report and analyze key issues in the nonprofit world. Delivered once a month. (Subscribers only.)

October 31, 2023

From: Elbert Ventura

Subject: Survey Finds Fundraisers Unsettled but Bullish; and a Grant Maker’s Unapologetic Top-Down Approach

Mark McKnight, President and CEO of Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in Chattanooga, Tenn. poses for a portrait on the grounds of the center. McKnight’s fundraising energy is engaging with new transplants that have moved to Chattanooga through the course of the pandemic.

Dear Subscriber,

I’m pleased to present the November issue of the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Our cover story is a project months in the making: our latest survey of fundraisers.

We polled 1,000 fundraisers to find out the trends they’re seeing, where they think fundraising is headed, and what’s keeping them up at night. Rasheeda Childress and Emily Haynes combed through the results and spoke to more than two dozen people to offer a panoramic view of the field. What they found is an unsettled sector — skittish about inflation, beleaguered by staffing problems, bracing for an unexpected downturn — that nonetheless feels bullish about this year’s prospects.

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Dear Subscriber,

I’m pleased to present the November issue of the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Our cover story is a project months in the making: our latest survey of fundraisers.

In other words: It’s complicated.

There’s much more in our November issue.

Gujarat, India. March 2023. Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Rajiv J. Shah met with salt pan workers who are members of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India’s largest union of informal sector workers. With the Foundation’s support, SEWA helped distribute solutions — including a solar-powered, air-conditioned water cooler — to keep the salt pan workers hydrated last summer. The Foundation is also working with SEWA and other partners of the Global Climate Resilience Fund for Women to develop an insurance program to help women in India recover wages lost due to extreme heat events.

A deeply reported piece by Marc Gunther on the unapologetically top-down, expert-driven approach to giving by the Rockefeller Foundation and its president, Rajiv Shah.
A feature by Ben Gose on a rising trend in leadership circles: the hiring of co-CEOs to handle the demanding job of running nonprofits.
An op-ed by Eboo Patel weighing in on what went wrong with Ibram Kendi’s antiracism center at Boston University.
A plea by Stacey Abrams and Julián Castro to buttress philanthropic support for civil rights as the new Supreme Court term begins.
A conversation with tech watchdog Alexandra Reeve Givens about how A.I. can hurt your cause.

Stay Informed

Of course, there’s much more on our website, philanthropy.com.

We also encourage you to sign up for our daily newsletter, Philanthropy Today, so that you won’t miss any of our daily offerings, and our weekly roundup, Philanthropy This Week.

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We’re Here to Help

And in case you didn’t know, we have an exciting program of webinars and online forums to help you excel at your job.

• Tomorrow, November 1, we’ll be hosting a free online forum on “How to Meet the Expectations of Today’s Nonprofit Professionals.” Nonprofits of all sizes and missions are facing the toughest hiring market in a generation. We’ll explore how nonprofit leaders can best attract and keep high-performing staff members. Sign up today.

• On November 8, we’re hosting another online forum, “How Nonprofits Use Tech to Meet Their Missions.” A panel of nonprofit leaders will discuss innovative solutions and share actionable advice on how to make the most of modern technology to streamline, expand, or improve nonprofit outcomes. Sign up today.

• On November 16, join us for a 75-minute webinar in which our expert guests will help you understand how to develop donor communications that attract cross-generational support, no matter whether you want to attract more Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, or Gen Z supporters. Plus, we’ll arm you with practical tips you can apply to your online year-end outreach. Sign up today.

We hope you enjoy our November issue. We love hearing from our readers, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Elbert Ventura, Editor-in-chief

Elbert Ventura

Elbert Ventura is the editor-in-chief of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, where he runs day-to-day coverage and works with newsroom leaders to set editorial priorities.

From 2018 to 2023, he was editorial director at Vox.com, where he managed the Policy, Ideas, and Future Perfect teams. Before Vox, he served as an editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education and Democracy: A Journal of Ideas.

He is a graduate of Brown University and holds a master’s degree in Media and Public Affairs from the George Washington University.

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There’s much more in our November issue.

Stay Informed

We’re Here to Help