Chronicle Insider

Dear Subscriber,

I’ve been thinking about curiosity. That’s inspired, in part, by an upcoming conversation I’m having with Mónica Guzmán about polarization and how nonprofits and philanthropy can help America come together after the election. (The event is Wednesday, December 18, at 12:30 p.m. It’s free on LinkedIn! You can register here).

Guzmán is a speaker, senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels — a nonprofit working to depolarize America — and author of the book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. She highlights curiosity as one of the key ways we can navigate the fractures in our society. Curiosity is often the spark for what we do here at the Chronicle, too: ask the tough questions about our sector and explore solutions.

In our new December issue, Ben Gose turns his curiosity to the incoming administration and what it all means for the nonprofit world. The election outcome has left many organizations, particularly left-leaning ones, bracing for policy fights — but also reflecting on their role in Trump’s victory, much like the Democratic Party.

“There’s a deep-seated suspicion of elite institutions that seem out of touch with the concerns of a broad-based public,” says Benjamin Soskis, a senior research associate in the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute. “The election itself is a call for nonprofits and philanthropy to reinterrogate how they fit into that critique.” Soskis says charities need to do two important things on different time frames: Energize their employees and supporters for the impending fight against specific Trump policies, and take a long, slow look at what they can do to better connect with a broader swath of the population.

People’s Action Institute

Many conservative charity leaders who are excited about the Trump administration still anticipate some chaos. Trump’s stated goal to winnow the federal work force — coupled with potential spending cuts on social-service programs in Congress — could create challenges for local providers addressing such issues as food insecurity and homelessness, acknowledges James Whitford, the founder of True Charity, a network of 200 nonprofits and churches focused on poverty reduction. “Things might actually feel a little bit messier at first as we try to reorient to seeing civil society as the primary actor again on solving issues of poverty,” Whitford says. “But I think it will be for the better.”

Also in the new issue:

Drew Lindsay explores how the words that philanthropy and nonprofits use can stoke division. A new study reveals that the word “democracy” is a turnoff to a lot of people, for example. Philanthropy has invested heavily in efforts to bridge divides but done little to consider how it talks about and frames that work, says Amy McIsaac, author of the study. “Maybe we’ve overlooked the lowest-hanging fruit. There are some words that are just going to be more our friends in bridging than other words.” A few words of advice: Lean on language that can unify and pair word choices strategically.

Jim Rendon takes a look at the unsettling trend of nonprofits that are cutting budgets, laying off staff, and even closing their doors. Consider Bread for the City, an organization that provides food and other services to people in need in Washington, D.C. It became clear in April that several big foundation grants the 50-year-old organization was expecting would not come through. Some grant makers told CEO George Jones they were pausing to reassess their strategies, others were waiting to see what happened with the presidential election. In many cases, Jones never found out what changed. “We don’t have that latitude to go in and grill our funders,” he says. By June, the organization found itself $4 million short of its $23 million annual budget. Rising costs and the slowing of Covid-related money from donors, foundations, and the government are contributing factors to the sectorwide pinch. The tough economic environment has led to creative solutions, though. Leadership at the HERE Arts Center in New York City is considering partnering with other arts groups to seek funding together, and the center’s board chair created a donor-advised fund to give HERE Arts Center a loan.

Bread for the City

M.J. Prest taps experts for advice on how to boost planned giving. Planned giving is booming: Donors gave $42.7 billion through bequests in 2023. That figure is expected to keep growing as baby boomers reach their golden years and older Gen Xers approach retirement age. Yet a lot of nonprofits don’t have active legacy-giving programs in place, a potentially missed opportunity. “Creating a longtime relationship with donors helps to raise all [revenue] income levels,” says Meg Roberts, a veteran fundraiser who has focused on legacy giving for 25 years. “Annual giving increases significantly once someone discloses a planned gift. It is the tide that raises all boats.” Experts suggest strategies such as peer-to-peer outreach and writing a versatile gift-acceptance policy.

Plus: How one charity used A.I. to bring back donors, how to incorporate equity into evaluations of outcomes, actor Mark Ruffalo on a climate solution that’s hiding in plain sight, and a case for hitting the pause button on funding the resistance.

The best way to keep up with all the offerings from the Chronicle is to sign up for our Philanthropy Today newsletter. You’ll get updates every day about new items we have posted, plus a guide to what else you need to know from reporting by other news organizations.

By subscribing to Philanthropy Today, you’ll also receive a special newsletter delivered to your inbox every Thursday afternoon that’s dedicated to The Commons, our new project that examines how philanthropy and nonprofits can best bring Americans together in a time of hyperpolarization.

In case you missed it, The Commons has recently featured:

• Judy Woodruff on what ails America, and how to fix things.
• Hahrie Han on what philanthropy can learn about race from a megachurch.
• Kristi Eaton on how Tulsa, Okla., has become one of the most welcoming places in America for immigrants and refugees, with support ranging from a billionaire’s family foundation to the local YWCA.

Also, on January 16 at 2 p.m. Eastern, we’re hosting a webinar on how to create a strong donor communications plan in 2025. A smart annual outreach plan is vital to keep supporters connected to your cause — and hit year-end revenue goals. But with so much uncertainty on the horizon, how can you map out donor communications for the next 12 months and stay flexible to adapt if needed? Experts reveal what to include in a smart strategy, ways to unfold your story over time, and how to streamline work across a variety of communication channels.

Happy holiday season. Stay curious.

With gratitude,

Andrew Simon, editor-in-chief, Chronicle of Philanthropy