Philanthropy Today

A coalition of nonprofits in Alabama has launched an effort to help more people vote in the coming election amid new state voting restrictions. At the heart of the initiative is the Defend the Ballot website, which allows visitors to check their registration and polling place, see what candidates and issues are on their ballot, and find out about upcoming events to encourage voter participation. The coalition of civil rights, faith, and environmental groups says it is countering ongoing voter suppression. Alabama’s secretary of state accused it of “data mining,” but the coalition says it does not collect information from website users. (Alabama Reflector)

Plus: Can Money Help Save Democracy? (New York Times)

Background from the Chronicle: How Much Is Philanthropy Spending Toward a More Perfect Union?

The Atlanta Opera has found new ways to reach its audience, helping it to grow while other opera companies around the country are in retreat. Artistic director Tomer Zvulun said mounting circus-tent productions during the pandemic was key, bringing in new audiences who had nowhere else to see live performances. Since then, he has brought the opera to unconventional spaces around town and used novel programming approaches to keep the city’s attention. Since Zvulun started at the company in 2013, its budget has tripled to roughly $15 million. (New York Times)

Background from the Chronicle: Performing-Arts Groups Work to Attract Big Donors After the Pandemic Downturn

• Food Reaches Homes in Flood-Ravaged N.C. by Foot, Horse and ATV (Washington Post)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: Disaster Giving Goes Mostly to Immediate Relief, Not Prevention or Long-Term Recovery
• The CIA Runs a Nonprofit Venture Capital Firm. What’s It Investing In? (Marketplace)
• American Audiences Do Not Notice a Nonprofit News Difference, Study Finds (Poynter)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: Why All of Us Need to Give to Nonprofit News Outlets
• Housing Nonprofit Alleges Widespread Discrimination Against Section 8 Tenants in Calif. (Los Angeles Times)

Museum News

• Studio Museum in Harlem to Open New Building in Fall 2025 (New York Times)
• What’s Next for Bellevue, Wash., Arts Museum After Financial Collapse (Seattle Times)
• Kansas City’s Nelson Atkins Museum Eyes $170M Campaign for Big Expansion. What’s in Store? (Kansas City Star)
• Wilmington, Del.’s Hagley Museum Is Using Old Technology for a Sustainable Future (WHYY)

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