Philanthropy Today

Opinion: Darren Walker, the outgoing head of the Ford foundation, warns of a “gathering crisis of leadership,” in government, business and the nonprofit world as boards choose to play it safe and pick leaders who won’t make waves during a time of intense polarization, in an essay for the New York Times. A toxic media environment has resulted in a culture that “shuns and shames,” resulting in leaders who avoid public controversy, Walker writes. He says he fears the loss of democracy if more leaders don’t take courageous action. (New York Times)

Background from the Chronicle: How Ford’s Darren Walker Reimagined Philanthropy and Foundation Leadership

As San Francisco Mayor London Breed promises more aggressive sweeps of homeless encampments as part of a pre-election downtown revitalization plan, the nonprofit GLIDE has launched an effort to take a gentler path, by steering people to shelter and developing relationships with homeless people. The nonprofit has a team of seven ambassadors who clean the streets of the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood and check in on people needing help. (KQED)

Background from the Chronicle: Did a $100 Million Effort Reduce Homelessness? The Results Are In

More News

• Voting Groups That Got a Boost From Harris’ Candidacy Are Still Working to Persuade Voters of Color (Associated Press)
• The Rise — and Fall? — of the New Progressive Economics (Vox)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: Five Academic Institutions Get $40 Million to Promote Rethinking About the Economy
• Lightning Strikes Again: Mackenzie Scott Gifts $15M to Brunswick-Based Coastal Enterprises (Maine Biz)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: A Sneak Peek Into MacKenzie Scott’s Giving, Courtesy of Her Grantees
• Metro Atlanta Nonprofit Helps Clear Financial Hurdles for Chattahoochee Riverlands Project (WSB TV)
• This Museum Is Old. But With $75 Million to Spend, Why Is It So Dingy? (New York Times)

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