Philanthropy Today

In the first week of the Trump administration, some human- and civil-rights groups were unnerved by what seemed like an attempt by the government to monitor their activities. More than a dozen nonprofits, including the NAACP, Human Rights Watch, and the Latino Newsletter, say someone signed up for their newsletters using the Office of Personnel Management address created to report federal employees who continued to work on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts contrary to an executive order. While it could be a prank, some worry they are being watched, some think they are being trolled, while others suspect the sign-ups, which came from as far afield as London, were “meant to clog the inbox of administration officials trying to root out diversity initiatives.” (New York Times)

• Background from the Chronicle: Trump DEI Investigations Could Target Large Foundations

International humanitarian groups are in despair and panic as a Trump administration freeze on foreign aid continues, despite an announcement that life-saving efforts had been allowed to continue. Those groups say stop-work orders have not been rescinded, preventing medical workers even from handing out medicines already on the shelves. The suspension is affecting work to halt the spread of infectious diseases, feed starving children, prevent the transmission of HIV from pregnant women to their babies, and many other campaigns. (ProPublica)

More on the Fate of Foreign Aid

• Funding Freeze Thrusts Foreign Aid Groups Into Crisis (Washington Post)
• Trump Aid Whiplash Hits Refugees, AIDS Patients Worldwide (Wall Street Journal)
• Health Programs Shutter Around the World After Trump Pauses Foreign Aid (New York Times)
• Opinion: Trump’s Freeze on Foreign Aid Will Hurt America (Washington Post)

More on Nonprofits and the Trump Administration

• Disability Advocates Fear Backlash, Discrimination After Trump’s FAA Comments (Washington Post)
• Behind the Chaotic Attempt to Freeze Federal Assistance (New Yorker)
• With Trump 2.0, These Climate Donors Are Thinking Differently (Wall Street Journal)

More News

• Giving Crosses $100 Billion as Foundation Assets Hit a Record (Bloomberg)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: Foundation Assets Are at All-Time Highs, but Don’t Expect a Giving Boom
• For the First Time in History, Women Will Have Serious Philanthropic Power. Will They Choose to Use It? (Ms.)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle on Female Donors

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