Philanthropy Today

Donors to left-leaning causes have pulled back, whether from exhaustion, anger at perceived Democratic missteps, or fear of retaliation from the Trump administration. Unlike in 2017, small-dollar contributions to politicians and interest groups have “slowed to a trickle,” while big donors lie low. As a result, even marquee names of liberal activism, including the Center for American Progress and the Human Rights Campaign, have made major staffing cuts. One strategist predicted some major contributors would resurface by May, “as anger toward Mr. Trump rose,” while a former adviser to one Democratic donor, who has moved to Canada, was much less optimistic. (New York Times)

Some companies are reviewing their philanthropic activities in a new environment more hostile to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Some executives fear that visible DEI-focused charity, while not illegal, could make their companies targets for harassment, activists’ campaigns, or litigation. On the other hand, potential younger hires tend to value those efforts, so some companies will try to thread the needle, for example by removing references to racial or ethnic groups and focusing more on recipients’ socio-economic status or geography. (CNBC)

• Background from the Chronicle: Corporations and Higher Ed Are Backtracking on DEI. Will Foundations Fold?

More on DEI

• Amid Trump’s War on DEI, Advocates Fear Job Trainings, Scholarships for Disadvantaged Groups Could Be At Risk (Boston Globe)
• Public Broadcasters alter DEI statements in wake of Trump order, state laws (Current)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    

Nonprofits and the Trump Administration

• Federal Funding Freeze Disrupts Rural Organizations Supporting Foster Youth, Job Growth (Associated Press)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: Rural America Is Struggling. Where’s Philanthropy?
• Cuts to U.S.-Backed Rights Groups Seen as a Win for China (New York Times)
• Kennedy Center Staff Describe Climate of Fear as Events Drop From Calendar (Washington Post)
• Opinion: Nonprofits Must Prepare for De Tocqueville’s Last Stand (City & State New York)

More News and Opinion

• They Inherited Billions From Their Parents. They Don’t Want It. (Business Insider)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: Next-Generation Donors Find Their Way, Plus Research on Social Giving
• Whisper Networking: A Nonprofit, Psst, Aims to Help Whistleblowers Build Strength in Numbers. (Columbia Journalism Review)
• How the Food Industry’s Main Lobbyist Became a Top Nuisance (Wall Street Journal)
• One Fix for Ailing Movie Theaters? Becoming Nonprofits. (New York Times)
• Opinion: Why I Helped Create a Scholarship for Closeted (and Out) Youth (Out)

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