Philanthropy Today

More grassroots disaster-relief groups are forming as President Trump vows to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The volunteers say they can be more nimble than a federal bureaucracy, but experts are skeptical that the groups can fill the gaps left by FEMA or that they can replicate the agency’s sustained presence during long-term recovery. (New York Times)

The House and Senate versions of the pending budget package contain differing provisions aimed at getting taxpayers to donate more to charity. Both would bring back the deduction for donations for those who do not itemize, but the Senate would cap it at $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples. The House’s proposed caps are $150 and $200. The Senate would also allow an itemized deduction only for donations above 0.5 percent of a filer’s adjusted gross income. Both bills would also limit the value of each dollar of itemized deductions to 35 cents for higher-income taxpayers, which one analysis said “could mean as much as $8 billion in lost gifts to charity annually.” (Wall Street Journal — subscription)

• Background from the Chronicle: Charity Advocates Applaud Senate Version of Tax Bill

More News and Opinion

• States Can Block Medicaid Money for Health Care at Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court Says (Associated Press)
• Amid Record Fundraising, ADL Lays Off Staff to Consolidate Focus on Antisemitism (Forward)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: The Push to Get More Big Donors to Give to Fight the Spread of Antisemitism
• Trump’s Bill Slashes the Safety Net That Many Republican Voters Rely On (New York Times)
• Baltimore Takes a Gamble to Reverse Decades of Neglect (New York Times)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: Affordable Housing: A Concern for Every Cause
• For 53 Years, She Led a New York Theater. Now She’s Stepping Down. (New York Times)
• Opinion: Three Ways Philanthropy Needs to Embrace Risk to Better Meet the Moment (Fast Company)

LGBTQ Issues

• Trump Will End Crisis Hotline for LGBTQ+ Youth. But L.A. Has Options for Those in Need (Los Angeles Times)
• Opinion: How the Gay Rights Movement Radicalized, and Lost Its Way (New York Times)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: I Am a Gay Man and a Foundation Chief. Here’s How I Find Unlikely Allies

Science Funding

• N.I.H. Memo Pauses Cancellations of Medical Research Grants (New York Times)
• Opinion: Private Sector, Philanthropy Can’t Replace Trump Administration Science Cuts (Stat)

Note: In the links in this section, we flag articles that only subscribers can access. But because some journalism outlets offer a limited number of free articles, readers may encounter barriers with other articles we highlight in this roundup.

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Health Equity: The purpose of the Exploring Equitable Futures call for proposals, offered by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is to support projects that seed new and unconventional ideas that could radically advance health equity for generations to come. RWJF aims to fund projects that 1) explore the future by researching and experimenting with ideas that are ahead of the curve or at the edge of our collective imagination; 2) shine a light on the emerging trends and forces that are shaping our future for better or worse—and suggest ways to navigate them to mitigate harm and advance health equity; and 3) dream big and challenge conventional wisdom to surface possibilities and uncover new paths to dismantle structural racism and build a more equitable future. Application deadline October 15.

Literacy: The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation seeks to advance literacy and foster a love of reading among underserved and at-risk children and youth in the United States, including U.S. territories. The Foundation’s Bookmobile Grants support bookmobile programs that serve economically or socially at-risk children. The grants are for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 8. Grants range from $500 to $3,000; application deadline August 15.