7 Tips to Win General Operating Support

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July 25, 2025

From: Philanthropy Today

Subject: 7 Tips to Win General Operating Support

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Grant Seeking

7 Ways to Earn Foundations’ Trust and Win General Operating Support

By M.J. Prest May 12, 2025

Three experts explain how to get to know foundation program officers and best position your nonprofit to secure flexible funding.
Nonprofit Support

Takeaways From the Chronicle and AP’s Report on Cuts to Government Grants

By Thalia Beaty, Associated Press July 22, 2025

President Trump’s policies are poised to upend decades of partnerships the federal government has built with nonprofits to help people in their communities.
Letters to the Editor

Trigger Words Aren’t Nonprofits’ Only Language Problem

July 25, 2025

A recent op-ed missed the chance to address a deeper issue — the policing of nonprofit speech.

WEBINARS

Today: August 14 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now

Amid so much disruption in the nonprofit world, some funders are rethinking how to get money to the field quickly and effectively by investing in nonprofits’ capacity. Join us for the webinar How to Secure Capacity-Building Grants to learn from two funders who invest in organizational capacity as they explain ways to identify grant makers, craft compelling proposals, and build relationships with nonprofit associations that offer these grants to members.

ONLINE FORUMS

Today: August 5 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now

Join us for How to Use AI Without Breaking Donors’ Trust to learn from Jeremy Morse of Anthos|Home, CJ Orr of the Orr Group, and Josie White of Shelter the Homeless as they discuss responsible ways to use AI. They’ll explain the importance of human oversight and share ways to increase productivity while avoiding potential pitfalls.

Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online

About 120,000 new donors have given to NPR and the Public Broadcasting Corporation over the past three months as it became increasingly clear that federal funds for the broadcasters would be cut. So far, contributions are up $70 million over last year, though that is dwarfed by the $535 million Congress has eliminated. The share of new recurring donors is up 51 percent over last year. (New York Times)

Higher Education

Columbia and Penn Made Trump Deals. More Universities Could Be Next. (New York Times)
State Department to Investigate Harvard’s Use of International J-1 Visas (Washington Post)

Foreign Aid

Can Philanthropy Make Up for Trump’s Foreign Aid Pullback? (Hollywood Reporter)
U.S.-Funded Contraceptives for Poor Nations to Be Burned in France, Sources Say (Reuters)

Big Philanthropy

Giving on the Edge: Effective Altruism’s Post-SBF Comeback (Hollywood Reporter)
Sean Penn and Ann Lee Are on a Mission to Rebuild the World — One Disaster at a Time (Hollywood Reporter)
Hollywood Flashback: When Paul Newman Made Doing Good Delicious (Hollywood Reporter)

More News

More Than Cosplay: ‘Ghostbusters’ Fans Answer the Call to Do Good (Hollywood Reporter)
Gleaning Operations Help Meet Rising Need in a Stretched Vermont Food Assistance Network (VTDigger)

Arts and Culture

Another Director Leaves MOCA in Los Angeles (New York Times)
How to Host a Hamptons Gala for the Super-Rich (New York Times)
Amy Sherald Cancels Her Smithsonian Show, Citing Censorship (New York Times)
Can Burning Man Survive the Financial Desert — and Keep Its Soul Intact? (Guardian)

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.

New Grant Opportunities

Your Chronicle subscription includes free access to GrantStation’s database of grant opportunities.

Education: The Toshiba America Foundation supports high-quality STEM education in U.S. K–12 schools by funding innovative, teacher-designed projects. Teachers can apply for grants that center on project-based learning. Application deadlines: September 1, November 1, December 1; depending on grade level.

Performing Arts: The Shubert Foundation supports the ongoing vitality of live performing arts across the U.S., prioritizing nonprofit professional theater and also funding dance organizations. Its primary focus is on providing general operating support, but it also funds arts-related organizations, leading drama departments, and new theatrical works. Grants range from $15,000 to $371,000; application deadlines October 15 and December 4.