Field Notes in Philanthropy

Episode 9: It’s Hurricane Season When disasters strike, they generate a surge of philanthropic giving among Americans of all walks of life, fueled by emotional images and stories in the media. What we call “disaster philanthropy” feels so personal; it isn’t often that words like “data-driven” and “strategic” enter the conversation. Yet, new efforts to orchestrate and evaluate the philanthropic response to man-made and natural disasters are now beginning to gain momentum. And as climate change,

Episode 9: It’s Hurricane Season When disasters strike, they generate a surge of philanthropic giving among Americans of all walks of life, fueled by emotional images and stories in the media. What we call “disaster philanthropy” feels so personal; it isn’t often that words like “data-driven” and “strategic” enter the conversation. Yet, new efforts to orchestrate and evaluate the philanthropic response to man-made and natural disasters are now beginning to gain momentum. And as climate change,

Did you know that even a simple “let’s get coffee” request from a potential funder can cause nonprofit staff serious stress? During this live episode – recorded at the 2018 Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy annual conference – our hosts and their special guests dive into a candid conversation about how unbalanced power dynamics between funders and grantees can manifest themselves even in the simplest of meetings. In front of a live audience, we explore how grantmakers and grantees can

Did you know that even a simple “let’s get coffee” request from a potential funder can cause nonprofit staff serious stress? During this live episode – recorded at the 2018 Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy annual conference – our hosts and their special guests dive into a candid conversation about how unbalanced power dynamics between funders and grantees can manifest themselves even in the simplest of meetings. In front of a live audience, we explore how grantmakers and grantees can

Episode 7: Why Net Neutrality Matters for Nonprofits Despite substantial public opposition, Obama-era regulations securing Net Neutrality – a principle that essentially bars Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from playing favorites with different websites – were rolled back by the FCC on June 11, 2018. These changes could pave the way for a new, highly manipulated user experience: movements, media reports, resources, and more that ISPs – or their investors – don’t like, or that don’t make them

Episode 7: Why Net Neutrality Matters for Nonprofits Despite substantial public opposition, Obama-era regulations securing Net Neutrality – a principle that essentially bars Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from playing favorites with different websites – were rolled back by the FCC on June 11, 2018. These changes could pave the way for a new, highly manipulated user experience: movements, media reports, resources, and more that ISPs – or their investors – don’t like, or that don’t make them

Episode 6: Tax Cuts and Giving If you’ve ever donated to a nonprofit, you know the power of the charitable tax deduction. You’re reminded in every year-end appeal, and every handwritten receipt you get for donating those “gently used” clothes and housewares. Nonprofits have long depended on tax incentives to encourage giving, but with the doubling of the Standard Deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, will that incentive go away? And does it matter anyway? In this episode, Dr. Philip Knight,

Episode 6: Tax Cuts and Giving If you’ve ever donated to a nonprofit, you know the power of the charitable tax deduction. You’re reminded in every year-end appeal, and every handwritten receipt you get for donating those “gently used” clothes and housewares. Nonprofits have long depended on tax incentives to encourage giving, but with the doubling of the Standard Deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, will that incentive go away? And does it matter anyway? In this episode, Dr. Philip Knight,

Episode 5: This One Counts The 2020 U.S. Census is at a “high risk” for failure, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Given that the decennial Census is how our government divvies up Congressional representatives, federal program dollars, and a host of other assets, a failed Census could spell chaos for our country. And for the nonprofit sector. Philanthropy has played a key role in previous censuses, providing the resources and know-how to mobilize community groups,

Episode 5: This One Counts The 2020 U.S. Census is at a “high risk” for failure, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Given that the decennial Census is how our government divvies up Congressional representatives, federal program dollars, and a host of other assets, a failed Census could spell chaos for our country. And for the nonprofit sector. Philanthropy has played a key role in previous censuses, providing the resources and know-how to mobilize community groups,

Episode 4: That's a Lot of Letters The European Union is about to set the bar for digital data privacy. On May 25, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will go into effect, giving internet users in the EU broad powers to monitor and control how organizations and businesses keep, manage, and use their personal data. What’s more, the GDPR gives EU citizens rights to their data wherever it’s held – even if that’s in the United States. And in an era when organizations like Facebook

Episode 4: That's a Lot of Letters The European Union is about to set the bar for digital data privacy. On May 25, 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will go into effect, giving internet users in the EU broad powers to monitor and control how organizations and businesses keep, manage, and use their personal data. What’s more, the GDPR gives EU citizens rights to their data wherever it’s held – even if that’s in the United States. And in an era when organizations like Facebook

Episode 3: What’s the Story? We set out to talk about how and why journalists and the media struggle to cover the news of philanthropy. What we discovered is that it’s often a struggle to cover anything at all. Since the 2016 election, U.S. philanthropy has woken up to the idea that fact-based, independent journalism might need their help – as long as there’s a strict editorial firewall in place. Nina Sachdev, Communications Director for Media Impact Funders and Bruce DeBoskey, writer of the

Episode 3: What’s the Story? We set out to talk about how and why journalists and the media struggle to cover the news of philanthropy. What we discovered is that it’s often a struggle to cover anything at all. Since the 2016 election, U.S. philanthropy has woken up to the idea that fact-based, independent journalism might need their help – as long as there’s a strict editorial firewall in place. Nina Sachdev, Communications Director for Media Impact Funders and Bruce DeBoskey, writer of the

Episode 2: Sittin’ Here on Capitol Hill Philanthropy and policymaking came head-to-head in national conversations this winter during the tax overhaul debates. Among many others, foundation leaders and associations jumped in to advocate on behalf of the charitable sector. But many foundations have the means, the expertise, and the will to shape other kinds of public policy – the kinds that shape our communities, governance, and daily lives. Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of the Council on