The Chronicle of Philanthropy

29/10/2025

Billionaire Tom Golisano pledges $253 million and creates a national alliance of children’s hospitals.

“Children’s health has always been a priority for me, and it’s been deeply rewarding to see how the Golisano Children’s Hospitals are making a profound impact on the communities they serve,” Golisano said. “I’m fortunate to be able to help others and I’m looking forward to seeing what these hospitals can achieve together.”
https://phlnthrp.com/4oDSNnT

The founder of the payroll giant Paychex has given away more than $1 billion, with a significant share going to help children.

29/10/2025

Jonathan Reckford jokes that before he became chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International, he “couldn’t really keep a job.”

His career took him from Wall Street to the Olympics to the pulpit before he joined Habitat in 2005. Just months later, the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina reshaped the organization’s work and priorities.

Nearly 20 years later, Reckford says those disasters helped Habitat grow into a stronger, more global nonprofit focused on affordable housing.

As he leads this year’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project — the first since President Carter’s death — volunteers are building 25 sustainable homes in Austin, Texas.
https://phlnthrp.com/3WtRFaI

The Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina made the global housing nonprofit expand its work quickly — and made building affordable housing a major priority.

29/10/2025

Opinion: A small minority of the ultrawealthy give at the highest levels. Here’s what they do, and how more donors can emulate them, writes Sofia Michelakis. https://phlnthrp.com/4huc8FK

Michelakis is managing director of Phila Engaged Giving.

29/10/2025

What do you do when the president calls you "corrupt?"

Nonprofits are wrestling with how to answer that question as they face unprecedented critical and rhetorical attacks from the White House. Presidents typically extol the virtues of charitable organization, but the administration routinely declares that waste, fraud, and abuse are rampant in the sector along with an anti-American “woke ideology.”

We spoke with leaders and expert to identify responses and strategies for groups to maintain the public's trust and confidence. See their advice.
https://phlnthrp.com/4oJIKOq

Recent White House rhetorical attacks against nonprofits are unprecedented. Will donors listen?

28/10/2025

How are foundations shifting grantmaking to meet urgent needs?

🎙️ Join us on October 29 for a timely online forum exploring how foundation leaders are rethinking grantmaking in the face of ongoing mission and financial challenges.

We’ll hear directly from grantmakers who have increased payouts, launched emergency funds, and expanded multiyear general operating support—and learn how they’ve navigated decisions with boards, grantees, and other key stakeholders.

The conversation will cover:
🟡 Adapting strategies to meet nonprofit needs
🟡 Building flexibility into grantmaking
🟡 What’s next for funders

Register today! 👉 https://phlnthrp.com/4neCBZt

🎥 Can’t attend live? Register to access the full recording and transcript.

This event is made possible with support from Workday.

28/10/2025

Trump's attacks on DEI do not seem to be affecting the composition of American philanthropy. A Council on Foundations analysis shows an increase in female CEOs and people of color in full-time grant-making roles.
https://phlnthrp.com/3L9Gstm

A Council on Foundations analysis shows a rise in female CEOs and people of color in full-time grant-making roles.

28/10/2025

The Perlmans practice what they describe as “direct giving with guardrails” through their six-year-old nonprofit, The Change Reaction. Through it, they give extensively to help low-income people in Los Angeles, aiding those who are often one paycheck away from losing everything or in danger of falling into debilitating debt because of a hospital stay or other emergency.

“I want The Change Reaction to be so ensconced in Los Angeles that more people can help their neighbors,“ said Greg Perlman of his nonprofit. "People have to realize that the government's not gonna be there. California's got a deficit and our federal government has a giant deficit, so it's gonna be up to us to figure out how to help our neighbors."
https://phlnthrp.com/4oEPEEr

Greg and Jodi Perlman started The Change Reaction to help people in their city stay afloat during times of crisis. They’ve given $60 million to 43,000 families over the past six years.

28/10/2025

When the Trump administration suddenly froze foreign aid, a team at USAID employees — some working outside of business hours or after they'd been fired — worked to identify programs that were both cost effective and impactful so private donors could support them.
https://phlnthrp.com/47aC85G

This article is part of a partnership the Chronicle has forged with Conversation US and to expand coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits.

It’s possible private foundations and individual donors gave much more, but those gifts won’t be reported for many months.

27/10/2025

Nonprofits looking for support to become more strategic, efficient, and resilient have a good shot at success right now. Three grant-making experts share insights into what foundations are looking for when awarding win capacity-building grants. https://phlnthrp.com/47vQOLz

Foundation leaders share insights into what it takes to secure grants that enable organizational growth.

27/10/2025

Some one-third of U.S. nonprofit service providers experienced a disruption in their government funding in the first half of 2025. 21% lost a grant or contract, 27% faced delays or funding freezes and 6% were hit with stop-work orders.

Some of the nonprofits experienced more than one of these funding problems.
https://phlnthrp.com/4qzwmSU

Across issue areas, nonprofits lost grants and contracts, faced delays or funding freezes, and were hit with stop-work orders.

27/10/2025

We're looking forward to hearing the pro-tips for engaging midlevel donors from panelist Kindred Motes of KM Strategies Group during our November 13 webinar.

Motes will share actionable strategies for identifying, cultivating, and growing support from midlevel donors — who often make up a small portion of your base but drive a significant share of revenue.

Join us to discover practical strategies for engaging this critical group — whether or not you have a team dedicated to them.

📆 November 13, 2025
🕑 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. ET
➕ This webinar is worth 1.25 CFRE credits

Register today! https://phlnthrp.com/43xY3kV

27/10/2025

Several more charities have announced very large gifts from MacKenzie Scott this month, ahead of the billionaire’s expected December reveal of her latest round of annual gifts. Scott also reloaded her philanthropic war chest by selling more than $12 billion in Amazon stock.
https://phlnthrp.com/3JhBSZw

Charities announce new gifts totaling $120 million as the billionaire donor retains her focus on DEI and climate.