Non-profit management

The Jerome Foundation has named Eleanor Savage, a highly-respected and experienced arts and philanthropy leader, as its new president and CEO charged with furthering the organization’s commitment to innovative and flexible grantmaking programs for early career artists and arts ecosystems that focus on equity and the role artists and culture bearers play in societal change. Eleanor is also the current Vice Chair of GIA's board.

Join United Philanthropy Forum and the broader philanthropic sector in support of the Charitable Act (S.566), a bill that would implement a Universal Charitable Deduction (UCD). For private foundations, advocacy and lobbying activities in support of the universal charitable deduction falls under the self-defense exception. Private foundations may participate in direct lobbying activities for this legislation and other legislation designed to protect the charitable deduction.

On March 1, 2023, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Charitable Act. The bill allows individual taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize their tax deductions a deduction in taxable years beginning in 2023 or 2024 for charitable contributions. The deduction is limited to one-third of the standard deduction allowed to such taxpayers.

This bi-partisan bill currently has 13 co-sponsors, 7 Democrats and 6 Republicans.

"How much do we really know about how the ultrarich give their money away?" said Whizy Kim for Vox. "It’s surprisingly hard to say. This week, the Chronicle of Philanthropy published its annual ranking of the top 50 donors from 2022, a list it compiles by asking nonprofits what gifts they received and philanthropists what gifts they gave. It’s a list dominated by Silicon Valley billionaires with sprinklings of Wall Street investors, real estate magnates, media moguls, and heirs and heiresses of industry, who gave hundreds of millions (and in a few cases, billions) to private foundations, universities, and medical centers."

Despite civil society organizations being at the forefront of fighting the complex problems of our world, most of them suffer from financial instability. Research done by Humentum highlights these “starvation cycles” CSO’s are stuck in with recommendations for funders to break that cycle. What comes after that research?

"Adriana Griñó, Arts Program Officer, has announced she will leave the Kenneth Rainin Foundation effective January 20. Adriana joined the Foundation as Program Assistant in 2014. She was promoted to Program Associate, which was followed by her appointment to Program Officer in 2017," said the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. "Her decision to leave the role comes after over eight years of service in advancing the Foundation’s goal of enabling Bay Area artists to thrive. Over the years, Adriana has developed meaningful connections with grantees, peer funders, partners and staff, and has strengthened the Foundation’s contributions and impact in the field."

"As the New Year promises to bring many changes to the social sector and beyond, one thing remains unchanged and top of mind for many: the economic climate in the U.S. With high levels of inflation persisting and the possibility of a recession looming, many are predicting what 2023’s economy will mean for today’s workforce," said Guy Mika for Candid. "Unfortunately, there’s no crystal ball that can tell employees what to expect this year. However, we can revisit the topic of workers’ rights through a new lens by exploring the increasing role that a newer breed of labor organizations plays in the social sector."

"The Mellon Foundation today announced the appointment of theater veteran and advocate for equity and justice in the arts, Stephanie Ybarra as Program Officer in its Arts and Culture program area, effective April 3, 2023. As part of her role, she will help shape individual grantmaking and launch philanthropic initiatives in the performing arts, leveraging the grantmaking, convening, and research assets of the Foundation."

"The end of 2022 has brought the kind of news that gives philanthropy a bad rap. Most notably, the collapse of cryptocurrency giant FTX amid charges of fraud against its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, led to a loss of millions of dollars in expected donations and questions about the much-heralded effective-altruism giving approach, for which Bankman-Fried served as a bankroller and poster boy," said Leslie Lenkowsky for The Chronicle of Philanthropy. "The FTX saga capped off a year of continuing challenges in the nonprofit world. High inflation cut into nonprofit budgets and endowments while also increasing operating costs. When estimates are reported, giving in 2022 measured in real dollars is likely to show little growth, or even a decline — one of the few times that’s happened outside of a recessionary year."

From Common Field: "As a national network, Common Field served as a catalyst for work happening on the ground by increasing access and sharing of resources across regions. As we come to the end of our time as an organization, we are reflecting not only on the life of Common Field, but also on the future that lies ahead for our work and communities. When Common Field decided to close, we wanted to commit to a process that would leave the field with tools to shape the possibilities ahead. And with that in mind, we are so pleased to share our final two sunset initiatives with you!"

From Common Field: "The Los Angeles Contemporary Archive (LACA) and Common Field are glad to invite you to join us on the arrival of the Common Field archival collection at LACA. Common Field has worked to support a nation-wide network of independent artists and arts organizations. Following an organizational audit and an internal financial survey process in 2021, Common Field announced its decision to intentionally sunset, or close, as an organization in 2022."

"Common Field believes that their struggles are not novel ones and have generously agreed to share their vulnerabilities and learning with us through their archival collection. The evening's aim is to engage the collection with questions so that we may all better know ourselves."