Leslie Lenkowsky
Leslie Lenkowsky is a professor emeritus of public affairs and philanthropic studies at Indiana University and has been a regular contributor to the Chronicle for more than 30 years.
Stories by this Author
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Opinion
Americans Are Volunteering Less. What Can Nonprofits Do to Bring Them Back?
Recent surveys showing a decrease in volunteering largely blame the pandemic, but the problem isn’t new. Nonprofits need to figure out how to turn Americans’ desire to lend a hand to neighbors into more formal commitments to help their communities. -
Opinion
As Philanthropy Ends a Challenging Year, Historic Lessons Show a Path Forward for an Increasingly Complex Field
In 2022, the nonprofit world faced a multitude of problems, including high inflation, a likely decline in giving, and a scandal engulfing a leading proponent of effective altruism. But a report looking at the last 30 years of philanthropy spotlights a resilient and ever-evolving field. -
Opinion
Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision Prompts New Challenges for Philanthropy
An important but controversial era in public policy ended with last week’s Supreme Court ruling allowing states to outlaw abortion. Philanthropy and nonprofits have played large roles on both sides of the fight over legalized abortion, and they will have even more to do as a new era unfolds. -
Opinion
For Most Charity Fundraisers, DAFs Are a Useful Tool for Attracting Gifts — Not a Problem in Need of More Regulation
Despite controversies swirling around donor-advised funds, efforts aimed at speeding money from DAFs are of minimal interest to most fundraisers. On a recent well-attended webinar on managing and using gifts from the funds, the subject didn’t even come up. -
Opinion
Nonprofits and Foundations Need to Be Prepared for the Effects of Inflation on Services, Operations, and Endowments
As prices soar for gasoline, groceries, and other essential items, donors will have less to give and nonprofits and foundations may be forced to make cuts or look elsewhere for funds to cover higher operating costs. Nonprofit leaders, most of whom have no experience dealing with inflation, should start planning now. -
Opinion
Colin Powell’s Nonprofit Legacy: a Belief in America’s Promise
In the course of his life, Powell was a volunteer and mentor to young people of color. Through his nonprofit organization, America’s Promise Alliance, his ideas about how to help children and young people thrive were put into practice on a large scale. -
Opinion
Scholar Lester M. Salamon Changed How We Think About the Nonprofit World
Salamon’s prolific research and writing punctured the myth of nonprofit independence from the fields of government and business but also showed the value of these partnerships in helping those in need. -
Opinion
A New Report Raises Concerns About Philanthropy’s Trustworthiness. How Alarmed Should We Be?
Independent Sector found a decline in trust of nonprofits, especially philanthropic organizations. But there are likely many factors that account for this finding — not all of them as bad. -
Opinion
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Message to Philanthropy: Immigrant Strivers Need Support, Too
At a time when immigration policy battles are taking center stage, some of Miranda’s recent grants are going to nonprofits that help immigrants rise to the middle class — reflecting the values depicted in his new movie “In the Heights.” His approach should be an example for other donors. -
Opinion
How Much Can We Really Learn About Philanthropy From ‘Giving USA’ and Other Data Sources?
We have more knowledge about philanthropy than ever before, but we need to be wary of the limitations of that knowledge and the objectivity behind the data.