February 2019

The people on the Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle’s annual list of the biggest U.S. donors, collectively gave more than $7.8 billion last year. Artificial intelligence and privacy were among their top concerns.

Find out more about America’s 50 biggest donors: their ages, source of wealth, where they live, and where they give.

Staff writer Maria Di Mento details her often amusing interactions over the years with Seattle tech pioneer Paul Allen, Philadelphia businessman Gerry Lenfest, and private-equity titan Pete Peterson, all of whom died last year.

Inside the methodology for tallying which philanthropists gave away the most money in 2018.

The new trend in long-term, futuristic bets by some of the biggest U.S. philanthropists is drawing scrutiny by critics who say those enormous financial commitments need more public scrutiny and measurable goals.

Virginia Esposito, a champion of family foundations, talks about how they’re changing and what’s to come.

Only 21 people on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans appear among this year’s Philanthropy 50. And among the 143 U.S. signers of the Giving Pledge, 14 individuals or couples landed a spot on the Philanthropy 50.

The Blackstone financier placed a big bet on the study of artificial intelligence and landed at No. 4 on the Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle’s ranking of the top donors.

Evan Marwell, who started a nonprofit designed to expire after eight years with its mission complete, says his approach can have impact and excite donors.

Evan Marwell started a charity with a specific goal and an inflexible eight-year deadline. Here’s what other charities can learn from him.

With economists warning of an economic downturn, nonprofits and experts talk about what charities should do now to weather the storm.

A decade after the Great Recession beat down charities, groups worry about another downturn but take little action.

In other news about people on the move, Henry Timms leaves the 92nd Street Y to run the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

An examination of GuideStar data showed big fundraising benefits for nonprofits that opened up their books.

Tada Youth Theater offers programs to get kids involved in singing, dancing, and acting.

The chief executive of the Case Foundation and author of a new book on social change explains her five principals for putting innovative ideas into practice.

One Ohio town of just 4,300 residents raised $1.6 million; a United Way promoted “Thanking Tuesday.”

Forty-six percent of donors under age 35 say they plan to increase their donations to charities this year, according to an annual study by Cygnus Applied Research. Plus, donors say they would give more if nonprofits did a better job of showing extraordinary need for support.

Matt Onek, head of Mission Investors Exchange, says our analysis of impact investing at the 15 wealthiest foundations should have more prominently noted the importance of program-related investments.

People who give $10,000 to $100,000 a year find it nearly impossible to figure out where to give and how to donate effectively, says one philanthropist who tried everything she could to learn more.

Foundation officials must get out of their own echo chambers and understand the realities of what nonprofits and their beneficiaries face every day.

Grant makers can channel more funds to groups that work to remedy the situation, and nonprofits can be more aware of bias and provide mentors and other help.