April 1, 2021

Nonprofits have been talking about diversity for a long time. But making sure fundraisers feel included and nurturing a sense of belonging require a level of intention most haven’t mustered.

A summer “boot camp” helped the All Stars Project train diverse, early-career fundraisers.

A number of groups offer internships, mentoring, educational programs, and more to support pathways to leadership for people of color. Here is a sampling of programs.

The California Endowment is among the latest entrants taking advantage of historically low interest rates to spend more now on grantees’ urgent needs.

In September 2019, Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire philanthropist, and Matthew Myers, president of the nonprofit Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, unveiled a $160 million, three-year campaign to end what they described as an epidemic of e-cigarette use among kids.

The grant maker has given $10 million largely to help poor people, rural whites, and people of color.

Robotic exoskeletons have benefits beyond mobility, including an emotional boost.

Three veteran fundraisers offer advice about how to build relationships at a time when meeting face-to-face is still tricky.

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund offered grantees crash courses in how to use Twitter and Facebook to boost fundraising. The results for nonprofits, such as the Jacksonville Humane Society, were impressive.

Solving big problems revealed by a year of cascading crises demands a surge in grant making. Fortunately, endowments have swelled enough in the past year to enable steady increases in giving.

A year ago today, foundations and donors committed to new ways of operating to help organizations survive the health and economic crises. In 2021, there’s much more for all of us to do.