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Dear Subscriber,

In a time of great turbulence, technology has the potential to help nonprofits solve problems and streamline operations, from payment processing to engaging with donors to database management. But certain technologies, such as AI, also come with big questions, and it can be counterproductive for organizations to embrace digital tools without proper financial backing and technical support. How can leaders best navigate both the promise and perils?

In the new June issue, Sara Herschander unpacks the findings from an exclusive technology survey commissioned by the Chronicle and conducted by Clarion Research. For the survey, we asked nonprofit leaders about their organization’s approaches to technology, the challenges they face implementing it, and the potential for technology to boost their work.

Sara finds that most leaders agree that up-to-date tech is essential — 64 percent said improved technology use is among the top three priorities for their organization. However, nonprofits often struggle to get the money for basic tech, let alone more advanced tools, and the organizations that do experiment with cutting-edge projects frequently net the grant dollars. This dynamic creates the potential for a digital divide between tech haves and tech have-nots.

Matthew Laznicka for The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Take Rose Afriyie, co-founder of mRelief, which is piloting the use of generative AI models to help people navigate public benefits. “In a time of what feels like fear, worry, and uncertainty, we’re also now in this time of unprecedented innovation and capabilities in AI,” she says. Over the past decade, mRelief has grown rapidly, attracting attention from Silicon Valley funders like the renowned start-up accelerator Y Combinator as well as local governments and private philanthropy.

On the flip side, Sara hears from Julie Reiskin, co-executive director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. Reiskin sees the upside in embracing tech: She’s seen staff waste countless hours on simple tasks like trying to pull credit-card statements for an auditor or frantically searching for emails. But having the means and capacity to deploy digital solutions is a different story. “I know there’s technology out there that could really help us be more effective, but we just don’t have access to it as a small, pretty lean organization,” she says.

Also in the new issue:

Stephanie Beasley examines Bill Gates and the announcement that he’s sunsetting his foundation in 2045. Gates said the organization will spend out $200 billion — the largest amount a private foundation has ever given away — over the next 20 years. The announcement comes at an unnerving moment for nonprofits, which are grappling with the Trump administration’s near-total elimination of international aid and efforts to roll back funding for domestic causes such as higher education and affordable housing — areas the Gates Foundation has funded. CEO Mark Suzman told the Chronicle that, by making a commitment of this size over this timetable, the foundation can be a stabilizing force and spur more philanthropies and governments to invest in nonprofits. “I think it’s a really, really big deal for philanthropy, for the world, for the issues we work on at a time when the world needs some hope and optimism. I am hoping that we can actually provide some of that,” Suzman said.

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Ben Gose looks at the trend of digital donations dropping in the wake of President Trump’s tariffs and asks experts whether charities should back off appeals or push ahead with ambitious campaigns. François de Kerret, CEO of Zeffy, an online platform used by about 50,000 charities, suggests fundraisers should wait for a less volatile period if they’re planning a major campaign. “People are feeling worried and more risk averse,” he says. Meanwhile, Woodrow Rosenbaum, chief data officer for GivingTuesday, sees now as a potentially ripe time to engage donors and draws a parallel to the early days of the pandemic. “In the moment, being able to ‘do good’ helped people feel like they had agency,” he says.

Also: Rasheeda Childress reveals insights on how to retain skittish donors amid the economic turbulence.

Plus: New research on how to connect with DAF donors, how a peer learning model can help executives grow, Bill Gates’s role in the evolution of expert-driven philanthropy (opinion), a message for philanthropy from an immigration attorney who was detained by ICE (opinion), and how fundraisers looking to reach younger donors should make sense of MrBeast’s clickbait approach to giving (opinion).

Listen: We Have a New Podcast

Hosted by our CEO Stacy Palmer, Nonprofits Now: Leading Today dives into how nonprofit leaders solve problems. Topics for this season include how to manage an intergenerational workplace, how to hire and retain top talent, and how to better engage with boards.

In a recent episode, Stacy speaks with Aisha Benson of the Nonprofit Finance Fund and Myal Greene of World Relief about leading during economic uncertainty. The two leaders share insights on cash flow analysis, preparing multiple budgets, outreach to grant makers and other donors, and more. Listen on your favorite platform.

Learn More From the Chronicle

The best way to keep up with all the offerings from the Chronicle is to sign up for our Philanthropy Today newsletter. You’ll get updates every day about new items we have posted, plus a guide to what else you need to know from reporting by other news organizations.

By subscribing to Philanthropy Today, you’ll also receive a special newsletter delivered to your inbox every Thursday afternoon that’s dedicated to The Commons, our project that examines how philanthropy and nonprofits can best bring Americans together in a time of hyperpolarization.

GivingTuesday

In case you missed it, The Commons has recently featured:

• Drew Lindsay on GivingTuesday’s big new idea to tap generosity and fix polarization in local communities.
• Pearce Godwin on how to engage with conservatives in meeting a nonprofit’s mission.
• Hali Lee on why America should embrace collective giving. You can watch a recent conversation with Lee.

Also, on June 12 at 2 p.m. Eastern, we’re hosting a webinar on securing large grants. Six-figure grants can be a game changer for nonprofits by offering the kind of funding that fosters sustainability, fuels growth, strengthens infrastructure, and drives long-term impact. Yet these major awards aren’t won with strong grant writing alone. They’re the result of thoughtful planning, strategic positioning, and meaningful relationship-building. Our speakers will walk through key steps for securing big grants — including how to position your mission, communicate your vision, and engage funders as long-term partners.

Thanks, as always, for being a subscriber.

With gratitude,

Andrew Simon, editor-in-chief, Chronicle of Philanthropy