Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online
One of the country’s most visible racial-justice nonprofits is beset by allegations of bad behavior and bad management. Over the past few years, Color of Change, which has notched some notable wins with its awareness campaigns since its founding in 2005, has dealt with accusations of sexual assault, bullying, harassment, and gender discrimination, current and former insiders say. Repeatedly, the organization launches an internal investigation and finds no wrongdoing, but often the accused leave shortly afterward, sometimes to glowing reviews from top management. Meanwhile, the organization has faced high staff turnover, and some employees accuse it of targeting union members in recent layoffs. A spokesperson for Color of Change said the layoffs were for financial reasons and that staff complaints are investigated thoroughly and people have been held accountable. (Insider)
A global conservation organization is fighting the scourge of wildlife trafficking by infiltrating the sprawling criminal networks involved. Earth League International was founded as the Elephant Action League in 2013 to bring attention to the poaching crisis in Africa and its links to global terrorism. It works on an issue that gets a tiny fraction of public spending on security or conservation and is overmatched in almost every way by trafficking networks and the global demand for illicit wildlife products. Still, on an annual budget of $350,000, the group’s undercover operations “have led to the arrest of an alleged jaguar-fang ring in Bolivia; helped the Mexican government pursue the Cartel of the Sea, a network in Baja California that trafficked sea cucumbers and totoaba; and sparked at least seven ongoing investigations by the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI.” Founder Andrea Crosta calculates that “ELI could shut down trafficking in much of the world with an endowment of $10 million.” (New Yorker)
More News
- Bard President Received $150,000 From Foundation Created by Jeffrey Epstein (New York Times)
- Evictions, Homelessness, Debt: Skid Row Housing Trust Receiver Has Checkered History (Los Angeles Times)
- Burning Man Nonprofit Becomes Latest Adversary in Geothermal Feud (New York Times)
- Legislators Back Bill to Block N.Y. Charities From Funding Israeli Settlements (City & State NY)
- East Carolina University’s Scholars Program Renamed to Reflect $30 Million Gift (WITN)
Arts and Culture
- A Philanthropist Spent $180 Million to Transform Brooklyn’s Batcave Into Gotham’s Art Factory (New York Times)
- Ancient Hand-Written Hebrew Bible Acquired for ANU Museum of the Jewish People for $38.1 Million (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Opinion and Analysis
- N.Y. UJA-Federation CEO Eric Goldstein: ‘Blessedly, American Philanthropy Is No Longer Existential to Israel’s Survival’ (Media Line)
- How to Find Room for Philanthropy Despite Challenging Times (Kiplinger)
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