Philanthropy Today

Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online

The Trump administration says it is not preparing an executive order targeting progressive nonprofits, some of which had feared the president would attempt to revoke their tax-exempt status. Just as President Trump was asking the Internal Revenue Service to end Harvard University’s tax exemption, rumors started flying that certain groups could be singled out for the same treatment. In response to a reporter’s question, Trump himself “said the targets ‘could be’ immigrant-rights or environmental groups, and voluntarily name-checked the watchdog group CREW.” Those groups have been under close scrutiny in the White House, sources told the New York Times. (New York Times)

• Background from the Chronicle: Trump Threats to Tax-Exempt Status: Can the Rhetoric Become Reality?

Some major donors have quietly urged Harvard University’s leaders to try to defuse the school’s feud with the Trump administration and re-engage in talks. Among those pushing for a softer approach are financiers John Paulson and William Ackman. Instead, the university is suing the administration over demands a White House antisemitism task force made related to Harvard’s culture and operations and requiring government audits. Those demands came in an April 12 letter that an administration lawyer reportedly said had been sent by mistake, scuttling behind-the-scenes negotiations that had been going on since late March. (New York Times)

• Background from the Chronicle: The Donor Revolt May Be Behind Us, but Fundraisers Can Expect Tensions, Dust-Ups

More on Trump vs. Harvard

• Harvard Attracts New Donors as Funding Fight With Trump Administration Intensifies (Boston Globe)
• Opinion: Should Harvard Be Tax Exempt? Trump Might Lose This Legal Fight, and There Are Better Ways to Reduce Subsidies to Schools. (Wall Street Journal — subscription)

Climate and the Environment

• In Indiana, Putting Up Solar Panels Is Doing God’s Work (New York Times)
• Earthjustice President Describes a “Fundamentally Different” Era of Hostility Toward Environmentalists (ProPublica)

More News

• The New Soros: With Trump on the Rampage, Alex Soros Takes Control of His Father’s Empire. What Will He Do With His Influence? (New York)
• Zuckerberg-Funded School for Low-Income Families in Silicon Valley to Shut (San Francisco Chronicle)
• The $10M Steered to Fla. First Lady’s Charity by the State Was Medicaid Money, Document Shows (Miami Herald)
• Buffalo Diocese Agrees to Pay $150 Million to Settle Sex Abuse Claims (New York Times)
• Churches Say Nonprofit Politics Ban Violates Speech Rights (Law 360 — subscription)
• Families of Key Bridge Collapse Victims Get $1.2M Donation After Being Shut Out of Largest Relief Fund (Baltimore Banner)

Opinion

• ‘We Couldn’t Live in That Uncertainty’: A Boston Nonprofit Rejects a $250,000 Federal Grant So It Can Protect DEI (Boston Globe)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: ‘Keep Your Money!’ Some Nonprofits Push Back on Federal Funding Freezes; Others Take a Quiet Approach
• The Ice Bucket Challenge Worked. Why Not Try It Again? (New York Times)
  
  • Background from the Chronicle: How the Ice-Bucket Challenge Is Helping to Rebrand a Mission

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