Newsletters

Global Philanthropy Update - April 2024

MatthewCain — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 17:49:50 +0000

Global Philanthropy Update - April 2024 MatthewCain Thursday, April 4, 2024 - 1:49 pm

Newsletters

Global Philanthropy Update - April 2024

Thursday, April 4, 2024 - 1:49 pm

Brian Kastner

Greetings Friend,

2024 has already seen significant shifts in global philanthropy and development, especially as related to locally led development efforts by bilateral aid agencies, who are shifting their ways of operating and working more closely with philanthropy and local partners.

Our President and CEO Kathleen Enright recently wrote an op-ed for Devex providing examples of foundations who are already moving from talk to action on shifting more funds directly to local organizations globally. You can read more in Devex’s Roots of Change feature, and reach out to Natalie Ross if you want to be involved in the Council’s work to advance locally led development.

USAID is also advancing commitments to locally led development. Its expanding relationships with philanthropy include recently signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Hilton and Skoll Foundations. You can learn more about these agreements on the Council’s new How Foundations Can Partner with USAID page, which also includes information about the agency’s approach to this work.

Meanwhile in Congress, The Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 20. The bipartisan bill, which has also been introduced in the Senate, would remove some of the red tape that prevents smaller local organizations from successfully applying for USAID funding.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) announced it will be terminating existing contracts with Swedish NGOs to now allow global (and local) organizations to compete for funds. The pushback domestically demonstrates the tension bilateral donors face when shifting funds from domestic organizations to support more local partners.

Below you will find additional updates on:

New and updated resources from the Council
Issues concerning foreign aid in 2024
Updates on foreign agent laws globally
And other news impacting the closing space for civil society

We expect there will be plenty more news to share as the year progresses and look forward to advancing this work with all of you.

All the best,

Natalie Ross Vice President of Membership, Development and Finance natalie.ross@cof.org	Brian Kastner Director of Engagement brian.kastner@cof.org

Global Resources from the Council

October Dates Now Open for Global Grantmaking Essentials

Our Global Grantmaking Essentials training in April has sold out! Registration is now open for the next offering of the training which will occur on the afternoons of October 9, 10, and 16. Learn more and register today.

Country Notes

The following countries nonprofit law profiles have been recently updated:

View all Country Notes.

Global Legal and Regulatory Updates

The Status of Foreign Aid in 2024

In the United States, President Biden’s supplemental request for Ukraine support is still languishing on the Hill. The package, which recently passed the Senate, includes $60 billion for Ukraine as well as Israel and Taiwan, will likely come to the forefront again in April. A delayed package means a very short time frame for federal agencies such as USAID and State to get funds out the door.

Meanwhile the 2024 budget, which passed in late March, saw a 6% cut to foreign aid, though experts note the cuts could have been much higher. In an interview with Devex, Keifer Buckingham, advocacy director at Open Society Foundations, said, “It’s definitely not as bad as it could have been, I think people are looking at this bill and saying, okay, take a little sigh of relief, but we have a lot of work to do for 2025.”

Globally, debates about foreign aid are faring little better:

Foreign Agent Laws

A new bill in Kyrgyzstan is the latest in a growing list of legislative efforts to place constraints on NGOs receiving foreign funding. In short, if NGOs receive foreign funds they will be labeled as “performing the functions of a foreign representative” and will be required to submit onerous financial, governance, and operational activities.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) in the U.S. is expected to see a widespread overhaul in enforcement this year from the Department of Justice, which has steadily ramped up FARA activities in the past few years. Top on DOJ’s agenda appears to be either removal or retooling of the “commercial exemption” within FARA. The Council has been actively working with a coalition of partners to advocate for FARA reform and we expect more news as early as April this year. We'll keep you updated.

The UK’s foreign agent law, Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), went into effect last year and the UK government released a factsheet earlier this year. FIRS is relatively similar to FARA and imposes criminal penalties for noncompliance.

News & Resources

CIVICUS released its 2024 State of Civil Society report, noting that 118 countries have civic space restrictions and only 2.1% of people live in open civic space.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has yet again extended the FCRA deadline till June 30, 2024.
Venezuela continues its crackdown on NGOs, closing UN human rights offices, and is still considering a draft law that poses an existential threat to NGO operations in the country.
Hungary passed its Defense of National Sovereignty Law in December 2023, which follows the Foreign Agent style of law described above and has warranted the EU to act notifying Budapest that it’s in violation of EU law.
The embattled agency UNRWA has seen the U.S. cut off funding while other countries who had suspended funding are releasing previously held funds. Japan, Sweden, Canada, France, and Finland have recently resumed funding.

Keep in Touch!

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cofcommunications@cof.org.

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Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Global Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

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Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

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Community Philanthropy Update - March 2024

MatthewCain — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:45:41 +0000

Community Philanthropy Update - March 2024 MatthewCain Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 1:45 pm

Newsletters

Community Philanthropy Update - March 2024

Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 1:45 pm

Natalie Ross

Greetings Friend,

Advocacy is an important tool for community foundations to advance their missions. Policy efforts by community foundations have led to local policy success like criminal justice reform, federal funding for community partners advancing renewable energy, nonprofit relief during the pandemic, and more. In addition, a 2020 study by the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) found that one-third of community foundations that engaged in policy work gained donors due to their efforts to influence public policy.

However, we know that it can be hard to get started. Rules and regulations can confuse your efforts. Your staff and board may not be bought in. You may wonder if it’s worth the time and energy. Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders, on May 21-22, will help you get started. As a community foundation leader who attended this training with a group of their colleagues in 2023 shared:

"This (training) has given us a lot to talk about and lined up how we need to start the advocacy journey. We'll be more efficient because we're starting with this base of knowledge together to move forward.”

Wherever you’re at in your policy and advocacy journey, we invite you to this training to hear directly from community foundation leaders who are advancing community leadership through advocacy, as well as experts from CFLeads and Council staff.

A 2020 CFLeads report found that 42% of community foundations planned to devote more staff resources to policy advocacy over the following two to three years. We hope this training can help you continue that momentum this year and into the future with the knowledge and skills you need to advance your organization’s advocacy agenda and support your nonprofit partners in policy work, which is especially important in an election year.

Best,

Natalie Ross
Vice President of Membership, Development, and Finance
natalie.ross@cof.org

P.S. - We launched a call in January for new leaders to join our Community Foundation Advisory Group and recently announced seven new members! Learn more about the group’s plans for 2024.

Upcoming Events

Global Grantmaking Essentials

April 10-11, 16 | Virtual | Training

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services

April 24 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - April Peer Learning Circle

April 25 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course - April 2024

April 25-26, May 1-2 | Virtual | Training

Building Together 2024

May 6-9 | In-person, Chicago | Sector Event

Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders

May 21-22 | Virtual | Training

Legal Matters for Community Foundations

June 5-6 | Virtual | Training

New Member Spotlight

Welcome to the community foundations that have joined as new Council members since our last newsletter! We're excited to have The Community Foundation of Shelby County, Community Foundation of West Georgia, and Luverne Area Community Foundation as new members.

Resources You Can Use

Question: We have been following recent rulings impacting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts including challenges to DEI programs under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act. Has there been any guidance on funding around DEI efforts that the Council on Foundations has released or be available to discuss in light of the filings and recent rulings?

Answer: The Council is certainly monitoring pending cases brought under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 that may affect philanthropy—especially the Fearless Fund and Hello Alice cases. But currently, there are no changes to any legal framework around advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion except in college admissions. The Fearless Fund and Hello Alice cases are pending in the 11th and 5th Circuits respectively, and any decision in either case would be binding only in the respective circuit.

While we are keeping our finger on the pulse of emerging litigation around race-based or race-conscious grantmaking, legally there is no reason that your foundation must change its funding practices. But it is helpful to know that the majority of these actions allege a violation of Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act, which is a claim that rests on the existence of a contract. The only thing that has changed in light of recent litigation is the risk calculation some foundations are making. To mitigate potential risk involved, we advise that any identity-based funding or grantmaking be reviewed so that it bears as little resemblance to a contract as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to substantially reduce or eliminate any requirement/expectation for performance of any tasks as a result of receiving the grant.

In sum, your foundation can and should continue doing any diversity, equity, and inclusion work that it is doing, and we at the Council will continue to monitor the legal landscape and provide any updates if there are any legal changes in one circuit or several.

Council members are able to send their questions to our Legal team for expert advice and analysis. You can take advantage of this member benefit by becoming a member today.

Welcome to the new Community Foundation Advisory Group Members

The Council's Community Foundation Advisory Group assists with strategic decisions related to the community foundation field, represents the interests of their peers across the country, and elevates the issues of most importance to the sector. And we just added seven new members to the group, bringing it to 20 people! Meet the Community Foundation Advisory Group today.

Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey now Open

The 2024 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits (GSB) Survey is open! We need your participation to ensure the GSB Report remains the most comprehensive guide to compensation and benefits information for philanthropic organizations in the U.S. Plus, participants receive early access to GSB data and a free copy of the report in the fall. Sign up to take the survey.

Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You

News Articles

Barron's: Charitable Giving Is Expected to Rise 4.2% This Year, Report Says
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Midlevel Donors Offer Fundraisers a Huge Opportunity Amid Declines in Giving
Financial Advisor: Understanding The Philanthropic Affluent To Increase Planned Gifts
Nonprofit Quarterly: Anti-DEI Lawsuits Threaten Nonprofits, Philanthropies

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Community Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Community Philanthropy Update - February 2024

MatthewCain — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:44:50 +0000

Community Philanthropy Update - February 2024 MatthewCain Thursday, February 15, 2024 - 1:44 pm

Newsletters

Community Philanthropy Update - February 2024

Thursday, February 15, 2024 - 1:44 pm

Natalie Ross

Greetings Friend,

It’s an exciting time at Community Foundations National Standards (CFNS)! But before you learn more about that, I want to introduce myself — I'm Austin Dickson, the CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and I’m honored to be the new CFNS board president.

I want to thank outgoing President Susie Nelson for her guidance over the last four years. Susie provided strong leadership as CFNS went through significant transformation. Under Susie’s tenure, CFNS completed a comprehensive review of all compliance elements, including donor-advised fund policies, to ensure your community foundation’s accreditation addresses the latest changes in the field and reflects adherence to best practices. CFNS also completed an updated branding process including a new seal to display on your materials. If you’re thinking of applying, CFNS has reduced the average review time to just over 40 days.

I’m excited to work with the rest of the board, and hundreds of community foundations across the country, to build on these achievements. In the year ahead, we’re looking forward to further expanding CFNS’s best-practice resources, like the recently released Board Nominations Toolkit. Forthcoming Values-Aligned Philanthropy tools from CFNS will help ensure that your grantmaking aligns with your values.

In addition, CFNS is proud to welcome two new board members — Christopher Goett, President & CEO of the Santa Fe Community Foundation, and Carol Bradford Worley, Senior Counsel at the California Community Foundation.

If you have any questions about the CFNS program, please reach out to the Executive Director, Kevin van Bronkhorst, myself, or any of our other board members. And if you haven’t yet, please consider joining our community of over 450 accredited foundations.

Best,

Austin Dickson
Board President, Community Foundations National Standards
CEO, Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country

Upcoming Events

Unpacking Community Foundation Trends: FY22 Annual CF Insights Survey Results

February 20 | Virtual | Webinar

Foundations on the Hill

February 25-28 | In-person, Washington, D.C. | Conference

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services

February 28 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Legal Matters for Community Foundations

March 6-7 | Virtual | Training

National Standards Monthly Zoom Session

March 13 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Global Grantmaking Essentials

April 10-11, 16 | Virtual | Training

Building Together 2024

May 6-9 | In-person, Chicago | Sector Event

Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders

May 21-22 | Virtual | Training

New Member Spotlight

Welcome to the community foundations that have joined as new Council members since our last newsletter! We're excited to have Central Kentucky Community Foundation, The Community Foundation of NC East, Community Foundation of Nevada County, The Dallas Foundation, Fairbault Foundation, Sandusky County Communities Foundation, and North Texas Community Foundation as new members.

Resources You Can Use

Legal Question of the Month with Ben McDearmon, Director of Legal Resources

Question: We have a donor who recently established a large DAF with our foundation and is now wanting to make grants to a private non-operating foundation. This is outside of our DAF policy.

Is there a way for the donor to establish a separate fund (designated fund?) that can support a private non-operating foundation? Do you have any resources for how to set up a fund that would be able to make grants to a private non-operating foundation?

Answer: In addition to checking whether this would be allowed under your foundation’s DAF policy, you should also confirm whether your general grantmaking policies and/or governing documents permit you to make grants to private non-operating foundations at all.

While there are no legal restrictions that prevent a public charity like a community foundation granting to a private non-operating foundation — except for the additional requirement to exercise expenditure responsibility if the grant is coming from a DAF — there are other reasons a community foundation might choose not to grant to a private foundation. Contributions to public charities are treated more favorably from a donor’s tax perspective than those made to private non-operating foundations, so a donor using a public charity to subsequently pass funds through to a private non-operating foundation could be seen by the IRS as an attempt by the donor to circumvent the lower deduction limitations on contributions to private non-operating foundations by taking advantage of the higher limits for contributions made to public charities.

Assuming your internal policies don’t prohibit you from awarding grants from, for example, a designated fund to a private non-operating foundation, then you could at least consider this option.

Council members are able to send their questions to our Legal team for expert advice and analysis. You can take advantage of this member benefit by becoming a member today.

Unpacking Community Foundation Trends: FY22 Annual CF Insights Survey Results

Interested in delving further into the most recent CF Insights survey of community foundations? Curious about ways your community foundation can make the most of the data? Join us on Tuesday, February 20 to discuss the latest findings from the FY22 CF Insights Annual Survey, and learn about how to use the CF Insights benchmarking tool directly from David Rosado, the Council’s Senior Advisor for Community Philanthropy. RSVP to join the webinar.

Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort

Applications for the Bridging Differences Leadership Cohort are due February 23 at midnight PT. This facilitated virtual learning experience will offer research-based strategies for bridging differences with colleagues, peers, and grantees. Find out more and submit your application today.

Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You

News Articles

Inside Philanthropy: Four Things Philanthropy Should Do Differently This Black History Month
Alliance Magazine: US philanthropy promoting democracy sees dramatic rise since 2016
Associated Press: Silent Donor platform offers anonymous donations to the mainstream, as privacy debate rages
Devex: The legal case threatening to upend philanthropy's DEI efforts

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Community Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Community Philanthropy Update - January 2024

MatthewCain — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:43:35 +0000

Community Philanthropy Update - January 2024 MatthewCain Thursday, January 18, 2024 - 1:43 pm

Newsletters

Community Philanthropy Update - January 2024

Thursday, January 18, 2024 - 1:43 pm

Natalie Ross

Greetings Friend,

The Council’s Community Foundation Advisory Group represents community foundations across the country and plays a crucial role in advising the Council’s programs, initiatives, and events that serve our field. As the current Co-Chairs of the advisory group and leaders of community foundations, we’re excited to give an update on the direction of the group and what you can expect in 2024.

Last year, we reignited the group after a period of dormancy and dove into issues that our community is grappling with in different ways, including policy developments on the Hill, donor-advised funds, and disaster and crisis response. Many of you joined the Leading Locally conference in June 2023, which was informed by our conversations on placed-based leadership and community philanthropy.

This year, we’re examining strategies for building common ground and bridging divides, the public policy landscape including updates to potential DAF regulations, and other topics and trends that are impacting you. The Council’s upcoming Building Together 2024 event and recent amicus brief supporting our collective right to fund causes that align with our values are just a couple examples of this work.

Now, we’re expanding the advisory group to 20 individuals and you are invited to apply! If you’re an executive, C-Suite, or Vice President-level at a community foundation, submit your application by February 1 and reach out to one of us for any questions or to share what’s top of mind for you this year.

We’re eager to continue shaping the Council’s approach to serving community foundations while also seeking concrete ways we can collaborate on shared resources for our field. We’ll keep you updated throughout the year and look forward to celebrating the new members of the advisory group soon.

Best,

Your Community Foundation Advisory Group Co-Chairs

Kristi Knous
President
Community Foundation of
Greater Des Moines

Heather Peeler
President and Chief Executive Officer
ACT for Alexandria

Upcoming Events

Public Policy Action Network - Q1 2024 Meeting

January 29 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

How Philanthropy Is Investing in Belonging, Bridging, and Building Common Ground

February 6 | Virtual | Webinar

Foundations on the Hill

February 25-28 | In-person, Washington, D.C. | Conference

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services

February 28 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Legal Matters for Community Foundations

March 6-7 | Virtual | Training

Global Grantmaking Essentials

April 10-11, 16 | Virtual | Training

Building Together 2024

May 6-9 | In-person, Chicago | Sector Event

New Member Spotlight

Welcome to the community foundations that have joined as new Council members since our last newsletter! We're excited to have Community Foundation of Greater Clemson, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Community Foundation of South Jersey, Door County Community Foundation, Madison Community Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, and Papillion Community Foundation as new members.

Resources You Can Use

Legal Question of the Month with Ben McDearmon, Director of Legal Resources

Question: We’ve recently had two donors initiate stock / mutual fund gifts in 2023, only to see the securities hit our account in 2024. With physical checks, we go by the date of the postmark, even if we receive the gift the next year. Is there any kind of similar rule with securities?

Answer: Questions involving the effective date of gifts of securities can get complicated because it will largely depend on which of the various methods of transfer a donor uses to make the gift. In most cases, the effective date of the gift is when it is delivered to the foundation, regardless of when the donor initiated the transfer. However, in certain circumstances the donor may claim an earlier date if they can prove they irrevocably parted with ownership as of that date. For example, when using the U.S. Postal Service to mail stock certificates to a charity, the gift is considered effective on the date the donor mails it, since the donor has no ability to retrieve items once they are placed in the mail (note that this rule doesn’t apply to delivery through FedEx, UPS, or similar companies because they do not have the same legal obligations the USPS does to ensure delivery to the addressee—gifts sent through those services are deemed effective when received by the charity).

If the brokerage firm can provide the donor with documentation showing that the gift was irrevocably initiated before the end of the year, the donor might be able to claim the gift was effective as of that date, but for your purposes you should only provide confirmation of dates of which you have actual knowledge. Typically, you’d only have knowledge of the date the securities were received in your account and shouldn’t provide any other information beyond that. You should make it clear to the donor that the date of the gift on your end may not be the same one the donor uses for determining their charitable deduction.

Council members are able to send their questions to our Legal team for expert advice and analysis. You can take advantage of this member benefit by becoming a member today.

DAF Regulation Comment Period Extended

Recently, the Department of Treasury and IRS proposed regulations regarding donor-advised funds (DAFs), aiming to provide clarity on various definitions and specifics. In response to the Council's request, the Treasury has extended the comment period to February 15, 2024. This proposal establishes foundational definitions for future regulatory actions. Stakeholders are encouraged to share their feedback on the potential impact of these regulations on charitable giving by reaching out to designated contacts or emailing govt@cof.org.

2024 Trainings on the Calendar

The full schedule of 2024 Council trainings is on our Events page, and registration is open for all trainings through May.

If you're looking to take Community Foundation Essentials (CFE) Fundamentals, Legal Matters, Essentials of Policy Advocacy, or our brand new Global Grantmaking Essentials in 2024, take a look at the calendar and register today!

Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You

News Articles

The Chronicle of Philanthropy: How Donor-Advised Funds Are Changing Philanthropy
The Economist: No-strings philanthropy is giving charities more decision-making power
Stanford Social Innovation Review: How Organizations Build Trust
Alliance Magazine: Educate our boards? You’re missing the point

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Community Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Global Philanthropy Update - November 2023

MatthewCain — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:48:48 +0000

Global Philanthropy Update - November 2023 MatthewCain Thursday, November 30, 2023 - 1:48 pm

Newsletters

Global Philanthropy Update - November 2023

Thursday, November 30, 2023 - 1:48 pm

Brian Kastner

Greetings Friend,

As global grantmakers, we are nearing the end of a year filled with moments of hope but also many moments of despair, from the Middle East to Sudan, Ukraine, and more. In doing our work, we navigate the realities of responding philanthropically to global crises while there are also continued threats to civic space and the operating environment for nonprofits. We thank you for your commitment to strengthening communities globally and look forward to supporting your work in 2024, especially as we launch and expand work to build capacity of global grantmakers.

As we look towards 2024 and beyond, we’re excited for two areas of work that will continue to evolve:

A Revamped Global Grantmaking Training

To help foundations of all shapes and sizes ensure make global grants, the Council is re-launching our Global Grantmaking Essentials training next year. After more than a decade of dormancy, this training will be a virtual 3-half-day course offered twice in 2024. Global Grantmaking Essentials is designed for grantmaking, program, or legal staff at U.S.-based foundations who work globally, including staff at independent and family foundations, corporate grantmakers, community foundations, and public grantmaking charities. The Council remains committed to expanding opportunities for foundations to give internationally, especially in ways that strengthen local civil society. We hope that you’ll join us at the Global Grantmaking Essentials course on April 10, 11, and 16 or save the date for the second offering on October 9, 10, and 16.

Locally Led Development

We’ve recently had several new activities in our work to strengthen how foundations can make more direct global grants and ensure their global grantmaking is more locally led:

In November, the Council and Candid released “Advancing Locally Led Development: An Overview of U.S. Foundations' Direct Global Giving,” which explores the 13% of U.S. foundation giving that went directly to locally registered organizations for work within their country. This free publication analyzes direct global giving from 2016-2019 and includes new findings such as that the top 25 global funders account for more than 75% of direct giving and only 29% of globally focused U.S. foundations made at least one direct grant during the 2016-2019 period.
We convened our Leadership Circle on Locally Led Development in Washington, D.C. on November 8. We were joined by leaders from 12 foundations to engage in candid discussions about taking concrete actions to advance locally led development. Participants heard from DC-based policy experts, representatives from global majority civil society networks, and met with USAID’s leadership to explore opportunities for this work in 2024 and beyond.
We also convened our first meeting of the Locally Led Development Learning Circle in November. This group of foundations is committed to operationalizing locally led practices within their own four walls and across the larger sector.
The RINGO Funder Action Pod will hold the final meeting of 2023 on December 13 from 10am-12pm ET, focusing on takeaways from the #ShiftThePower Summit on December 7-8. Reach out to Zainab Arain to attend

Keep in touch or find ways to engage with this larger initiative on our Locally Led Development page.

Happy holidays,

Natalie Ross Vice President of Membership, Development and Finance natalie.ross@cof.org	Brian Kastner Director of Engagement brian.kastner@cof.org

Legal and Regulatory Updates

Country Notes

The following countries nonprofit law profiles have been recently updated:

View all Country Notes.

OFAC Guidance on Gaza

On November 14, 2023, OFAC issued Guidance for the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance to the Palestinian People, which provides clarity about how funders, individuals, and NGOs can provide humanitarian assistance within Gaza. Notably, OFAC reminds funders to comply with specific sanctions targeting Hamas but reiterates there is no jurisdiction-based sanctions regime. Additionally, OFAC offers clarity around the import of fuel (a significant issue facing relief organizations), permitting this so long as the ultimate beneficiary is not a sanctioned individual or entity.

Nicaragua Continues NGO Crackdown

The government of Nicaragua continues to target NGOs, dissolving more than 25 in recent weeks and seizing their assets. NGOs have been vocal opponents of President Ortega, especially after the 2021 passage of the country’s foreign agent law, which has been used to stifle dissent and chill civil society activity.

A Return to Post-9/11 NGO Concerns?

In the wake of the September 11th attacks, NGOs became a target of governments across the world over largely unfounded accusations of serving as conduits for terrorist financing. Amidst the renewed conflict and chaos between Israel and Hamas, we expect continued attention to be placed on NGOs working in the region and the donors who support them. Relatedly, 100 civil society organizations signed a letter regarding several European countries’ decisions to suspend funding for Palestinian and Israeli organizations citing allegations of terrorist financing.

Just a few weeks ago, The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on rising antisemitism and terror financing during which the witnesses urged Congress to fund the President’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. Most of the conversation focused on universities, though some members of Congress and witnesses did raise concerns about nonprofits.

Revisions to FATF Recommendation 8

The Council welcomes recent amendments to the Financial Action Task Force’s Recommendation 8, which has for years been a source concern and advocacy for civil society globally. Civil society action has been vital in shaping these amendments, including efforts led by the Global NPO Coalition on FATF. Recommendation 8 has historically been leveraged by authoritarian governments to enact anti-NGO legislation that curtails their freedoms and poses administrative and compliance burdens with the faulty logic that NGOs are particularly vulnerable to terrorist financing.

News & Resources

Participatory grant making is key to shifting the power – Alliance
Funding tracker: Who's sending aid to Gaza? - Devex (subscription)
What Palestine Needs From U.S. Philanthropy - Chronicle on Philanthropy
Snapshots: How Sudan's conflict is impacting Darfur – The New Humanitarian
COP28: What key issues will be discussed at UN climate change conference? - Reuters

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Global Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Community Philanthropy Update - November 2023

MatthewCain — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 18:42:27 +0000

Community Philanthropy Update - November 2023 MatthewCain Thursday, November 16, 2023 - 1:42 pm

Newsletters

Community Philanthropy Update - November 2023

Thursday, November 16, 2023 - 1:42 pm

Natalie Ross

Greetings Friend,

Happy Community Foundation Week! Just as you play a vital role in your local community, we’re grateful for your contributions to our Council community. Here are three things that we wanted to make sure are on your radar as we head towards the end of 2023:

Proposed new IRS DAF rules: As you may have seen, the IRS released proposed rules for donor-advised funds (DAFs) this week. The proposed regulations clarify definitions around DAFs, address excise taxes on taxable distributions made by a sponsoring organization from a DAF, and discuss rules around scholarships. Join us for a webinar on November 30 to discuss these changes and hear from our Government Affairs and Legal team on how they might impact your foundation.

2023 Council Award Winners: We announced the 2023 Council Award winners at today’s annual member meeting, including the Chicago Community Trust for its We Rise Together funder’s collaborative that works with community members to build thriving local economies in Black and Latinx neighborhoods. If you’re looking to build capacity and skills to undertake similar initiatives at your foundation, register for Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals on Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 6-7, our final community foundation training of the year.

Our new 2024 convening: Yesterday we announced Building Together, a new immersive learning experience for philanthropic leaders who want to bridge differences and counteract toxic polarization. We are grateful for the expertise of community foundation leaders in our working group and hope to see you in Chicago on May 6-9, 2024. Registration is now open!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

Best,

Natalie Ross
Vice President of Membership, Development, and Finance
natalie.ross@cof.org

Upcoming Events

CF Insights: Office Hours

November 17 | Virtual | CF Insights

SDG Learning Circle for Foundations

November 28 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals

November 29-30 & December 6-7 | Virtual | Training

Digesting Proposed DAF Regulations

November 30 | Virtual | Webinar

New Executive Leaders Roundtable

December 4 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

DEI Roundtable: Charting a Path Toward Inclusion

December 12 | Virtual | DEI Roundtable

National Standards Monthly Zoom Session

December 13 | Virtual | Conversation

New Member Spotlight

Welcome to the community foundations that have joined as new Council members since our last newsletter! We're excited to have Ashland County Community Foundation, Cattaragus Region Community Foundation, Charitable Foundation of the Islands, Communities Foundation Oklahoma, Community Foundation East Mississippi, Devils Lake Area Foundation, Lake County Community Foundation, and Medina County Community Foundation as new members.

Resources You Can Use

Legal Question of the Month with Ben McDearmon, Director of Legal Resources

Question: We had a fund advisor ask whether it is permissible for a designated fund to support a DAF as part of its set distributions. Is that allowed, and would it matter that the donors/advisors are the same for both the designated fund and the DAF?

Answer: Technically yes, we aren’t aware of any legal reason a designated fund couldn’t be set up to benefit a DAF, although it isn’t a common practice.

However, one potential area of concern is if it appeared a donor were trying to use that fund as a way to circumvent the prohibition on making QCDs from an IRA to a DAF. That is, the donor would make a distribution from an IRA to the designated fund (an eligible recipient of a QCD) which would ultimately pass funds through to the DAF (an ineligible recipient of a QCD). We’ve occasionally received questions about using designated funds to pass QCDs through to DAFs and have advised that while this might be compliant on paper it is clearly inconsistent with the intentions of the law and could appear to be an abuse of the QCD rules. We do not recommend using a designated fund to facilitate QCD transfers to DAFs.

Council members are able to send their questions to our Legal team for expert advice and analysis. You can take advantage of this member benefit by becoming a member today.

CF Insights Office Hours

Have questions about how your community foundation can best use CF Insights? Or about how to add CF Insights to your current Council membership? Connect with Council staff on Friday, November 17, during this interactive session to learn more about the program, including the latest data reflecting community foundations, and how to leverage the data available.

Register now to join Friday's session.

2024 Trainings on the Calendar!

The full schedule of 2024 Council trainings is on our Events page, and registration is open for all trainings through May!

Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You

News Articles

The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Giving Is Down — Except for DAFs, Says New Report
Philanthropy News Digest (Candid): Philanthropy and DEI: Building on momentum post-2020
The NonProfit Times: Survey: Nonprofit Leaders Rethinking Mission, Operations
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Financial Climate and Trust Issues Trouble Nonprofit Sector, Report Finds

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Community Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Community Philanthropy Update - October 2023

MatthewCain — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 17:40:59 +0000

Community Philanthropy Update - October 2023 MatthewCain Thursday, October 19, 2023 - 1:40 pm

Newsletters

Community Philanthropy Update - October 2023

Thursday, October 19, 2023 - 1:40 pm

Natalie Ross

Greetings Friend,

Community foundations serve as centers of support in moments of crisis and trauma, helping communities gather, heal, and act in response to emergencies at home and around the world. While your impact may be most visible in times like these, we also know that you work tirelessly throughout the year to help your communities thrive. Next month, our philanthropy community recognizes Community Foundation Week and Council Member Week (both November 12-18), in addition to National Philanthropy Day (November 15).

Community Foundation Week, created in 1989 by former President George H.W. Bush, is a perfect time to raise awareness about the work you do every day. To support you in this effort, we’ve created a resource page with sample outreach materials that you can plug into your communications.

As part of Council Member Week and Community Foundation Week, we’re hosting our Annual Member Meeting on November 16 where we’ll honor our member community and recognize the Council Awards winners. Hear from the to-be-announced 2023 Distinguished Service Award winner, as well as Council President and CEO Kathleen Enright and Council board officers who will reflect on the past year. We’d love for you to attend to see what Council membership is all about.

As we look forward to seeing you at the meeting, we have a few updates on our data-centered resources that make it easier for you to measure and grow your impact.

The 2023 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Report is live! We hope you find it to be a useful benchmarking tool against hundreds of community foundation respondents.
There is just one week left to fill out the CF Insights Annual Survey. Login or register for free at data.cfinsights.org to help us build our collective understanding of community foundation growth and operational activity.

Best,

Natalie Ross
Vice President of Membership, Development, and Finance
natalie.ross@cof.org

Upcoming Events

Centering Community Voice for Health and Economic Equity

October 24 | Virtual | Leading Locally Webinar

Career Pathways Application Office Hours

October 25 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services

November 1 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Council & CEONet: Community Foundation CEO Roundtable

November 2 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

National Standards Monthly Zoom Session

November 8 | Virtual | Conversation

Legal Matters for Community Foundations

November 8-9 | Virtual | Training

Public Policy Action Network

November 13 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

DEI Roundtable: DEI With Rural Communities in Mind

November 14 | Virtual | DEI Roundtable

Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine

November 15 | Virtual | Webinar

2023 Annual Member Meeting

November 16 | Virtual | Webinar

SDG Learning Circle for Foundations

November 28 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Resources You Can Use

Legal Question of the Month with Ben McDearmon, Director of Legal Resources

Question: A donor is interested in setting up a scholarship fund with a selection committee comprised of educators from different parts of the state, and has asked about the possibility of reimbursing their travel expenses or paying compensation for their service on the committee. Is this permissible?

Answer: There’s no general legal reason a foundation couldn’t pay travel expenses or a stipend, but be sure to check your internal policies to make sure it wouldn’t be inconsistent with those, as some scholarship policies state that selection committees are unpaid. While providing compensation for volunteers—including individuals serving on a scholarship committee—is uncommon, it is not prohibited if the compensation is necessary and reasonable to accomplish the work needed and the amount is not excessive. The foundation would need to comply with any applicable reporting requirements, such as issuing a 1099 if the amount exceeds the minimum limits. A more common approach is to provide reimbursement of reasonable expenses such as travel to meetings or meals while they are working. Whatever the foundation decides, it needs to be applied equally to all members of the committee.

Council members are encouraged to send any legal inquiries to legal@cof.org.

National Standards Updates

National Standards has rebranded with a new website and redesigned logo and seal that you’ll be able to show off on your website and foundation materials. The program has also officially changed its name from “National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations,” to the already widely used “Community Foundations National Standards.”

Have questions on these updates or ready for your community foundation to apply for National Standards? Please reach out to Ashley Tobon, our National Standards Associate.

Career Pathways 2024 Applications Close Soon!

Career Pathways, founded by the Council on Foundations in 2010, is a selective leadership development program that cultivates bold, representative, and inclusive decision-makers to lead the philanthropic sector. The program is rigorous, highly personal, and built for mid- to senior-level philanthropic professionals looking to advance their careers and contribute to a more equitable society.

Applications for the 2024 Career Pathways Cohort close November 1! Join our office hours on October 25 for help with your application.

Currently Recruiting: Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Faculty

The Council is seeking new voices to bring in as faculty for the Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals course. Appealing to a broad audience of new and growing community foundation staff, CFE Fundamentals builds essential skills that balance governance and management with a broader understanding of community foundations within the philanthropic sector.

If you're eager to share your expertise on board governance and recruitment, development, finance, and grantmaking with community involvement, we'd love to have you! To learn more about this opportunity, please email Jill Gordon, Manager of Training.

Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You

News Articles

The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Israel-Hamas War: U.S. Nonprofit Leaders Navigate Trauma With Loved Ones, Staff Caught in the Crossfire
Philanthropy News Digest (Candid): Foundations report greater focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion
The NonProfit Times: Foundation Pay Increases Nearly Doubled Last Year
Stanford Social Innovation Review: Healing-Centered Funding for Systems Change

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Community Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Community Philanthropy Update - September 2023

MatthewCain — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Community Philanthropy Update - September 2023 MatthewCain Thursday, September 14, 2023 - 5:00 pm

Newsletters

Community Philanthropy Update - September 2023

Thursday, September 14, 2023 - 5:00 pm

Natalie Ross

Greetings Friend,

Over the last three years, the Council has developed a suite of resources to help foundations embrace Values-Aligned Philanthropy (VAP), including a toolkit designed specifically for community foundations. We started this work because we repeatedly heard that community foundations were experiencing challenges with balancing donor interest and organizational values. Since we began this work, one question has consistently been asked:

“How do I get my board to support this?”

Our new VAP Board Discussion Guide can help you answer that question and ensure buy-in at every level of your foundation.

The guide lays out tips for communicating the concept of Values-Aligned Philanthropy to your board of directors and suggested answers to real-world concerns that other organizations have faced.

Read our new blog post to see how two community foundations, the Delaware Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Monterey County, have engaged with Values-Aligned Philanthropy.

We also have opportunities to connect and learn with your peers. Next week (September 19), we’re hosting a VAP Webinar, where you’ll pick up practical tips as you explore, design, or implement anti-hate funding policies at your foundation.

If you’re looking to go deeper, please reach out to Nidale Zouhir to join our Values-Aligned Philanthropy Peer Learning Circle. In addition to bimonthly meetings with peers that are engaging in Values-Aligned Philanthropy or looking to get started, registering gives you access to a Philanthropy Exchange community where you can connect with other community foundation staff and share resources and strategies about preventing hate funding.

Community foundations have been driving this important work from the very beginning, and the Council is excited to provide the resources you need to ensure that your work lifts and strengthens your communities.

Best,

Natalie Ross
Vice President of Membership, Development, and Finance
natalie.ross@cof.org

Upcoming Events

Public Policy Action Network

September 18 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Values Aligned Philanthropy: Implementing Policies at Community Foundations

September 19 | Virtual | Leading Locally Webinar

SDG Learning Circle for Foundations

September 19 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

2023 HR Summit

September 21 | Virtual | Summit

How To: Amplifying Community Engagement to Address Common Issues

September 21 | Virtual | Leading Locally Webinar

September Public Policy Update: What’s Happening in Congress?

September 22 | Virtual | Webinar

Community Foundation CEO Roundtable

September 26 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services

September 27 | Virtual | Peer Discussion

Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine

September 28 | Virtual | Webinar

National Standards Monthly Zoom Session

October 11 | Virtual | Conversation

Small and Mighty: Spearheading DEI Initiatives for Small Teams

October 18 | Virtual | DEI Roundtable

Centering Community Voice for Health and Economic Equity

October 24 | Virtual | Leading Locally Webinar

New Member Spotlight

Welcome to the community foundations that have joined as new Council members since our last newsletter! We're excited to have The Community Foundation, East Tennessee Foundation, and Washington County Community Foundation as new members.

Additionally, we'd like to welcome the 21 CF Insights members who joined when CFI came to the Council on September 1!

Resources You Can Use

Legal Question of the Month with Ben McDearmon, Director of Legal Resources

Question: A donor has recommended a grant to an organization that is listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s hate group list, but the organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity in the IRS records. How should our foundation handle this request?

Answer: The approval or denial of a grant recommendation to a group like this—technically a permissible grantee as a 501(c)(3) but which has been labeled as an extremist or hate group—can be tricky to handle, which is why we’ve recommended community foundations adopt a values-aligned philanthropy policy to help frame their decision making. Instead of relying on a designation by any single watchdog organization to vet potential grantees, community foundation boards can set a policy that aligns with what they believe to be the unique values of the communities they serve and represent. Grant recommendations are then evaluated to determine whether the prospective grantee engages in activities that are not consistent with those stated values.

Council members are able to send their questions to our Legal team for expert advice and analysis. You can take advantage of this member benefit by becoming a member today.

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course

A well-trained staff and an informed board are critical to the success of community foundations in our fast-changing world. This course helps new and growing foundation stakeholders build the essential skills they need to balance governance and management with the broader understanding of community foundations within the philanthropic sector.

The next CFE Course will be held virtually on October 4-5 and 11-12, and you won't want to miss it! Sign up for the October CFE today.

Career Pathways 2024 Applications Now Open!

Applications for the 2024 Career Pathways Cohort are open now! Join us for an info session on October 3 to learn more.

Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You

News Articles

The New York Times: Poverty Rate Soared in 2022 as Aid Ended and Prices Rose
Associated Press: How to help those affected by the Morocco earthquake and Libya flood
- For more, check out our resource pages for Morocco and Libya.
Inside Philanthropy: In an Age-Segregated Society, New Support for Cogenerational Leaders
The Chronicle of Philanthropy: How to Have Productive Site Visits: Advice for Grant Makers and Nonprofit Leaders

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Community Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Global Philanthropy Update - August 2023

MatthewCain — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Global Philanthropy Update - August 2023 MatthewCain Thursday, August 31, 2023 - 5:00 pm

Newsletters

Global Philanthropy Update - August 2023

Thursday, August 31, 2023 - 5:00 pm

Brian Kastner

Greetings Friend,

There has been a lot of activity related to global grantmaking regulation and the enabling environment for civil society in 2023.

Bright Spots for Global Regulation

In a new Council blog, we highlight several bright spots in the global regulation of philanthropy, including US Treasury’s first-ever De-Risking Strategy, a new report and recommendations from the UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, and a public consultation with the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) on combating the abuse of nonprofits. Despite continued trends of closing space for civil society globally, these positive developments are the result of advocacy by global civil society networks working on these issues for decades.

A Growing Initiative on Localization

At the Council, we’ve been expanding our work supporting US foundations to meet global commitments on localization. This has included work on data and research about the state of the field, as well as work to convene and connect funders and share resources.

One of the key takeaways from our The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations: 2022 Edition report was that direct global giving was only 13% between 2016 and 2019, which is a minimal increase of 1% for comparable data between 2012 and 2016. We wanted to know more about the 13% of direct global grants - who is making direct grants? Who receives them? What issues do they support? Where are they flowing globally? Later this fall, we’re releasing a follow-up report that goes deeper on direct giving by US foundations and starts to answer some of these questions.

While insights into grantmaking data are helpful, it’s often not enough to shift practices within foundations. To that end, we are also convening and connecting foundations committed to localization, as well as gathering and sharing resources to help foundations who want to do more. Our work includes:

Convening leading global funders in our Leadership Circle on Localization, co-chaired by Peter Laugharn, President and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
Launching a new Localization Hub that provides opportunities for funders to get engaged in this work, dig into data about localization, and learn more from curated resources.
Relaunching a global grantmaking training next year, which will provide an overview of the legal and regulatory environment for global funders and help grantmakers have the capacity and resources you need to make direct global grants.

Locally-led development is on the agenda of many UNGA events next month, as you’ll see in the calendar below. Council staff will be in New York City for UNGA so reach out if you'd like to connect in person or connect on any of these updates.

All the best,

Brian Kastner
Director of Engagement
brian.kastner@cof.org

Upcoming Events

UNGA 2023 Event Calendar

Each year, the Council compiles a calendar of philanthropic side-events occurring during the UN General Assembly in New York. We will continue to update this page until UNGA.

If you have an event you’d like featured, please email Jessica Chaparro.

RINGO Funder Action Pod – September 19, 2023 from 10:00-11:30am ET

RINGO, or Re-Imagining the International NGO, is a systems-change initiative that seeks to transform global civil society to respond to today’s challenges. The Council partners with RINGO to host their Funder Action Pod, a convening of funders from the United States and Europe who meet quarterly to discuss issues related to advancing localization in their work and across the sector.

Please reach out to Zainab Arain to join the Funder Action Pod.

Philanthropy Supporting Ukraine – September 28, 2023 from 2:00-3:00pm ET

How can philanthropy apply lessons from the war in Ukraine and support education systems during and after a crisis and in conflict zones across the globe? Join us to discuss the current state of education in Ukraine and the potential for strategic partnerships and innovative programs that address educational challenges brought on by Russia’s war. Speakers include:

Anna Novosad, a Former Minister of Education and co-founder of SavEd, will share strategies for rebuilding the destroyed schools,
Oksana Matiiash, CEO of Teach for Ukraine, will speak on ways to support rural and frontline schools, and
Katerina Manoff, founder of the US-based ENGin program, will discuss educational engagement between thousands of Americans and Ukrainians for online English conversations.

Legal and Regulatory Updates

U.S. Treasury Discontinues Syria Global License 23

Treasury has recently stated that it will not renew Global License 23, which authorized earthquake relief efforts in Syria for the last six months. Our partner, Charity & Security Network, “recommends that all NGOs transferring funds into Syria cite GL 22, the Compliance Communiqué, FAQ 937, and additional Syria GLs – such as the Syria NGO license and accompanying FAQs – when facilitating transactions into Syria through a financial institution, and to specifically reference which authorized activity within the OFAC authorizations the transaction falls under.”

Britain and the EU Target “Foreign Interference”

A new law in the United Kingdom, the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), follows the model of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), a US law that the Council has long advocated for narrowing in scope and modernizing since its creation in 1938. The UK law however, could be a model for updated FARA as FIRS is much more limited in who is targeted for foreign interference, namely FIRS is limited to work for non-UK government entities and political parties.

Meanwhile, the European Union is considering its own directive on foreign-funded organizations that would require registration across the EU. In response, more than 200 NGOs have decried the potential directive and called for an impact assessment and a clearer legal basis for the law.

Both of these efforts serve as a reminder that FARA continues to need updating in the US and that the battle over transparency, protecting democratic sovereignty, and the free flow of resources globally will likely continue in the years ahead.

India’s FCRA Law Continues its Disruption

The Indian government, since amending the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in October 2020, has continued extend deadlines for registration and offer very little in guidance to domestic civil society or foreign funders. While we’ve covered the impact this law has had on philanthropy over the years, this article outlines the impacts of FCRA on Indian nonprofits, their employees, and the communities they serve.

News & Resources

A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a U.S. Tech Mogul - New York Times
What lessons can be drawn from the international earthquake response in Syria? - The New Humanitarian
Saudi forces killed hundreds of Ethiopians at Yemen border, report says - Washington Post
World Bank says no new funding to Uganda over anti-gay law - AP
Philanthropy Must Stop Ignoring the World’s Hardest Hit Climate Victims - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Global Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange

Related Events

Related Resources

Community Philanthropy Update - August 2023

MatthewCain — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 21:35:40 +0000

Community Philanthropy Update - August 2023 MatthewCain Thursday, August 17, 2023 - 5:35 pm

Newsletters

Community Philanthropy Update - August 2023

Thursday, August 17, 2023 - 5:35 pm

Natalie Ross

Greetings Friend,

Since the early 2000s, the Community Foundation National Standards seal has represented a community foundation's commitment to accountability and excellence. The Council has provided operational support for the National Standards program from the beginning, and together we strive to promote sector-driven best practices for all community foundations. Currently, more than 450 community foundations are accredited by National Standards.

I’m excited to share a few important National Standards updates that will take effect this fall and in 2024.

First, National Standards is rebranding with a redesigned logo and seal that you’ll be able to show off on your website and foundation materials by October. An official name change is also coming, from “National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations,” to the already widely used “Community Foundations National Standards.”

Second, after conversations with the field, National Standards will enhance requirements to our DAF Activity Policy to better reflect best practices, starting in January 2024. These changes mean that accredited foundations will:

Need to describe a donor/advisor communication framework for inactive funds
Limit donor advised fund dormancy to no more than three years

Most community foundations’ policies already comply with these requirements, as you share in our desire to operate funds in the most efficient and effective way possible.

And last, accredited foundations now have access to the National Standards Board Nominations Toolkit! This voluntary resource can help your foundation continue to foster a strong, equitable process for board nominations with visualization tools, templates, and an implementation guide.

More information on DAF activity enhancements and the board nomination resource are available in their respective toolkits in your National Standards assessment portal.

The Council remains committed to supporting National Standards in its continuous effort to remain an accessible tool for reinforcing integrity, professionalism, and legal compliance for all community foundations. Do you have questions on these updates or are you ready for your community foundation to apply for National Standards? Please reach out to Ashley Tobon, our National Standards Associate.

Best,

Natalie Ross
Vice President of Membership, Development, and Finance
natalie.ross@cof.org

Upcoming Events

Council Events

Retreat for New Community Foundation Executive Leaders

August 23-24 | Hartford, CT

This retreat equips new community foundation executives with the skills and relationships needed to be successful in their early years, including the work of bridging across differences and building common ground in communities and philanthropy.

How To: Hosting Courageous Conversations for More Equitable Communities

September 6 | Virtual

Hear how the Barry Community Foundation created space to explore diversity and equity with their community. We’ll learn from their experience on how you can implement this strategy in your community.

National Standards Monthly Zoom Session

September 13 | Virtual

This monthly call is for community foundations staff to connect with the National Standards staff and to ask questions related to the National Standards program.

Artificial Intelligence in Philanthropy: Trends and Responsible Use

September 14 | Virtual

Join us for a thought-provoking webinar on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and its significance in shaping digital infrastructure and enhancing equitable outcomes for the social sector. Hosted in partnership with Technologoy Association of Grantmakers and Project Evident.

Public Policy Action Network

September 18 | Virtual

Join this members-only interactive and informal virtual meet up for the Public Policy Action Network. In this meeting, we'll share legislative updates and invite your questions about recent developments in public policy for grantmakers.

Values Aligned Philanthropy: Implementing Policies at Community Foundations

September 19 | Virtual

Join us for an interactive session exploring how to implement Values Aligned Philanthropy at your organization! Part of the Leading Locally All Year Long series.

SDG Learning Circle for Foundations

September 19 | Virtual

Connect with foundation peers to learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This community is primarily focused on expanding the SDGs in the United States through philanthropic action, but all nationalities are welcome.

2023 HR Summit

September 21 | Virtual

Join your philanthropic HR and talent peers to explore today's most pressing issues. Hosted in partnership with Change Philanthropy, the 2023 HR Summit is a must attend event for all who lead the human resources function at a philanthropic organization. Early bird registration is now open for Council members!

How To: Amplifying Community Engagement to Address Common Issues

September 21 | Virtual

In this webinar, you’ll learn ideas for collaboration with different communities and stakeholders to enrich the quality of your programs. You’ll walk away with strategies for developing trust and collaboration for community-led initiatives. This webinar will be offered in Spanish and live interpreted to English.

Virtual Meet-Up: Community Foundation Donor Services

September 27 | Virtual

Join this interactive and informal virtual meet-up for all community foundation staff who are philanthropic advisors or involved in donor stewardship.

Community Foundation Excellence (CFE) Fundamentals Course

October 4-5, 10-11 | Virtual

Centering Community Voice for Health and Economic Equity

October 24 | Virtual

Discover how a Milwaukee funder collaborative and the residents of three Milwaukee neighborhoods are partnering on the ThriveOn Collaboration: A $120 million investment and new place-based approach to addressing interrelated health, economic, social and racial inequities.

Resources You Can Use

2023 HR Summit

Join your philanthropic HR and talent peers to explore today's most pressing issues. Hosted in partnership with Change Philanthropy, the 2023 HR Summit is a must attend event for all who lead the human resources function at a philanthropic organization, with programming designed for those from large and small staff organizations.

Values-Aligned Philanthropy Peer Learning Circle

You’re invited to join the Council’s Values-Aligned Philanthropy Peer Learning Circle for community foundations. This group connects community foundation staff in the process of exploring, designing, or implementing values-aligned grantmaking policies with peers across the country. In addition to bimonthly meetings with peers, registering gives you access to a Philanthropy Exchange community where you can connect with other community foundation staff and share resources and strategies about preventing hate funding. Staff working on donor services, grantmaking, or community impact are especially likely to find this group helpful, although all community foundation staff are invited to join. Interested community foundation staff should reach out to Nidale (nidale.zouhir@cof.org).

Our next meeting will be September 5 at 2pm ET. This year’s co-chairs, Jeaiza Quiñones Ivory of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and Jason Weiner of the Cleveland Foundation, will lead a discussion about applying internal organizational values externally.

Philanthropy Exchange Conversations for You

News Articles

Chronicle of Philanthropy: Study: A Dip in Donations — but Donors Remain Committed
Associated Press: How — and when — is best to donate to those affected by the Maui wildfires?
- For more, check out our page of resources to help Maui.
Catholic News Agency: Survey: Religious nonprofits lead Americans’ charitable choices, except for Gen Z
Nonprofit Quarterly: Behind the Numbers: Giving USA Panel Sheds Light on Longer Term Trends

Keep in Touch!

Share your organization’s impact story with us at
cofcommunications@cof.org.

View this email as a web page.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Community Philanthropy Updates

Interested in the topic?

Continue the conversation with your peers

Go to the Philanthropy Exchange