News about grants, gifts
Tufts University received an $8 million gift from the McDonnell Family Foundation to advance its understanding of how students learn best at the collegiate level. The gift will establish the Institute for Research on Learning and Instruction to focus on improving student learning outcomes at Tufts and beyond, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded National 4-H Council a $4.6 million grant to improve the health of 1,000 communities across the nation over the next ten years. Through this funding National 4-H will work with youth leaders to address top public health priorities such as individual and community well-being, prevention and treatment of chronic disease and reductions in health care costs.
A $14,350 Partnership Grant Program award will help offset operating and administrative expenses for Empowering the Community for Excellence to help the organization provide academic assistance for at-risk students in grades K-12.
In response to the recent 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Mexico, the Walmart Foundation committed $565,000 (10 million pesos) to help organizations providing immediate recovery and relief. This commitment builds upon Walmart de México y Centroamérica’s $2.2 million commitment of cash and 300 tons of product donations.
Taube Philanthropies made $5 million in grants to Bay Area Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) to support their growth and capital campaigns. Matching grants of between $500,000 and $1.5 million each will be distributed to five JCCs.
Real estate developer and alumnus Stephen M. Ross donated an additional $50 million to the University of Michigan, bringing his total to $378 million. The majority of the new gift will support career development programs for students, action-based learning experiences, and resources for attracting and developing junior faculty.
The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation will provide a $120,000 award to the solar nonprofit RE-volv in an effort to expand access to affordable solar energy for nonprofit organizations around the country. The partnership will provide match funding for RE-volv’s crowd-funding platform.
News about people, groups
The International Federation for Peace & Sustainable Development named Bill Austin, a Goodwill Global Ambassador for Ear and Hearing Health during an event on hearing health at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation will bestow its Actors Inspiration Award to actress and philanthropist Kate Winslet, highlighting her career achievements and honoring her charitable work. The nonprofit’s Patron of the Artists Awards celebration will take place November 9th at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.
enCourage Kids Foundation hosted its ninth annual Camp Pontiac weekend getaway over Labor Day weekend where over 200 kids, family members, staff, and volunteers participated in events helping to empower kids facing health challenges.
Over 50 female philanthropists came together at New York’s Lotus Club on September 13th for the first-ever Women in Philanthropy Series, unveiling the American Society of University of Haifa’s new Women’s Scholarship Fund.
On September 14th, United We Dream announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Renewal Fund. The Renewal Fund will directly support DACA recipients’ renewal applications.
Border Angels hosted its first-ever Bi-national 3k Friendship Run/Walk on September 17th in San Diego at Border Field State Park.
Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles (ALZGLA) named Heather Cooper Ortner its president and chief executive officer. Prior to joining ALZGLA, Cooper Ortner served as Chief Executive Officer for the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.
The Council on Foundations will present Noah Atencio, vice president of Community Impact for the Community First Foundation in Arvada, Colorado, with the 2017 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking in New York City on October 10th.
Volunteers of America named Sharon Wilson Géno its new executive vice president, national services, and chief operating officer. Géno will lead operations of Volunteers of America National Services and help the organization as it identifies new business opportunities.
Former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte will join the board of directors of The ONE Campaign. Senator Ayotte represented New Hampshire in the United States Senate from 2011 to 2017, serving on the Armed Services and Homeland Security committees.
Mission Point Partners, California Environmental Associates, and The Kresge Foundation authored and commissioned The Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems Capital Scan. The scan provides a roadmap for effectively utilizing capital to accelerate water system solutions like green infrastructure and planning and preparedness measures.
The American Joint Jewish Distribution Committee and its partners, the Claims Conference and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, will deliver extra food and traditional holiday fare to thousands of poor, elderly Jews across the former Soviet Union this Rosh Hashanah.
News about opportunities, initiatives
The Hereditary Disease Foundation will hold its 50th Anniversary Symposium and Gala on November 6th at The Metropolitan Club in New York City.
The charitable fund-raising arm of the American Bar Association (ABA), ABA Fund for Justice and Education, will join the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) to give federal, civilian, military, and postal donors a new CFC charity of choice. The 2017 CFC Open Season runs from October 2nd through January 12th, 2018.
CrowdRise‘s annual Holiday Challenge will be sponsored by Newman’s Own Foundation, with $500,000 in funding and matching donations for participating charities. The Challenge, which launches November 21st, is now accepting charity applications through December 5th.
Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy team is encouraging 501(c)(3) nonprofits to weigh in on judicial nominations that concern them. The organization provides technical assistance to help nonprofits make the most of their advocacy, whether it’s related to judicial nominations or other critical issues.
The American Cancer Society launched its new brand strategy and creative campaign: Attacking From Every Angle. ACS and The Richards Group of Dallas will present a series of 30 second commercials, print ads, prominent radio partnerships, and a range of digital video, audio and display executions to support this campaign.
Discovery’s Animal Planet and Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife teamed up for “Blood Ivory,” a new documentary series about U.S. Veterans combating elephant ivory poaching syndicates in Tanzania that premiered September 12th.
The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra will kick-off its official Fall Season starting with NPR’s “Jazz Night in America” on October 24th and the Jazz Orchestra’s Showcase Concert on October 26th. Both performances will be presented at the New Orleans Jazz Market.
NonprofitCoach launched its Global Leaders Fellowship, a leadership development program for new and emerging nonprofit executives 25 to 35 years of age, on September 1st. Applications are open through October 6th for enrollment in the 2018 class commencing in January.
Jackson Charitable Foundation and Discovery Education partnered to launch an all-new suite of “Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids!” activities and a back-to-school contest. This contest offers $10,000 for schools and $1,000 for a charity of the winner’s choice alongside new resources for educators and families.
Global Impact, Blackbaud, Council on Foundations and Foundation Center developed “Global Goals Mapping: A Resource for Social Good Organizations,” a new resource to support organizations in aligning and tracking charitable giving to the United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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