Engadget: Amazon is shutting down the AmazonSmile charity program in February. “Whenever people use the AmazonSmile website to make a purchase, the company donates 0.5 percent of what they paid to the charity of their choice at no additional cost to them. As a parting donation to participating organizations, Amazon will give them the equivalent of three months what they earned in 2022 through the program.”
ProPublica: The IRS Hasn’t Released Nearly Half a Million Nonprofit Tax Records. “According to a ProPublica review of public IRS data, which powers our Nonprofit Explorer database, the agency is behind on releasing nearly half a million tax records, known as Form 990s, for tax-exempt organizations. The delays, which began two years ago, are stymying access to key financial information that governments, the public and grantmakers use to evaluate the nation’s tax-exempt companies.”
Indiana University: Equitable Giving Lab being developed by Lilly Family School of Philanthropy will provide new insights into equity and gaps in funding for under-resourced populations. “The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI is creating a new digital resource, The Equitable Giving Lab, that will bring an equity lens to philanthropy by measuring funding for under-resourced groups. The Equitable Giving Lab will address the current lack of centralized data on charitable giving to diverse communities and is made possible through anchor funding from Google.org.”
GeekWire: MacKenzie Scott launches new website that details her giving process and lists recipients of $14B. “Since her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019, Scott has given away more than $14 billion to more than 1,600 nonprofit organizations, which are all listed on the new site, along with the amount of money received. She has stayed out of the limelight during that time, only penning a handful of essays to describe her donations.”
Office of the President of Ukraine: A website for targeted humanitarian aid in Ukraine has been created – President. “President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the creation of help.gov.ua website, through which anyone can provide humanitarian aid. The Head of State spoke about this in his address. According to the President, in the last two weeks alone, Ukraine has received more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid. These cargoes are quickly distributed through special hubs for the regions. But there are even more appeals for help.”
Search Engine Land: Google Business Profiles new emergency help attributes for Ukraine support. “Google Business Profiles is rolling out a new business attribute under a new category called ’emergency help’ where you can say if your business or organization accepts donations, employs refugees, needs volunteers or offers free products or services.”
The Conversation: Ukraine: how social media images from the ground could be affecting our response to the war. “At present, we are witnessing an unprecedented pan-European humanitarian effort spearheaded by citizens who are generously offering shelter and aid to Ukrainians. Back in 2015, there were heated debates among EU governments concerning the level of support that they could offer, and European politicians often struggled to gain approval from their citizens to welcome Syrians. There are of course substantial historical and geopolitical factors that probably contribute to these differing responses. But one other likely influence relates to the way in which this war is being visually communicated in western media – from newspapers and television broadcasts to Twitter, Instagram and TikTok – and the emotional responses these images elicit.”
University of Washington: Nonprofits show resilience and initiative during second year of pandemic. “More than a year into the pandemic, Washington nonprofits have shown resiliency in serving their communities and staying afloat, a study from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington shows. The new study explores not only how the pandemic economy impacted donations to, and the operations of, charitable organizations, but also how nonprofits responded to the simultaneous call for racial justice.”
TechCrunch: Google unveils $25 million in grants aimed at empowering women and girls. “Google announced a range of programs as well as grants worth $25 million on Monday to fund works of nonprofits and social enterprises that are committed to empower women and girls. Google.org’s new Impact Challenge, unveiled on International Women’s Day, is aimed at addressing systemic barriers and inequities so that women have access to economic equality, opportunity to build financial independence and pursue entrepreneurism, said Google chief executive Sundar Pichai at a virtual event.”
Associated Press: Pandemic puts 1 in 3 nonprofits in financial jeopardy. ” More than one-third of U.S. nonprofits are in jeopardy of closing within two years because of the financial harm inflicted by the viral pandemic, according to a study being released Wednesday by the philanthropy research group Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.”
CNBC: Crowdfunding drives are raising millions for charity. Here’s how to give without getting scammed. “Americans have opened their wallets in response to crises like Covid-19 and racial injustice, according to the most recent data from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The organization reports a 7.6% increase in the amount donated through the first nine months of 2020. Leading the surge: smaller contributions of $250 or less.”
The Texas Tribune: How to help and get help in Texas as the winter storm causes power outages. “Millions of Texans are without power, heat and essential services during a winter storm that has led to freezing temperatures and hazardous road conditions throughout the state. City officials, local outreach teams and other organizations are providing warming shelters and support for people seeking help. Many nonprofit organizations are also asking for donations so they can help people experiencing homelessness or those who are in need of support. Here’s a list of the resources being offered in cities across the state.”
NBC Washington: Local Organization Helps Feed DC Families, Students During Pandemic. “What started out as a few lunches in backpacks has now fed thousands of local families during the COVID-19 crisis. Every other week, lines of people turn out, trucks show up with supplies and volunteers sort and distribute the food as part of the DC Food Project.”
WTOP: COVID-19 is increasing demands on nonprofits: How to help on #GivingTuesday. “December 1 is Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday) — a day dedicated to simply encouraging people to do good around the world by giving their time, talents and treasure. But that might be a bigger challenge this year as millions deal with the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
BNN Bloomberg: New Site Solicits Pledges to Black Causes, Starting at $100,000. “A new online database, called 100kPledge, will track individuals and organizations that commit anywhere from $100,000 to $100 million over 10 years to hire Black people, invest in Black-owned businesses or donate to causes supporting Black communities. An initial group of founding members — more than 130 professionals, including Reshma Saujani of Girls Who Code — have pledged $140 million already.”
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