From the Editor’s Desk: A Look Ahead

An update from the Chronicle. Dear John,

Many of you planned to take a break this week — some shutting your organizations entirely after months and months of dealing with crises. But others of you are busier than ever, tending to the Afghanistan refugee crisis, Haiti’s earthquake victims, survivors of the Western wildfires, the unfolding damage sustained across the Gulf Coast region from Hurricane Ida, and so many other tragedies.

Here at the Chronicle, we’re following your work with gratitude — but also getting ready with a slew of special efforts to help you gain fresh insights that will help you advance your mission. As you are planning your fall calendar, I want to share a sneak peak of what’s coming your way.

Next week we’ll publish our September issue featuring a special report from Eden Stiffman, our senior editor for fundraising. She’s been exploring why Americans are so eager to give directly to others, bypassing charities in the process. Her reporting will help fundraisers better understand what motivates today’s givers — which is especially important as charities respond to the sharp drop-off in middle-class donors.

Meanwhile, Drew Lindsay has been gathering expert recommendations for our October cover story, featuring the thinkers and advocates influencing today’s debates about what works best to advance equity.

And Michael Theis is scouring informational tax returns and taking other steps to compile our America’s Favorite Charities rankings, which will be released in our November issue. This data will show how the pandemic — and so much else — has changed the equation of which charities attract the most in cash from individuals, corporations, and foundations.

We’re also working on a series of live online events.

Next week I’ll moderate a free panel about sweeping federal legislation designed to speed the flow of dollars from donor-advised funds and foundations. We’ll explain what you need to know directly from a key player in drafting the legislation and from a Giving Pledge signatory to learn what she thinks about the policy changes. And you’ll hear from top officials at the Council on Foundations and United Way Worldwide about why they’re concerned about both the impact of the legislation and the advocacy surrounding it. Sign up now so you can join us on Thursday, September 9, at 3 p.m. Eastern. The following week Nicole Wallace will gather three nonprofit leaders to discuss how the pandemic helped nonprofits figure out ways to reach more people without spending more. She’ll be joined by Yi-Chin Chen of Friends of the Children-Boston,Haile Johnston of the Common Market, and Lauren Reilly of SuitUp. Sign up now to join us free on Tuesday, September 14, at 2 p.m. Eastern. Much more is on the way: We have webinars on planned giving in September and on raising money from Asians Americans in October. Plus, you can watch any of our recent webinars on demand anytime.

As we prepare these reports, briefings, and other efforts to inform you, let me say a special thank you to the subscribers and webinar attendees who underwrite our work. If you value what we do, I hope you will consider signing up with a subscription so that we can continue to improve and expand our coverage.

Most important, I hope you know how much we value the work you do every day to help others. At no other time in our history of publishing the Chronicle has the strain on our readership been so great. That makes us ever the more appreciative of what you do every day. I hope the Labor Day weekend gives you a chance to recharge.

Stay well and stay strong.

Stacy Palmer
Editor
Chronicle of Philanthropy
1255 Twenty-Third St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
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