Weekly Reader – July 2, 2018

What we’re reading and recommending this week. We add to this post throughout the week and look for your suggestions in the comments.

Monday, July 2

How Philanthropy Shapes U.S. Supreme Court Rulings: A Quick Primer (David Callahan, Inside Philanthropy) Can wealthy individuals and private foundations tell U.S. Supreme Court justices how to rule? No, of course not. But what philanthropy can do is help determine which cases reach the Supreme Court and how well they’re argued.

Tuesday, July 3

Don’t Be Like Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Cyndi Suarez, Nonprofit Quarterly) If you are one of these white leaders, don’t be like Sarah Huckabee Sanders—don’t hide your power behind the pain of being held accountable. Time is short. The work is real.

Wednesday, July 4

New York funders gear up for 2020 census challenges (David Gentile, NYMedia) The New York Community Trust has joined with other funders in the state to create the New York State Grantmakers for Census Equity which plans to raise $1 to $2 million to help mobilize local and statewide efforts to make the 2020 Census accurate and fair.

Thursday, July 5

Soliciting Grantee Feedback: A Benefit to Both Sides (Alexia Cameron, Foundant) To best help the nonprofit organizations that we say we wish to serve, foundations must be prepared to invite open, honest feedback, consider it carefully, and then communicate findings and decisions back to the public. This is known as “closing the feedback loop.”

Friday, July 6

A Foundation Insider’s Eight Tips to Help You Win Your Next Grant (Martin Teitel, GuideStar) The four things you should never do when approaching foundations, the five mistakes many if not most applicants make, and seven ways to increase the chance of your proposal receiving full attention.

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