Weekly Reader – February 5, 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, February 5

Big and Getting Bigger: JPMorgan Chase Philanthropy Is Getting a Boost (Philip Rojc, Inside Philanthropy) As corporate philanthropy evolves, JPMorgan Chase has emerged as one of its leading players.

Tuesday, February 6

Chasing the Holy Grail of Outcomes (Peter Fortenbaugh, SSIR) Philanthropists need to acknowledge the challenges nonprofits face in reporting succinct and compelling outcomes, and to avoid celebrating simplistic claims.

Wednesday, February 7

Keep Politics Out of Philanthropy: Leave the Johnson Amendment Alone (David Biemsderfer, United Philanthropy Forum) A year ago at his first National Prayer Breakfast, President Trump vowed to “totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment, which for more than 60 years has kept partisan politics out of the charitable sector.

Thursday, February 8

3 Reasons Why ‘Capacity Building’ is Not a Grantmaking Strategy (Nate Nasralla, NonProfitPro) Does this sound familiar? If you fund capacity building, have you felt the need to defend why?

Friday, February 9

Confronting the Evidence: Addressing Racial Disparity In Environmental Grantmaking (Michael Roberts, NCRP) Philanthropy has a tricky relationship with evidence. Evidence of progress toward our mission or of obstacles in such pursuit is welcome and actionable. However, evidence pointing to a truth that requires us to reframe our worldview is difficult for anyone – individual or institution – to grasp.

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