Weekly Reads—August 2, 2024

Enjoy PEAK’s weekly roundup of timely insights from the grantmaking community and beyond.

“People are so concerned with chasing grants and chasing the dollar that they sacrifice the needs of their community in order to maintain this legacy. Why do you need a nonprofit to exist for 80 years? If you’ve existed that long, you’re not addressing the problem that you set out to solve.” [more]
Sim Bilal, Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles, for The Chronicle of Philanthropy

“How can philanthropy better support nonprofits’ voter engagement efforts? While private foundations are limited when it comes to funding voter registration specifically, both public and private foundations can support broad-based voter engagement work done in a nonpartisan way. By funding and promoting nonpartisan voter engagement, philanthropy can ensure nonprofits have the resources, skills, and confidence needed to mobilize their communities.” [more]
Brian Miller, Nonprofit VOTE, and Matthew L. Evans, United Philanthropy Forum, for Candid

“In the years since we signed the Disability Inclusion Pledge, we have accelerated our disability justice learning and commitment, and we have much of which to be proud. We also have areas that require more work. We have learned that progress requires the commitment and effort of every department as well as a true partnership between leadership and Staff with lived experience. Changing policies and practices is a step in the right direction, but changing culture requires time and sustained attention.” [more]
John Palfrey, MacArthur Foundation

“Independent Sector’s fifth annual Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy report… finds that after four years of decline, trust in nonprofits has rebounded in 2024. Trust in nonprofits increased by 5 points to 57%, while trust in other sectors—like government, business, and media—declined, leaving nonprofits the most trusted sector in the 2024 survey. Trust in philanthropy held steady at 33%, lower than trust in nonprofits.” [more]
Independent Sector