Weekly Reads—June 16, 2025

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

“We can think of fiscal sponsorship as the Swiss army knife (or as an American invention, the Leatherman) of the nonprofit toolbox—really a set of useful tools with the ability to bring organizations and projects together to achieve shared goals. It provides various opportunities for both nonprofit project leaders and fiscal sponsors to advance innovative solutions to the challenges we’re facing today.” [more]
Rob Hansen, Goodnation, for Candid

“As federal funding cuts and financial pressures pulsate through the sector, some experts say that technology could increasingly help determine which nonprofits thrive and which struggle to survive in a world where AI is already rapidly transforming everyday life. … And while 77 percent of organizations expect to use AI within five years—up from 46 percent today—only 19 percent feel confident that they’re currently using technology in advanced ways.” [more]
Sara Herschander, The Chronicle of Philanthropy

“Courage is Contagious. What does this mean? We can all bravely defend our sector—some publicly, others behind the scenes. Every action we take and every time we speak out helps reinforce the value of our work as a crucial part of our democracy, economy, and society. It also creates space for our colleagues to do the same. Together, we can amplify our voices on behalf of the social sector, the First Amendment, and the public good.” [more]
Rusty Stahl, Fund the People

“Recently, there were upward shifts in philanthropic giving, particularly in response to major events such as the racial justice movement of 2020, the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, and disparities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, philanthropic giving to organizations serving these communities has not risen above 3% over the last decade of data (2012-2022). Notably, organizations serving American Indian/Alaska Native, AAPI, Black/African-American, and Hispanic/Latino communities each received less than 1% of total charitable dollars. The CCI [Communities of Color Index] provides a new, data-driven resource for understanding these giving patterns.” [more]
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy