The Chronicle of Philanthropy

What if big-city philanthropy invested in rural America? That's what's happening in Mississippi, where the community foundation for Jackson, the state's largest city, has expanded to include 19 rural counties — an area twice the size of New Jersey. About a decade ago, the foundation rebranded as the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and while it's not wealthy, it's stretching its dollars to support areas with even fewer philanthropic assets and little investment from national grant makers. Philanthropy experts say it's a bold and rare move to address urban-rural philanthropic disparities. Locals say they've found a new ally. “Our area of the state has been overlooked quite a bit,” says Calvin Phelps, executive director of the Pike School of Art - Mississippi in McComb, about 80 miles south of Jackson. “And for them to start advocating for our counties — it's been very important.” Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e4QN3r9N

Charities receive billions in bequests every year, and many donors who include nonprofits in their wills also give generously throughout their lifetimes. Planned-giving experts share advice on how to build a legacy society that keeps these valuable donors close — and giving. https://lnkd.in/en2UTGVz

"In 2026, the most popular AI fundraising tool won’t be the flashiest. It will be the one that predicts wisely, generates responsibly, and above all helps humans connect with humans," predicts Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE, AIGP, chief AI officer at Virtuous Software and founder of Fundraising.AI. Nonprofits are planning for a turbulent 2026. After a year marked by funding cuts, policy rollbacks, and AI’s rapid expansion, organizations are reassessing how to operate in a shifting landscape. Our Predictions 2026 package brings together donors, foundation executives, and sector experts to forecast what 2026 will bring—from changing giving patterns to the long-term implications of the tax bill and the ongoing fight for equity in the coming year. These insights offer a blueprint for navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Read Chappell's full essay at: https://lnkd.in/e6sPBHBS And explore all 37 essays at: https://lnkd.in/ety5iRqB

MacKenzie Scott gave away more than $7 billion in grants over the past year. Much of that giving focused on supporting equity, climate, health and disaster relief work — all areas that have lost significant federal funding and endured waning philanthropic support in recent months. "This gift couldn't have come at a better time, " said Andrea Cristina Mercado, CEO of the The Climate & Clean Energy Equity Fund, one of three climate collaborative funding groups that received a total of $140 million from Scott. "Every week, we talk to a grantee partner of the Equity Fund that's laying off staff, or is closing its doors and and I have to be honest, when we were looking at our picture for next year, I was concerned about how we were going to be able to meet the moment at the Equity Fund and continue to invest in all of our grantees across the 14 states that we work in," Mercado said. https://lnkd.in/eiXgB_cy

📌New from #TheCommons 📌How a big-city philanthropy came to embrace a swath of rural America. We profile the Community Foundation for Mississippi, which expanded nearly a decade ago from its base in Jackson, the state’s largest city, to include 19 rural counties. Local leaders and nonprofits say the foundation — despite limited resources for a region bigger than nine states — has proved a valuable ally to help win larger grants and realize their dreams. “Our area of the state has been overlooked quite a bit,” says Calvin Phelps, executive director of the Pike School of Art - Mississippi in the town of McComb. “And for them to start advocating for our counties — it's been very important.” 📅 TODAY: How Your Fundraising Can Build Trust in Your Organization 📅 Allison Fine — president of Every.org, a nonprofit that helps groups raise money online — talks about little things that matter a great deal to your organization’s relationships with supporters and the public. Register now for this LinkedIn Live event TOMORROW, December 10, at 12:30 p.m. ET. https://lnkd.in/e7G5GX93

Nonprofits are planning for a turbulent 2026. After a year marked by funding cuts, policy rollbacks, and AI’s rapid expansion, organizations are reassessing how to operate in a shifting landscape. Our Predictions 2026 package brings together donors, foundation executives, and sector experts to forecast what 2026 will bring—from changing giving patterns to the long-term implications of the tax bill and the ongoing fight for equity in the coming year. These insights offer a blueprint for navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. "In 2026, philanthropy will come together to strengthen the civic culture that sustains democracy," predicts Liz Vogel, co-executive director of the New Pluralists. "...70 percent of Americans across all demographics say they feel a responsibility to connect across differences." Read the full essay at: https://lnkd.in/eqR6ymXJ And explore all 37 essays at: https://lnkd.in/ety5iRqB

Nonprofits are planning for a turbulent 2026. After a year marked by funding cuts, policy rollbacks, and AI’s rapid expansion, organizations are reassessing how to operate in a shifting landscape. Our Predictions 2026 package brings together donors, foundation executives, and sector experts to forecast what 2026 will bring—from changing giving patterns to the long-term implications of the tax bill and the ongoing fight for equity in the coming year. These insights offer a blueprint for navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. "America’s destiny will be determined by the actions of individuals. That includes nonprofit leaders who must lead by example by fighting division and dysfunction," writes Pearce Godwin, MBA, senior director at Urban Rural Action and the founder of the Listen First Project. "Whether guided by principle or pragmatism, I expect and hope most organizations will choose that path in 2026." Read the full essay at: https://lnkd.in/eqR6ymXJ And explore all 37 essays at: https://lnkd.in/ety5iRqB

Understanding what motivates donors is essential to building lasting relationships and deepening loyalty to your cause. Philanthropic psychologist Jen Shang says fundraisers that focus on what connects us all as human beings when seeking support is vital in nonprofit work. “When you present yourself as that positive sparkle, then as long as you can put a smile on people’s face, that is a positive wave of goodness that you’ve created in someone’s life, however small that wave is,” Shang says. Dive into this #Playbook, a curated collection of articles that offers stories and resources to help you build a fundraising strategy grounded in the latest behavioral-science research. https://lnkd.in/e6BaK-qr

Ready to elevate your donor outreach in 2026? Join us on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. EST for a fast-paced 75-minute #philwebinar to discover fresh ways to cut through the noise, highlight real impact and motivate supporters to stay engaged all year long. You’ll walk away with a clear, adaptable plan you can put to work immediately—even amid uncertainty. Reserve your spot today and snag the early-bird rate of $69. Register today, https://lnkd.in/eh8-KwN5