Slices of Life
This is a place for small, sometimes quirky, bits of news that provide some sort of lesson or insight about the larger field. From true stories in the pages of 990 returns to court cases and long-awaited enforcement actions, we are casting a narrow net to shine a light on current issues and behaviors.
The indirect teachings and patterns provided by Snapshots will evolve as we build the Project’s voice.
A few slices in the works:
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- How much does it cost a private foundation to make a $10,000 grant? A simple formula based on three lines from IRS IRS Form 990
- Pointed questions for grant intermediaries about timeliness, cost, and community access
- The hidden psychology of DAF accumulation
Kudos: Minneapolis Foundation Encourages DAF Payouts
Innovative campaign recognizes challenge/opportunity of protracted account balances “GIVING PARALYSIS IS REAL” is the lead message in an April 2025 campaign by the Minneapolis Foundation through advertisements in the state’s largest newspaper. Another reality? “So is the $250 billion sitting in donor advised funds – – and nothing spent,” is the follow-on message to holders of DAF’s from an entity…
Countering DOGE Overreach — DC AG urged to secure charitable assets of Institute for Peace Endowment
Peaceful Cherry Blossom Festival walk soured by security guards’ No Trespassing edict On April 2 I was glad to be in DC for a nonprofit meeting, and my spouse Deb and I were on our way back from the Cherry Blossom Festival. After the Lincoln Memorial we wanted to see the former home of the United States Institute for Peace (USIP). (We knew that the Institute’s building had been closed by a…
Case in Point: Pittsburgh Foundation struggles with purpose of DAFs
Community foundations are second only to commercial DAF sponsors in their hosting of DAF accounts, and are presented as a more accessible, better-informed alternative to the national DAF sponsors. Local experiences vary, of course, but the following presents a local perspective that comes to us from GrantAdvisor.org, a free, anonymous review site similar to Yelp or TripAdvisor, which collects…