Businesses have spent much of the past nine months scrambling to adapt to extraordinary circumstances. While the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet won, with a vaccine in sight, there is at least a faint light at the end of the tunnel—along with the hope that another train isn’t heading our way.

Kevin Sneader and Shubham Singhal of McKinsey & Co

January 17, 2021 | How tos

Oh joy! 2021 will be the year of transition. Barring any unexpected catastrophes, individuals, businesses, and society can start to look forward to shaping their futures rather than just grinding through the present.

CNAP Webinar Training for Nonprofit Financial Leaders 2021

Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) Course

November 16, 2020 | Events

For accounting and finance professionals working in a nonprofit organization, the Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) training provides a crash course in every aspect of nonprofit financial management. Program graduates leave with the know-how and action plans they need to make an impact in their organizations right away.

A Primer on Nonprofit Contributions and Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Douglas E. Cook MPA CPA and blue Avocado

January 17, 2021 | How tos

The Impact of ASU 2014-09 on Nonprofits You may have heard the buzz about the new revenue recognition standard, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, (ASU 2014-09), which is now effective for all nonprofits. You’re wondering what kind of impact, if any, it will have on your nonprofit. Depending on the nature of your revenue and support, this new standard may have a significant impact… Read more »

Year-End Grants Address Health Equity Disparities in Central Texas

St. David's Foundation

January 4, 2021 | Funders and Foundations

As 2020 ends and we reflect on the challenging events of the past 11 months, one thing is clear – the already critical work of our grant partners has only increased in importance and need. Throughout the course of the year, we, as a foundation, have embraced several opportunities to connect with, listen to and learn from our grantees to assess the community’s most… Read more »

New Report Finds Many Families with Children Are Depressed, Uninsured, Hungry and at Risk of Foreclosure or Eviction

Annie E. Casey Foundation

January 4, 2021 | Funders and Foundations

Families require an immediate policy response to meet the needs of children during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left millions struggling with finances, school, work and mental health, according to a new policy report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a decades-long advocate for young people in America. In Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic Pain Points and the Urgent Need to Respond, a 50-state… Read more »

Nonprofit job recovery rate drops to 1.9% in November and could take 2.4 years to fully recover

Center for Civil Society Studies

January 4, 2021 | Strong Communities

As 2020 draws to a close, we have analyzed data from the latest BLS Employment Situation Report to estimate nonprofit job losses through November, continuing our effort to track the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on nonprofit employment. We then looked at month-over-month trends to see how the overall recovery of early nonprofit jobs losses is proceeding and what that may mean for… Read more »

The Rockefeller Foundation Commits to Divesting from Fossil Fuels

The Rockefeller Foundation

January 4, 2021 | Funders and Foundations

The Rockefeller Foundation announces a commitment to divesting its $5 billion endowment from existing fossil fuel interests while refraining from future fossil fuel investments. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees recently approved this new policy, prompting the Foundation’s investment team to start taking steps that are expected to more than halve its total exposure to fossil fuels to less than 1% in the near future.… Read more »

Surprise! MacMacKenzie Scott Announces $50 Million Gift to Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU)

January 4, 2021 | Funders and Foundations

Ruth J. Simmons, President of Prairie View, commented, “This is a historic gift for Prairie View, coming at a time when the University had already decided and begun to invest heavily in key areas to strengthen its academic programs and improve student success. The timing of this gift could, therefore, not be better.”

Strong Grant Proposals Start Here

Jelly Nonprofit Consulting

December 14, 2020 | How tos

We aren’t going to pretend grant writing is easy. It takes time, effort, and a lot of attention to detail. Each proposal, written and submitted, should be as strong as possible to ensure the best chance of approval from a grantmaker. We want to help you strengthen your chances of receiving funding, so we put together this list detailing the five most important elements of a strong proposal.

Tuesday Hearing Set for Comal Vulcan Quarry Air Permit Appeal

Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry

December 7, 2020 | Appeal

The hearing on Friends of Dry Comal Creek v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will be held on Tuesday, December 8, at 9:00 a.m., in 459th District Court, Travis County. Citizens’ groups Friends of Dry Comal Creek and Stop 3009 Vulcan Quarry filed the lawsuit against TCEQ in February of this year to appeal TCEQ’s decision to grant an air pollution permit to Vulcan… Read more »

Citi Foundation awards $15 million to CDFIs for COVID relief

Citi Foundation

December 6, 2020 | Giving Around Texas

The Citi Foundation has announced grants totaling $15 million to thirty community development financial institutions (CDFIs) working to provide small businesses with the resources needed to sustain their operations and support economically vulnerable households impacted by COVID-19.  The recipients, each of whom will receive $500,000 in unrestricted funding, include the Accion Opportunity Fund, a global nonprofit committed to giving people the financial tools they need to improve their… Read more »

A new coalition of philanthropists + major foundation launched to increase and accelerate funding

Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving

December 6, 2020 | Funders and Foundations

On Giving Tuesday, philanthropists and leaders of major foundations launched the Initiative to Accelerate Charitable Giving, a coalition dedicated to promoting common-sense, non-partisan charitable giving reforms that increase and accelerate resources to working charities, while enhancing the efficacy of the philanthropic sector writ large. Coalition members represent a broad spectrum of interests across philanthropy, and include private foundations such as the Ford Foundation, Hewlett… Read more »

Americans expect to donate less money or no money to charitable causes in the coming year as the economic crisis and high unemployment linger

Eagle Hill Consulting

December 6, 2020 | Funders and Foundations, Giving Around Texas, Leadership, Strong Communities

New research finds that 35 percent of Americans expect to donate less money or no money to charitable causes in the coming year as the economic crisis and high unemployment linger. But, the research also indicates there are demographics that plan to increase their donations. More younger Americans (aged 18-34), for example, plan to increase their giving in the coming year when compared to Americans aged 35 and older.

CZI Awards Nearly $32 Million and Announces New Funding Opportunity to Advance Biomedical Imaging

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

December 6, 2020 | Grants Available

Imaging of proteins, cells, and tissues is critical to understanding health and disease. Today, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) announced nearly $32 million in funding to support biomedical imaging researchers, technology development, and the BioImaging North America international network of bioimaging facilities and communities. CZI also opened a new Request for Applications (RFA) aimed at supporting technology development that will allow researchers to see… Read more »

Texas State University triples available scholarship funding for fall 2021

Texas State University

December 6, 2020 | Grants Available

Texas State University has nearly tripled the amount of funding available for scholarships in 2021. Beginning fall 2021, approximately $15.9 million will be available for freshman assured scholarships, a $10.5 million increase over fall 2020. “Improving student success by reducing financial barriers is a key goal of the increase,” said Denise M. Trauth, president of Texas State. “With a record number of more than… Read more »

Last Day for The Caring Place to accept phone in requests for Wilco Forward Funds is December 11th at 4 p.m.

The Caring Place

December 6, 2020 | Appeal

Last Day for The Caring Place to accept phone in requests for Wilco Forward Funds is December 11th at 4 p.m. Georgetown, TX ​The Williamson County Wilco Forward Phase III grant program which ​provides rent and utility assistance to residents impacted by COVID-19 that are in need through December has an impending deadline. In the Caring Place’s effort to adequately process eligible applications before… Read more »

Shaping university boards for 21st century higher education in the US

McKinsey & Company - Frankki Bevins, Jonathan Law, Saurabh Sanghvi, and Rachel Valentino

December 6, 2020 | How tos

Many university boards have not revised their governance models in decades and struggle to deliver on their mission. To update their current operating model, boards can focus on three best practices. “School governance is not a traditional hierarchy but looks more like a mountain range: different peaks represent students, alumni, faculty, president, the board, etc. Each institution has its own unique mountain range and… Read more »

Give the Joy of Christmas to a Homeless Child in San Antonio — Sponsor Christmas Wishes!

SAMMinistries

December 5, 2020 | Strong Communities

Your support gives San Antonio children facing homelessness a Christmas gift, and allows hardworking parents to focus on becoming self-sufficient through education, job training, and debt reduction to overcome homelessness. $50 sponsors the Christmas wish of a child age 12 and under $100 sponsors the Christmas wish of a teenager $500 sponsors Christmas wishes for a homeless family in SAMMinistries’ programs This is a… Read more »

Does Giving Make People Happier? A Texas A&M psychiatry and behavioral sciences expert says positive neurological effects are associated with giving

Dee Dee Grays, Texas A&M University Health Science Center

December 5, 2020 | Strong Communities

As the old adage goes, it’s better to give than to receive. And there’s research to back it up. According to J. Dewayne Taylor, clinical assistant professor in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine, helping and giving to others is linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety, improved health, and a reduction in stress… Read more »

Texas Women’s Foundation distributes $1.4 Million through its Resilience Fund to most vulnerable Women and Families during Pandemic

Texas Women’s Foundation

December 5, 2020 | Grants Available

In April 2020, Texas Women’s Foundation established the Resilience Fund to provide immediate, mid- and long-term support to women, girls and families most affected by the COVID-19 economic and community health crisis. With $1.4 million raised and granted, the Resilience Fund is impacting lives of many, especially women of color, who have been the hardest hit this year. During this season of giving, the Foundation is asking the community to donate to the Resilience Fund to assist the many women and families who are struggling: www.txwf.org/texas-womens-foundation-establishes-resilience-fund/