Short summaries of nonprofit sector news covering fundraising, trends, and information from 100’s of sources.
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First up: PayPal Giving Fund and why its reported $60B acquisition interest from Stripe should have the nonprofit world paying closer attention. A quick teardown of who actually controls the money moving through it. Then: the politics of AI are getting contentious, and nonprofits are stuck in the crossfire. We dig into the cooling public mood, the two extremes pulling the debate apart, and the case for a transparent AI use policy that draws bright red lines, shows where AI drives impact, and admits where it does harm. Next: Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund put $200M behind saving 100 species f
This week’s Nonprofit News Feed turns the spotlight on the PayPal Giving Fund (PPGF), a pivotal player in the donation processing ecosystem. Operating like a donor-advised fund (DAF), PPGF processed a staggering $952 million in donations in 2024, marking a 50% increase from the previous year. This growth is largely attributed to PPGF becoming the sole donation processor for Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram in the US and UK. However, concerns arise over the fund’s operations, particularly its handling of donor data and the creation of “shadow pages.” These pages can reroute donations
Political spam texts are flooding phones at scale—and the data shows it’s overwhelmingly a Democratic problem, running 3-4X Republican spending on SMS fundraising since 2008. This week breaks down the loopholes that make it legal (peer-to-peer “technology,” snowshoeing across thousands of numbers, political speech exemptions) and the burn-and-churn vendor model that profits 7-15% off every dollar raised, no matter how much trust it burns. Plus a look at PACSpam.org, a new tool that lets you paste in a spam text, trace the UTM parameters and ActBlue links back to the vendor and PAC behind it, a
This week’s Nonprofit News Feed highlights the potential impact of upcoming IPOs in the AI sector on donor-advised funds (DAFs). Major players like SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI are expected to go public, potentially generating $12 to $32 billion in new DAF contributions. This influx could significantly enhance grant-making capacities across the nonprofit sector. The democratization of philanthropy is a key theme, as newly liquid employees—not just billionaires—could make substantial charitable contributions. Nonprofits are advised to prepare by developing relationships with potential donors e
Global Giving’s Controversial Renaming Decision This episode of the Nonprofit NewsFeed delves into Global Giving’s decision to rename Taiwan as “Chinese Taipei” on its platform, a move reportedly influenced by the Chinese government as the platform expands in China. This change has provoked dissatisfaction among Taiwanese NGOs, leading some to withdraw from the platform. -------- NonprofitNewsfeed.com Summary of hundreds of news sources. The post Taiwanese Nonprofits Leave GlobalGiving Over “Chinese Taipei” Relabeling (news) first appeared on Nonprofit News Feed.
This week the hosts break down three stories circling the same question: who actually consents to AI’s rollout into civic life? Malta adopts ChatGPT. OpenAI’s “OpenAI for Countries” program will give every Maltese citizen free ChatGPT Plus for a year, plus an AI literacy course. Nick warns of Free Basics-style second-order risks; George sees a paid tier as a better deal than the ad-driven alternative. Both flag the year-long lock-in and the temptation for governments to nudge system prompts. Commencement speakers booed for praising AI. 81% of Gen Z think AI will shrink job opportunities, but N
This episode of Nonprofit News Feed explores two pressing issues affecting the nonprofit sector. Firstly, the loss of federal data sets poses significant challenges for nonprofits that rely on this information for decision-making and funding. Over the past 16 months, crucial data from agencies like USAID, NOAA, and the CDC have been deleted or altered, emphasizing the need for nonprofits to back up essential data to preserve institutional memory. In a forward-looking segment, the discussion shifts to a major anti-poverty nonprofit in San Francisco investing $40.3 million in AI resilience. This
Supreme Court Ruling Shakes Up the Voting Rights Landscape and Nonprofits Brace for Change In this week’s episode of the Nonprofit News Feed by Whole Whale, the hosts delve into the implications of a recent Supreme Court decision that significantly guts the Voting Rights Act. In Louisiana v. Callais, the 6–3 conservative majority found that a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In short, Democrat-held districts representing large Black populations, designed to enfranchise historically marginalized communities (such as those in
In this episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, Whole Whale delves into the complexities surrounding AI’s role in the nonprofit sector and advertising. George and Nick share insights into job displacement fears and the uneven impact of AI across the workforce, particularly affecting technology professionals. Main Topics: AI and Job Displacement: Discussion on how AI tools are widely adopted but raise concerns about job security, even among tech-savvy audiences. Advertising Double Standards: An investigation into Meta’s revenue from “high-risk” ads, revealing a double standard that affects nonprofit
This week’s episode of Nonprofit Newsfeed the hosts delve into significant legal developments affecting major tech companies and their broader implications for nonprofits. They discuss two landmark lawsuits involving Meta and YouTube, focusing on their platforms’ addictive features and false safety claims. These cases, settled in California and New Mexico, respectively, highlight a shift towards holding tech giants accountable through civil litigation, despite the relatively small damages awarded. Key Insights: Tech Accountability: A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable for creating a
Exploring Google’s AI Innovations and the Philanthropy Pledge Dilemma This week’s episode of the Nonprofit News Feed the hosts delve into two significant developments impacting the nonprofit sector. First, they discuss Google’s latest AI offerings for nonprofits, highlighting the integration of the Gemini model across Google Workspace tools. This development promises to enhance productivity by seamlessly connecting applications like Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Docs, and Sheets. Although Gemini may not yet rival other chatbots, its integration into existing Google tools provides a unified, secure p
In this week’s episode of Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts delve into significant challenges impacting the nonprofit sector, focusing on two major stories: the Flipcause donation platform’s bankruptcy and the legal troubles faced by Greenpeace. Flipcause Bankruptcy and Nonprofit Losses The episode opens with an update on Flipcause, a donation platform that went bankrupt, leaving nonprofits in financial turmoil. The discussion emphasizes the importance of nonprofits maintaining control over their payment gateways to avoid similar pitfalls. Greenpeace Legal Challenges The episode also covers a $345
In the latest episode of the Nonprofit News Feed, the hosts delve into the intricacies of giving and volunteering across the United States, as well as the pressing environmental challenges facing nonprofits today. The conversation highlights the recently conducted ‘Total Civic Generosity Report’ by Whole Whale, which sheds light on geographic disparities in generosity and the significant contributions of small-dollar donors. View Episode Transcript This week on the Nonprofit News Feed, George and Nick discuss the Total Civic Generosity Report and the current landscape of climate policy. Total
Key Trends in Donor-Advised Funds and AI’s Role in Nonprofits In this episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts discuss significant trends shaping the nonprofit sector, focusing on Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and AI’s evolving impact. Main Topics: Website Update: The Nonprofit Newsfeed site has been revamped for better user experience and branding. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): Predicted to exceed $450 billion in assets, indicating mainstream adoption. Nonprofits should adapt strategies to include dedicated DAF donation pages. DAFs are becoming accessible beyond ultra-wealthy donors. AI and No
A New Era of Direct-to-Consumer Giving In this week’s Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts delve into a groundbreaking development in philanthropy that was highlighted during the Super Bowl. The episode explores the introduction of Invest America accounts, a federally backed initiative providing tax-advantaged investment accounts for U.S. children under 18. The Treasury Department plans to seed each account with $1,000 for newborns starting in 2025, with the accounts unlocking in 2026. A standout philanthropic commitment comes from the Dell Foundation, pledging $6.25 billion to deposit $250 into the
AI’s Impact on Nonprofit Visibility and the Changing Landscape of Foundation Support This week’s episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed, the hosts delve into the evolving dynamics of AI’s influence on nonprofit visibility and the current state of foundation support. Main Topics: AI’s Knowledge Windows and Nonprofit Visibility: George and Nick discuss a new beta feature from OpenAI’s ChatGPT called “knowledge windows.” This feature presents information about organizations directly within the AI interface, potentially reducing website traffic as users get essential details without needing to visit th
AI Ads: A New Frontier for Nonprofits This week on the Nonprofit Newsfeed the hosts dive into a game-changing announcement from OpenAI that could revolutionize nonprofit marketing strategies. OpenAI has revealed plans to pilot advertising on ChatGPT, marking a significant shift in how nonprofits might engage with audiences. Key Highlights: OpenAI’s Announcement: OpenAI is testing ads in select markets for ChatGPT’s free and low-cost tiers, aiming to provide more users with access to its AI tools without usage limits. Implications for Nonprofits: With approximately 800 million weekly active use
This week on the Nonprofit News Feed, the hosts dive into pressing digital safety issues and uplifting philanthropic news. The episode covers the alarming rise of deep fakes and their implications for nonprofits, and celebrates a significant donation to support LGBTQ+ youth. Main Topics: Global Crisis of Deep Fakes: The episode highlights the disturbing trend of deep fakes, particularly on the AI platform Grok, which is generating non-consensual and sexualized images. The hosts stress the urgent need for nonprofits working with vulnerable groups to advocate for stricter regulations and educate
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/99g282j975b4xevk/riverside_nick_george_jan_12_2026_008_nonprofit_news_feed8hnjm.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window | Download Episode Overview: Fraud in Minnesota’s Social Services: Federal prosecutors have uncovered widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social safety programs, with fewer than 100 individuals exploiting pandemic-era funds, resulting in over $1 billion in misappropriations. The lack of effective oversight allowed fraudulent activities to flourish, leading to significant repercussions for the Somali community in Minnesota. The “blast radius” effect highlig
In the latest episode of the Whole Whale Podcast, hosts George and Nick reflect on the transformative themes that shaped the nonprofit sector in 2025. With a focus on AI’s impact, they explore how answer engine optimization (AEO) has redefined nonprofit discovery and engagement. AI’s rapid adoption has led to decreased organic traffic for nonprofits, necessitating strategic pivots in content and donor engagement. George highlights a significant increase in AI-generated content, with Whole Whale producing nearly a million words daily. This shift underscores the need for nonprofits to establish
In this episode of the Nonprofit Newsfeed the hosts dive into the latest developments in the nonprofit sector, focusing on the aftermath of Giving Tuesday, challenges with donation platforms, and exciting AI opportunities for nonprofits. Key Topics: Giving Tuesday Overview: The hosts reflect on the impact and outcomes of the recent Giving Tuesday, with hopes that it reached the predicted $4 million mark to kickstart the fundraising season for nonprofits. Donation Platform Concerns: A significant issue discussed is the case of Flip Cause, a donation platform that inadvertently kept “shadow camp
*****UPDATE: After we recorded this episode, GoFundMe announced they would reverse their stance on auto-generated nonprofit donation pages made without their consent making them opt-in instead of opt-out. Unclaimed Nonprofit Pages, they wrote in a public response, would be removed and de-indexed.***** In this episode of Nonprofit Newsfeed, George Weiner, Chief Whaler of Whole Whale, and Nick Azulay, digital strategist at Whole Whale, dive into a startling discovery involving GoFundMe’s creation of 1.4 million shadow donation pages for US nonprofits. Without outreach or consent, GoFundMe auto-g
In this week’s episode the hosts delve into the ongoing U.S. government shutdown and its implications for the nonprofit sector. The shutdown, now extending over half a month, poses significant challenges for nonprofits that rely on government partnerships. With 750,000 federal workers furloughed, nonprofits face operational hurdles, particularly in grant management and accessing social services like SNAP benefits. The shutdown’s ripple effects could increase demand for nonprofit services as more workers remain unpaid and public services remain halted. In brighter news, a consortium of ten majo
Nonprofit Sector Faces Challenges Amid Government Shutdown and Advocacy Efforts In this week’s episode the focus is on the implications of the U.S. government shutdown and recent advocacy efforts within the nonprofit sector. The episode tackles two primary topics: the immediate impacts of the government shutdown on nonprofits and a coalition’s response to political challenges against the Open Society Foundations. Government Shutdown Impact on Nonprofits The episode begins with a discussion on the current government shutdown, the first since 2018. George and Nick outline the immediate consequen
Emmy’s Gamification of Charity: A Hit or Miss? In a recent podcast episode, the hosts dissect the unconventional charity initiative at the Emmy Awards, where host Nate Bargatze pledged $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The twist: the donation amount would decrease based on the length of celebrity speeches, while shorter speeches would add to the fund. Despite the initial $100,000 dropping by $60,000 due to long speeches, Bargatze and CBS ultimately donated $350,000. The hosts debated the merits of this gamified approach to philanthropy. Critics argue it cheapens the serious work
