James Pollard

Ex-Raptors exec Masai Ujiri remains focused on humanitarian work as Giants of Africa Festival nears Masai Ujiri is staying focused on his upcoming Giants of Africa Festival even as the longtime NBA executive navigates his recent departure from the Toronto Raptors.

I spoke with Giants of Africa founder Masai Ujiri about the private foundation's weeklong festival -- and got a sense for why, fresh off his sudden Toronto Raptors firing, he vowed that "job, no job, wherever I am, whatever kind of job I’m doing, Giants of Africa is key"
apnews.com/article/masa...

Yale's law school dean will be the Ford Foundation's new president The Ford Foundation has announced Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken as its next president. Gerken, a leading expert on constitutional law and democracy, will succeed Darren Walker, who has led the f...

TODAY: Yale’s law school dean will be the Ford Foundation’s new president

Heather Gerken, a leading expert on constitutional law and democracy, will take the helm as the philanthropic sector navigates new challenges posed by President Donald Trump’s administration
apnews.com/article/ford...

GoFundMe is refurbishing a little-known financial tool in a bid to supercharge everyday giving Giving Funds is GoFundMe’s latest in a flurry of product rollouts with the purported goal of moving stagnant U.S. charitable contributions beyond the 2% GDP mark where totals have long hovered.

A new company is entering the crowded market for donor-advised funds, or investing vehicles for money earmarked as eventual charitable gifts

Just don't refer to @gofundme.com's Giving Funds as "wealth management products," insists CEO Tim Cadogan

My latest:
apnews.com/article/gofu...

Young leaders advancing potential climate solutions could win $1 million grants Youth-led climate groups are getting a $25 million injection from a funding collaborative. Enlight Foundation President Xin Liu said emerging leaders at the forefront of the crisis are not getting eno...

Climate is getting a bigger slice of the philanthropic funding pie. But Enlight Foundation president Xin Liu said not enough money goes to young frontline leaders. So she's spearheading a $25 million open call with Lever for Change to support youth-led orgs. My latest:
apnews.com/article/enli...

Young leaders advancing potential climate solutions could win $1 million grants Youth-led climate groups are getting a $25 million injection from a funding collaborative. Enlight Foundation President Xin Liu said emerging leaders at the forefront of the crisis are not getting eno...

Climate is getting a bigger slice of the philanthropic funding pie. But Enlight Foundation president Xin Liu said not enough money goes to young frontline leaders. So she's spearheading a $25 million open call with Lever for Change to support youth-led orgs. My latest:
apnews.com/article/enli...

A MacArthur 'genius' skewers philanthropy in a farcical play tackling oligarchy and arts funding A new play by MacArthur “genius grant” recipient Taylor Mac invites questions about the moral value of philanthropy in a society denounced by the comedy as “feudal.”

Taylor Mac, @macfound 'genius grant' winner, talks to @jampol.bsky.social about the new play "Prosperous Fools" and how it questions priorities in #philanthropy. Mac wants to "create revolution with kindness."
apnews.com/article/maca...

Meet the charitable foundation carrying the little-known legacy of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' “Take Me out to the Ball Game” is more than just a song sung every summer in baseball stadiums around the United States.

The ASCAP Foundation's support for emerging songwriters began 50 years ago with a donation of the "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" royalties. Read more about its work through the testimonies of Paul Williams, Pasek and Paul, Emily Bear and Stephen Schwartz:
apnews.com/article/asca...

Meet the charitable foundation carrying the little-known legacy of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' “Take Me out to the Ball Game” is more than just a song sung every summer in baseball stadiums around the United States.

The ASCAP Foundation's support for emerging songwriters began 50 years ago with a donation of the "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" royalties. Read more about its work through the testimonies of Paul Williams, Pasek and Paul, Emily Bear and Stephen Schwartz:
apnews.com/article/asca...

WhyHunger marks 50 years of fighting for food security, a point of 'pride and shame' WhyHunger is celebrating 50 years of fighting to eradicate hunger at its root. Singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and radio DJ Bill Ayres founded the grassroots support organization in 1975 with the idea ...

My latest: WhyHunger marks 50 years of fighting for food security, a point of ‘pride and shame’
apnews.com/article/pat-...

MrBeast aims to raise millions for his charity by offering a weekend experience to six-figure donors MrBeast plans to turn the success of his Amazon Prime Video reality competition series into millions of dollars for charity.

MrBeast is offering an exclusive weekend on the Beast Games set to donors who make $100,000 gifts to his registered nonprofit

It's a new fundraising strategy for Jimmy Donaldson, who has long said his featured charitable work is funded via YouTube revenue
apnews.com/article/mrbe...

Bill Gates pledges his remaining fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will close in 20 years Bill Gates says he will donate 99% of his remaining tech fortune to the Gates Foundation. Today, that would be worth an estimated $107 billion.

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Gates will donate 99% of his remaining wealth -- about $107 billion -- to the Gates Foundation
and move up its closing date to 2045, reports @apnews.com's Thalia Beaty #philanthropy apnews.com/article/bill...

Most US adults give to charity. Here's where they donated A new AP-NORC poll finds about three-quarters of U.S. adults say their household contributed at least some money to a charitable organization.

About 3 in 4 Americans say their households donated money to a charity last year, according to a new
@apnews.com @norc.org poll on #philanthropy released today. @jampol.bsky.social and Amelia Thomson-DeVaux have the details.
apnews.com/article/poll...

Read the announcement of the death of Pope Francis, which was shared by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo.

This post includes the correct spelling of Cardinal Kevin Farrell, which was written as Ferrell earlier. apnews.com/article/vati...

Pope Francis has died, the Vatican camerlengo, announces Pope Francis died Monday morning, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced.“ At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.

BREAKING: Pope Francis has died, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo announced.

DOGE wanted to assign staff to the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice because it got federal funds The nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice says staff from Elon Musk’s DOGE contacted them to “assign” a team to the organization and said DOGE staff told them they intended to “assign” teams to all nonp...

DOGE's attempt to assign staff to @vera.org could be a sign of more to come. The criminal justice nonprofit says Elon Musk's staff told them they planned to install teams with all nonprofits receiving funds appropriated by Congress. From my colleague Thalia Beaty:
apnews.com/article/doge...

A British billionaire funded therapeutic food production amid USAID 'craziness.' It won't be enough America's nutritional peanut paste manufacturers are having a “yo-yo” of a year. Their lifesaving food packets have been disrupted by the U.S.

A British billionaire kept the Georgia-based maker of a lifesaving peanut paste afloat when the USAID purge jeopardized ready-to-use therapeutic food sent to malnourished children worldwide. But RUTF producers’ futures remain murky. Ready why in my latest:
apnews.com/article/usai...

A British billionaire funded therapeutic food production amid USAID 'craziness.' It won't be enough America's nutritional peanut paste manufacturers are having a “yo-yo” of a year. Their lifesaving food packets have been disrupted by the U.S.

A British billionaire kept the Georgia-based maker of a lifesaving peanut paste afloat when the USAID purge jeopardized ready-to-use therapeutic food sent to malnourished children worldwide. But RUTF producers’ futures remain murky. Ready why in my latest:
apnews.com/article/usai...

The United Nations arm for coordinating often-chaotic emergency responses (@unocha.org) is planning to cut 20% of its workforce in the face of a $58 million funding gap, @newhumanitarian.bsky.social reports
www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2025/04...

A British billionaire funded therapeutic food production amid USAID 'craziness.' It won't be enough America's nutritional peanut paste manufacturers are having a “yo-yo” of a year. Their lifesaving food packets have been disrupted by the U.S.

Nonprofit therapeutic food manufacturers Mana Nutrition and Edesia Nutrition tell @apnews.com's @jampol.bsky.social how they have managed through USAID cuts and how #philanthropy will still not be enough
apnews.com/article/usai...

Why Rihanna's expanding Clara Lionel Foundation is seen as a model for celebrity philanthropy Rihanna fans might know the musician for hits such as “Umbrella” and “Diamonds." But it is the billionaire’s philanthropy that is poised to make waves.

After a leadership transition following pandemic-era grantmaking boosts, Rihanna’s charity has refined its priorities and is ready for more visibility. I looked at Clara Lionel Foundation’s changes & what they mean for its place-based, bottom-up giving strategies:
apnews.com/article/riha...

Why Rihanna's expanding Clara Lionel Foundation is seen as a model for celebrity philanthropy Rihanna fans might know the musician for hits such as “Umbrella” and “Diamonds." But it is the billionaire’s philanthropy that is poised to make waves.

After a leadership transition following pandemic-era grantmaking boosts, Rihanna’s charity has refined its priorities and is ready for more visibility. I looked at Clara Lionel Foundation’s changes & what they mean for its place-based, bottom-up giving strategies:
apnews.com/article/riha...

Why Rihanna's expanding Clara Lionel Foundation is seen as a model for celebrity philanthropy Rihanna fans might know the musician for hits such as “Umbrella” and “Diamonds." But it is the billionaire’s philanthropy that is poised to make waves.

Experts say Rihanna's Clara Lionel Foundation's embrace of trust-based #philanthropy and seeking community level partners should be seen as an example for other nonprofits. @jampol.bsky.social has the details.
apnews.com/article/riha...

NYC entertainers and creatives feel connected to LA. That link is driving cross-country fire relief Disasters tend to elicit widespread support for those impacted and the weeks since Los Angeles’ most destructive wildfires are proving no different in that regard.

The Comic Relief US fundraiser, with Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Ramy Youssef and others, is one of many NYC-based benefits for LA wildfire victims. @jampol.bsky.social has the details of the NYC-LA connection #philanthropy
apnews.com/article/los-...

Refugees and their sponsors feel stuck after halt to programs letting communities resettle newcomers Refugees had been arriving in the United States at levels unseen in nearly three decades, aided by nonprofits and ordinary people across the political spectrum.

Refugees and their sponsors feel stuck after halt to programs letting communities resettle newcomers
apnews.com/article/welc...

@AP: Target's DEI rollback raises questions about the retail giant's philanthropic commitments

MrBeast not quite in the bidding race for TikTok just yet, rep says Jimmy Donaldson — better known online as MrBeast — isn’t in the TikTok bidding race just yet, according to a representative for the YouTube star.

MrBeast not quite in the bidding race for TikTok just yet, rep says
apnews.com/article/mrbe...

Can AI help humans understand animals and reconnect with nature? A nonprofit research lab thinks so A nonprofit research lab is getting attention from some wealthy tech philanthropists. The Earth Species Project hopes to decode other creatures’ communications with its pioneering artificial intellige...

How #philanthropy is funding AI help for researchers trying to interpret bird calls and other animal sounds. @jampol.bsky.social has the details from a Montreal lab where they're monitoring zebra finches
apnews.com/article/arti...

MrBeast's new show already faced controversy. Its new giveaway partner may bring more MrBeast’s ambitious reality show, which the YouTube megastar hopes will expand his massive online reach and turn the corner on recent controversies, is already raising questions from consumer advocate...

I took a look at the $4.2M sweepstakes partner featured in MrBeast’s ambitious new competition show. Read more about why consumer advocates say the fintech company’s cash advancements — which are promoted to giveaway entrants — may hurt borrowers:
apnews.com/article/mrbe...

Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree? Civic engagement nonprofits believe democracy is an exercise in need of constant support — not just extra money around major major campaigns.

There's a push to reverse boom-and-bust cycles where money floods civic nonprofits in election years but dries up later. Making democracy work, proponents say, is a constant practice. But the sector at large has not followed, raising stakes they feel are already heightened
apnews.com/article/demo...