Each week we try to bring you a collection of links that highlight political news that impact nonprofits, helpful links for nonprofit professionals, the importance of sharing stories, and something positive to end your week.
Helpful Nonprofit Links
- Vu Le from Nonprofit AF explains that when funders adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, it can be dangerous and detrimental to the long-term health of recipients.
- One of our favorite reads of the year – the M+R Benchmarks report. Find a comfortable seat, get a cup of coffee (or beverage of choice) and soak it in.
- Two pieces this week look at philanthropy and technology. Lucy Bernholz of Digital Impact investigates what a “digital civil society” looks like. And Philip Rojc and David Callahan of Inside Philanthropy look at the question of what philanthropy’s role is in looking at and mitigating the growing dominance of technology companies.
- Ruth McCambridge details how the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project have both seen large drops in donations after being plagued by scandals.
Political News
- This week, 42 civil rights, racial justice, and community organizations shared a series of recommendations urging for a strong ethical review of Axon, a major U.S. police technology vendor.
“The groups urge the board to hold the company to its ethical responsibilities, and “to ensure that its present and future products, including AI-based products, don’t drive unfair or unethical outcomes or amplify racial inequities in policing.”
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- Aura Bogado from Reveal details how a lawsuit by the National Immigrant Justice Center, a nonprofit organization that provides legal aid for immigrants and asylum seekers, uncovered a handbook that addresses how ICE manages, processes, and deports immigrant minors. The handbook’s regulations contrast starkly with realities on the ground.
- This week the U.S. Department of Education just released data on racial disparities in every school and school district in America (from pre K to 12). Samuel Sinyangwe is an incredible data scientist, and a recommended follow on Twitter. In the twitter thread below Sinyangwe explains how you can use the data to determine how your school discriminates against black students and other marginalized groups. These instructions are great for those working in the academic and nonprofit fields.
STUDENTS: the US Dept of Education just released data on racial disparities in every school and school district in America (from preK-12). Here’s how you use the data to show if/how your school discriminates against black students and other marginalized groups. A thread.
— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) April 24, 2018
Sharing Stories
- The U.S. Department of Education has closed at least 65 school discipline investigations without any mandated reforms which is troubling to individuals who work in education and civil rights. Annie Waldman investigates in a ProPublica article and video focused on the Byran, TX school district. As covered in the article, Texas Appleseed is a nonprofit organization working in Texas to promote social and economic justice.
Something Fun
- It’s allergy season for a lot of folks out there. Your sneeze won’t be as adorable as this cat.
Photo credit: YouTube – When school discipline means getting locked up