Affordable housing group eyeing expansion
A recent change in leadership at Carmel-based Merchants Affordable Housing Corp. has turned the not-for-profit’s attention to creating more units, both near and far from home.
Philanthropy
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Former Pacer Jerry Harkness, a trailblazer on and off the court, dies at 81
Harkness led Loyola University Chicago to a barrier-breaking national college championship in basketball in 1963 and went on to a pioneering career in fundraising, broadcasting and business in Indianapolis.
Longtime attorney Jennett Hill tapped as president of Lilly Endowment
Hill, who joined the endowment’s board in 2015, is currently senior vice president and general counsel for Citizens Energy Group.
Butler to affix alum’s name to biz school building after $7M gift
Unveiled in 2019, the 110,000-square-foot building will be dubbed Bill and Joanne Dugan Hall. The two met as students at Butler in the late 1940s.
CICF blazes new trail for equity and inclusion
The not-for-profit’s strategy focused on community relationship-building and equity-oriented funding has other area groups rethinking their own procedures and how they share power with those they serve.
Philanthropic world skeptical of proposed federal legislation
A bill introduced last month in the U.S. Senate would add rules about how quickly donor-advised funds must distribute money to charity, but critics say the rules are unnecessary and could have the unintended consequence of hurting charitable giving.
Donor-advised funds are catching on as a tool for personal philanthropy
The number of donor-advised funds in the United States, the amount contributed to these funds and the amount distributed to charity from them have all seen significant growth, with no signs of a slowdown.
Rose-Hulman raises $250M for scholarships, buildings
The funds raised since 2018 will increase the number of student scholarships. They also have brought new workspaces and classrooms to the campus and solidified the Terre Haute school’s standing in STEM education
Weinzapfel picked as interim leader of United Way group
The group said Jonathan Weinzapfel would serve as interim president and chief executive officer through the end of 2021.
Expanded women’s shelter to offer more beds, more dignity
Wheeler Mission is set to open an expanded center for homeless women and children that will nearly double the space for services, add 160 short- and long-term beds, and enhance programming.
Fresh wave of rental help on way as eviction moratorium extended for ‘final’ time
Since IndyRent launched last July, it has provided $96.1 million in emergency rental assistance to help thousands of residents stay housed in the midst of the pandemic’s economic fallout.
Hamilton County plans domestic violence shelter
Plans to build the county’s first shelter are taking shape, but questions remain about the project’s location and funding, which could put its eventual construction in jeopardy.
MacKenzie Scott, citing wealth gap, donates $2.7B to charities, racial equity causes
It’s the third round of major philanthropic gifts Scott has made, which together rival the charitable contributions made by the largest foundations.
Charitable giving increased in 2020 despite pandemic, IU research finds
The research found that giving to public-society benefit organizations had the largest growth in 2020, increasing 15.7%.
Senators push measure to accelerate donor-advised funds, foundation giving
Two key U.S. senators introduced legislation Wednesday designed to spur faster payouts from donor-advised funds and foundations, giving new momentum to an effort that has deeply divided philanthropy.
Study: Social donations increased in pandemic year
The increase comes from Gen Z and Millennials, who now comprise a majority of OneCause’s surveyed social donors, partly due to the increased access to philanthropy that social giving supplies, with the study finding that “ease” is the biggest motivator of giving.
Robinson spent 3 decades on journey to children’s museum CEO
Jennifer Pace Robinson has worked her way up at The Children’s Museum over three decades, filling a variety of roles dealing directly with museum visitors and with the behind-the-scenes work that makes the museum tick.
500 Festival remains in black despite cancellations
Like most everyone, the organization last year made budget cuts to cope with the pandemic. But its expenses also dropped dramatically because it canceled the 500 Festival Parade and shifted to a virtual platform for other events.
Bill and Melinda Gates divorce could shake up philanthropy
The split between the billionaire co-founders of the world’s largest private foundation is already sending a wave of anxious uncertainty through the worlds of philanthropy and community health.
Key departures likely mean new strategy for Strada Education Network
The two highest-paid executives departed the powerful education not-for-profit in recent months, an indication the Indianapolis-based organization is rethinking aspects of its strategy.