Prospect Research Services

The advent of Effective Altruism: addressing large-scale suffering that’s being neglected and that’s preventable through money and effort, in other words the "low-hanging fruit" of philanthropy.

Some followers of this movement give up to half of their income to charity. Their message is winning both converts and critics. Effective altruism isn’t just about donations. It aims to bring rationality to what people choose to care about.

In a change of pace, 5 of the biggest US foundations are issuing bonds to help the nonprofit world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leading Foundations Pledge to Give More, Hoping to Upend Philanthropy The Ford Foundation and four others plan to substantially increase their spending, a splurge financed in part by issuing debt.

Giving in the Time of Coronavirus:

The pandemic is testing the generosity of billionaires, according to a Washington Post survey of the 50 richest Americans They’re worth $1.6 trillion. They’ve given a fraction of their wealth.

Private donations can supplement government spending, but they can never replace it:

How Philanthropists Are Helping During the Crisis Their strategies could inspire other donors who want to know the quickest ways to ensure their dollars have the biggest impact.

The nonprofit world has been upended.

Nonprofits Built Themselves on a Dream. Their New Mission: Survival. Upended by the coronavirus outbreak, nonprofits are laying off workers, seeking help from stretched donors and trying to stay alive.

What will the world look like to nonprofits after the crisis has passed?

Covid-19 could mean extinction for many charities Unless government, funders and nonprofit leaders take immediate and decisive action to help nonprofits during the coronavirus outbreak, many nonprofits around the nation may just disappear over the next few months leaving those they serve and employ in disastrous circumstances, writes John MacIntosh

Donor-advised funds: how inefficient is it to put money away to be spent at some indeterminate time in the future?

Why one billionaire is calling out Silicon Valley’s favorite philanthropic loophole John Arnold does what so few of the wealthy are willing to do: Criticize a system that benefits them.

Giant new gifts to 5 lucky foundations from Warren Buffett.

Warren Buffett Trims Berkshire Hathaway Stake With $3.6 Billion Gifts Berkshire’s chairman and CEO has slightly lowered his voting power and economic interest in his conglomerate after donating $3.6 billion in stock.

Not a good sign that giving from individuals was off last year. What that bodes for the future of philanthropy, nobody knows.

Gifts to Charity Dropped 1.7 Percent Last Year, Says ‘Giving USA’ The decline, fueled by a drop in giving by individuals, could be a warning sign that the new tax law and other challenges will stall giving in future years.

It's important to know the ins and outs of donor advised funds before going that route.

Lawsuit Could Cool a Fast-Growing Way of Giving to Charities The suit sheds light on concerns around donor-advised funds, which disburse money over time but offer an immediate tax deduction.

The fight to sustain our democracy is missing consistent, long-term philanthropic investment. Is it time for those who can most afford it to look beyond the next election and invest instead in the long-term health of our country?

Philanthrophy can save democracy Every year, Americans give hundreds of billions of dollars to support higher education and the arts, to combat poverty and to protect the environment, and countless other causes they care passionately about.

As soon as her divorce from Jeff Bezos became final, MaccKenzie Bezos signed the Giving Pledge--many billions to be given away!

MacKenzie Bezos signed the philanthropic commitment her ex-husband spurned Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, has long been criticized for not signing the Giving Pledge.