The Best of Nonprofit News in 2023
I’ve come to appreciate that time goes quickly and we forget so much. There's great value in looking back and remembering what's important. In that vein, here are just a few of my favorite, and in my opinion the most important, nonprofit stories of 2023 (in no specific order).
California’s New Nonprofit Registration Rules — California passed and instituted nonprofit rules about registering online, going far beyond their state boundaries, and applied these worldwide web responsibilities to any nonprofit anywhere if they have any connection to any California resident.
Growth of AI — Financial growth in the usage of artificial intelligence, and along the way, the first conversations about ethical uses of this new technology.
Local News Gets a Lift — Does local news hemorrhage reporters and reporting? Twenty-two different foundations and groups came together to commit more than $500 million to support local news reporting.
MacKenzie Scott — Mackenzie Scott continued to go against the trends by giving away large sums of money for less identified needs in terms of sustainability and growth—and now with an application process.
Donations Drop — According to various associations and reporting agencies, 2022 philanthropic engagement dropped for the first time since 2012. This is further evidence of a decaying donor base with fewer people making up more of the total philanthropic dollars available.
Hacking Nonprofits — While not as well financially positioned as for-profit organizations, hackers attacked nonprofits at a much higher rate, in part due to less stringent security measures.
Growth of DAFs — The tremendous increase in the creation of donor-advised funds greatly influenced how nonprofits embrace philanthropy through third parties
Power of Philanthropists — Depending on your perspective, the increased influence of incredibly large philanthropists on nonprofits was either a positive or negative factor in 2023.
Post-Pandemic Burnout — The continuation (and even increase) of burnout post-pandemic as nonprofit personnel changed jobs at record numbers, or just left the profession altogether.
