Philanthropy / Public News Service

Since 2005, research shows the number of journalists employed by newspapers has declined by 60%, a loss of 43,000 reporters and editors. (junce11/AdobeStock)

Friday, December 8, 2023

Study: Shuttered small-town newspapers sink community vitality

Three million residents in more than 200 U.S. counties don't have access to a single local news source, according to a new study. In New Mexico…

A decline in local news is often correlated with the decline in voter participation, according to research by Northwestern University. (V.J. Matthew/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Study: Rural vibrancy diminishes with death of local newspapers

The media landscape has dramatically changed in the past 20 years, evidenced by a new study that shows three million residents in more than 200 …

New Mexico aims for 'no hungry holidays' by doubling donations

Just a few days into December, food bank demand is high while some warehouse shelves are lean, and in New Mexico, a matching donation program this …

The Food Bank of Wyoming is asking for help from the public to meet rising food needs during the holiday season. (Food Bank of Wyoming)

Food banks, pantries address rising food insecurity during winter holidays

The number of people in Wyoming who don't know where their next meal will come from is on the rise, according to new U.S. Department of Agriculture …

Giving Tuesday began in 2012 at New York City's 92nd Street YMCA and is now observed in every country in the world. (OntheRun Photo/Adobe Stock)

Groups hoping Ohioans are feeling philanthropic on Giving Tuesday

On Giving Tuesday tomorrow, donating money isn't the only way to support the groups and causes you care about. The global Giving Tuesday movement …

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources launched the Sportsmen's Benevolence Fund, recently renamed Indiana Hunt for Hunger, in 2008 to create an easy way for hunters to help fight food insecurity in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosier hunters team with food banks to fight hunger

Indiana food banks are in dire need of meat for families who simply cannot afford to buy it at the grocery store and local hunters are doing their par…

Around 11,900 acres of the historic Bohart Ranch east of Colorado Springs used by U.S. Air Force Academy cadets have been permanently protected. (Adobe Stock)

SOAR aims to conserve open space, military readiness

The skies above the historic 48,000 acre Bohart Ranch and a remote airfield on the property serve an important role for the United States Air Force Ac…

The south slope of Crevice Mountain is one of the few designated places outside Yellowstone National Park where Yellowstone bison can roam. (Adobe Stock)

Activists buy out gold mine claim at Yellowstone National Park

When Crevice Mining Group made moves in 2021 to establish a gold mine on lands directly upslope from the Yellowstone River and in plain view from Yell…

Health centers like this one in Uganda use We Care Solar Suitcases to maintain reliable power. The nonprofit estimates almost 14 million mothers and newborns have benefited since 2010. (We Care Solar)

Two CA nonprofit leaders win AARP Purpose Prize

Leaders of two nonprofits in California have won the 2024 AARP Purpose Prize, which honors people over age fifty who are making a difference…

The 340B Drug Pricing Program, a part of the 1992 Public Health Service Act, provides outpatient drugs at deep discounts to safety net providers. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Missouri community healthcare centers face 340B uncertainty

While large hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers battle over drug costs, Missouri community health centers see themselves as collateral damage…

At least 11 major cities across the United States are hosting National Day of Action rallies today to call attention to reforms they say are needed in the nation's immigration detention system. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Immigration Advocates Host National Day of Action Rally

Immigration advocacy groups are calling on New Yorkers to join them in Foley Square at noon today. It's a National Day of Action to call attention to …

The AARP's Andrus Awards are held once a year in each participating state, and also nationally.(piter2121/Adobe Stock)

Last Call for Nominations for AARP-Michigan Volunteer Award

Anyone can nominate a Michigan resident over age 50 for one of AARP's most prestigious awards, but it must be done by Friday. The Andrus Awards are …

More than 150 people showed up at a Fort Pierce, Fla., community gathering in June to raise awareness and demand the end of attacks on immigrant communities. (FLIC)

Political Climate Drains Vital Donations for FL Immigrant Rights Advocacy

Groups aiding immigrants in building economic independence and pursuing citizenship are grappling with funding challenges exacerbated by anti-immigran…

In 2001, Texas became the first state to allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition, but politics have shifted the state's attitude toward migrants and immigrants. (DanielErnst/AdobeStock)

TX Advocates for Immigrant Rights Say Politics Exhausts Needed Donations

Organizations that help immigrants find a community, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and become legal residents or citizens say anti-immigrant …

About tax credits for private school scholarship donations, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy maintains,

Charity Disparity: NE Opportunity Scholarships Act Benefits Private Donors

Offering tax credits for scholarships to private schools has been a controversial issue in Nebraska. After tax-credit bills failed to pass in 2020 …

Between 2020 and 2022, the number of North Carolinians experiencing unsheltered homelessness rose from 2,558 to 3,625. (Adobe Stock)

NC Nonprofit Receives Grant to Fight Homelessness

In North Carolina, five nonprofit groups are receiving a much-needed financial boost to help them with projects aimed at enhancing people's financial …

George Floyd's murder brought such issues as generational wealth disparities to the forefront. Even prior to his death, awareness was growing in Midwestern states about a host of racial disparities, including economic. (Adobe Stock)

Wealth Grants Surface for Descendants of Slavery in North Central States

The upcoming Juneteenth holiday marks the kickoff of a new wealth building grant program for Black residents who are decedents of slavery in a few nor…

The scholarship initiative was created with the Colorado Department of Higher Education to increase the attainment of postsecondary credentials and degrees for underserved students in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

CO Scholarship Initiative Invests in Students Experiencing Homelessness

More than 15,000 students in Colorado have experienced homelessness, and a new grant from the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative will help …

Experts are predicting an above-average tornado season in 2023, in part fueled by climate change. (jetcityimage/AdobeStock)

New Philanthropy Fund Helps With Tornado Recovery

A record number of tornadoes struck U.S. communities in the first three months of this year, prompting the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to …

Agencies helping combat hunger are supporting a bill in the California Legislature to allow nonprofits to fully recover the cost of delivering services. (All Peoples Community Center)

L.A. Nonprofits Press for Better Deal as They Fight Post-Pandemic Inequities

During the pandemic, nonprofits in Los Angeles took on the monumental task of helping feed, house and vaccinate millions of Californians suddenly …

Award-winning journalist Molly Ivins worked at the Texas Observer in the 1970s, calling it a

The Texas Observer Lives to See Another Print Run

The Texas Observer, a nonprofit news organization known for its liberal, independent reporting and cultural criticism, will continue publishing…

The average in-state college tuition in New Hampshire was $19,457 for the 2021-2022 academic year. That's $4,327 higher than the U.S. average and ranks New Hampshire as the 9th most expensive state to attend college, according to CollegeCalc. (Adobe Stock)

NH Higher Ed Funding Still Lags Behind Rest of U.S.

Education advocates are applauding Governor Chris Sununu's proposed state budget increase for higher education but funding levels still remain some of…

It is estimated that some 89,000 Colorado children will grieve the death of a parent or sibling by age 18. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Funds Brought Grief Care to More Colorado Students

A groundbreaking bereavement service is expanding efforts to reach kids where they are: in schools, churches and other community sites. Emily Napier…

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to more than 1,060 projects, including 22 in Colorado, through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Colorado Seeking Projects to Help Improve Communities

AARP Colorado is putting out the call for creative projects to help improve communities, by creating new public transportation and housing options…

Central Community College students with the school's mascot,

'Master of Puppets?' CCC Grants Scholarships from Metallica

Nebraska's Central Community College is among 32 colleges that have each received $100,000 to award as scholarships - from a most unlikely source…

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to more than 1,060 projects, including 10 in Wyoming, through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Wyoming Seeking Projects to Help Improve Communities

AARP Wyoming is putting out the call for creative projects to help improve communities, whether by creating new public transportation and housing …

The conservation group Keep it Colorado has awarded $197,000 in grants to protect 8,512 acres of lands, including 2,500 acres adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park, that would otherwise be at imminent risk of being sold, subdivided or converted to other uses. (Adobe Stock)

New Grants to Help Preserve Iconic Mesa Verde Viewshed

A new grant is expected to help close the deal to protect key parcels of historic ranchlands and wildlife habitat adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park…

Students will meet virtually or in-person with their GRIT advisor throughout the academic year. (Photo courtesy of the Phoenix Public Library)

Phoenix High Schoolers Get College-Ready with Access to Tech

The Phoenix Public Library is making navigating going to college easier for first-generation college students. The Arizona Lottery's Give Back …

To avoid waste and illness, people involved with distribution of food donations say it's best to give items that are not damaged and are in their original packaging. (Adobe Stock)

SD Food Shelf Shares Ways to Make Impactful Donations

This month, Congress gave final approval to a plan to further promote food donations and reduce waste. In South Dakota, a local food shelf says …

Tishman Speyer has been annually donating the milled lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to Habitat for Humanity since 2007.(Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna)

Rockefeller Tree Lumber to be Used in MD Habitat for Humanity Homes

One of the more famous Christmas trees in the world will be coming home to Maryland as milled lumber. In 2021 a family in Cecil County was …

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource that equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams, and connects those targeted by scams with fraud helpline specialists who provide support and guidance on what to do next. (Adobe Stock)

Ways to Avoid Scammers During Holiday Shopping Season

A new AARP Fraud Watch Network report is putting a spotlight on how criminals are targeting holiday shoppers this year in hopes of separating them fr…

This year, consumer prices jumped to their highest level in 40 years, putting extra strain on families who are faced with higher medical bills. (Adobe Stock)

Keeping Childhood Cancer from Crushing a Family's Budget

As Americans make end-of-year donations to their favorite causes, those that help children with cancer and their families say these households need …

An average hotel room costs municipalities roughly $240 per night for one family and with families often scattered at various locations, social services can be difficult to administer. Transitional housing units would alleviate both costs and service gaps. (Adobe Stock)

More Transitional Housing Needed for Increased Asylum Seekers in Maine

The growing number of asylum-seekers in Maine has spurred cities and towns to join forces and build more transitional housing for families in need…

Two-thirds of U.S. households that give to a charitable organization donate an average of 4% of their income. (RawPixel.com/AdobeStock)<br />

Nonprofits Hope for Holiday Charitable Giving Boost Despite Inflation

Economic uncertainly created by the pandemic did not stop Americans from boosting charitable donations to record numbers in 2020 and overall giving in…

If you or a loved one has been targeted by a scam or fraud, help is available via the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. Help is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time (Adobe Stock)

Lonely NH Elders More Vulnerable to Holiday Scams

Crime experts say the holidays offer scam artists another opportunity to prey upon people's giving nature, especially older adults living alone…

One in eight individuals in Wyoming, and one in six children, do not know where their next meal will come from. (Adobe Stock)

Food Bank Ramps Up Thanksgiving Food Assistance

Turkeys and other holiday standards are still available for struggling families through food pantries, senior centers, school districts and other …

A 2020 Government Accountability Office report found the IRS had not revoked a hospital's nonprofit status on the basis of providing inadequate community benefits, or charity care, over the prior ten years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Hospital Charity Care Could Help More Mainers Avoid Medical Debt

Maine requires its hospitals to provide medically necessary care to its residents at no charge as a condition of receiving tax-exempt status…

Federal officials say Minnesota is home to more than 533,000 small businesses. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Funding Flows to Struggling Main Streets in MN

For some Minnesota small businesses, it's been harder to fully recover from major events of the past two years. A state grant program has a new round …

Across the nation, one in five children is living with a mental health disorder, but fewer than half will ever receive treatment. (Adobe Stock)

Moving the Needle on Children’s Mental Health

Children's Hospital Colorado has increased its mental-health inpatient, outpatient and day services by more than 50% to address what it called a …

Puerto Rico was still recovering from Hurricane Maria when Hurricane Fiona struck the island last week, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without shelter, water service or electricity. (Adobe Stock)

MA Steps Up for Puerto Rico, Again

Massachusetts residents are being asked to step up, just as they did five years ago, to help their fellow Americans in Puerto Rico. The …

The California Rebuilding Fund estimates that every $1 it makes in loans to small business generates $2 in economic activity. (Daniilvolkov/Adobestock)

CA Small Business Fund Revitalized by $15 Million Infusion

A renewed lifeline for small business owners still struggling after the pandemic - as the California Rebuilding Fund has announced it is making an add…

Nearly every vehicle in the town of Wallowa, Ore., was affected by a hailstorm in August.(Marika Straw)

After Devastating Eastern OR Hailstorm, Neighbors Lend Support

After a devastating hailstorm in eastern Oregon, community members are lending each other a helping hand. In mid-August, a severe storm dropped …

New Mexico ranks second in the nation for childhood hunger, according to Feeding America, with one in five children, or about 20.5% of children in the state, at risk of hunger. (nokidhungry.org)

Your Chance to Help Alleviate Hunger in New Mexico

A silver lining of the pandemic was more money available to address hunger, but those funds are drying up, and many in New Mexico will struggle this …

Pro-choice groups say Crisis Pregnancy Centers, sometimes called pregnancy resource or counseling centers, were created to talk people out of having abortions. (SHVETS production/Pexels)

Report: Crisis Pregnancy Centers Receive Billions in Funding

In the ongoing abortion debate, people are being warned to be mindful of deceptive practices in the facilities known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers…

A new report looks at the influence of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which aim to deter people who are pregnant from considering abortion. (Fokussiert/Adobestock)

Report Finds Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Affiliates Get Billions in Funding

CLARIFICATION: Information was added to this story from the California Alliance of Pregnancy Care. (7:30 p.m. PDT, Nov. 1, 2022) In the wake of the …

Each year, AARP Wyoming honors volunteers age 50 or older for their community service, including helping repair and rebuild homes damaged in Hurricane Katrina. (Adobe Stock)

Andrus Award Seeks Nominations to Celebrate Community Volunteers

AARP Wyoming is accepting nominations for its 2022 Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors older Wyomingites who are sharing their …

One project in Michigan receiving an AARP Community Challenge grant plans to foster an environment of healthy eating and physical activity through community gardening. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Grants Awarded to MI Groups to Make Communities More Age-Friendly

Five projects in Michigan have been awarded grants from AARP to make communities more livable, especially for older residents. Types of projects …

The Department of Education is collecting backpacks for Granite Staters in need until Aug. 12. (Mark/Adobe Stock)

NH Education Department Holds Backpack Drive for Students In Need

The New Hampshire Department of Education is collecting new backpacks for students whose families may need some help this year getting those back-to-s…

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