Using the Whole Whale - A Nonprofit Podcast

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Nonprofit News, Tech & Marketing Stories from Whole Whale, a Nationally Recognized Nonprofit Marketing Agency for over a decade. Founded in 2010, Whole Whale is a B-Corp that runs analytics, digital advertising, Google Ad Grants, and SEO for nonprofits.

  1. Aug 10

    AI Politics Are Getting Ugly; Nonprofits Can't Sit It Out (news)

    First up: PayPal Giving Fund and why its reported $60B acquisition interest from Stripe should have the nonprofit world paying closer attention. A quick teardown of who actually controls the money moving through it. Then: the politics of AI are getting contentious, and nonprofits are stuck in the crossfire. We dig into the cooling public mood, the two extremes pulling the debate apart, and the case for a transparent AI use policy that draws bright red lines, shows where AI drives impact, and admits where it does harm. Next: Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund put $200M behind saving 100 species from extinction, and why celebrity-and-billionaire-built operations earn a raised eyebrow. Closing out: the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's Whole Child school in New Jersey shuts its doors after CZI pulls funding, and what it says about throwing money at problems instead of partnering with the people who already do the work.

  2. Jul 30

    PayPal Giving Fund: A Deep Dive into Donation Dynamics (news)

    This week's Nonprofit News Feed turns the spotlight on the PayPal Giving Fund (PPGF), a pivotal player in the donation processing ecosystem. Operating like a donor-advised fund (DAF), PPGF processed a staggering $952 million in donations in 2024, marking a 50% increase from the previous year. This growth is largely attributed to PPGF becoming the sole donation processor for Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram in the US and UK. However, concerns arise over the fund's operations, particularly its handling of donor data and the creation of "shadow pages." These pages can reroute donations without nonprofits' consent, and PPGF's lack of transparency in passing donor information to nonprofits is a significant issue. Additionally, the PayPal Giving Fund's close ties to PayPal, a for-profit entity, raise questions about governance and financial transparency, especially regarding the interest accrued on funds held for up to 90 days. The discussion underscores the need for nonprofits to be vigilant about how their donations are processed and the importance of advocating for more transparent and efficient systems that truly benefit charitable organizations.

  3. Jun 26

    Spam Texts, Scam PACs, and the Burn-and-Churn Fundraising Machine (news)

    Political spam texts are flooding phones at scale—and the data shows it's overwhelmingly a Democratic problem, running 3-4X Republican spending on SMS fundraising since 2008. This week breaks down the loopholes that make it legal (peer-to-peer "technology," snowshoeing across thousands of numbers, political speech exemptions) and the burn-and-churn vendor model that profits 7-15% off every dollar raised, no matter how much trust it burns. Plus a look at PACSpam.org, a new tool that lets you paste in a spam text, trace the UTM parameters and ActBlue links back to the vendor and PAC behind it, and log it to a public database. Plus: Giving USA 2025 numbers are in. Total US charitable giving hit a record $617B (a 3% inflation-adjusted bump), bequests jumped 17% signaling the great wealth transfer, and a handful of mega-donors accounted for nearly $18B of $19.2B in mega-gifts.

  4. Jun 10

    The $32B Charitable Wave Is Coming. Your "Donate" Button Isn't Ready. (news)

    This week's Nonprofit News Feed highlights the potential impact of upcoming IPOs in the AI sector on donor-advised funds (DAFs). Major players like SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI are expected to go public, potentially generating $12 to $32 billion in new DAF contributions. This influx could significantly enhance grant-making capacities across the nonprofit sector. The democratization of philanthropy is a key theme, as newly liquid employees—not just billionaires—could make substantial charitable contributions. Nonprofits are advised to prepare by developing relationships with potential donors early and ensuring they can efficiently handle stock gifts and DAF grants. Key insights include the expectation of a massive year for DAFs, similar to the IPO boom of 2021. However, nonprofits should note that liquidity does not equate to immediate increased budgets. The episode emphasizes the importance of strategic communications and understanding the philanthropic mindset of tech sector employees, particularly concerning AI's societal impacts.

  5. Jun 5

    Taiwanese Nonprofits Leave GlobalGiving Over “Chinese Taipei” Relabeling (news)

    Global Giving's Controversial Renaming Decision This episode of the Nonprofit NewsFeed delves into Global Giving's decision to rename Taiwan as "Chinese Taipei" on its platform, a move reportedly influenced by the Chinese government as the platform expands in China. This change has provoked dissatisfaction among Taiwanese NGOs, leading some to withdraw from the platform.

  6. May 22

    To AI Or Not To AI (news)

    This week the hosts break down three stories circling the same question: who actually consents to AI's rollout into civic life? Malta adopts ChatGPT. OpenAI's "OpenAI for Countries" program will give every Maltese citizen free ChatGPT Plus for a year, plus an AI literacy course. Nick warns of Free Basics-style second-order risks; George sees a paid tier as a better deal than the ad-driven alternative. Both flag the year-long lock-in and the temptation for governments to nudge system prompts. Commencement speakers booed for praising AI. 81% of Gen Z think AI will shrink job opportunities, but NY Fed data shows recent grad underemployment (41.5%) is well below its 2012 peak. The takeaway for nonprofits: this is not the quarter to brag about AI efficiencies in your newsletter. Musk loses to Altman. The jury sided with OpenAI. Worth watching: the OpenAI nonprofit arm is about to be extraordinarily well-funded, and Malta may be a preview of its philanthropy.

  7. May 15

    Government Data Losses & ChatGPT Ads Are Here, Whether We Like It Or Not (news)

    This episode of Nonprofit News Feed explores two pressing issues affecting the nonprofit sector. Firstly, the loss of federal data sets poses significant challenges for nonprofits that rely on this information for decision-making and funding. Over the past 16 months, crucial data from agencies like USAID, NOAA, and the CDC have been deleted or altered, emphasizing the need for nonprofits to back up essential data to preserve institutional memory. In a forward-looking segment, the discussion shifts to a major anti-poverty nonprofit in San Francisco investing $40.3 million in AI resilience. This move, supported by the Sobrato Foundation, highlights the growing intersection of tech philanthropy and nonprofit initiatives. The importance of strategic, ongoing AI training is stressed to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. The episode also touches on the introduction of advertising within ChatGPT, offering new opportunities for nonprofits to engage with users during their decision-making journeys. This development could enhance nonprofit outreach efforts by integrating messaging into user interactions.

  8. May 11

    SCOTUS' Voting Rights Rulings Will Have Immediate Impact On The Ground 🗳️ (news)

    Supreme Court Ruling Shakes Up the Voting Rights Landscape and Nonprofits Brace for Change In this week's episode of the Nonprofit News Feed by Whole Whale, the hosts delve into the implications of a recent Supreme Court decision that significantly guts the Voting Rights Act. In Louisiana v. Callais, the 6–3 conservative majority found that a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. In short, Democrat-held districts representing large Black populations, designed to enfranchise historically marginalized communities (such as those in Memphis), face the threat of elimination in states with conservative legislatures. With states rapidly redistricting, nonprofits involved in civil rights and voter mobilization face the challenge of adapting to new political boundaries and shifting voter demographics. Key Insights: The Supreme Court's decision could lead to the dilution of political power for historically marginalized communities by breaking up established districts. This rapid redistricting process disrupts the groundwork laid by nonprofits for upcoming elections, necessitating quick strategic pivots. Nonprofits must reassess their geographic impact and reforge relationships with new district representatives to continue their advocacy effectively. Other Stories: The episode also touches on the ongoing legal battle involving Elon Musk and OpenAI, highlighting concerns about nonprofit and for-profit intersections. Whole Whale's Nonprofit Wellness Index, offering a snapshot of the sector's health, shows improvement from last year, suggesting a recovery from previous downturns.

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Nonprofit News, Tech & Marketing Stories from Whole Whale, a Nationally Recognized Nonprofit Marketing Agency for over a decade. Founded in 2010, Whole Whale is a B-Corp that runs analytics, digital advertising, Google Ad Grants, and SEO for nonprofits.

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