THE IMPACT EDIT | August 24, 2026

Every week, I gather what’s useful and worth paying attention to.

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I don’t plan to publish anything this week. My family is visiting me in LA, so I’ll be in hosting mode, spending much-needed quality time with them and soaking up the California sun! But you have plenty to read from the reading list I sent last week, so that should keep you busy :)

ICYMI: Reading List: Liberatory Philanthropy

Black Philanthropy Month highlights that small donations from everyday institutions are just as impactful as those from larger institutional funders. The BackBlack initiative, started by Floyd Jones, has directed more than $12 million to underfunded Black-led nonprofits in three years, with most of last year’s 130,000-plus donors giving less than $100. With about a week left in the campaign, visit backblackmovement.org to donate to an organization listed in the directory or use their toolkit to engage your network. Black-led nonprofits should visit the Get Funding page, where partners have over $100K available this month. For more details, read the full story at U.S. News about how organizers are shifting the focus toward operating in abundance.

Austin musicians have better insurance coverage than most Texans, thanks to a nonprofit focused on this goal. The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) spent ten years connecting members with free and low-cost clinics, yet about 85% remained uninsured. When the ACA marketplace launched, HAAM began directly subsidizing premiums through a partnership with Central Health, Travis County’s public hospital district. The program now costs about $4 million annually and has increased membership by 77% to over 3,300 people, with more than 90% insured and many paying nothing toward their premiums. The model has expanded to Denton, offering local musicians a $100 monthly subsidy, and to Austin restaurant workers via a Good Work Austin pilot. Read the full story on NPR.

• Q&A: Sharon Bush unpacks why AMARA is putting Black communities at the center of its philanthropy, The Triibe

• Ben & Jerry’s co-founder: corporate philanthropy ‘rolling over’ under Donald Trump, Alliance Magazine

• Evaluation for and in Solidarity: Practicing Narrative Evaluation for Systems Change, Colorlines

• Walking Targets, Columbia Journalism Review

• The nonprofit leader’s guide to keeping good people, The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• How the Trump Administration’s Actions Are Silencing the Next Generation of Black Women Advocates, National Partnership for Women & Families

• Who Gets Healthcare and Who Gets Handcuffs?, Ms. Magazine

• Playing a Rigged Game, The Progressive Magazine

• They grew up with disability rights. Now, they’re fighting to keep them, NPR

• This Is the Solution to America’s Literacy Crisis, and It’s a Lot of Fun, The New York Times

• ​​Proposed Data Centers Could Use More Electricity Than All Alabama Homes Combined, Analysis Shows. Who Will Pay?, Inside Climate News

• Voting Rights Organizations Seek to Enforce Injunction Against Mail Voting Executive Order, Legal Defense Fund

• Does Donald Trump Have a Point About the Southern Poverty Law Center?, Slate

• ‘Every advocate’s nightmare’: Inside ICE’s strategy to sidestep local oversight laws, LA Times

• Are Flock cameras the next bipartisan political issue?, The Washington Post

• Listen to Nonprofits Are Messy, a podcast that explores real-world challenges faced by nonprofit leaders, including fundraising, board leadership, organizational culture, burnout, and fostering belonging. Featuring candid conversations and practical advice from nonprofit leaders and experts, the podcast offers valuable insights for anyone involved in the nonprofit sector.

• Watch How to Build a Library, a documentary about two women in Nairobi who seek to transform a former whites-only library into a vibrant cultural center. The film follows their struggles with fundraising, local politics, and Kenya’s colonial history. It explores themes of history, access, belonging, and community effort in the reclamation and reimagining of public spaces. The premiere airs on PBS on August 24.

• Check out the Environmental Justice Oral History Project, a powerful collection of firsthand accounts from environmental justice advocates, community leaders, and residents across the U.S. South. These oral histories preserve community knowledge and experiences related to environmental injustice, land, climate, and activism. Listen to learn directly from those shaping the movement.

• This oldie but goodie from HistPhil is a valuable graduate-level syllabus for those seeking to explore the history and development of philanthropy. Created in 2015 and updated with newer works, it compiles readings and discussion topics on philanthropy and capitalism, race and inequality, foundations and government, and philanthropy’s role in shaping public policy.

• Check out DonorAssess, a free tool that assesses a donor’s emotional preparedness and alignment for giving. It goes beyond wealth or capacity to give, offering a fresh perspective on donor relationships and helping fundraisers have more intentional, donor-centered discussions.

• Explore the National Council of Nonprofits’ guide to running a nonprofit, covering legal and ethical obligations, financial management, fundraising, staff hiring and support, and strong governance. It is a practical resource for nonprofit leaders and teams seeking guidance on day-to-day operations.

• Check out Turn the Volume Up! at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. This exhibition showcases how artists and everyday people can challenge injustice and drive social change. It examines themes of activism and collective action across justice movements. The exhibition opens on August 27 and will be on view until July 11, 2027. View some of the artwork featured by The Guardian.

• A new wave of Native entrepreneurs is shaping an economic future rooted in culture and history. They build on traditional trade and entrepreneurial practices to create new opportunities and strengthen their communities. Explore this MPR News feature on entrepreneurs who are helping forge a more self-reliant and sustainable economic future.

• Taawon is a leading Palestinian development organization dedicated to advancing Palestinian communities, preserving their heritage and identity, supporting living culture, and strengthening civil society. It seeks to expand equitable opportunities for Palestinians to achieve their full potential and to live with dignity, prosperity, and self-fulfillment.

• New Voices is offering a free, one-hour online Civic Power Hour on Black August, scheduled for August 25 at noon ET. This session examines the history and significance of Black August and its legacy of resistance, and it connects that history to current local issues. The session also explores the origins and effects of the school-to-prison pipeline. Attendees will leave with specific actions they can take in their communities.

• Register now for Candid’s Proposal Writing Boot Camp. This intensive three-week online course is designed for experienced grant writers seeking to strengthen their proposal and fundraising skills. Participants receive peer collaboration and personalized feedback as they craft a funder-ready proposal and budget. The course also covers customizing proposals for funders, identifying promising funding opportunities, and building relationships with funders. The registration deadline is September 11, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. Early-bird registration through September 2 is $650, and regular registration is $800.

• Apply for the 2027 Creative Catalyst Fellowship, offered by the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. Up to eight AAPI artists will each receive $30,000 to create work centered on the theme of “Belonging.” The program also includes a two-day in-person retreat, peer learning sessions, communications and promotional support, community engagement, and potential exhibition opportunities. The application deadline is October 15, 2026.

I came across this article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy about nonprofits shutting down their entire offices for a week after peak seasons, giving staff a real chance to rest and recharge. I wish more organizations would adopt this practice. Unlike individual PTO, an organization-wide break frees everyone from the pressure to check email or worry about creating additional work for others. It makes it easier for all staff (including leaders) to truly disconnect, prioritizes staff well-being, and reduces burnout.

If you come across a tool, story, opportunity, or call to action that should be on my radar (or if you’re working on something you’d like others to see), I’d love to include it in a future round-up! Send me a message on Substack or email me at tirreab@gmail.com.