More media clips cross our desks every day. Here’s a synopsis of what some said this time around.

New York Times

• December 9’s 20-page special section, Giving, covers several angles on philanthropy and volunteerism, including "Why We Donate? It’s Personal," by Susan Jacoby, and "MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grants Get Some Heat and a New Head," by Janny Scott. 
• Foundations are funding more studies on death, according to Judith Miller’s November 22nd article, "When Foundations Chime In, The Issue of Dying Comes to Life." 
• As much as $20 million in donations from American Jews may not be given away this year because of religious and peace policies of the conservative Israeli government, says Judith Miller in her November 17th article "Israel’s Controversy Over Religion Affects Donations by Jews in U.S." 
• The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation learned the hard way that to help disadvantaged high schoolers, you have to start in elementary school, says an October 29th article, "Student Sponsor Program Regroups," by Shirley Christian. Through the foundation’s Project Choice, eighth graders were once offered full scholarships if they graduated on time, stayed off drugs, avoided parenthood, and succeeded enough academically to get into post-secondary schools. These days, foundation folk say most students need help in reading and math as early as third grade to hold up their end of the bargain. 
• Judith Miller wrote October 20th that George Soros pledged up to $500 million to Russia for health care, education and soldier retraining for civilian life. According to "Soros to Donate Millions More to Help Russia," Soros’ gift far exceeds the United States’ $95 million in Russian aid last year. 
• Judith Miller’s October 14th article, "A Self-Made Man’s Project: Reviving Battered Network," describes New Jersey philanthropist Raymond G. Chambers as a self-made wealthy American who gave up making money to giving it away, quietly. 
• Trustees of the Bishop Estate in Hawaii face community fire after allegations of fiduciary misconduct, according to an October 14th article, "Hawaiians Angrily Turn on a Fabled Empire," by Todd S. Purdum.

Washington Post

• A December 5th article by Cindy Skrzycki about corporate philanthropy asks the question, "Should Corporate Charity Begin With the Shareholders?" If you’re Rep. Paul E. Gillmor (R-Ohio), the answer is yes; but Council on Foundations President Dorothy S. Ridings says corporate foundations wonder how much knowledge shareholders have to make effective calls. 
• Baltimore just got a promise for $25 million over the next five years to help out with initiatives like drug treatment and job training, says a November 17th article "For Baltimore, Uncommon Gift from Unorthodox Source," by Paul W. Valentine. What’s ‘uncommon’ about the gift is that it comes from George Soros, who has never been to Baltimore, but likes three-term Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke’s ideas about liberalizing U.S. drug policy. 
• Judy Mann’s column, "A Perilous Age for Girls," notes findings from a survey done by Louis Harris & Associates for the New York-based Commonwealth Fund, Mann reported October 10th that one in five adolescent girls says she has been sexually or physically abused, and suggested that these and other survey findings "ought to get the ball rolling." 
• Walter H. Annenberg’s four-year-old promise of a half-billion dollars for struggling urban schools today hasn’t done as much as educators thought it might four years ago, says "Can $500 Million Make a Dent?," an October 13th article by Rene Sanchez. One of the problems of the grant is that individual schools must submit their own proposals; so schools with more money and time to begin with often have better proposals and thus win more grants than those who really need the help.

Wall Street Journal

• Californians are giving less to United Way programs and more to community foundations these days, says Stacy Kravetz in her November 19th article, "Community Foundations Gain As Donors Seek More Control." 
• Atlanta philanthropy is booming, thanks to former Coke CEO Robert Goizueta, says Nikhil Deogun’s October 20th article, "Robert Goizueta Led Coca-Cola Stock Surge, And Its Home Prospers." Many local foundations own stock in Coca-Cola and thanks to portfolio profits, have been able to give away more grants.

Los Angeles Times

• Eight foundations will launch a program next year providing matching funds for the impoverished, writes Robert A. Rosenblatt. His September 24th article, "Poor to Get Incentive to Save Under Program," says that up to $8 million will be made available in 12 cities for poor people saving for homes, college and new businesses.

Boston Globe

• Joseph N. Pew Jr., founder of the Pew Charitable Trusts, was not an environmentalist—which begs the question: "Why is the foundation making environmentally-conscious grants?" An October 19th–20th two-part series by Scott Allen about donations for the environment reveals that Pew is not alone; many of the heirs of polluters are quickly becoming leaders in the growing environmental movement. As the movement is gaining momentum—and donors—Allen writes that nonprofits are becoming more susceptible to control by large donors.

San Jose Mercury-News

• Early in 1998, David Packard’s stock, worth about $5.5 billion, will be transferred from his estate to him and his wife’s charitable foundation, says Paul Rogers in his November 2nd report, "Packard Foundation set to shape new era." That transfer will likely make the David and Lucile Packard Foundation the largest in the country.

Magazines

• In the November 10 Business Week, Ellen Neuborne says corporate sponsorship of museum exhibits is becoming more common, and so are critics of the practice. 
• An October Ebony piece said: "Despite the rise in percentages in recent years, the number of Blacks in high-ranking foundation positions remain low." Patricia White, president of the Association of Black Foundation Executives suggests more direct recruiting could help improve the African-American presence in philanthropy.

—Elizabeth Norell