When "grit" alone isn't getting you there. Great essay from Bloomberg's Sarah Green Carmichael on a better bounce-back strategy. "You Need Friends. And Money." bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…

These donors are rivals! Why an edgy, competitive approach to charitable giving can work surprisingly well. linkedin.com/pulse/donors-r… #philanthropy #incentives #giving

The #sleep researchers have just taken their game to a whole new level. Want to avoid sports injuries? Get more than seven hours of sleep a night. Data shows it makes a 1.7x difference. theconversation.com/sleep-can-give…

#Economists gone wild! New @NBER research finds that good-looking parents pass along enough of that aura to boost kids' earnings power. Alas, the average lift is just $2,300/year. Enough to get leather seats in your car. Not enough for a Hawaii mansion. nber.org/papers/w32086

Hello, #fundraisers -- and anyone involved with a #nonprofit that you care about! If you're looking for new ways to inspire giving, this The Chronicle of Philanthropy article by RasheedaChildress is a mind-stretching delight. philanthropy.com/article/how-le…

What's allowable these days in personal essays? I'm fascinated by Emily Fox Gordon's reflections in The American Scholar. An uproar over Virginia Woolf's writing has her wondering: how much do writers dare be provocative? And is the line being redrawn? theamericanscholar.org/tramping-with-…

In a world with too much "humble-brag," Kristen Van Nest ✍️ Author of WHERE TO NEST's new novel, "Where to Nest," is the antidote we all need. It's playful, hilarious -- and the perfect mix of candid and coy. Here's hoping we all can mess up our lives with as much style and brio. amazon.com/dp/1990253571

Saddest calendar update of the week, courtesy of Stanford University

Bravo to the Reuters journalists who delivered this chilling, Pulitzer Prize-winning look at Elon Musk's business empire. I first read their work a few months ago, while judging the SABEW business journalism contest. It was a "wow!" read, even then pulitzer.org/winners/staff-…

"They may have made their millions being nasty, so why wouldn’t they walk into a nonprofit that same way?” Great article from RasheedaChildress at @philanthropy.com on the decision to "fire" a difficult donor. philanthropy.com/article/would-…

Most error messages these days are either amusing or mildly exasperating. But this one from #LinkedIn is downright scary!

I've been hearing about Maddie's Fund for a long time. Their work on behalf of #dogs, #cats and the people who care about them is quite extraordinary. Here's a deep dive into their work -- and a remarkable pivot. philanthropy.com/article/the-26…

Now that holiday cards are arriving, along with engaging newsletters, it's time for a favorite game. "Husband or dog"? The best passages about Buddy, Champ, etc. really could go either way

What are the most popular classes for MBAs these days? Yes, "Path to Power" and "VC Finance" still pull them in. But this maverick class at Kellogg School connects students with nonprofits in need. It's oversubscribed 4:1. philanthropy.com/article/as-non…

"You’re going to be in rooms where everyone else is older than you and more experienced. You’ll be engaging in executive-level conversations in ways you might not ever have done before. Take advantage of every opportunity you get.” philanthropy.com/article/as-non…

It's never easy for nonprofits — big or small — to build the high-quality governing boards that they deserve. But what if America's top business schools tried harder to prepare new generations of MBAs for such service? George Anders reports: phlnthrp.com/3VM9bGX

Who will be making news in the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors this year? Here are 16 people to watch. philanthropy.com/article/16-peo… Alex Soros JD Vance National Philanthropic Trust @deborahnarcher @pbs DWade @teneo James Lankford

Seattle's tech scene has created some amazing wealth -- and some very ambitious philanthropy. Among the names to watch are Steve and Connie Ballmer philanthropy.com/article/power-…

When philanthropy came to town: lessons from an unusual adventure in Akron. philanthropy.com/article/how-59…

Congratulations to Lydia Hall and her launch of an ingenious new kids' app, Aqua. Details are here: app.frame.io/reviews/bd9477…