The U.N. refugee agency will need to cut more jobs and make urgent reforms as it ‌faces a fall in funding and foreign aid, the organisation's head said in a letter seen by Reuters.

There are now many more international staff on contract than postings available, meaning there were ​hundreds of people who were in between positions who were still being paid.

There are roughly 3,000  international staff for only ​1,800  positions, UNHCR said.

UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih told member states the agency had “no choice” as it expects available funds in 2026 to reach just over $3 billion, about 15% lower than in ​2025. The agency already announced thousands of job cuts last year.

The shortfall comes as the number of people displaced ​by war and persecution around the world continues to climb. The agency works with people forced from ⁠their homes in Ukraine, Sudan and other conflict-hit countries.

Story from Reuters.

The word ‘Black’ has all but disappeared from a set of bills in the US Congress aimed at addressing Black maternal health.

Removing “Black” from the title of the bill comes as the Trump administration attacks initiatives aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion.

The legislation — which does not appear to have a path forward in the Republican-controlled Congress — has long been touted as a way to address the United States’ abysmal maternal health mortality rates, as well as the stark disparities for Black women. Maternal mortality rates in the United States surpass all other developed nations. In 2023, there were 18.6 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the nation. The rate is far worse for Black women at 50.3; they are three times more likely to die than White women from a pregnancy-related cause, irrespective of income or education.

https://19thnews.org/2026/05/black-maternal-health-federal-momnibus/

The Alliance for philanthropy and social investment worldwide publishes Alliance magazine. Topics include:

• Accountability & transparency
• Civil society, nonprofits & NGOs
• Climate philanthropy
• Community philanthropy
• Digital & technology
• Diversity
• Foundations Funding and Grantmaking
• Funding practice
• Gender philanthropy
• Philanthropy infrastructure
• Philanthropy research
• Social investment
• International development

The Alliance says it is "The critical friend of philanthropy worldwide."

Latest headlines:

• Gates joins public-private maternal and child health funding commitments
• Civil society is as much online as it is off. How one nonprofit is tracking digital civil society repression.
• Philanthropy’s changing role one year after the fall of USAID
• The Feminist Dream Space: What we’ve learned and where we’re going
• Turning digital donations into real-world impact 
• Why ending child marriage is philanthropy’s most strategic investment
• Most polluted countries receive least amount of philanthropic funding
• Mamdani brings in philanthropy for universal childcare plan
• Can philanthropy really unlock private capital for nature?
• Tata Trust to remove discriminatory governance rules
• The infrastructure gap: Why funders must rethink the 15% indirect cost standard

Panel discussion: Leadership Briefings on Reforming Philanthropy: Private Foundations,

May 28, 2026 1 - 2: PM (PDT)

The first of three briefings from the Philanthropy Project on reforming philanthropy, this one focuses on regulatory and tax reform of private foundations. Please join us and register below. 

What are the main concerns nonprofits and others are raising about private foundations and their tax treatments? 

What are we learning from surveying the landscape of private foundation activity? 

What are the five leading proposals for regulatory reform of private foundations, and how do we critique them? 

How can an individual person or nonprofit be involved in the philanthropic reform movement? 

Speakers: 

• Vu Le of Nonprofit AF and author of Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy 
• Craig Kennedy, former president of Joyce Foundation and the German Marshall Fund 
• Bella DeVaan, Associate Director of the Charity Reform Initiative and Co-Editor of Inequality.org 
• Alan Cantor, Consultant and Philanthropic Muckraker 
• Jan Masaoka and Jon Pratt of the Philanthropy Project

https://business.calnonprofits.org/ap/Events/Register/qWFZ6e5ckCQCe

It's great to get a large donation from an individual, a corporation, a foundation - anything really. But sometimes a donor turns into a really great partner.

For instance, I worked at a project that got a few grants from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF), which has long championed programs that support the potential of young people with disabilities. In addition to the funding, MEAF also had a private online discussion group for its grantees so we could talk together. And they allowed us to just chat - not just have super formal guided conversations. I learned SO MUCH about... well, about SO MUCH. It make the program I was managing even better - not just because of the funding, but because of the information-sharing. I've never had a funder do anything like this since.

How about you? You don't have to name the foundation or your nonprofit or cause, just say a bit about what your focus was and what the partnership looked like beyond the grant given.

Ask most organizations about how their volunteer strategy is doing, and they’ll tell you about numbers: How many volunteers they have, how many hours were logged, and how many shifts were filled. While those are important metrics to track, they don’t deliver the information needed to build a solid volunteer strategy.

The more useful question to ask is: How many volunteers have become advocates for the organization?

Advocates are volunteers who move beyond participation to actively promote the organization, contribute in meaningful ways, and encourage others to get involved. This distinction matters because advocates extend an organization’s reach, deepen its impact, and create a more durable foundation for long-term support.

Volunteers become advocates through a certain kind of experience, built over time.

They are the ones who can see the measurable impact of their contributions. They have a relationship with at least one person in the organization who treated them as someone whose presence mattered. They had a moment, usually early on in their volunteer work, where they felt a deep connection to the organization they showed up for.

More from:

https://candid.org/blogs/volunteer-advocates-nonprofit-engagement/

United Nations Secretariat is hosting a livestream webinar open to all recent and soon-to-be university graduates who want to learn more about professional opportunities at the United Nations.

You will be able to hear from successful candidates and learn more about different entry points to a career with the UN.

2 June 2026

14:00 Vienna time

8 a.m NYC time

2 p.m. Geneva

4 p.m. Nairobi

8 p.m. Bangkok

https://www.youtube.com/live/vnH78ACBczU

Information from UNDP Careers on LinkedIn.

https://preview.redd.it/8xu63zwe5x1h1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c371007524e6444bfd74c6109f25d0fccdb66dc

Heineken is tapping into FIFA World Cup hype with a new campaign that launched May 13.

“Heineken Fan Volunteers” urges consumers to take advantage of their Volunteer Time Off workplace benefit to serve local nonprofits and connect with others while simultaneously tuning into World Cup matches, 40% of which occur during U.S. working hours. The matches take place June 1 through August 1, 2026.

People can sign-up with a dedicated link to find local volunteer opportunities that align with match days.

Over half, 52%, of U.S. desk employees have lied to their employer to watch an international soccer game, according to data cited in press materials. Of these employees, three-quarters have either checked scores at their desk or secretly streamed matches.

VTO is an existing corporate benefit that most companies already offer. It allows employees to take paid hours - without using your PTO - to volunteer for a community. Most of that time is never taken.

The effort is a part of Heineken's “Fans Have More Friends” campaign, which is rooted in the idea that fandom can help forge human connection, a core part of Heineken’s brand positioning.

The web site includes a draft email for an employee to send to his or her manager requesting the time off.

Bizarrely, the site requires you to first register, including your phone number, and to choose only one PTO date. And after signing up, you don't get taken to a list of opportunities - you get a message on the web site that says:

Thank you for signing up.

We'll get back to you as soon as possible with the best options based on your selected preferences.
Here's to a summer of soccer, and thank you for using your fandom to help make the world a little better.
We truly appreciate your support.

I signed up on May 16. I signed up for June 11. That's not that far away, and if I were relying on this tool for volunteering, I would have no idea if and when i would know where I was going or what I would be doing that day - if anything.

Were any actual volunteerism experts tapped into this to help design this campaign? It doesn't look like it.

https://www.heineken.com/us/en/promos/fanvolunteers

https://www.marketingdive.com/news/heineken-urges-us-workers-to-embrace-volunteer-benefits-and-watch-the-world/820040/

Strike a pose. Scorpion EXO Ryzer Edge Helmet. Ordered from Cyclegear. Added that tint stripe at the top of the visor, and the part sticking out is the com system. Affordable, fits well. Che Cher approves.

https://preview.redd.it/71y9i9cwpq1h1.jpg?width=2046&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=71ac1ca0639c704fac5e5af2709b878920c5e0f2

Denver Community Invited To Epic Day of Service: Recycle for a Cause

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

SustainEd Farms & Rotary Club of Denver

Matt Suprunowicz, Executive Director, or Vicki Brentin, Chair of Community Service

matt@sustainedfarms.org or vbrentin@gmail.com

Rotary Club of Denver and SustainEd Farms to Host “Epic Day of Service: Recycle for a Cause” on May 16, 2026

Denver, CO — May 2026 — The Rotary Club of Denver, in partnership with Denver Cherry Creek Rotary, Five Points RiNo Rotary Club, and additional community partners, invites the public to attend the first annual Epic Day of Service: Recycle for a Cause on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the West High School Garden.

This free, family-friendly Denver volunteer event brings together local nonprofits, service organizations, and community members for a one-stop day of sustainability, recycling, donations, and hands-on community impact. The event encourages residents to sustainably declutter while supporting organizations serving students, veterans, refugees, families, and first responders across Denver.

Community members are encouraged to bring donations, including:Dpoz

• Used garden tools
• Extra seeds and seedlings
• Opened bags of mulch or soil
• Old bicycles of all sizes
• Defunct electronics, charging cords, and accessories

Collected items will be reused, refurbished, redistributed, or responsibly recycled through local nonprofit and business partners.

Featured Community Partners

Blue Star Recyclers will provide free electronics recycling for laptops, tablets, cell phones, computers, charging cords, and accessories. Through ethical recycling practices and secure data destruction, Blue Star creates meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

HopeCycle will accept bicycle donations of all sizes. Donated bikes will later be refurbished and redistributed to veterans, refugees, low-income households, and individuals transitioning out of homelessness.

SustainEd Farms will lead hands-on gardening projects at West High School’s school garden while collecting donated garden supplies and materials. SustainEd Farms works with schools across Denver to expand access to urban agriculture, sustainability education, and fresh local food for students and communities.

Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation will support fundraising and wellness initiatives for first responders, and attendees will have the opportunity to explore a fire truck on-site during the event.

Haulden Removal Services will support responsible and sustainable disposal efforts while offering information about large-item hauling services.

In addition to donation drives and volunteer opportunities, attendees can enjoy coffee, snacks, educational tables, and opportunities to connect with Denver-area Rotary Clubs and community organizations.

Epic Day of Service: Recycle for a Cause

Saturday, May 16, 2026

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

West High School Garden

951 Elati St, Denver, CO 80204

Free and open to all ages.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or volunteer details, visit https://www.sustainedfarms.org/events.

Hi All,

You are invited to participate in a research study exploring attitudes and beliefs about alternative sentencing. Alternative sentencing refers to different types of court-ordered punishments that do not involve going to jail or prison. Instead, these alternatives focus on rehabilitation, community service, probation, treatment programs, or other measures designed to help offenders address the causes of their behavior and reduce the chance of reoffending. Your input will help us understand public perceptions and contribute to informed policy discussions. To learn more about the study and participate, please click the link below

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/MSE52Lc8Qp

Many employers provide employees with the opportunity to participate in community service projects during their off-duty time, like mentoring youth, cleaning waterways, painting and repairing shelters, and building affordable housing.

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division issued Opinion Letter FLSA 2019-2. This letter explains when employee time spent on volunteer community service may and may not be “hours worked” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and therefore may or may not be payable to the employee, particularly when employees are eligible to receive a bonus for participating in a service project.

Maynard Nexsen PC, a law firm with offices all over the USA, issued their interpretation of the letter.

The America 250 Oregon Commission, along with OHS and Oregon Heritage, recently announced the recipients of the fourth and final round of Oregon 250 Grant Program funding, awarding nearly $60,000 to 21 organizations across Oregon for projects and programs that commemorate America’s 250th. In total, the program has granted more than $244,000 to 80 organizations statewide across four funding cycles.

The Oregon 250 Grant Program was established to help organizations create inclusive, community-focused projects that highlight Oregon’s diverse histories, traditions, and cultures.

Learn about the projects that have received funding through the grant program at oregon250.org.