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The Weeknd and Shakira will headline Global Citizen Festival supporting energy access and the Amazon
The Weeknd and Shakira will headline Global Citizen Festival supporting energy access and the Amazon

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

The Weeknd and Shakira will headline Global Citizen Festival supporting energy access and the Amazon

Philanthropy Global Citizen NEW YORK (AP) — The Weeknd and Shakira — two of the world's biggest touring artists — will headline this fall's Global Citizen Festival in New York's Central Park, supporting campaigns to improve energy access across Africa and defend the Amazon against deforestation. Global Citizen announced Tuesday that the pop stars behind such hits as 'Blinding Lights' and 'Hips Don't Lie" will be joined by Tyla, Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist at the concert on Sept. 27. Hosted by actor Hugh Jackman, the annual event highlights the anti-poverty nonprofit's selected humanitarian priorities and urges attendees to collectively tackle those issues through direct support. 'The fact that these artists have immediate proximity to communities that have either recently emerged out of extreme poverty, or are emerging out of extreme poverty, gives them amazing perspective,' Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans told The Associated Press. 'And they bring that perspective into Central Park at this moment where I think the world needs a moment of unity now more than ever.' The festival's goals involve securing commitments to bring clean, reliable energy to 1 million people in Africa; mobilizing $200 million for indigenous and local entrepreneurs to protect an Italy-sized chunk of the Amazon rainforest; and raising at least $30 million to help community-based education programs improve children's literacy. Tickets to the festival are free, but fans must earn them by taking actions through the Global Citizen app. Opportunities include uploading videos calling on German and French leaders to back the Amazon protection plan and volunteering to mentor young people worldwide in career development. This year's calls to action reflect the changing nature of online advocacy campaigns. Organizers find that social media posts and email-driven appeals don't carry the same weight as they did when Global Citizen first started rallying concertgoers. Evans said user-generated content such as a self-recorded clip creates "quality engagement" and makes it almost impossible to game the system. In The Weeknd and Shakira, Global Citizen is reuniting with previous artistic supporters at a time when they are packing stadiums. The Weeknd, who this month wrapped a four-night run of sold-out performances at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, is donating $1 from every ticket sale to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Shakira, who recently completed seven consecutive sold-out shows in Mexico City, joined Coldplay onstage during a 2017 edition of the festival in Germany. "Music has always been my way of connecting with people and leaving a mark on the world," Shakira said in a statement. 'I can't wait to perform, unite, and inspire action.' ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit Solve the daily Crossword

Calm In The Chaos: Four Ways Nonprofits Can Lead With Clarity
Calm In The Chaos: Four Ways Nonprofits Can Lead With Clarity

Forbes

time6 days ago

  • General
  • Forbes

Calm In The Chaos: Four Ways Nonprofits Can Lead With Clarity

Karen S. Cochran, CFRE, is the Founder of Philanthropy Innovators and creator of The MOST Philanthropy Model. Right now, every nonprofit leader is holding their breath. Grants are delayed. Federal funding is uncertain. Some donors are seeking anonymity for fear of reprisal. And yet, nonprofits' missions have never been more important. Many leaders I talk with feel like they're operating in nonstop triage mode. The result? Stretched budgets, overwhelmed teams and real questions about whether they can sustain their missions, let alone grow their impact. It's tempting to think this level of volatility is unprecedented. But for those of us who've been through a few crises—global conflicts, volatile stock markets, even a pandemic—this moment is less about panic and more about following your instincts and anchoring your team in the basics that work. Because when everything is changing, it's the fundamentals that hold us steady: strong leadership, mission clarity and the ability to adapt with intention. We can't control the uncertainty (that's the very nature of uncertainty!), but we can control how we show up for our teams, our communities and ourselves. With that in mind, I'd like to share four practical ways to lead a fundraising team with clarity, no matter how loud the chaos gets. 1. Anchor Yourself In Discipline—Otherwise, Everything Feels Like A Crisis When things feel unpredictable, it's easy to default to firefighting. But constant urgency isn't leadership; it leads to exhaustion for both you, as the leader, and your team. The antidote? Discipline. I don't mean rigidity. I mean setting clear rhythms for how your team plans, decides and communicates—regular check-ins, budget reviews, fundraising metrics and decision-making criteria. These aren't just operational tools; they're lifelines. Each will help your team distinguish between what's urgent and what's actually important. One of my favorite reminders is: 'A plan is something from which we can deviate.' Create that plan now, then use it to guide your team's response with intention instead of panic. 2. Revisit The Plan, And Be Willing To Let Go Of What No Longer Fits If your strategic plan mirrors your pre-pandemic strategy, it's time for a refresh. Effective planning isn't about forecasting the future perfectly. It's about regularly asking what's essential. What programs still drive impact? What should be paused or retired? What are you willing to say no to so you can say yes to the right things? Think of your plan as a compass, not a contract. Organizations that build resilience often combine strategic and fiscal discipline with a willingness to pivot. Yes, it can be hard to let go of long-standing initiatives or legacy programs. But clear focus inspires more confidence than clinging to the past, especially for your staff, board and donors. 3. Change Your Tactics, Not Your Mission Let's be honest: Some of our go-to fundraising and engagement strategies aren't cutting it in today's environment, and that's okay. This is the time to get creative with how you deliver, fund and communicate your work, not change why you exist. Try new partnerships. Experiment with donor engagement tools. Rethink events or reframe programs to better speak to current needs. Innovation doesn't always mean reinvention—it means finding new ways to align your approach with your mission. Strong organizations translate their mission into vehicles that meet the moment. Regardless, don't stop asking your donors to invest in your mission. And don't forget that stewardship has never been more important. Whether it's diversifying funding, shifting to digital storytelling that empowers your donors to share your story or exploring unrestricted giving opportunities, keep adapting. But always anchor back to your core purpose. 4. Carry Forward The Lessons You Learned During Prior Uncertainty We've faced massive disruption before—most recently, Covid—and we learned a lot from these experiences. The nonprofits that weathered the pandemic best didn't wait for a return to normalcy. They moved quickly. Communicated often. Led with empathy. And they focused on what mattered most: donor relationships and impact. Those lessons shouldn't be forgotten now. In my work, I encourage leaders to reflect on what they learned: What did you do differently during Covid that made your organization stronger? Maybe you streamlined decision-making. Gave your team more autonomy. Strengthened donor communication. Those practices helped you survive, and many can help you thrive now. As the Center for Creative Leadership puts it, crisis leadership is just good leadership, intensified. Don't let those gains slip away. The Inner Work: Be The Calm Finally, a note that doesn't appear on most nonprofit management checklists but should: Your team doesn't just need strategy; they need your steady presence. That means showing up as a grounded leader, even when the ground feels like it is constantly shifting. And that starts with how you take care of yourself. I've practiced mindfulness and meditation for years—not because it's trendy, but because it's how I stay present, focused and responsive under pressure. Especially now, when stress is contagious, it's essential to regulate your own energy so you can model calm for your team. Even five minutes of stillness in the morning can shift how you show up in a meeting or a crisis. This article from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses—a profession that's constantly on the front lines of saving lives—reminds us that self-care isn't indulgence; it's a high-performance strategy in peak-stress environments. Your Future Might Not Look Like Your Past, And That's Okay Nonprofits are being reshaped. Some funding will no longer be available going forward. Some programs may sunset. Your organization might not look the same in a year or two—and that doesn't mean you've failed. It means you're leading and adapting in real time. You don't need to have all the answers. But you do need to stay focused on your mission, clear in your communication and bold in your decisions. We've done this before. We'll come through this challenging time again. And we'll keep showing up—for each other and for the people and communities counting on us most. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?

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