In a world where skyscrapers reach for the heavens while millions struggle to find a safe roof over their heads, Elon Musk has once again chosen to look beyond profit and into purpose.

The billionaire entrepreneur, known for pushing the boundaries of technology through Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, has announced a $5 million investment aimed at building affordable housing for low-income families.

But this is not just another charity headline—it’s a vision for a fairer, more sustainable future where innovation meets humanity.

A Vision Rooted in Empathy and Innovation

Elon Musk has long been recognized for his audacious goals—from colonizing Mars to revolutionizing transportation—but his latest initiative proves that he also has his eyes fixed on a challenge right here on Earth: housing inequality. The $5 million fund will directly support the construction of affordable homes in underserved areas, ensuring that families living on the edge of poverty can have access to safe, sustainable, and dignified housing.

Musk’s vision is simple yet revolutionary: everyone deserves a home they can afford. His plan is not about short-term shelters or temporary aid; it’s about creating long-term, energy-efficient communities that empower people to build stable lives. Each home is expected to integrate sustainable materials, solar power solutions, and low-cost construction technologies inspired by Tesla’s innovations in renewable energy.

Transforming Communities from the Ground Up

Affordable housing has long been a crisis in many parts of the world. The high cost of living, stagnant wages, and limited access to credit have left millions trapped in cycles of rent debt and instability. By directing his investment toward underserved areas, Musk is addressing this issue where it hurts most. The initiative will not only provide homes but also create jobs for local workers, stimulate small businesses, and revitalize neighborhoods that have been forgotten by traditional development programs.

Early blueprints show that these housing projects will include shared green spaces, solar-powered utilities, and community centers designed to encourage education and collaboration. The goal is not just to build houses but to build hope—a sense of belonging that can transform entire generations.

A Step Toward Reducing Housing Inequality

While $5 million may be a modest sum compared to Musk’s billion-dollar ventures, its impact is expected to be profound. Each dollar will go directly into bricks, beams, and blueprints that change lives. For low-income families, the difference between renting an overcrowded apartment and owning a modest home can mean a future of stability, education, and opportunity.

Family games

Experts in urban planning have praised the initiative, noting that Musk’s involvement brings attention and credibility to one of the most overlooked humanitarian issues of our time. Affordable housing isn’t just an economic challenge—it’s a moral one. And when someone of Musk’s influence takes action, it sparks a conversation that transcends numbers and borders.

A Model for the Future of Philanthropy

What sets this initiative apart is Musk’s approach. Instead of traditional philanthropy that often stops at donations, he is applying the same principles that made his companies successful: innovation, efficiency, and scalability. By investing in sustainable design and renewable technology, he’s setting a precedent for how housing can be both affordable and environmentally responsible.

Imagine a future where communities are powered by solar roofs, insulated with eco-friendly materials, and designed to minimize energy consumption. That’s not science fiction—it’s the kind of practical sustainability Musk wants to make mainstream.

Building More Than Homes—Building Hope

At its core, this project is about more than money or materials. It’s about restoring human dignity. A safe home is more than four walls—it’s the foundation of a stable family, a child’s education, and a person’s dream. Musk’s $5 million investment, while small in the context of his empire, carries enormous symbolic weight. It’s a reminder that innovation should serve humanity, not just markets.

As construction begins in select low-income neighborhoods, the ripple effects will be felt far beyond the building sites. It will inspire other entrepreneurs, investors, and governments to rethink their approach to social responsibility. Because when a visionary like Elon Musk turns his gaze from Mars to Main Street, the message is clear: the future begins at home.

In a world divided by wealth and opportunity, Musk’s gesture bridges the gap—not with rockets, but with roofs. And perhaps that’s his most important launch yet.

Elon Musk’s Time Management Technique

It is easy to see highly successful people like Elon Musk as superhuman due to their ability to achieve so much and still stay focused, but there’s an explanation for how he is able to do this: time boxing or time blocking.

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Musk’s “5-minute rule” is one of the best ways to productively use your time. It makes you break up your day into 5-minute chunks that you use to do one or more tasks. This gives you a clear plan of what you will work on and when you will do it.

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This technique may sound easy, but you can only utilize and benefit from it if you stay disciplined because, without discipline, you won’t be able to stay the course.

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Here are simple, actionable steps to achieve it.

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How to use Musk’s Time Management Technique

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List Out Your Tasks

If you sleep for six hours, that leaves you with 18 hours to plan for. Since there are 12 five minutes in an hour, you will have 216 tasks to do in 18 hours. This is huge, so come up with 216 things to do in your 5 minutes time block.

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Use A 5-Minute Planner

Elon Musk’s method for blocking time off requires a planner with a 5-minute schedule. You can either draw one yourself or download one from the internet. In its simplest form, the planner will have a column for time and a column for activities.

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Plan And Estimate Time For Each Task

In the activity column, you put all the tasks you wrote down in the first step in order of how important they are and how much time you’ll need to do them. It’s possible to have one task that spans more than one column, but you should try not to overestimate or underestimate how much time each task will take.

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Plan For The Unexpected

While blocking time, you should also be ready for the unexpected. You can prepare for the kinds of surprises that might make you change your plans and how much time you will spend on them.

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For example, for unexpected phone calls, you may decide that business calls will be answered right away. In contrast, family calls during a 5-minute time block will be answered after the time block is over, or you may decide to answer all calls when you take a break after a few hours of work. It would help if you made these rules, so you don’t get sidetracked easily.

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Schedule Time To Rest

Boxing time is supposed to help you get things done, but you should also know that productivity decreases with time. Plan to stop working for 10 minutes every 1 to 2 hours. You’ll get more done this way. You can also do other, less important things this time, like answering the phone or checking your emails or text messages.

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Timeboxing with Focus Bear

Focus Bear is excellent to use for timeboxing and keeping track of what you need to do. It is particularly helpful for users with ADHD and was created specifically to help them get things done regardless of their attention challenges.

The Focus Bear app helps you keep track of your attention, habits, and breaks, forcing you to use your time for what you have planned.

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The main thing that differentiates this app from other time-blocking or boxing apps is that it can limit your access to apps and URLs you don’t need for the task at hand.

It also reminds you to take a break after some hours of work and to make time for exercise.

A monthly round-up of news, resources, and miscellany from the nonprofit and philanthropy sector curated by Director of Strategic Philanthropy, Laura Hennighausen, and the Purpose Possible team.

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December 2025

Articles and News

GivingTuesday’s $4B Surge: What It Signals for Your Year-End Strategy

GivingTuesday saw a record-breaking $4 billion raised this year (a 13% jump!) signaling that donors remain highly responsive despite economic uncertainty and federal funding instability. Grassroots giving, peer fundraising, and community-powered campaigns performed especially well, alongside a rise in recurring donations and increased volunteerism. (Chronicle of Philanthropy)

SNAP Crisis Exposes Deadly Nonprofit Assumptions

The recent SNAP turmoil is another reminder that nonprofits cannot, and should not, be expected to backfill structural failures in our public safety net. When government systems falter, the burden shifts to community organizations already stretched thin, masking policy breakdowns and reinforcing the dangerous idea that charity can substitute for guaranteed benefits. This moment calls us to name the systemic issues clearly, push for stronger public infrastructure, and pair our direct services with advocacy so communities aren’t left absorbing the shock alone. (Nonprofit Quarterly)

Beyond Rational Generosity: What We Miss About How Big Donors Really Think

We talk about major donors as if they’re spreadsheet-driven machines, but big gifts are rarely the product of pure logic. Like all of us, wealthy givers are moved by emotion, identity, connection, and the social worlds they inhabit. When we reduce them to rational actors (or to villains) we miss the real dynamics at play: philanthropy is always relational, always human, and always shaped by the feelings and forces that guide behavior long before strategy enters the room. Seeing donors this way doesn’t excuse the power imbalances of elite giving, but it does help us understand how change actually happens, and reminds us that generosity, at every level, is psychology in motion. (Inside Philanthropy)

Studies and Resources

Annual Review: Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector

Independent Sector’s latest data offers a sobering snapshot of where nonprofits stand: most organizations still can’t raise enough to cover their full costs, even as 14 million people rely on nonprofit employment and 1 in 5 workers face financial hardship themselves. Public trust remains high (57% of Americans report strong confidence in nonprofits) yet 75% of organizations say they’ve never lobbied, even as policy decisions increasingly shape their survival. The picture is clear: nonprofits are deeply valued, deeply strained, and operating without the structural support or advocacy muscle the moment demands. (Independent Sector)

DAF Research Collaborative 2025 Report

The amount of money in donor-advised funds continued to grow, reaching $326 billion in 2024, up from $250 billion the year before. They also paid out at a rate of 25.3 percent, an increase from 24 percent in 2023. In comparison, the 2024 payout rate for private foundations was 8 percent. (DAF Research Collaborative)

For Funders

Inside the evolving role of philanthropy in a time of uncertainty and crisis

Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth on why philanthropic organizations must learn to move at the speed of the news cycle. (Fast Company)

“We Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For”

What if generosity isn’t just about big dollar figures but about the everyday, unseen ways people care? In her recent reflection, MacKenzie Scott invites us to expand how we think about giving: small acts of kindness, support, and presence create ripples far beyond what any headline can capture. Whether it’s nurturing a neighbor, offering compassion, or contributing modestly to a cause, these “quiet” expressions of care are the real forces that shape resilient communities and collective movement. (Yield Giving)

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November 2025

Articles and News

These nonprofits lobbied to regulate OpenAI — then the subpoenas came

OpenAI has issued sweeping subpoenas to several nonprofit organizations that had been critical of its transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure, citing its legal conflict with Elon Musk. These subpoenas require detailed disclosures of funding, communications, and governance, raising concerns among legal experts and nonprofits that the tactic amounts to intimidation rather than legitimate discovery. (The Verge)

What motivates rich people to give (and keep giving)?

Rhodri Davies, author and Director at Why Philanthropy Matters, explains some of the motives behind giving. (Directory of Social Change)

Here’s how young Native Americans responded when Newman’s Own and Novo Nordisk let them grant $720K

Twenty-one emerging Indigenous leaders recently crafted selection criteria, evaluated applicants, and selected two dozen finalists to share a $720,000 funding pool. Organized by Native Americans in Philanthropy, the 16- to 24-year-old participants exercised full decision-making authority throughout the process. The resulting Indigenous Tomorrows Fund was successful enough that organizers want to increase next year’s pot to $1 million. (Independent)

What’s Next? Predictions for Philanthropy, 2026

A robust package from The Chronicle of Philanthropy offers predictions from foundation leaders and major donors about giving trends in the coming year, efforts to respond to Trump administration threats, the evolving impact of AI on fundraising, the ripple effects of the new tax law, the explosion in donor-advised funds, and the ongoing fight for equity in the face of a DEI retreat. (Chronicle)

Studies and Resources

2025 National Study of Philanthropic Practice

The 2025 National Study of Philanthropic Practice — the only survey about philanthropic practice sent to all staffed foundations in the U.S. — draws on responses from 765 grantmakers to highlight where philanthropy is making progress and where gaps remain. (Grantmakers for Effective Organizations)

Essential, Enduring, and Under Strain: Georgia’s Nonprofit Sector in 2025

State-specific findings from the Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2025 State of the Sector Survey show that a higher percentage of nonprofits in Georgia rely on corporate donations and federal government funding compared to nonprofits nationally, among other noteworthy insights.

Mounting Pressure: U.S. Foundations and Nonprofits on the 2025 Political Climate

A new CEP survey of nonprofit and foundation leaders reveals a nonprofit sector under significant strain and examines philanthropic responses so far. Spoiler alert: 61% of nonprofits say that the current context poses moderate to significant risk for them to continue to operate. (Center for Effective Philanthropy)

The Military & Veterans Community Index 2025: Measuring Giving to Military- and Veteran-Serving Organizations

Drawing on a decade of IRS data, the inaugural report reveals that these organizations received around $3.7 billion in philanthropic support in 2023, representing only 0.67% of total U.S. charitable giving.

For Funders

The Age of Big Foundations Isn’t Over Yet

New billionaire donors are giving away vast sums without much overhead. Top legacy foundations aren’t following suit. (Inside Philanthropy)

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October 2025

Headlines: GoFundMe’s Nonprofit Pages Debacle

Last week it was reported that GoFundMe, a for-profit crowdfunding platform, created “nonprofit pages” for 1.4 million 501C-3 organizations using public IRS data along with information from partners like the PayPal Giving Fund. These pages were created without the knowledge or consent of the nonprofit organizations, raising concerns that this could mislead donors, create branding and transparency issues, and result in lost control over messaging or donor data. The platform’s optional tip and fee structure also raises concerns about donor confusion and how much of each gift actually reaches the nonprofit.

On October 21, the firm announced it will remove logos from unclaimed pages. Nonprofits will have the ability to manage their own branding and assets after completing the process to claim the page.

On October 24, GoFundMe released a statement noting the Nonprofit Pages are now opt-in only and unclaimed pages will be de-indexed.

• GoFundMe created 1.4M donation pages for nonprofits; some Bay Area organizations had no clue
• Breaking: GoFundMe Reversing Course On Nonprofit Pages
• October 24, 2025 Statement from GoFundMe

Articles and News

Time for Nonprofits to Generate Their Own Revenue for Political Power

Now here is an idea: “If nonprofits wish to see their programs and priority solutions enacted and funded, it might be time to borrow a page from the Big Business playbook. One valuable strategy would be to create a new add-on fee for the services organizations render and use that revenue to build political power.” (Nonprofit Quarterly)

How often do foundations accept unsolicited requests for funds?

Spoiler alert: IRS data suggests only 29% of private foundations accept unsolicited requests for funds. (Candid)

Peter Thiel and Philanthropy in the End of Days

Rhodri Davies dives into Thiel’s history with philanthropy, and his recent remarks urging fellow billionaire Elon Musk not to give to charity and to withdraw himself from the Giving Pledge. (Why Philanthropy Matters)

Studies and Resources

2025 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households

The tenth study by Bank of America and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s biennial series examining the philanthropic behaviors of affluent households in the United States finds that “The vast majority of affluent Americans continue to give generously. In 2024, 81% of affluent households made charitable contributions, with donors giving an average of $33,219 to charity — more than 10 times the giving level of the general population.” (Bank of America)

However, reading more deeply and as highlighted by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, giving remains on a downward trajectory, even among the very affluent, but volunteering is up.

Solidarity Philanthropy: Redefining Philanthropy’s
 Relationship to Social Movements

A report and call to action from Grassroots International that outlines a framework for Solidarity Philanthropy based on seven intertwined components. (Grassroots International)

Band nerd or jock: Who’s more likely to help in a crisis?

Published in Sage Journals, the study looked at the relationship between high school extracurricular activities and altruistic behaviors during crises. The study tracked 2,710 people from birth to adulthood, with findings showing that participation and level of extracurricular activities increased the likelihood of altruistic actions.

For Funders

A Foundation Pilot Program Simplifies Grant Reporting With AI

The Houston Endowment has shifted from requiring written reports, which can often take nonprofit staff several hours to complete, to conducting 45 to 90 minute Zoom conversations which are recorded and summarized using AI to capture impact and success metrics. (Chronicle of Philanthropy)

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September 2025

Articles and News

Nonprofits: You’ll miss them when they’re gone

It’s time for both individual citizens and policymakers to act: by donating, volunteering, and pushing for policies and budgets that ensure nonprofits remain supported, resilient, and able to deliver essential services. (Fortune)

Optimizing Fundraising Under New Federal Tax Law

Beginning in 2026, tax changes will impact how donors across all income levels approach their contributions. Rather than scrambling to react, your team can proactively adapt fundraising strategies to maximize these new opportunities. (Nonprofit Times)

How to Encourage the Corporate Heart

Beyond targeting actions, laws should build the standards, signals, and structures that shape mindsets. (Stanford Social Innovation Review)

MacKenzie Scott donates $70M to UNCF to bolster HBCUs

Billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott on Tuesday donated $70 million to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the largest private supplier of scholarships to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The gift is one of Scott’s largest single donations ever and among the first to be publicly disclosed in 2025, according to The Associated Press. (The Hill)

What Is a Just Transition and How Can We Pursue It?

“As a framing term, just transition offers a critical awareness of the historical context of colonialism and extraction, as well as the baked-in systemic violence of our current systems and the necessary personal transformations required for tangible, meaningful change.” (Nonprofit Quarterly)

Studies and Resources

CAF 2025 World Giving Report

Charities around the world are seeing increased demand for their services, especially in lower-income countries, driven by conflict, climate change, displacement, and shrinking governmental aid. (Charities Aid Foundation)

State of Nonprofits 2025 Report

The sector continues to be impacted by multiple crises, including funding shortfalls, federal law changes, and burnout. (Center for Effective Philanthropy)

For Funders

Arts Funders Want Things to Go Back to Normal. Here’s What They Can Do Until Then

In the absence of structural change, nostalgia for “normal” can perpetuate systems that leave smaller, community-based arts organizations behind. (Inside Philanthropy)

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August 2025

Articles and News

Fears of Authoritarianism Destroying Your Mental Health? A Community-Minded Solution Could Help

“In fact, there is a growing community of social justice psychologists who argue that if mental health issues like anxiety are rising, that is not a result of a change in individual human biology, but rather a sign that society is ill. Therefore, they argue, care that rests on helping people cope under current conditions is teaching them to accept injustice.” (Chronicle of Philanthropy)

What Do You Do When Your Nonprofit Staff Want Raises We Can’t Afford?

NPQ’s inaugural issue of Ask a Nonprofit Expert, NPQ’s advice column by civic leaders, for nonprofit readers, featuring personalized advice from seasoned field leaders who have built thriving, equitable organizations. (Nonprofit Quarterly)

Studies and Resources

The Giving Pledge at 15

A recent study finds that the Giving Pledge, launched in 2010 with a promise to inspire the ultra-wealthy to give away at least half their fortunes, has fallen far short of its goal. Despite massive wealth gains, signers have collectively gotten wealthier, not less generous, and the majority of giving remains tied up in private foundations or donor-advised funds rather than reaching working nonprofits, raising concerns about its long-term impact. (Institute for Policy Studies)

Community of Color Index: A Report from the Equitable Giving Lab Measuring Giving to Communities of Color

New data from the Communities of Color Index (CCI) shows that while organizations serving communities of color received $16 billion in charitable contributions in 2022, they still accounted for just 2.9% of overall giving. After a surge in 2020–2021, support leveled off, with most funding concentrated in human services and education. Notably, organizations serving specific populations—such as American Indian/Alaska Native, AAPI, Black, and Hispanic/Latino communities—each received less than 1% of total giving, underscoring ongoing disparities despite increased attention in recent years. (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)

Nonprofit Arts and Culture Sector National Trends 2025

This year’s findings reveal sobering news: while the composition of earned and contributed revenue is returning to pre-pandemic patterns, overall revenue has fallen significantly. Organizations have responded by cutting expenses, and the working capital that many built up during the pandemic continues to erode.” (SMU Data Arts)

For Funders

The Invisible Weaver’s Wisdom: Re-Stitching Philanthropy’s Approach for Enduring Resilience

“In the push to find ways to respond and overcome the current crisis, we may be missing what’s already quietly working where continuity and change meet. Invisible weavers don’t demand a new orchestra — they are the rhythm section. And we need them now more than ever.” (Inside Philanthropy)

This Is What Happens When Funders Think Too Narrowly

Climate philanthropy is an example of the danger of siloed funding: despite billions invested, funders largely ignored voter engagement in key states in 2016, and a shortfall of just 80,000 votes derailed years of progress. The lesson is clear: without attention to civic participation and political power, even the best-funded cause strategies can collapse. (Inside Philanthropy)

Guarding Against Complacency in the Face of Existential Threats

Phil Buchanan of CEP warns that while some recent policy threats to nonprofits have subsided, the sector still faces profound risks tied to the health of democracy itself. He argues that foundations, uniquely insulated from market, donor, or government pressures, should not retreat into risk-averse strategies but instead use their independence to act boldly. Pulling back from critical issues out of fear of appearing partisan, he cautions, risks complacency at a time of urgent need. (Center for Effective Philanthropy)