Paul Clolery

Career Trajectory: From Emergency Calls to Editorial Leadership

Paul Clolery’s journalism career spans over three decades, marked by a steadfast focus on the mechanics and mission of the nonprofit sector. Beginning as a daily newspaper reporter in Texas and New Jersey, he developed a knack for investigative rigor—a skill that later defined his coverage of tax-exempt organizations. His transition to The NonProfit Times in 1994 coincided with seismic shifts in charitable regulation, positioning him as a critical analyst of sector-wide reforms.

• 1994–2000: Pioneered coverage of nonprofit accounting standards during IRS overhaul periods
• 2001–2010: Led investigations into post-9/11 charitable fraud cases, resulting in congressional testimony
• 2011–Present: Spearheaded annual analyses of Giving USA data with predictive modeling for sector trends

“The most effective nonprofits aren’t those with the loudest voices—they’re the ones that turn donor trust into measurable community impact.” — Paul Clolery, 2024 DonorSearch interview

Defining Works: Articles That Shaped Sector Conversations

Court Decision Might Make Fundraising Law Moot

Clolery’s 2025 analysis dissected the implications of Americans for Prosperity v. Bonta on donor disclosure laws. By interviewing constitutional lawyers and fundraising directors, he demonstrated how the Supreme Court’s ruling could neuter state-level charitable regulations. The piece became essential reading for development officers revising their data collection policies.

The NPT Executive Session: Fundraising As A Source For Unity

This 2025 roundtable transcript captures Clolery moderating a debate between H. Art Taylor (AFP CEO) and grassroots organizers about compensation models in fundraising. His probing questions revealed tensions between professionalization and community trust-building—a dichotomy he framed as central to modern philanthropy’s identity crisis.

A Dangerous Era: A Conversation with Paul Clolery

In this 2024 podcast interview, Clolery traced the sector’s erosion of public trust since the 1990s, citing specific cases where overhead ratio myths damaged service delivery. His call for “transparency through storytelling” influenced several major charities to revamp their annual reports.

Pitching Recommendations: Aligning with Clolery’s Coverage Priorities

1. Lead with Regulatory Impact Analyses

Clolery prioritizes stories that explain how policy changes affect nonprofit operations. Successful pitches should include:

• Interviews with CFOs adapting to new accounting standards (e.g., FASB updates)
• Case studies of organizations navigating state/federal compliance conflicts

Why it works: His 2025 analysis of California’s AB 488 demonstrated this approach, blending legislative text with real-world implementation challenges.

2. Spotlight Technology’s Double-Edged Sword

Artificial intelligence in donor management and blockchain for transparency are recurring themes. Pitch:

• Ethical audits of AI-driven fundraising tools
• Comparative studies of CRM migration successes/failures

Why it works: His CES 2025 panel coverage emphasized tech’s role in scaling impact without losing human connection.

3. Avoid Individual Hero Narratives

Clolery’s work focuses on systems over saviors. Instead of CEO profiles, propose:

• Board governance reforms in response to diversity mandates
• Cross-sector partnerships achieving collective impact metrics

Why it works: His critique of “founder syndrome” in family foundations (2023) reshaped how outlets cover philanthropic legacies.

Awards and Achievements

• Associated Press Managing Editors Award (1992): Recognized investigative series on urban hospital funding gaps—a precursor to his nonprofit focus
• Daily Point of Light Award (2008): Honored for designing EMT training programs with 90% certification rates, informing his coverage of volunteer management
• 17 Society of Professional Journalists Awards (2000–2024): Dominated trade publication category through deep dives into Form 990 discrepancies and donor-advised fund debates