Friday, December 10, 2004

Youth on Board puts kids to work with nonprofits

Youth on Board puts kids to work with nonprofits: "Youth on Board puts kids to work with nonprofits

Sunday, November 28, 2004


By ANN WINTERHOLTER
The Daily Sentinel
In the boardroom where businesslike ties and collared shirts are the norm for many, Kellen Grode�s red and gray Central High School letter jacket stands out.
Grode�s Jansport pack is the only one in the room and his 17 years are about 30 younger than the average age of a Partners board member.
Nonetheless, Grode is a voting, participating member of the Partners board of directors.
He is one of many teens serving on nonprofit agencies� boards through Youth on Board. An offshoot of the international program was begun in the Grand Valley about six years ago, coordinated by United Way of Mesa County and School District 51�s service-learning program."

TownOnline.com - Westford Eagle - Local News

TownOnline.com - Westford Eagle - Local News: "Several area Boy Scouts groups sever ties with United Way
By Franklin B. Tucker/ Staff Writer
Thursday, December 9, 2004
This Sunday at 1 p.m., Rick McLay and Mark Callahan will be leading a pack of about two dozen elementary school-aged boys to the Carriage House at the senior housing complex off Boston Road.

Cub Scout Pack 51 from Billerica is coming to town

The boys, ranging in age from 6 to 11 will be bringing ginger bread, lunch and decorations for the Christmas tree in the lobby. And most of all, they are bringing themselves, to entertain the seniors during the holidays.

'It's something that we have been doing for eight to 10 years,' said McLay, assistant cub master and a father of a pack member. They serve lunch, hang the ornaments on the tree and sing carols."

O'Neill's exit stirs criticism of UPMC

O'Neill's exit stirs criticism of UPMC: "The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's unwillingness to identify members of its board of trustees -- and the fact that almost all its board changes occur without public announcement -- drew criticism yesterday from corporate governance specialists and even some of its own trustees.
The issue arose with the revelation this week that former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill had resigned from the board nearly three months ago. Many in the region's tight-knit health-care community were unaware of his departure."

New Fed rule cup limit exec compensation at nonprofit companies like ORC

La Crosse Tribune - News: "Federal officials want new rules limiting executive compensation at nonprofit companies like ORC Industries Inc. of La Crosse.
ORC employs about 750 people -many with disabilities - making garments and other items for the military and other customers at plants in Wisconsin and Texas.

ORC president Barbara Barnard received $683,054 in salary and benefits in 2003, nearly $300,000 of which is in deferred compensation, according to ORC's federal tax returns.

But under the proposed rule, nonprofits like ORC that benefit from federal set-aside programs for disabled and blind workers would have to limit total executive compensation to approximately $207,000 � or justify why it should be higher."

Nonprofits Offer the Best Benefits | workforce.com

Nonprofits Offer the Best Benefits | workforce.com: "Nonprofits Offer the Best Benefits
Nonprofits come in at 128 percent of median. Among for-profit companies, utilities offer the best benefits, averaging 117 percent of the market median.


December 10, 2004
Nonprofits Offer the Best Benefits
There may be some truth to the notion that a nonprofit job is low in pay but comes with good benefits, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Mercer analyzed the benefits programs at more than 1,000 large employers�both for-profit and nonprofit--in the United States. "

Yahoo! News - Panel on the Nonprofit Sector Names Citizens Advisory Group; Nine American Leaders to Help Nonprofits Remain Vital Part of Society

Yahoo! News - Panel on the Nonprofit Sector Names Citizens Advisory Group; Nine American Leaders to Help Nonprofits Remain Vital Part of Society: "Panel on the Nonprofit Sector Names Citizens Advisory Group; Nine American Leaders to Help Nonprofits Remain Vital Part of Society

Thu Dec 9, 6:51 PM ET


To: National Desk
Contact: Jeanne Ellinport of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, 202-467-6163 or jeanne@nonprofitpanel.org WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In another of its steps to help charities and foundations ensure that they remain a vibrant, responsive, and effective force in American society, the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector today announced the creation of a Citizens Advisory Group. The nine members of this new group are leaders of America's business, educational, media, political, and religious institutions, and they will advise the Panel as it develops recommendations to Congress to improve the oversight and governance of nonprofit organizations.
The nine members of the Citizens Advisory Group to the Panel, which was formed in October at the encouragement of the Senate Finance Committee, will provide broad perspectives on how to strengthen governance, transparency, and accountability within the sector as the Panel prepares its recommendations for Congress next year"

BostonHerald.com - Real Estate: Charities lose 71% of donations: Fund-raising companies get it, AG says

BostonHerald.com - Real Estate: Charities lose 71% of donations: Fund-raising companies get it, AG says: "Charities lose 71% of donations: Fund-raising companies get it, AG says
By Jay Fitzgerald
Friday, December 10, 2004
The profitable business of raising money for charities keeps getting more profitable.

Only 29 cents of every dollar raised by telemarketers during average charitable campaigns last year actually went to their intended causes, from defending human rights to helping police associations to making sure government doesn't waste money, according to a report released yesterday by Attorney General Tom Reilly. "

HealthLeaders - HealthLeaders

HealthLeaders - HealthLeaders: "HealthLeaders Magazine
December Cover Story: Do Nonprofit Hospitals Deserve Tax-Exempt Status?
By Philip Betbeze, for HealthLeaders News, December 10, 2004

When for-profit hospitals first appeared in numbers on the healthcare landscape, more than a few nonprofit advocates worried out loud that a for-profit mentality would ruin healthcare.
It was the 1970s, and the fear was that for-profits, by injecting a capitalistic model into the business of healthcare, would squeeze out the nonprofits. That didn't happen, as nonprofits still make up about 85 percent of the nation's hospitals. In fact, nonprofits have weathered a challenging operating environment by increasingly adopting the more aggressive business practices pioneered by for-profit hospitals. But in their efforts to turn a profit or at the very least to stem losses, nonprofit hospitals have raised the ire of more than a few legislators and patient advocate lawyers, as well as the IRS."

What I like about Scrooge

snip snip

Saving is philanthropy, and—because this is both the Christmas season and the season of tax reform—it's worth mentioning that the tax system should recognize as much. If there's a tax deduction for charitable giving, there should be a tax deduction for saving. What you earn and don't spend is your contribution to the world, and it's equally a contribution whether you give it away or squirrel it away.

United Way goes digital - The Washington Times: Technology - November 16, 2004

United Way goes digital - The Washington Times: Technology - November 16, 2004: "So, what's a charity to do? Change with the times. United Way has come up with 'UnitedeWay,' which lets people sign up online to make donations, direct them to a favorite agency, as well as explore volunteer opportunities. It's gone from zero to more than $400 millionworth of giving in about two years, says Michael Schreiber, executive vice president for enterprise services at United Way.
Listening to Mr. Schreiber describe the changing nature of the workplace � and of giving � and it makes sense that United Way is looking to technology as a way to boost revenue, money that goes to those in need. "

Yahoo! News - Bogus E-Mail Worries Users Of Cell Phones

Yahoo! News - Bogus E-Mail Worries Users Of Cell Phones: "Bogus E-Mail Worries Users Of Cell Phones

2 hours, 44 minutes ago Technology - washingtonpost.com


By Caroline E. Mayer, Washington Post Staff Writer
The e-mails, often forwarded by friends, vary in wording, but the underlying message is always ominous: Soon, all cell phone numbers will be made public to telemarketing firms. That means, according to one version, that 'your cell phone may start ringing off the hook with telemarketers' and your precious, limited cell phone minutes will be eaten up with calls you don't want."

StartupJournal | New Venture Adventures

StartupJournal | New Venture Adventures: "Some Online Marketing
Annoys Your Customers
By BOB ROSNER
One of my favorite events in Seattle was the annual Spam-carving contest. You wouldn't believe the creativity -- I saw Spam soldiers, Spam boats, Spam landscapes, Spam cars, Spam everything.
There was only one problem: It's still made out of Spam. And it's no different with its electronic cousin. The key to not adding to the problem is to only mail to people who have given their permission. I've included a series of steps below to allow you to effectively market on the Web while not putting a bunch of innocent victims knee-deep in spam. For more advice, check out 'Effective"

The Salvation Army's Leaky Kettle

The Salvation Army's Leaky Kettle: "The Salvation Army's Leaky Kettle
Just when the agency needs more cash, retailers are foiling its fund-raising strategy

These are tough times for the Salvation Army's bell-ringers. On Nov. 25, giant discounter Target Corp. (TGT ) began enforcing a longstanding ban that prevents charities from collecting donations outside its stores. Making an exception for the Salvation Army might force the chain to welcome other charities that don't sit well with customers. The move was a big blow to the nation's largest charity: Last year kettle-ringers outside Target stores collected $9 million, about 10% of the Salvation Army's holiday take. "

WEEK.com: Donation Causes Bad Feelings

WEEK.com: Donation Causes Bad Feelings: "Donation Causes Bad Feelings
Posted December 9, 2004 6:59pm


This week Caterpillar digs into one of its biggest charitable endeavors ever. But, the announcement of a multi-million dollar donation by the Caterpillar Foundation to the regional museum project rubs some union retirees the wrong way."

Bielfeldt suit largest in recent state history

PJStar.com - Journal Star News: "Bielfeldt suit largest in recent state history
Advertisement

Friday, December 10, 2004
By Dori Meinert
of Copley News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's lawsuit against Peorian Gary Bielfeldt and his family marks only the fifth time in seven years the office has taken legal action against a not-for-profit organization in the state.
But the case against the Bielfeldt Foundation's former board members - Bielfeldt, his wife Carlotta, and three children, David, Linda Bielfeldt Greene and Karen Bielfeldt-Wales - involves far more money than any of the other lawsuits."

Welcome to the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations

Welcome to the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations: "09 Dec 2005 Stay close to government and speak truth to power, third sector leaders are told

Stay close to government and speak truth to power, third sector leaders are told


Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive of acevo, will robustly defend the third sector�s growing closeness to government at acevo�s annual conference on Thursday 9th December. Over 600 delegates are expected to attend, making acevo�s conference the biggest gathering of chief executives and board members within the third sector.


Stephen Bubb will say:
�Working with government has brought real benefits to the sector. It is crucial to the core mission of many acevo members, enabling them to shape policy and improve service delivery. The gains for our clients have been striking. Protests and marches were more appropriate 20 years ago than they are now that government is listening. "

�Not all red tape is bad� claims new report on voluntary sector regulation

�Not all red tape is bad� claims new report on voluntary sector regulation: "Wednesday 8 December 2004
Voluntary sector providers of public services welcome regulation, if it is effective, flexible and not overly bureaucratic, a new report commissioned by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) suggests.
In areas like supported housing, day care for children and residential care, charities interviewed or participating in discussion groups said that regulation promotes public confidence, protects service users and can help organisations to secure funding and raise staff moral. The report concludes that voluntary organisations consider regulation a good thing in principle but often flawed "

Tony Stewart Recognized for his philanthropy

WhoWon.com ... The Internet Source for Motorsports News and Information: "DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart was recognized for his philanthropy by being named NASCAR�s 2004 USG Person of the Year.

The award, presented to Stewart Dec. 3 at the National Motorsports Press Association's Myers Brothers Breakfast in New York City, is designed to honor NASCAR drivers for their community service contributions and charitable efforts.

The annual award carried a $100,000 payment, which was to be split between the winning driver and his charity of choice. However, Stewart once again showcased his charitable compassion by donating the entire amount to Kyle and Pattie Petty�s Victory Junction Gang Camp, a facility for chronically ill children located in Randleman, N.C. "

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Keeping faith

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Keeping faith: "Keeping faith

Hilary Blume, the brains behind good cause gifts and greetings cards, has raised millions of pounds for charity. So why does she care so little for charities? Alison Benjamin finds out

Wednesday December 8, 2004
The Guardian

You may never have heard of the Charities Advisory Trust, but if you have ever bought a charity Christmas card from one of those shops that sells nothing else, or a present from the Good Gifts "

Thursday, December 09, 2004

The Council on Foundations - Newsletter

The Council on Foundations - Newsletter: "Washington, DC (December 03, 2004) � President and CEO Dorothy S. Ridings announced today her plans to retire from the Council on Foundations in 2005. She will continue to lead the Council until her successor has been named.
�My nine years at the Council have been enormously rewarding. Organized philanthropy is truly a success story, both in America and worldwide,� said Ridings. �It has been a pleasure to have helped it grow and flourish.�
Ridings, who is 65, came to the Council in 1996 from The Bradenton (Florida) Herald, where she had been publisher for eight years. She also held reporting and editing positions at newspapers in Charlotte, NC; Louisville, KY and Washington, DC. She is a member of the Commission on Presidential Debates, chair of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary board and a past president of the League of Women Voters of the United States."

Foundation will disclose some donors

Foundation will disclose some donors: "Foundation will disclose some donors
UofL arm won't appeal order on corporate giving
By Mark Pitsch
mpitsch@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
The University of Louisville Foundation agreed yesterday to follow a judge's order and make public which corporations and foundations have donated to the university and the amounts.
The decision not to appeal leaves one issue remaining in the ongoing legal battle between the foundation and The Courier-Journal � whether the organization must disclose the names of individual donors.
The identities of corporate and foundation donors and the amounts of their gifts could be released by the end of the week or early next week, lawyers in the case said. "

Boston.com / Business / Group: Most charities sell donor lists

Boston.com / Business / Group: Most charities sell donor lists: "Group: Most charities sell donor lists
Nonprofits also swap names in an attempt to raise more funds
By Bruce Mohl, Globe Staff December 2, 2004
Most of the nation's charities are attempting to raise additional funds by selling the names of donors to marketing organizations or swapping mailing lists with other nonprofits, a charity watchdog group said yesterday.
Charity Navigator said a survey it conducted of nearly 3,300 charities found that only 18 percent have a donor privacy policy in place, 7 percent reserved the right to sell or swap donor names, and 75 percent did not respond to the survey.
Trent Stamp, the executive director of Charity Navigator, said it is logical to assume that a majority of the 75 percent that failed to respond to the survey did not want the public to know they sell or swap personal information about their donors to other groups."

Towson Times

Towson Times: "Grant guidelines

12/08/04
Email this story to a friend

* About $1 million in federal grant money is available to private nonprofits in the Baltimore region that can show they are at risk of being attacked by terrorists.
* Nonprofits must provide a match of 25 percent of the grant.
* Nonprofits that apply for the grants must undergo an independent threat assessment.
* Applications can be obtained from the county Office of Emergency Preparedness by calling 410-887-5996 or online at www.baltometro.org/criticalinfrastructure.html.
* Deadline for applications is Jan. 4, 2005.
- Bryan Sears "

United Way of America - State of Caring Index

United Way of America - State of Caring Index: "


Despite the economic recovery, the United Way State of Caring Index shows that a growing number of Americans face increased risks. The emerging cracks in American society are found in increased costs of renting, declines in income, difficulties in securing steady employment with benefits, and continued lack of health care coverage, as well as an increase in the percentage of families with children living with a single parent, who have less time and resources to weather difficulties. The United Way State of Caring Index is down 4.8 percent from its high point in 2000, and down 1.3 percent from last year's result. Nevertheless, the United Way State of Caring Index reveals some gains in homeownership, maternal and infant health, and public safety.
The United Way State of Caring Index incorporates 36 indicators covering 1992-2002 in the following areas:
Economic and Financial Well Being
Education
Health
Voluntarism/Charity/Civic Engagement
Safety
Natural Environment and Other Factors "

KPMG Offers Last Minute Year-End Tips to Help Taxpayers Reduce Their 2004 Tax Bill

KPMG Offers Last Minute Year-End Tips to Help Taxpayers Reduce Their 2004 Tax Bill:

Press ReleaseSource: KPMG LLP
KPMG Offers Last Minute Year-End Tips to Help Taxpayers Reduce Their 2004 Tax Bill
Thursday December 9, 10:01 am ET
Benefits From American Jobs Creation Act Offer New Tax-Saving Opportunities
NEW YORK, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Time is running out, but taxpayers can still take action to help reduce their 2004 tax bill, according to KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm. This includes timing 'big ticket' purchases, reexamining charitable contributions, and increasing college and retirement savings plan contributions."

Unselfish 7-year-old sets example for all

Unselfish 7-year-old sets example for all: "
7 daysArchive
By Cathy Kightlinger
cathy.kightlinger@indystar.com
December 9, 2004
Noblesville first-grader Grace Bocko knows a lot about paying good fortune forward.
For her last four birthdays, the 7-year-old has asked those attending her birthday parties for charitable donations in lieu of gifts.
'We started doing this in 2001. That was just a few weeks after the terrorist attacks,' said Grace's mother, Krista Bocko. 'We just felt like we wanted to do something. We feel so blessed in that we have so much, and so many people lost everything.'"

Charities work for donors

Charities work for donors: "Charities work for donors
By WHITNEY ROYSTER
Star-Tribune correspondent
JACKSON -- 'I feel like I'm getting hit up all the time.'
That's what one donor said when asked if there is 'donor fatigue' in Jackson Hole.

In a community with 164 non-profits and scores of wealthy philanthropists, there may be growing frustration by both donors and non-profits that the benefits of community organizations are being lost to the constant beating of the fund-raising drum.

Of course, fund-raising is a necessary tool to provide non-profit services. But when every non-profit develops a potential donor list, several names are likely to appear on those lists. Is it frustrating for those donors? And, is it frustrating for non-profits that know they are one of 164 voices looking to sustain?"

Fool.com: Spitzer for Governor? [Motley Fool Take] December 8, 2004

Fool.com: Spitzer for Governor? [Motley Fool Take] December 8, 2004: "Spitzer for Governor?


By Rich Smith
December 8, 2004
In a development that should surprise absolutely no one -- honestly, Elwood Blues could see this one coming, in the dark and wearing sunglasses -- New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has marshaled his troops and declared his intent to capture the New York State governor's mansion in 2006.
Mr. Spitzer gained fame, as well as no small amount of criticism, for his crusading attacks on corporate wrongdoers, both perceived and actual -- Janus (NYSE: JNS), Bank One, and Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) last year; Marsh & McLennan (NYSE: MMC), American International Group (NYSE: AIG), and Aon (NYSE: AOC) more recently -- large and small (Jos. A. Bank (Nasdaq: JOSB)). Now he aims to use his fame (or notoriety -- which term you use depends in large part on how many zeros make up your net worth and whether you arrive at work by subway or chauffeured car) to campaign for higher office."

Atlanta Daily World

Atlanta Daily World: "Dennis Hayes, an Indianapolis native appointed acting president of the NAACP, begins his second tenure as acting chief facing a critical legal challenge.
Hayes, after working with the Indianapolis branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, left the state in 1985 to work in the national organization's legal department in New York. He's now its general counsel based in Baltimore, overseeing its legal challenges against racial "

DMNews.com | News | Article

DMNews.com | News | Article: "Is CAN-SPAM Helping E-Mail Marketers?
Dec. 09, 2004

By: Sean O�Neal
Datran Media
sean@datranmedia.com
Many marketers were concerned about what the effects of the CAN-SPAM Act would be, and numerous companies left the e-mail marketing space entirely. It was reported in the spring that CAN-SPAM compliance was confounding many e-mail marketers. Meanwhile, the Pew Charitable Trust issued a report that e-mail users were more fed up than ever and that they trusted e-mail even less than before CAN-SPAM took effect.
Without consumer trust in e-mail, how possibly can CAN-SPAM be benefiting e-mail marketers?
Yet some e-mail companies have seen their fortunes rise since CAN-SPAM took effect. The law separated the wheat from the chaff in e-mail. Sure, there are still plenty of offshore spammers who can�t be touched by U.S. legislation. But the number of domestic spammers fell immediately, and so did spam � perhaps by 10 percent, right off the bat. "

TownOnline.com - Woburn Advocate - Opinion & Letters

TownOnline.com - Woburn Advocate - Opinion & Letters: "Editorial: Charity work seen throughout the city
Thursday, December 9, 2004
In this week's issue, we highlighted the ongoing efforts of Mark Condon and Michelle Chapman to bring toys and clothing to sick children at the Boston Medical Center.

And while their work should be applauded and given a hand in the literal sense for bringing more than 1,500 toys to the Hub, the fact remains that there are several local groups doing commendable charity that do not get front-page attention. Some prefer to remain anonymous, while others' work goes unnoticed by the media and such. Fortunately, the fruits of their labor is felt by the children and families that benefit from their generosity. Obviously no one does this for attention in the newspaper. But amid all the stories about crime or the latest housing development set to tear up nature, it's imperative to shine light on the positive in a community. There is, in fact, much good going on in the city of Woburn."

Many big donors prefer anonymity

Many big donors prefer anonymity: "Many big donors prefer anonymity
Giving for the joy of it
Thursday, December 09, 2004
By Steve Levin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The woman simply said she was 'blessed to be in the right place at the right time,' and wanted to share her good fortune.
So three years ago she decided to give $250,000 in gifts to her alma mater, Chatham College, in honor of administrators she had admired as a student. The gifts, which Chatham learned of yesterday, came "

Boston.com / News / Local / Churches oppose bill on disclosure

Boston.com / News / Local / Churches oppose bill on disclosure: "Churches oppose bill on disclosure
By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff | December 9, 2004
The major mainline Protestant and Orthodox churches of Massachusetts have decided unanimously to oppose legislation that would force religious organizations to make public their finances, throwing an obstacle in the path of efforts by some Catholics to require greater disclosure by the Archdiocese of Boston."

Portsmouth Herald Local News: Gov.-elect plans ethics crackdown

Portsmouth Herald Local News: Gov.-elect plans ethics crackdown:
snip snip
"But one IRS official, who did not identify himself, made reference to a list of tax-exempt groups published by the IRS in its 'Cumulative List of Organizations.' The publication, revised in 2002, does not include the 'Friends of Ruth Griffin' committee as a tax-exempt organization.
Griffin declined to comment Wednesday about the contributions or her statement from last week that she hasn�t paid taxes on them. She referred questions to her attorney, Stephen Tober. "

Philanthropy Journal-Your online source for news about nonprofits, social issues, and policy change - newsarticle

Philanthropy Journal-Your online source for news about nonprofits, social issues, and policy change - newsarticle: "Proxy power: Part 2


As shareholders, foundations can take a stand.
12.09.2004 -

By Todd Cohen
Foundations hold an estimated $400 billion in U.S. companies but are not paying much attention to the way those companies do business, says Doug Bauer, senior vice president at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in New York City.
While 54 percent of foundations surveyed last year by the Council on Foundations do not automatically vote with management, for example, 90 percent of that group have no written policies for voting proxies on social or environmental issues, Bauer says."

PND News - Ridings to Retire From Council on Foundations

PND News - Ridings to Retire From Council on Foundations: "Ridings to Retire From Council on Foundations
Council on Foundations president and CEO Dorothy S. Ridings has announced her plans to retire from the D.C.-based organization in 2005.
Ridings, 65, came to the council � an association of more than 2,000 grantmaking foundations and corporations � in 1996 from the Bradenton (Florida) Herald, where she had been publisher for eight years. Prior to that, she held reporting and editing positions at newspapers in Charlotte, Louisville, and Washington, D.C., and had served as president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. She leaves the council having spearheaded the development of a new strategic plan, put in place new governance structures, and created a six-month budget reserve for the organization. She also launched a $3 million initiative to help foundations strengthen their practices."

The Chronicle, 12/3/2004: Leader of Major Foundation Group to Step Down Next Year

The Chronicle, 12/3/2004: Leader of Major Foundation Group to Step Down Next Year: "Leader of Major Foundation Group to Step Down Next Year
By Holly Hall
Washington

Dorothy S. Ridings, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, has announced that she plans to resign next year. Ms. Ridings, 65, has led the council -- which represents 2,000 foundations, including many of the nation's largest and wealthiest grant makers -- since 1996. She said that she will leave the council after a successor is named.

The announcement of Ms. Ridings's departure, which some in the nonprofit world greeted with surprise, comes during a period of intense scrutiny by Congress into foundation operations, including allegations that compensation of foundation executives is too high and that grant makers are spending too much on administrative expenses. The Senate Finance Committee is widely expected to consider new regulations in 2005 that could place new restrictions on how foundations operate."

The Resource Alliance (formerly known as The International Fund Raising Group)

The Resource Alliance (formerly known as The International Fund Raising Group): "24 VOLUNTARY SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES MEET AT THE 2ND INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT, OCTOBER 2004
The 2nd International Fundraising Summit
11 October 2004, Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands

On 11 October, 2004, 24 professional fundraisers from around the world met for an annual meeting in the Netherlands to further discuss a universal code of ethics and conduct; sharing resources and research; and the development of professional education around the world. The Summit was sponsored by the Dutch Association of Fundraising Organisations, the Dutch "

PGDC Article - A Hole in the Water: A Tale of the Yacht Donation

PGDC Article - A Hole in the Water: A Tale of the Yacht Donation: " Hole in the Water: A Tale of the Yacht Donation
It has been said the two happiest days in the life of a boat owner are the day they buy their pride and joy and the day they sell it. There might be a third--the day they give it away! In this tongue-in-cheek cautionary tale, recovering boat owner and PGDC Editor Marc Hoffman tells a story about one that, to use a related metaphor, unfortunately didn't get away.
by Marc D. Hoffman
Editor-in-Chief
Planned Giving Design Center"

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Windy City Times Richard Turner: A Lifetime of Giving

Windy City Times: "Richard Turner: A Lifetime of Giving
by Andrew Davis
2004-12-08

To say that Richard Turner has been selfless would be an understatement.
For almost three decades, Turner has been a development professional and a grant maker. However, it is arguably in the volunteer arena �and specifically regarding AIDS�where he has made his mark. He was the first board member added to the board of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago after its founding and was a member of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt�s national board of directors.
He also served as the national president and subsequently became the executive director of the New York-based Funders Concerned About AIDS. In addition, he has gotten deeply involved in the arts. Turner has served on the board of Steppenwolf Theatre; was the founding president of the Wisdom Bridge and Travel Light Theater boards; and served on the Arts Council theater committee. He is currently chairing the board of the Chicago Academy for the Arts.
It would seem a given that someone who has been so devoted to an endeavor such as philanthropy would gain the admiration of many�and that indeed has been the case. Turner has received numerous awards, including the Chicago House Founders Award; he was also part of the very first group that was inducted into Chicago�s Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. On Dec. 10, Turner will be one of six individuals honored by the Chicago chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals ( AFP ) . Turner will be receive AFP Professional Grantor Award. The award is given annually to a corporate or foundation giving officer recognized for his/her professionalism, sensitivity and generous support to the nonprofit community."

Point of View

Point of View: "As 2004 draws to a close, tax planning may not be at the top of your �to do� list. Yet, it is important not to lose sight of certain tax breaks amid the excitement of the holidays. A recent flurry of tax legislation may have an impact on your year-end tax planning for 2004. Here are some important tax aspects to consider:
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 creates tougher deduction and substantiation rules for post-2004 charitable contributions of autos. If you plan to donate an auto, do it before 2005. "

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Charity Commission Responds to Newspaper Allegations

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Charity Commission Responds to Newspaper Allegations: "Charity Commission Responds to Newspaper Allegations

By Dan Webber, Community Newswire

The Charity Commission today responded to criticism that selected good causes around the country often �humiliated� the very people they aim to help.

In an article published today in a national newspaper, the mother of a severely disabled young boy claimed she had been made to feel �patronised, humiliated and exploited� when calling on charities for assistance.

Former English teacher Jane Muir, writing in the Society Guardian, criticised the methods used by many groups when allocating funding and called on the Charity Commission to issue new guidelines."

19 CEOs Named To Black History Museum Council (washingtonpost.com)

19 CEOs Named To Black History Museum Council (washingtonpost.com): "19 CEOs Named To Black History Museum Council
By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 8, 2004; Page C01
The Smithsonian Institution has selected a roster of high-profile corporate leaders, including media empress Oprah Winfrey and the chairmen of American Express, Merrill Lynch, IBM and Time Warner, to lead the effort to establish the country's first comprehensive museum on African American life.
The Smithsonian Board of Regents yesterday appointed 19 executives to the founding Council of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is scheduled to open in 2013. They also named a group of scholars to an advisory committee that will oversee the content of the White House-backed museum. "

baltimoresun.com - Education center-resort rising quietly at Elk Neck

baltimoresun.com - Education center-resort rising quietly at Elk Neck: "On 98 acres of Elk Neck State Park in Cecil County, retirement home builder John C. Erickson is constructing NorthBay, a $30 million education center, camp and corporate retreat that is more resort than rustic. It is rising along a half-mile stretch of North East River beach, on property leased from the state for free.

The project, which broke ground in May, is being touted as a public-private partnership between the Erickson Foundation, a nonprofit created in 1998, and the state Department of Natural Resources. It is designed, in part, to teach sixth- graders the value of the bay.

But corporations and other groups will be allowed to use it as well. The foundation says it needs to collect $2 million to $3 million a year in fees to cover operating costs, though the project is not described as a moneymaking venture."

Editorial: Stepping up / Pittsburgh nonprofits want to help the recovery

Editorial: Stepping up / Pittsburgh nonprofits want to help the recovery: "Editorial: Stepping up / Pittsburgh nonprofits want to help the recovery
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With all of the attention paid to the new Pittsburgh tax package approved by the Legislature and the Act 47 savings plan finally endorsed by City Council, little notice has been given to the laudable decision by nonprofit organizations to become part of the solution. "

Credit counselors draw IRS' focus - 2004-12-06 - Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal

Credit counselors draw IRS' focus - 2004-12-06 - Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal: "The Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Trade Commission are cracking down on debt counseling and debt consolidation companies that use nonprofits as a front for their for-profit activities. "

Pasadena Star-News - Business- Earn or donate money when you shop

Pasadena Star-News - Business: "Earn or donate money when you shop
By Eric R. Glade , American Express Financial Advisors
The ultimate in multitasking may be the opportunity to spend money and save it at the same time. The only thing that may be even more gratifying is to spend money and donate dollars at the same time.
Both options are not only possible, but growing in popularity as numerous companies and Web sites aim to help you achieve these dual goals. However, if you are considering using these tools to save or give while you shop this holiday season or throughout the year, beware of the potential downsides and be sure to make these offers work to your financial advantage"

Charity chief wins $27 mil. jackpot

Charity chief wins $27 mil. jackpot: "Charity chief wins $27 mil. jackpot
December 8, 2004
BY GILLIAN FLACCUS

LOS ANGELES -- All too often, the ring of Debi Faris-Cifelli's cell phone means there is another abandoned newborn at the morgue, another forsaken child for her to name and bury in a shoebox-size coffin under a white cross in the California desert.
Last week, though, Faris-Cifelli -- who has had to rely on donations, grants and fund-raisers to give babies a decent burial -- got a very different call.
She had won the California "

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | How much do people give to charity?

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | How much do people give to charity?

How much do people give to charity?

Gordon Brown wants the world's leading economies to boost aid to poor countries, while Oxfam say they have halved their aid budgets since the 60s. But if charity begins at home, what about you and me? How much do individuals give to good causes, and how many give nothing?
With Christmas looming charities are once again hoping to tap into the season's giving spirit and boost their coffers before the end of the year.

But how much are we prepared to give?

Last year, £7.1bn was given to charity by individuals in the UK, according to joint research by the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.


Tuesday, December 07, 2004

The Stage Online :: News :: Arts groups must prove merit to keep charitable status UK

The Stage Online :: News :: Arts groups must prove merit to keep charitable status: "Arts organisations that charge for tickets or services must be prepared to justify the merits of their work or risk losing charitable status under new legislation recently announced in the Queen�s Speech, a leading entertainment and media law firm has warned.
Robert Porter, a senior associate at Harbottle and Lewis, said arts bodies may be �significantly affected� by the Charities Bill, which is expected to begin its route through parliament in the coming months. In particular, changes to existing laws will mean applicants must prove the benefit they provide to the public and the ongoing artistic and educational merits of their work before being granted charitable status"

FresnoBee.com: Metro: Fresno to review grant pact

FresnoBee.com: Metro: Fresno to review grant pact: "Fresno to review grant pact
City's program helps fund nonprofits.
By Jim Davis / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Tuesday, December 7, 2004, 7:31 AM)


On the face of it, the grant writer program seems like an experiment that's working wonderfully at Fresno City Hall.
Instead of donating $100,000 to nonprofits, the city contracted with the United Way of Fresno County to pay for a grant writer to help nonprofits obtain grants.
The position in two years has helped secure $6.8 million in grants for dozens of nonprofits throughout the city. "

Benevolence needs to become part of culture

Benevolence needs to become part of culture: "Benevolence needs to become part of culture
By Guo Zi (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-07 08:28
The China Charity Federation says only 15 per cent of the donations it has received have come from mainland multimillionaires.
Lists of the richest people and the top philanthropists on the mainland, compiled earlier this year by Euromoney China and Forbes, may help to shed a bit more light on the situation.
And if true, the cold facts about the lack of benevolence would be enough to sadden our hearts - unless you look at the local situation in a little more detail"

Boston.com / News / Local / Mass. / Bracelets represent a variety of causes

Boston.com / News / Local / Mass. / Bracelets represent a variety of causes: "Some examples of organizations with fund-raiser bracelets, arranged by color:
RED:
-- The Diabetes Research Institute is raising funds with its 'Insulin Is Not a Cure' bracelets. http://www.DRInet.org
-- This month, the nonprofit Keep a Child Alive will begin selling bracelets to raise funds for children With HIV/AIDS: http://www.keepachildalive.org
BLUE:
-- Sydney Davis and her friend Daniel Rosen, friends from New Jersey who both have juvenile diabetes, are selling bracelets in honor of their 13th birthdays. The bracelets, available at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbus-Presbyterian hospital in New York, carry the words 'Cure Diabetes Today.' http://nbdiabetes.org"

PND News - Nonprofits Under-Report Fundraising and Administrative Costs, Study Finds

PND News - Nonprofits Under-Report Fundraising and Administrative Costs, Study Finds: "Nonprofits Under-Report Fundraising and Administrative Costs, Study Finds
According to a new study from the Indianapolis-based Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the D.C.-based Urban Institute, many nonprofit organizations under-report their fundraising and administrative costs.
The study, Nonprofit Fundraising and Administrative Cost, found that 37 percent of nonprofits with private contributions of $50,000 or more in 2000 reported no fundraising or special event costs � a figure that included almost one out of every five (18 percent) organizations that raised $5 million or more. Because organizations almost always have to spend money to raise money, it's simply not plausible, according to the study's authors, that such a large percentage of nonprofits would have zero fundraising costs."

MSN Money - Fend off charity telemarketing during the holidays

MSN Money - Fend off charity telemarketing during the holidays: "The Basics
Fend off charity telemarketing during the holidays

Calls for donations from nonprofit groups tend to grow during the holidays. Here's how to fend off the unwelcome phone calls from charities that do telemarketing.
By Christian Science Monitor
Dinners free from telemarketers might seem nostalgic this holiday season. Although more than 58 million households have joined the federal 'Do Not Call Registry,' watchdog groups predict that the volume of telemarketer solicitations will increase during the traditional giving season.

blackenterprise.com

blackenterprise.com: "MD Nonprofits Start for-Profit Firms to Finance Work
Source: The Daily Record (Baltimore)
Publication date: 2004-12-06


A collaborative that provided business consulting to for-profit social ventures during the past 10 months was the catalyst many of the endeavors needed to get off the ground.
Six funding organizations, including The Annie E. Casey Foundation and The Open Society Institute, joined in February to create the Baltimore Community Wealth Collaborative. The partnership provided technical support to eight businesses so they could make money to support their nonprofit parent organizations. The businesses included Goodwill Staffing Services and Hollywood Diner"

Winston-Salem Journal | Survey center goes beyond its campus

Winston-Salem Journal | Survey center goes beyond its campus: "Survey center goes beyond its campus
WFU project to study aspects of Triad
By Richard Craver
JOURNAL REPORTER

A survey center at Wake Forest University is branching beyond the campus to provide economic research to area nonprofit organizations and companies."

Feds tell New London to return grant money because of conflict

WCBS 880: Connecticut Wire: "Feds tell New London to return grant money because of conflict
Tuesday December 07, 2004
NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) City officials have been ordered to return up to $49,000 to New London's Community Development Block Grant account after two nonprofit groups with ties to the mayor and deputy mayor received money from the program.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development determined there was a conflict of interest when the city council awarded $30,000 to Kente Enterprises and $19,000 to New London Adult and Continuing Education with funds from the block grant account early this year."

Nonprofit merger possible / United Way may take over struggling council it founded

Nonprofit merger possible / United Way may take over struggling council it founded

Charity Criticized For Its High Costs Of Raising Money | theledger.com

Charity Criticized For Its High Costs Of Raising Money | theledger.com: "Charity Criticized For Its High Costs Of Raising Money

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
St. Petersburg Times

OLDSMAR -- In 12 months, the Kids Wish Network raised $7.2 million in cash from donors nationwide to help the charity grant wishes for seriously ill children.

But only $813,934 of that money went to children with lifethreatening illnesses and their families, according to the charity's IRS filing for fiscal year 2002-03. Most of the money, $6.27 million, went to professional fund-raisers."

Herald and News: Klamath Falls, Oregon

Herald and News: Klamath Falls, Oregon: "Gifts of philanthropy will pay dividends for years to come
Published December 5, 2004
By Joan Staunton
Guest columnist
For how many years have we found ourselves so caught up in the holiday whirlwind that our best intentions of giving to important charitable causes fall by the wayside?
This year, given the immense needs of individuals, programs and nonprofit organizations in Klamath Falls and throughout Oregon, I encourage you to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season by making philanthropy a priority - particularly in this final month of 2004, as we collectively look forward to the new year.
After all, I believe that generosity and human kindness bestowed from one to another, in large ways and small, truly defines the character of our community. Here are some ideas for getting started:
Establish a budget for giving. As a first step, take some time to determine how much of your holiday gift budget you and your family can allocate to charitable causes. As it's possible, make it your goal to"

DesMoinesRegister.comGaps: Toss those outdated foods - don't donate them

DesMoinesRegister.com: "They were probably more likely to be museum pieces than food items, which is why the nun kept them by her desk. Sister Sandra Rodemyer, the heart and soul of the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry, had messaged a couple of weeks ago with news, but when I called back she was too busy to chat. It was the day before Thanksgiving and she had little time for cellular conversation.

'Everyone in Des Moines decided to show up with food today,' said Sister Sandra. It seems the Thanksgiving spirit moved the multitude in the community to give in advance of the big feast. Not all of it was up to snuff."

San Francisco Examiner: Aiding needs of nonprofits

San Francisco Examiner: Aiding needs of nonprofits: "Aiding needs of nonprofits
Councilmember's wish list appeals to holiday spirit.
By Sabrina Crawford | Staff Writer
Published on Monday, December 6, 2004
URL: http://www.examiner.com/article/index.cfm/i/120604n_nonprofits
E-mail this story | Print this page
BURLINGAME -- She's making a list. She's checking it twice. And she wants everyone else to check it too -- to see how they can lend a helping hand to the community this holiday season.
After hours of research, Burlingame City Council member Terry Nagel has complied a community 'wish list' -- a collection of items that 20 nonprofit groups serving Burlingame need and hope someone can donate"

Teens who decided to help the world | csmonitor.com

Teens who decided to help the world | csmonitor.com: "Teens who decided to help the world

By Pamela S. Turner

For Shawn Henry, it was hearing a teacher read a book on community gardens. For Erin Rosen-Watson, it was learning that many foster children have only the clothes on their back. For Katharine Kendrick, it was watching a film on the 1994 killings in Rwanda. For Annalise Blum, it was hearing Guatemalans talk about surviving civil war horrors. For Matthew Rich, it was seeing bare dirt where a forest had stood. For each of them, it was the moment they decided to act. "

USATODAY.com - Feeling charitable? Get entire picture

USATODAY.com - Feeling charitable? Get entire picture: "Feeling charitable? Get entire picture
Whether you give $30 or $30,000 to charity, you want your money spent on good deeds, not a new mahogany desk for the charity's CEO.
Unfortunately, many donors rely on incomplete or inaccurate information when determining how a charity spends its money, according to a new study by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
The study, conducted with the Urban Institute's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, found that many charities "

The Seattle Times: Living: How to give, not get taken

The Seattle Times: Living: How to give, not get taken: "

Tuesday, December 07, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

How to give, not get taken
By Jolayne Houtz
Times consumer-affairs Reporter
The giving season is in full swing � that period between Thanksgiving and New Year's when we're asked to give generously to those in need.
Here are some tips for giving wisely: how to research a charity, find information online and resist high-pressure pitches.
5 common mistakes
1. Donating money on the spur of the moment, responding to heavy pressure, an emotional appeal or the legitimate-sounding name of the charity. "

NAACP chief weighs in on Bush, IRS

NAACP chief weighs in on Bush, IRS: "NAACP chief weighs in on Bush, IRS
Kweisi Mfume set to step down after nine years
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
By Jonathan Tilove
Newhouse News Service
Kweisi Mfume announced last week that he is stepping down as president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the nation's oldest and largest civil rights group.
When Mfume, 56, a former congressman from Baltimore, assumed the NAACP helm nine years ago, the organization was mired in debt, division and scandal. He leaves an NAACP more solvent and stable, though its tax-exempt status is under review by the Internal Revenue Service because of a speech its chairman, Julian Bond, made in July at its annual convention, lambasting the Bush administration. "

SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers -- Charities dispute jock title

SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Chargers -- Charities dispute jock title: "Junior Seau's charity organization has a special holiday message for Chargers linebacker Donnie Edwards: Get off our Christmas turf � or else.
The Junior Seau Foundation has threatened legal action against Edwards' Best Defense Foundation, citing trademark infringement over the use of 'Shop with a Jock,' a term that describes a charity Christmas shopping spree for disadvantaged children.
Representatives for both charities have called the other 'petty' and say their focus is 'all about the children.'
But the rift reached a standoff of sorts yesterday when Edwards showed up at a local Wal-Mart with orders from Seau Foundation attorneys to cease and desist his affiliation with the term. "

Charity Navigator | Holiday Giving Guide 2004

Charity Navigator | Holiday Giving Guide 2004: "e all know that the holidays inspire religious and moral reflection, and inspire many people to take this opportunity to reach out to those who are less fortunate. Less altruistically, but equally relevant, donors need to make their end-of-year giving decisions by December 31 to qualify for a tax deduction in this calendar year. As a result, half of all charitable donations for the entire year will be made between Thanksgiving "

Newswise

Newswise: "Newswise � As Americans open their pocketbooks to charities this holiday season, a Johns Hopkins study shows that the United States lags behind other countries in terms of private philanthropy, at least when the value of volunteer work is included.
The United States ranks only seventh in the world in its level of private philanthropy as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP), according to a study from the Center for Civil Society Studies at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies.
Excluding giving to religion, for which data are unavailable for other countries, American giving accounted for only 2.5 percent of GDP, compared to the Netherlands at 4.5 percent and Sweden at 4.4 percent. Other countries with giving rates higher than the United States included Norway, France, and the United Kingdom. These figures include both financial donations and volunteer work, which was valued at the average wage of a community worker.
The data were generated by a team of researchers around the world led by Johns Hopkins professor Lester Salamon as part of the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project. Study results appear in the new book, Global Civil Society: Dimensions of the Nonprofit Sector, Volume Two."

Monday, December 06, 2004

allAfrica.com: South Africa [opinion]: NGOs Must Reapply for Tax Gap

allAfrica.com: South Africa [opinion]: NGOs Must Reapply for Tax Gap: "NGOs Must Reapply for Tax Gap

Sunday Times (Johannesburg)
OPINION
December 5, 2004
Posted to the web December 6, 2004
Matthew Lester
Johannesburg
PEOPLE running non-profit organisations must reapply for tax exemption to bring their organisations in line with the Ninth Schedule of the Income Tax Act.
This new piece of legislation was introduced during 2000 to regulate the tax-exempt status of entities that qualify for exemption "

Article

Article: "Doing good while living well
Many tourism experiences and projects aid worthwhile causes.
By Robin Fowler
Universal Press Syndicate

Picture yourself immersed in a giant mug of hot chocolate. It's the latest spa treatment at Hotel Hershey, and the cherry on top is that part of the cost goes to a good cause."

mcall.com - Bracelet ban seen as a conflicting message

mcall.com - Bracelet ban seen as a conflicting message: "Bracelet ban seen as a conflicting message
Cancer wristbands violate St. Thomas More dress code, but families argue the fund-raisers have valuable meaning.
By Joe McDermott
Of The Morning Call
Those ubiquitous yellow bracelets.
They've been seen on the wrists of presidents and wannabes, on rock stars and their bike-racing boyfriends. But they won't be seen on the wrists of students at St. Thomas More Elementary School in Salisbury Township, at least not during class."

Post-Crescent - Rawhide worries about car gifts

Post-Crescent - Rawhide worries about car gifts: "Rawhide worries about car gifts
Tax law change affects donations to U.S. nonprofits
By Ben Jones
P-C Madison bureau chief
Every year, Rawhide Boys Ranch accepts 10,000 donated cars, boats and recreational vehicles.
Troubled boys who live at the ranch several miles southwest of New London fix up the cars and learn valuable job skills. Rawhide sells the cars and generates $3 million a year, equal to about 40 percent of the organization�s revenue."

my.accenture.com -- Today's Headlines

my.accenture.com -- Today's Headlines: "Dec. 5--Federal authorities have launched a tax probe of Baltimore-based Chimes Inc. and have proposed sweeping governance standards, including executive salary limits, for Chimes and other nonprofit groups that get $2 billion annually from taxpayers to employ the disabled.
The Internal Revenue Service, which is conducting a national inquiry into executive compensation at charities and other nonprofits, has been looking over Chimes' records, Chimes said last week.
At the same time, a federal agency that oversees the rapidly growing Javits-Wagner-O'Day set-aside program for nonprofit groups wants to cap executive salaries at $207,000 for Chimes and other vendors and require the groups to disclose conflicts of interest and conform to other accountability rules"

Fool.com: Charity's Good News and Bad News [Motley Fool Take] December 6, 2004

Fool.com: Charity's Good News and Bad News [Motley Fool Take] December 6, 2004: "Charity's Good News and Bad News
The Motley Fool Take
Foolanthropy

By Selena Maranjian (TMF Selena)
December 6, 2004
The folks at GuideStar.org, who, among other things, make available the tax filings of more than 1 million nonprofits for us diligent donors to dissect, recently reported some good and bad news regarding charities.
First, the good. Contributions to charities appear to have increased in the first nine months of this year, compared with the same period last year. Half of the charities surveyed reported donations up, while roughly a quarter each saw flat inflows and decreases. Overall, that's not bad -- though perhaps we might prefer to see a big majority of charities enjoying increased contributions.
The bad news, however, is that 71% of those responding reported an increase in need -- in other words, whatever each of these charities provides, more of it is needed than before. Putting all this information together, it appears that many nonprofits with flat or decreasing donations are facing more demand for their services -- call it a rock and a hard place. Even those organizations receiving more money than last year may not be receiving enough to meet their demands.
A few more interesting details:
Big charities were more likely to have received increased "

Survey says companies care about the community - 2004-12-06 - Dallas Business Journal

Survey says companies care about the community - 2004-12-06 - Dallas Business Journal: "Survey says companies care about the community
The majority of companies do care about their communities and encourage employees to help nonprofits, according to a new survey.

The Dallas chapter of International Association of Business Communicators' recent online poll of 52 employees found nearly 60 percent of companies are extremely committed to somewhat committed to corporate philanthropy"

St. Louis set for $532 billion generational wealth transfer - 2004-12-06 - St. Louis Business Journal

St. Louis set for $532 billion generational wealth transfer - 2004-12-06 - St. Louis Business Journal: "St. Louis set for $532 billion generational wealth transfer
Patrick L. Thimangu
About $532 billion in wealth will change hands in the St. Louis region within the next 55 years, with a sizable chunk of that money flowing to charity. "
:
Snip snip
"It was for that effort that the Rockford Area Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored Specialty Screw as 'Outstanding Corporation' at the organization's annual luncheon in November. "

Top Stories

Top Stories: "For university leaders, change is good and the future is online
Monday, December 6, 2004
By Tracie Mauriello
Copyright � 2004 Republican-American

WATERBURY -- The welcome sign, the Web site and the letterhead still say Teikyo Post University, but the school on the city's western edge has a new owner, new trustees and a new designation as a for-profit institution now called just Post University.
Everything else, though, is the same, insist campus leaders.
It has been a month since Generation Partners, an investment firm with offices in Greenwich and San Francisco, bought the school from Teikyo University. The Japanese university had bailed the school out of debt with a $6 million investment in 1990.
This time, though, the ownership change isn't a desperate move, but an indication of prosperity. "

Portsmouth Herald Local News: Tapping into time, talents

Portsmouth Herald Local News: Tapping into time, talents: "Tapping into time, talents
By Collins Dunn
news@seacoastonline.com

PORTSMOUTH - Last year there were more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations required to file tax reports to the state. In that time, not one organization complained of over-funding. Organizations typically struggle to amass enough capital to advance its cause every year.
However, one New Hampshire organization is changing the face of giving in the state. 'E-cares' is a group of high-tech firms that uses business practices learned in their own fields to help nonprofits in the state. "

Young fund-raiser speaks from experience about disease

Young fund-raiser speaks from experience about disease: "Young fund-raiser speaks from experience about disease
Sunday, December 05, 2004
By Maureen Byko

For the past 10 years, when the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has called, Matt Lewis has answered.
If an inspirational speaker was needed, he was there. If fund raising was the order of the day, he was available.
Lewis, a senior at Mars Area High School, was honored last month with the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Western Pennsylvania Chapter."

'PRESS RELEASE Buy One FileMaker, Give One Free' Promotion Ends Dec 15

'Buy One FileMaker, Give One Free' Promotion Ends Dec 15: " Only 9 More Days to Give Friends, Associates or Charities the Best Selling
Easy-to-Use Database

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- This is the last
chance for individuals to help others when they help themselves be more
productive with FileMaker Pro 7 (see full details at
http://www.filemakeroffer.com/holidaypromo ).
The 'Buy One FileMaker, Give One Free' holiday promotion ends Dec. 15. For
every individual who purchases a copy of FileMaker Pro 7 until Dec. 15, the
company will provide a second copy of the product to a friend, colleague,
customer or a charity."

New Community Web Site Providing Free Services to Nonprofits :: PNNOnline :: the nonprofit news and information resource

New Community Web Site Providing Free Services to Nonprofits :: PNNOnline :: the nonprofit news and information resource: "New Community Web Site Providing Free Services to Nonprofits
Posted by: citylinks on Monday, December 6, 2004


Topic Innovations


CityLinks 4Charities, Inc. has announced the launch of a new Web site that provides free online services to charitable and nonprofit organizations nationwide. Citylinks is an interactive community portal providing nonprofit organizations with free tools to help promote service awareness and community needs. Some of these tools include a web directory to create service awareness and traffic; also, postings for used items and special events. Additionally, the site helps with volunteer recruitment, management tools, fundraising via online donations, plus links and other resources. The mission of this Web site is best summed up by its motto � �You help others. Let us help you.�


Qualified organizations can register for these free services online. "

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Accountants Call to Axe Charity Tax

Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Accountants Call to Axe Charity Tax: ":04pm (UK)
Accountants Call to Axe Charity Tax

By Ben Pindar, Community Newswire
As the Band Aid 20 charity single crashed in at the number one spot a leading UK accountancy firm has today called on the Government to scrap VAT for all charities.

The Band Aid Trust is set to save around �4 million after the Treasury confirmed it will refund tax from the latest single �Do they know it�s Christmas?� which is now hot favourite to take the coveted Christmas Number One title."

Buffalo News - Tougher accountability rules are impacting nonprofit groups AFP mention

Buffalo News - Tougher accountability rules are impacting nonprofit groups:
Snip snip
"'People serve on the board of not-for-profits out of the goodness of their hearts. If you hold board members liable for things they could have or should have known about, no one will serve on boards and there will be a net loss,' Spitzer told over 230 attendees from the Western New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Western New York Planned Giving Consortium at Daemen College. "

Chicago Tribune | Aon chief not fazed by insurance probes

Chicago Tribune | Aon chief not fazed by insurance probes: "Aon chief not fazed by insurance probes
As rivals targeted, Ryan says his firm didn't steer clients

By David Greising and Ameet Sachdev, Tribune staff writers. Tribune staff writer Ray Gibson contributed to this story
Published December 5, 2004

In 40 years of business, Patrick Ryan has built the world's second-largest insurance broker from modest beginnings in Chicago.

Now Ryan--friend to Mayor Daley, co-owner of the Chicago Bears, dinner host to President Bush and namesake of Northwestern University's football field--is fighting to prove Aon has done no wrong in the face of an expanding investigation into the insurance industry by New York's attorney general, Eliot Spitzer."

Buffalo News - Tougher accountability rules are impacting nonprofit groups

Buffalo News - Tougher accountability rules are impacting nonprofit groups: "Tougher accountability rules are impacting nonprofit groups
By JONATHAN D. EPSTEIN
News Business Reporter
12/5/2004
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
'Almost anything that happens, as soon as it hits the headlines, board members get concerned about it. They get nervous about it.' James M. Boles, president and CEO of People Inc., the Williamsville-based social services agancy.
Click to view larger picture

Elizabeth A. Mundschenk/Buffalo News
'It's one more reason for somebody to stay away, and I don't want to make it harder to recruit, because we're always looking for board members.' David Pfaff, chairman of the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Center board.
When Marlies Wesolowski joined the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center four years ago as executive director, one of her first tasks was filling a pair of openings on the Buffalo nonprofit agency's board of directors.
That didn't take long at that time, and the positions were filled within a month. "

Scandal-Stained Toys for Tots Bounces Back (washingtonpost.com)

Scandal-Stained Toys for Tots Bounces Back (washingtonpost.com): "Scandal-Stained Toys for Tots Bounces Back
Sponsors, Donations Plentiful a Decade After Charity's Financial Misdeeds
By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 6, 2004; Page B01
A decade after a devastating financial scandal hit the U.S Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots, the 55-year-old charity has come battling back.
The Quantico-based Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is swimming in corporate sponsorship and donations. The number of Toys for Tots distribution groups has almost tripled, the number of toys given to children has more than doubled and the amount of money raised has grown from less than $500,000 to $42 million last year. "

If you're going to give, do your homework before Dec. 31

If you're going to give, do your homework before Dec. 31: "If you're going to give, do your homework before Dec. 31
Monday, December 06, 2004
By Mary Deibel, Scripps Howard News Service

Maybe you contribute to the Christmas flower fund in your mother's memory, give to the charity where your spouse volunteers or donate to a summer-camp fund for inner-city youngsters to honor a privileged child.
Whatever your charity of choice, these holiday gifts keep giving year-round and can reward you again at tax time if you itemize, says financial planner Susan Hirshman of JPMorgan Fleming."

PoughkeepsieJournal.com - Neighbor: Executive makes time, skills available to nonprofits

PoughkeepsieJournal.com - Neighbor: Executive makes time, skills available to nonprofits: "Neighbor: Executive makes time, skills available to nonprofits
By Dan Shapley
Poughkeepsie Journal
Lane donates time to many nonprofits.
Robert Lane grew up in the Village of Endicott, Broome County, and as a boy would often follow his parents to nearby Binghamton, where they served meals to the needy.
''Being the son,'' he said, ''I used to put muscle power into lifting canned goods. Somehow it kind of stuck on me.''
A 17-year Dutchess County resident, Lane doesn't do the heavy lifting now, but he continues to make volunteering a central part of his life. He has focused more on volunteering over the last seven years since he has been a vice president in charge of communications and raising money for the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, and since October, the Wildlife Trust in Palisades, Rockland County"

MSNBC - Milwaukee ponders 'gifts' from nonprofits to fix city's budget woes

MSNBC - Milwaukee ponders 'gifts' from nonprofits to fix city's budget woes: "Milwaukee ponders 'gifts' from nonprofits to fix city's budget woes
Milwaukee ponders 'gifts' from nonprofits to fix city's budget woesBy Pete Millard
The Business Journal of Milwaukee
Updated: 7:00 p.m. ET Dec. 5, 2004Faced with increasingly tight budget and more state shared revenue cuts, city of Milwaukee officials will try to raise $8 million in 2005 by encouraging nonprofit organizations "

MSNBC - Nonprofits form alliance to improve lobbying efforts

MSNBC - Nonprofits form alliance to improve lobbying efforts: "Nonprofits form alliance to improve lobbying effortsBy Ruben Hernandez
The Business Journal of Phoenix
Updated: 7:00 p.m. ET Dec. 5, 2004Organizers of a new, statewide 'chamber of commerce' for nonprofit agencies are set to launch in March. Todd Hornback, chief executive of the Alliance for Arizona Nonprofits, said it will be the state's first advocacy group for charitable organizations and will be structured much like a traditional chamber of commerce. "

E-Mail Creative: The HTML/Text Struggle

E-Mail Creative: The HTML/Text Struggle: "E-Mail Creative: The HTML/Text Struggle
� � � E-Mail Marketing

BY Jeanne Jennings | December 6, 2004
Have you experienced it yet? If not, it's only a matter of time. One ClickZ columnist touched on it in not just one but two columns back in September. I thought it was a tempest in a teapot until I met an interactive agency professional at a conference who referenced it. And just when I thought it was over, a listserv I'm active in had its liveliest debate of the year about it.
Let me lay out the issues, the counterpoints, and my thoughts. Then, I'm curious to hear what you think. Give me your perspective; I'll include your responses in a future column. "

WFSB Milford 'peace' group loses its tax-exempt status

WFSB Milford 'peace' group loses its tax-exempt status: "With its panoramic views of Long Island Sound, the old house offered a tranquil setting where peace activists found inspiration to campaign against wars around the globe.
But after losing a protracted battle of its own, Promoting Enduring Peace says it must find a new headquarters. PEP is selling its waterfront home in this New Haven suburb after losing a court case last spring that began after city officials suddenly removed their 50-year-old property tax exemption as a nonprofit organization. "

Advocacy Groups Blur Media Lines (washingtonpost.com)

Advocacy Groups Blur Media Lines (washingtonpost.com): "Advocacy Groups Blur Media Lines
Some Push Agendas By Producing Movies, Owning Newspapers
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 6, 2004; Page A01
The Madison County Record, an Illinois weekly newspaper launched in September that bills itself as the county's legal journal, reports on one subject: the state courts in southern Illinois. A recent front page carried an assortment of stories about lawsuits against businesses. In one, a woman sought $15,000 in damages for breaking her nose at a haunted house. In another, a woman sued a restaurant for $50,000 after she hurt her teeth on a chicken breast.
Nowhere was it reported that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce created the Record as a weapon in its multimillion-dollar campaign against lawyers who file those kinds of suits. "