AFP Blog: Recent News of Note

This blog contains assorted news and commentary on the fundraising profession and philanthropy gathered by the AFP Fundraising Resource Center. Other Sites of Interest Section Disclaimer: AFP provides the following listing of hyperlinks to other Internet pages as a privilege to the user. AFP does not necessarily endorse, support or attest to the accuracy of information posted on those Internet pages. Some links may require registration to view and/or may only be available for a limited time.

Friday, June 23, 2006

TownOnline.com - Local News: Don’t touch that dial

TownOnline.com - Local News: Don’t touch that dial: "Don’t touch that dial
By Jillian Fennimore/ jfennimo@cnc.com
Thursday, June 22, 2006 - Updated: 10:38 AM EST

A plan to beam commercial radio broadcasts into school buses was tuned in as an option for school-wide fundraising, but the idea raised some static among school committee members, who rejected the concept Monday.
A new company known as Bus Radio is marketing safer school bus transportation with 'age-appropriate entertainment, ' educational content, and public safety announcements - taking 'targeting student marketing to the next level', according to its Web site. "

Winston-Salem Journal | Showing His Mettle: Local hero thinks globally

Winston-Salem Journal | Showing His Mettle: Local hero thinks globally: "Showing His Mettle: Local hero thinks globally
Speedskater talks philanthropy with N.C. legislators

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RALEIGH

Speedskater Joey Cheek spent much of his life working to reach the Olympic medal platform. Now he's using every moment on that pedestal pursuing a new cause.

Three months ago during the Turin Winter Olympics, Cheek donated $40,000 in gold- and silver-medal bonuses to the athletic philanthropy group Right to Play. Since he retired from his sport, Cheek has traveled the world on behalf of the program, advocating sports as a way to improve the lives of forgotten children and drawing attention to some of the world's largest humanitarian disaster, such as the Darfur crisis in Sudan."

MacArthur Foundation targets small non-profits | Chicago Tribune

MacArthur Foundation targets small non-profits | Chicago Tribune: "MacArthur Foundation targets small non-profits

By Charles Storch
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 23, 2006

The Chicago foundation behind the famously generous 'genius' grants is extending the brand, introducing annual awards of up to $500,000 for small non-profit groups considered on the cusp of significant achievement.

Jonathan Fanton, president of the $5.5 billion John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, was to unveil its new program Thursday before the annual Donors Forum of Chicago luncheon, held in the Hilton Chicago.
"

USATODAY.com - Do your homework on celebrity endorsements

USATODAY.com - Do your homework on celebrity endorsements: "Do your homework on celebrity endorsements
Updated 6/22/2006 10:25 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Subscribe to stories like this
Some stars work tirelessly on behalf of certain charities. Others do nothing. But, cautions Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a national charity watchdog, don't blindly follow a celebrity endorsement and do your homework before writing a check. 'Angelina Jolie is a pretty woman but that doesn't mean she's the best person to be choosing your charities for you. Basing your decision that way is not smart.'

Here, some A-list do-gooders explain why they do what they do."

USATODAY.com - Celebrity activists put star power to good use

USATODAY.com - Celebrity activists put star power to good use: "NEW YORK — Where Bono goes, cameras follow.

The same applies to Angelina Jolie and Oprah Winfrey. And the three stars set the gold standard when it comes to celebrity activism. Bono has been instrumental in raising awareness of global poverty and the AIDS epidemic with his ONE campaign, which has gotten stars such as George Clooney, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt on board.

After initial skepticism, politicians from House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., now wax poetic about the U2 singer, lauding his understanding of the issues. His charity work earned him a spot as one of Time's 2005 people of the year."

Bloomberg.com: U.S.-Buffett Lunch Fetches $455,100 Bid as Auction Begins on EBay

Bloomberg.com: U.S.: "Buffett Lunch Fetches $455,100 Bid as Auction Begins on EBay

June 23 (Bloomberg) -- A chance to dine with billionaire investor Warren Buffett drew a high bid of $455,100 in the first hours of a week-long charity auction on EBay Inc.

The winner of the seventh annual fundraiser gets to bring seven friends to a New York steakhouse to query Buffett, the world's second-richest man, about his business strategy and investment philosophy. Last year, an anonymous bidder in Florida paid $351,100, the third-highest price a charity item has ever fetched on EBay, the world's largest online auctioneer."

Southern Voice Online-Spotlight shines again on Boy Scouts funding

Southern Voice Online: "Spotlight shines again on Boy Scouts funding
Bank of America ends contributions; United Way lauds Scouts’ record

By RYAN LEE
Friday, June 23, 2006

State Rep. Earl Ehrhart, who has twice sponsored legislation preempting the city of Atlanta from not doing business with private companies that discriminate against gay men and lesbians, is threatening to end the state’s business with Bank of America because the Republican lawmaker said it discriminates against the Boy Scouts of America"

Thursday, June 22, 2006

CNN.com - Cause celebre: Celebrities and their causes - Jun 21, 2006

CNN.com - Cause celebre: Celebrities and their causes - Jun 21, 2006: "Cause celebre: Celebrities and their causes
Star power helps some causes, hurts others

Wednesday, June 21, 2006; Posted: 4:22 p.m. EDT (20:22 GMT)

(CNN) -- Refugees. Underprivileged children. Soldiers. Breast cancer. AIDS. Animal cruelty. Multiple sclerosis. Famine. Homelessness.

Examine an issue, and there's likely a celebrity connected with it.

They have their reasons. Some have been personally affected by their causes: think Neil Young, who has two children with cerebral palsy, with the Bridge School he and his wife founded; or Michael J. Fox with Parkinson's disease."

Nonprofits grow in awareness, clout

Nonprofits grow in awareness, clout: "Nonprofits grow in awareness, clout

By TOM MORTON
Star-Tribune staff writer Thursday, June 22, 2006

For years, Wyoming foundations and nonprofit arts, social and health services, educational and other charities did their work faithfully in their communities.

They sought people to run their boards of directors, guide their missions and raise money.

Their leaders often labored in silence and by themselves.

Tampabay: Jilted by FSU, chiropractic fund tries USF

Tampabay: Jilted by FSU, chiropractic fund tries USF: "$1.7-million donation that sparked a controversial push for a chiropractic college at Florida State University was quietly shifted to the University of South Florida to finance an endowed position in “chiropractic biomechanical research.”

USF Health officials say the Lincoln College Endowed Chair, recently advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education and The American Chiropractor journal, is simply part of their increasing emphasis on sports medicine and physical therapy."

Monumental Branding - Forbes.com

Monumental Branding - Forbes.com: "Monumental Branding
Tara Weiss, 06.21.06, 1:10 PM ET

By This Author
Tara Weiss
•Could there soon be a “Brought to you by American Express” decal stuck onto the Washington Monument? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as you might think."

The Seattle Times: Arts & Entertainment: ArtsFund giving is up from 2005 grants

The Seattle Times: Arts & Entertainment: ArtsFund giving is up from 2005 grants: "ArtsFund giving is up from 2005 grants

Good news in a tough economy: Grants from ArtsFund, the Seattle-area united arts fund of corporate and workplace giving, totaled more than $2.6 million, up 9.6 percent from last year.

The 2006 grants, totaling $2,676,313, include $82,969 in designated workplace-giving gifts, a comparatively new but growing source of funds that add to ArtsFund's previous mission as a corporate united fund (its former title was Corporate Council for the Arts)."

onPhilanthropy: Fell in Love with a Board...

onPhilanthropy: Fell in Love with a Board...: "Fell in Love with a Boy Board…
By: Elisabeth Anderson, 06/21/06

It has come to this writer’s attention that auditors are a romantic lot.

Well, at least Ian Benjamin and Roxanne Greenstein of RSM McGladrey.

On Monday, June 12th, the pair presented “Why Every Business Person Should Serve on a Not-for-Profit Board,” sponsored by the Penn Club of New York. Thematic throughout the evening was the notion that finding a good fit on a board is much more art than science; it is, in essence, a lot like love."

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Canada's ranks swell to 230,000

You can find additional International stories on our AFP Blog International News

Canada's ranks swell to 230,000: "Canada's ranks swell to 230,00

Lori McLeod, Financial Post
Published: Wednesday, June 21, 2006

The strong Canadian markets and Baby Boomers entering their prime earning years sent the number of millionaires in the country to 230,000 in 2005, a 7.2% increase from the year before, according to data compiled by Merrill Lynch and consulting firm Capgemini.

High-net-worth individuals are considered to be those with over US$1-million in financial assets, which does not include their primary residence or assets, including artwork and cars. Seventy percent of Canadians falling into that category are over 50 and one-third of them are over 70."

Savvy nonprofit executives are the new entrepreneurs - Nashville Business Journal:

Savvy nonprofit executives are the new entrepreneurs - Nashville Business Journal:: "During the past couple of decades, we have seen a number of industries change dramatically. The financial services industry has seen banks, insurance companies, credit unions, savings and loan associations and now even Wal-Mart compete with the same products. Telecommunications has followed a similar pattern, with lines blurred among the Bells, AT&T and other providers. The Internet industry will be very different in a few years as Microsoft and Google shake out their territories.

The nonprofit sector may be heading in a slightly different direction: It may become indistinguishable in a number of ways from its parallel industry: for-profits. And that is a good thing."

Birdies for Charity funds at risk if golf tournament ends

Birdies for Charity funds at risk if golf tournament ends: "The future of the Booz Allen Classic may be in question, but one thing is certain: If the tournament becomes just a memory, area charities will lose a generous benefactor.

Birdies for Charity, the official fund-raising program of the tournament, set a goal this year of raising $350,000 for 285 Washington metropolitan area charities."

The Jakarta Post - Managing aid for humanitarian crises

Find more stories on our Disaster Relief Blog

The Jakarta Post - Managing aid for humanitarian crises: "Managing aid for humanitarian crises

Jan Egeland, Jakarta

Indonesia, Somalia, Sudan, Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia -- all too often, the acute suffering of millions of people is ignored or recognized only after death, disease and despair have taken a horrific toll. Some crises, like the tsunami, galvanize the world's attention. But most crises fall under the shadow of our collective neglect, leaving countless families from Asia to Africa and beyond without the most basic humanitarian assistance. At a time when the rich world has never been larger or more prosperous, our neglect of human suffering continues to be as persistent as it is pervasive."

Foundation to assist nonprofits | Battle Creek Enquirer - www.battlecreekenquirer.com - Battle Creek, Mich.

Foundation to assist nonprofits | Battle Creek Enquirer - www.battlecreekenquirer.com - Battle Creek, Mich.: "foundation to assist nonprofits
Stephanie Antonian Rutherford
The Enquirer

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation announced Tuesday that it will donate $9.3 million to help improve nonprofit organizations nationwide.

The grant will fund a new partnership between the Fieldstone Alliance of St. Paul, Minn., and the New York-based Nonprofit Finance Fund. It will give the more than 800 nonprofits supported by the foundation access to resources, consultation, training and capital."

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

USATF - News-USATF study: Charity fundraising through running sees marked increase

USATF - News: "USATF study: Charity fundraising through running sees marked increase
06-20-2006

INDIANAPOLIS - Marking a trend of continued growth, road runners and walkers raised $656 million for charity in 2005, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced Tuesday. The figure marks a 14 percent increase over 2005 and is the biggest single-year increase since USATF began its annual charity survey in 2002.

The J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series has been named the 2005 USATF Charitable Race of the Year, while the Arthritis Foundation was honored as 2005 Charitable Organization of the Year.

Conducted internally by USATF, the national governing body of track and field, long-distance running and race walking, the study revealed that approximately $656 million was raised for charitable causes by runners in 2005, with 83 percent of races nationwide raising money for charitable causes. USATF gathered data from more than 25 national charitable race series/organizations and a sample of nearly 200 running/walking races, including many of the country's 100 largest races."

BreakingNews.ie: Red Cross moves to accept new emblem

BreakingNews.ie: Red Cross moves to accept new emblem: "Red Cross moves to accept new emblem
20/06/2006 - 10:56:18

Years of campaigning is on the verge of bringing the Israelis and Palestinians into the Red Cross humanitarian movement, thanks to a pending solution in Switzerland to bridge long-standing sensitivities over Crusaders, crosses and crescents.

The two-day International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which opened today in Geneva, is being asked to approve changes to meet Israeli demands of almost six decades that it be granted full membership without using the cross or crescent to identify itself."

Monday, June 19, 2006

commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN: Local-Despite Katrina and tsunami, local charities held their own

commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN: Local: "Despite Katrina and tsunami, local charities held their own

By David Flaum

June 19, 2006
All the money Mid-Southerners donated to national disaster relief didn't seem to put a major dent in giving to the area's major charities.

That's the finding of a survey of members of the American Fundraising Professionals Memphis chapter."

onPhilanthropy: Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Donates $3 Million to Cancer Research

onPhilanthropy: Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Donates $3 Million to Cancer Research: "Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Donates $3 Million to Cancer Research
By: Alexandra Lobanov, 06/14/06

Philanthropy took on a new and surprisingly youthful face when four-year-old cancer patient Alex Scott paved the way for unparalleled children’s cancer funding with the time-honored tradition of holding a lemonade stand.

With the help of her older brother Patrick, in 2000, Alexandra “Alex” held the first annual ‘Alex’s Lemonade Stand’ in the front yard of her Pennsylvania home. Alex hoped to raise money to help her doctors find a cure for her and the many other children suffering from life-threatening and metastasized childhood cancers. "

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > Annual U.S. Charitable Giving Exceeds $260 Billion

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > Annual U.S. Charitable Giving Exceeds $260 Billion: "Annual U.S. Charitable Giving Exceeds $260 Billion

(June 19, 2006) American donors gave more than $260 billion to charitable causes in 2005, a 6.1 percent increase from 2004, according to the annual report Giving USA.

The report, produced by the Glenview, Ill.-based Giving USA Foundation, indicates that giving from most sources increased in 2005 and most subsectors experienced strong rates of growth."

Will Bono's Red Make Charity Cool?

Will Bono's Red Make Charity Cool?: "Will Bono's Red Make Charity Cool?
June 19, 2006

By Jim Edwards

NEW YORK -- Motorola, The Gap, Emporio Armani, Nike's Converse and American Express will jointly launch a new brand in the U.S. covering a range of their products in conjunction with U2 singer Bono in the fall.

A portion of the sales of the brand, Red, will benefit The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The launch combines two unusual elements: It features a range of differing companies employing the same brand; and although it benefits a charity, it is a for-profit effort, so companies will have an incentive to make Red products (and the aid they generate) permanent."

Foundations taking lead in social change

Foundations taking lead in social change: "Foundations taking lead in social change

By TOM MORTON
Star-Tribune staff writer Sunday, June 18, 2006

EVANSTON -- Foundations are becoming the leading architects of social and global change -- surpassing political action, government, business and education -- that will affect populations, economies, culture and politics, the president and CEO of the international Council on Foundations said Friday.

'Politics has become so polarized that ... it can't solve problems,' Steve Gunderson told the representatives of foundations and charities at the fifth biennial Philanthropy Days.

Before Gunderson arrived in Evanston, he was in the Seattle area when Microsoft founder and president Bill Gates recently announced his intentions to leave the company and dedicate his life to addressing HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa.

As a result of this, when people think about global health, they think of the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation and not a government program, a politician or a pharmaceutical company, he said."

The Marietta Times: Windfall could be big problem

The Marietta Times: Windfall could be big problem: "Windfall could be big problem

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com

A rich relative dies and leaves you $1 million. What would you do with all that money?

Between 1998 and 2052, an unprecedented transfer of wealth totaling more than $41 trillion is expected to take place in the United States, according to a study by the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy.

At one time or another, everyone has daydreamed about coming into a lot of money.

“You didn’t earn it, so you should use it to help others,” is the opinion of Gail Howell, 61, of New Matamoras.

“I would give some to a place like the San Diego Zoo, where it would continue to provide enjoyment and education for children and their parents,” she said.
"

Charity case: Execs snub new study - The Portland Business Journal:

Charity case: Execs snub new study - The Portland Business Journal:: "Charity case: Execs snub new study
Sample size, methodology skew numbers
The Portland Business Journal - June 16, 2006
by Robin J. Moody
Business Journal staff writer

Leaders at Oregon nonprofits are ripping a new study that shows Portland's charities are inefficient and have anemic rates of giving.

This is the first year that New Jersey-based Charity Navigator included Portland in its metro market annual study. Its analysis comes on the heels of philanthropy studies released by the Oregon Community Foundation and the Seattle-based Collins Group."

Tech Firms Make Charitable Giving a Priority

Tech Firms Make Charitable Giving a Priority: "Tech Firms Make Charitable Giving a Priority

By Kim Hart
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 17, 2006; Page D01

As Bill Gates takes a step back from Microsoft Corp. to set a new standard for social responsibility, other technology companies are aiming to find new types of corporate giving for the Internet age.

Yahoo Inc. yesterday announced a partnership with One.org, an organization that fights AIDS and poverty. Through a 6-month-old program called Yahoo for Good Scrum, the company allowed employees to take time off from their day jobs to revamp the One.org Web site. The program aims to take on five similar projects a year to apply technology to charitable causes."

Nonprofit puts VC model to work for its fundraising - San Francisco - MSNBC.com

Nonprofit puts VC model to work for its fundraising - San Francisco - MSNBC.com: "Nonprofit puts VC model to work for its fundraising

By Sarah Duxbury
San Francisco Business Times
Updated: 8:00 p.m. ET June 18, 2006

Taking a page from business, a San Francisco nonprofit angling to grow has raised $1.5 million in a venture-style funding round. It plans to raise an additional $3 million in the next six months.

YouthNoise, a social networking site for civic-minded young people, pursued the unusual funding model at the suggestion of its lead funder, Omidyar Networks."

The Chronicle, 6/16/2006: Donations to Charity Rose by 2.7% Last Year, Study Finds

The Chronicle, 6/16/2006: Donations to Charity Rose by 2.7% Last Year, Study Finds: "Donations to Charity Rose by 2.7% Last Year, Study Finds
By Holly Hall

Americans donated $260.3-billion to charity last year, an increase of 2.7 percent after inflation, according to estimates released on Monday by Giving USA, the annual tally of American philanthropy.

About half of the $15-billion increase from 2004 — some $7.4-billion — was given in response to three natural disasters: the Indonesian tsunamis, the Gulf Coast hurricanes, and the earthquake in Pakistan."

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story-The GST reduction: How will it affect nonprofits?

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "On July 1, 2006, Canadian taxpayers will presumably rejoice as the federal government reduces the GST/HST rate by one percentage point to 6% from 7% (14% from 15% for those paying HST). To paraphrase the Conservative party's philosophy about this move: Canadian citizens deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money where it's most useful, in their own pockets. While economic pundits debate the wisdom of this move, the fact remains that it will happen and it will affect everyone, including the voluntary sector. But ask someone who works in the nonprofit community about the impending change and more often than not what you hear is a tepid response.
Understanding the reduction
Susan Mullin, CFRE, is director of development for the York University Foundation and chair of government relations for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Canada Council and AFP Greater Toronto chapter. 'It's short-term administrative pain for some long-term gain, but not a whole lot,' she says."