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, August 25, 2006

Volunteers labor during Day of Caring - Hendersonville Times-News

Volunteers labor during Day of Caring - Hendersonville Times-News: "Volunteers labor during Day of Caring
Jennie Jones Giles
Times-News Staff Writer
jennie.giles@hendersonvillenews.com

Holes in the hose were patched with Duct tape, but that didn't hinder four employees from the Eaton Corp. as they washed trailers, a truck and cars for the Henderson County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

One member of the car wash crew climbed a ladder to reach the top of the truck, as others scrubbed the vehicles with soapy brushe"

FOXNews.com - Charity: authors auction Character Names - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

FOXNews.com - Charity: authors auction Character Names - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment: "Charity: authors auction Character Names
Friday, August 25, 2006
By KIM CURTIS, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — Buoyed by last year's success, the First Amendment Project will again auction off character-naming rights in new books by prominent authors including Carl Hiaasen, Lorrie Moore and Pulitzer Prize winner Edward P. Jones.

The 2005 online auction raised $150,000 for the nonprofit organization devoted to protecting freedom of information, expression and petition, and thrilled nearly two dozen fans who paid to see their names in print, according to David Greene, executive director.

Linda-gail Case, 52, a self-proclaimed'tried and true'Nora Roberts fan, spent $6,800 last year to see her name in Roberts'latest novel,'Angels Fall.'"

Buffett makes $1.6 bln gift to Gates Foundation

Buffett makes $1.6 bln gift to Gates Foundation: "Buffett makes $1.6 bln gift to Gates Foundation

Reuters
Thursday, August 24, 2006; 6:50 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett on Thursday donated $1.6 billion of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the first major installment in Buffett's plan to give away much of his fortune.

According to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Buffett donated 500,000 Berkshire Class B shares, valued at $3,208 each based on Thursday's closing price. The shares rose $35 on Thursday."

SFGate: Daily Dish : McCartney Pays Millions for Charity No-Show

SFGate: Daily Dish : McCartney Pays Millions for Charity No-Show: "McCartney Pays Millions for Charity No-Show

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has paid $2.8 million to a landmine charity after pulling out of its fundraising concert causing the event's subsequent cancellation.

McCartney was supposed to attend October's Los Angeles gig for landmine charity Adopt-A-Landmine with wife Heather Mills McCartney.

But due to their current estrangement and ongoing divorce proceedings, McCartney decided not to go through with his appearance, even though he was scheduled to be the biggest attraction at the fundraiser."

The Sun News | 08/25/2006 | Nonprofit leaders: Boards oft out of sync

The Sun News | 08/25/2006 | Nonprofit leaders: Boards oft out of sync: "Nonprofit leaders: Boards oft out of sync
By David Wren
The Sun News

FLORENCE - People who serve on the boards of nonprofit agencies often don't realize the financial responsibility and legal liability that goes with their positions, according to agency executives who met here Wednesday to talk about restoring the public's trust in nonprofits."

Grand Haven Tribune - Michigan Newspapers News for West Michigan, Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Holland, Ferrysburg

Grand Haven Tribune - Michigan Newspapers News for West Michigan, Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Holland, Ferrysburg: "The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University will honor two distinguished philanthropy leaders with the Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fundraising, the Center's most prestigious award, at a dinner ceremony tonight in Indianapolis.

Click to enlarge

Dorothy A. 'Dottie' Johnson, of Grand Haven, president emeritus of Council of Michigan Foundations, and Dr. J. David Smith, retired associate dean for development at the Indiana University School of Medicine, are the honorees."

New Chief Oversees a Less Visible Faith Office

New Chief Oversees a Less Visible Faith Office: "The White House announced Jay F. Hein's appointment at 6:30 p.m. on a Thursday three weeks ago, the kind of timing usually reserved for news the administration wants to bury.

Hein is the new director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the third person since 2000 who has headed President Bush's effort to help religious groups win public funding to counsel addicts, mentor prisoners' children and provide other social services. Before he took up his duties this week, the position had been vacant for more than two months."

Thursday, August 24, 2006

McCartney Pulls Out of Charity Gala Over Divorce

McCartney Pulls Out of Charity Gala Over Divorce: "McCartney Pulls Out of Charity Gala Over Divorce

Reuters
Thursday, August 24, 2006; 12:55 PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Beatle Paul McCartney has pulled out of a charity gala in October because of his impending divorce from Heather Mills, the charity said on Thursday.

Adopt-A-Minefield (UK), the British branch of the land-mine charity which has both McCartney and Mills as patrons, said the annual fundraising event, due to have been held in Los Angeles on October 11, had been canceled."

Meet, Beat Challenges to List Growth

Meet, Beat Challenges to List Growth: "E-mail is a critical tool for nonprofits to expand constituent participation in public policy, recruit volunteers and boost online fundraising. Organizations use several tactics to increase their lists, including sending personalized HTML informational newsletters, action alerts, petitions, fundraising appeals and thank-you messages."

E-Mail Energizes Nonprofit Efforts

E-Mail Energizes Nonprofit Efforts: "E-mail marketing has virtually no production, materials or postage expenses, unlike direct mail. It can cost as little as fractions of a penny per e-mail. The following examples illustrate e-mail marketing’s benefits for nonprofit communications:"

Indiana judge rips Chicago's Poetry Foundation

Indiana judge rips Chicago's Poetry Foundation: "Indiana judge rips Chicago's Poetry Foundation

August 24, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS -- Two charities fighting over the trust money of 91-year-old heiress Ruth Lilly were scolded by an appeals court judge for their lawsuit claiming a bank reduced the value of their donations because of delayed stock transactions."

Fond du Lac Reporter - Leadership qualities, enthusiasm set new Marian College President Baltodano apart

Fond du Lac Reporter - Leadership qualities, enthusiasm set new Marian College President Baltodano apart: "Leadership qualities, enthusiasm set new Marian College President Baltodano apart

By Sharon Roznik
The Reporter sroznik@fdlreporter.com

On July 1, Josefina Castillo Baltodano became Marian College's first woman lay president in 34 years.

She is one of a handful of female Hispanic college presidents in the United States, and proud of it.

'Leadership is all about building relationships,' she said."

PNNOnline-The International ePhilanthropy Awards, with Nominees from All Seven Continents

PNNOnline: "The International ePhilanthropy Awards, with Nominees from All Seven Continents
Date Thursday, August 24 @ 05:00:52
Topic Conferences and Events

The ePhilanthropy Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based educational nonprofit organization, announced this week its 2006 ePhilanthropy Awards drew a record 68 nominations, representing nonprofits from various fields on all seven continents. The Foundation reported the milestone in its latest eZine, reaching over 22,000 subscribers internationally.

The annual International ePhilanthropy Awards honor individuals, organizations and companies working in the ephilanthropy field who have demonstrated extraordinary talent, creativity and insight in drawing the public’s attention to the use of the Internet for philanthropic purposes and/or have created services or strategies that support those efforts.

"

Survey: Indianapolis Congregations Participated in Disaster Relief in 2005 - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick

PRESS RELEASE

Survey: Indianapolis Congregations Participated in Disaster Relief in 2005 - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick: "Survey: Indianapolis Congregations Participated in Disaster Relief in 2005

InsideIndianaBusiness.com Report

8/24/2006 8:38:00 AM
More than 95 percent of central Indiana religious congregations helped in disaster relief efforts in 2005, according to the Lake Family Institute on Faith & Giving at the IU Center on Philanthropy."

Ventura County Star: Community-Focus on philanthropy

Ventura County Star: Community: "The goal of the trip, Carper said, was to create a greater awareness about charitable fundraising to improve the quality of life in China.

The delegation was led by Alphonce J. Brown Jr., advanced certified fundraising executive, chairman of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and vice president of development for the National Academy of Public Administration, Washington, D.C."

An Honor and a Boon for Nine Nonprofits

An Honor and a Boon for Nine Nonprofits: "An Honor and a Boon for Nine Nonprofits

By Judy Sarasohn
Thursday, August 24, 2006; Page A19

Genius awards for nonprofits?

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation , known for the fellowship program in which it gives $500,000 to individuals in many fields, has created a similar prize for nonprofit organizations. The prizes for nonprofits were given today to nine groups, including a reconstituted D.C. organization now known as Knowledge Ecology International ."

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Incharacter.org-The Many Faces of Celebrity Philanthropy

Incharacter.org: "The Many Faces of Celebrity Philanthropy

An old joke – you will see how old by the names it invokes – has a young Hollywood star, seeking to ornament and thereby solidify his rising fame, instruct his agent to find a charity for him to associate his name with. “Morty,” he says to the agent, “you gotta get me my own charity. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby have their charity golf tournaments. Doris Day works for protecting animals. Danny Thomas has St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Jerry Lewis has Muscular Dystrophy. It works for them, Morty, it’ll work for me. Get on it right away.” A week later the agent calls back. “You’ve found my charity?” the young star asks. “It wasn’t easy, Rick,” the agent replies, “just about everything was taken.” “What was left for me?” the star asks, hope in his voice. A brief silence, a clearing of the throat, finally the agent says, “Acne.” "

Reports criticize Katrina relief efforts - Nation

We have addditional material on Disaster Relief on our Disaster Relief News Blog

Reports criticize Katrina relief efforts - Nation: "Reports criticize Katrina relief efforts
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 8/23/06 Section: Nation

Page 1 of 1

NEW ORLEANS - No less than a half-dozen reports on the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort are being released to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the storm - and nearly all criticize the sluggish pace of the response.

The reports document a host of problems, from the still-unfinished levees to the plight of small businesses and the continuing racial divide.

'It's a pretty bleak picture,' said Minor Sinclair, who heads the U.S. regional office of Oxfam America, a charitable organization."

BostonHerald.com - Opinion & Editorial: It’s just bad business: Corporations surrender to liberal shakedowns

BostonHerald.com - Opinion & Editorial: It’s just bad business: Corporations surrender to liberal shakedowns: "A report issued recently by the Capital Research Center in Washington punctures illusions that tend to associate big corporations with right-wing or conservative causes. The report depicts a reality that is exactly the opposite.
CRC researchers examined contributions made in 2004 by the foundations of the nation’s top 100 corporations to nonprofit organizations. The result: Corporate contributions to left-leaning groups totaled $59 million and to right-leaning organizations $4 million. "

Kansas City Star | 08/23/2006 | Groups plan philanthropy session

Kansas City Star | 08/23/2006 | Groups plan philanthropy session: "hat collaboration addresses an often-repeated concern of donors that services may be duplicated by the more than 7,300 area nonprofit organizations that compete for donations and volunteer time.

Co-sponsors of the event are the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Community Association of Nonprofit Business Executives, the Mid-America Planned Giving Council, the Nonprofit Communications Network, and the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Missouri-Kansas City."

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Smithsonian Struts More of Its Stuff With Affiliations

Smithsonian Struts More of Its Stuff With Affiliations: "Smithsonian Struts More of Its Stuff With Affiliations

By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 22, 2006; Page C01

The Apollo 13 space capsule has been to Hutchinson, Kan.

Kermit the Frog has gone to Dubuque, Iowa.

A triceratops skull went to Anniston, Ala.

Lincoln's top hat, the one he was wearing the night of his assassination, visited Danville, Calif.

The four trips are part of a plan to get the Smithsonian Institution to empty its closets. In exchange for a $2,500 annual fee, museums may become Smithsonian 'affiliates"

ICT [2006/08/18] Philanthropy -- Giving is a tradition with the Dakota

ICT [2006/08/18] Philanthropy -- Giving is a tradition with the Dakota: "Editors' note: This is the first of several articles that will focus on the philanthropy of tribes that are in a position to make serious contributions to Indian country for the benefit of all people. This series is intended to point out that tribes in a position to help others do, and that the benefits are far-reaching. This is not intended to be a public relations series for any tribe or organization: it is strictly informational. Subsequent articles will provide details of how some organizations and tribes have been helped.

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. - Many indigenous nations across the country have the spirit of sharing embedded within the culture and that giving is still part of everyday life for many people.

Now, something new has been added to the star quilts and horses and beadwork and tobacco and sage gifts: money - and lots of it. Everything being relative, it's all the same, a gift to honor or a gift among friends or family for a special event. "

Ex-Getty Chairman Returns Money for Unwritten Book - New York Times

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Ex-Getty Chairman Returns Money for Unwritten Book - New York Times: "Ex-Getty Chairman Returns Money for Unwritten Book

By EDWARD WYATT
Published: August 19, 2006

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 — A second former official of the J. Paul Getty Trust has agreed to reimburse the trust for thousands of dollars in compensation that he received under conditions now under scrutiny by California law enforcement officials.

The Getty Trust, one of the world’s richest cultural and philanthropic organizations, said Friday that David P. Gardner, a former chairman, had agreed to repay approximately $99,000, or about half of the compensation he had received for work on an unfinished book commemorating the trust’s 25th anniversary."

Got Skills?

Got Skills?: "orporate volunteering is becoming less about envelope stuffing and more about letting employees apply their specific skills.
Entrepreneur magazine - September 2006
By Chris Penttila

Walk into fluid's New York City studio, and you'll see the firm's 20 employees hard at work on music and editorial post-production projects for companies including eBay, FedEx and Sony. The firm's workload generates more than $6 million in annual sales.

But on any given day, Fluid's employees might also be doing pro bono work to help a nonprofit organization. "

No more castoff donations for a tax write-off - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

No more castoff donations for a tax write-off - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "No more castoff donations for a tax write-off

By Joyce Howard Price
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 19, 2006

Most old clothing, furniture, appliances, electronics and other household items donated to charity must be in 'good used condition or better' to qualify for a tax deduction under new federal legislation signed by President Bush this week.
This means many old toasters, televisions, stereos, phones or computers given to charity that work erratically or not at all can no longer be claimed for federal tax deductions.
Maj. Todd Hawks, national public affairs secretary for the Salvation Army, the nation's largest charity, said the changes will make charities and donors better "

Star-Telegram | 08/20/2006 | Most nonprofits used their donations wisely, leader of watchdog group says

Star-Telegram | 08/20/2006 | Most nonprofits used their donations wisely, leader of watchdog group says: "Most nonprofits used their donations wisely, leader of watchdog group says
By ANNA M. TINSLEY
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

STAR-TELEGRAM ARCHIVES/RALPH LAUER

Americans who watched the horror of Hurricane Katrina play out on television -- cutting a swath of destruction across the Gulf Coast, forcing hundreds of thousands out of their homes and leading to more than 1,500 deaths -- opened their pocketbooks like never before.

They donated more than $4.2 billion to the relief effort, topping the previous high of $3 billion donated after 9-11, according to a group that spent nearly a year investigating how donations were spent.

'That's a massive outpouring of funding,' said Trent Stamp, executive director of Charity Navigator, the New Jersey-based nonprofit charity watchdog group. 'Americans wanted to help. Instead of driving to New Orleans or signing up for the National Guard, they wrote a check."

Nonprofits find friends on MySpace - Orlando Sentinel : Technology

Nonprofits find friends on MySpace - Orlando Sentinel : Technology: "Nonprofits find friends on MySpace

Ashima Singal | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 20, 2006

In the age of glitzy, professionally designed Web sites, nonprofits are reaching younger audiences with pages within MySpace.com and similar sites that are easier to build and cheaper to maintain.

And they're finding that more people, after clicking on MySpace, are asking about their services, too."

Philanthropy's Next Generation - Forbes.com

Philanthropy's Next Generation - Forbes.com: "Philanthropy's Next Generation
David Serchuk, 08.21.06, 6:00 AM ET

Brooke Astor is unaccustomed to the headlines she's been appearing in lately. The famed philanthropist and 104-year-old Grand Dame of New York society is at the center of a tug of war between members of her immediate family. Court papers filed by grandson Philip Marshall in July seek to remove his father, Anthony Marshall, as legal guardian to Astor. Philip alleges that his father has neglected Astor's care and withheld medication. The elder Marshall denied all charges, and the case is pending."

Hamilton Spectator - News-"Real philanthropy means no strings -- or names -- attached

Hamilton Spectator - News: "Real philanthropy means no strings -- or names -- attached
By John Wright, Stoney Creek
The Hamilton Spectator
(Aug 21, 2006)

Re: 'McMaster gets $5m Braley donation' (Aug. 17)

Congratulations, once again, to McMaster University on its success at selling the naming rights to yet another public building -- not. Have we really reached the point where management and funding of public institutions has become dependent on selling naming rights for buildings to the highest bidder?"

Salt Lake Tribune - Gates Foundation one of MediaNews' backers

Salt Lake Tribune - Gates Foundation one of MediaNews' backers: "Gates Foundation one of MediaNews' backers
SEC filing: The world's largest philanthropy loaned money for the purchase of four papers
The Associated Press

SEATTLE - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was among a few dozen banks, insurance companies, mutual funds and other entities that loaned $350 million to MediaNews Group Inc. for its purchase of four newspapers from publisher McClatchy Co.
The Gates Foundation - the world's largest philanthropy, with an endowment of about $30 billion - contributed an unspecified amount of money toward the transaction, according to an Aug. 8 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by MediaÂNews Group. Others listed as contributors include General Electric Capital Corp. and Blue Shield of California. "

Flexible Volunteering - How to Do Flexible Volunteering - Learn About Flexible Volunteering

Flexible Volunteering - How to Do Flexible Volunteering - Learn About Flexible Volunteering: "How to Be a Flexible Volunteer for the Planet
From Joanne Fritz,
Your Guide to Nonprofit Charitable Orgs.
Stay up to date!
By Deborah Mitchell, Senior Editor of Environmental Protection for CharityGuide
It’s a common lament: there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything you want to do. At the same time, you truly want to help make this planet a better place for yourself and your children. But what can you do if you can’t make specific time commitments because of your family, work, school, and personal obligations?"