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, October 20, 2006

Framing the art of the thrift-shop deal

Framing the art of the thrift-shop deal: "Framing the art of the thrift-shop deal
A master's work - A painting priced online at $10 by Goodwill is auctioned for $165,002
FACTBOX

• Goodwill's masterpiece
Friday, October 20, 2006
JOHN SNELL

Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette hit the jackpot Thursday when what was originally thought to be cheap yard-sale art turned out to be the work of an American master.

The watercolor of a couple paddling a canoe along a placid stream went to bid last week on www.shopgoodwill.com. Goodwill workers described the painting as having 'Some mild wear to edges of board, would be lovely framed. Signature unreadable, dated '23.'

The asking price? $10."

Ocean County Observer - Catholic colleges offer management training

Ocean County Observer - Catholic colleges offer management training:
snip snip>
"Boston College is creating a graduate church management degree program and the University of Notre Dame has long trained students to work for nonprofits, though not necessarily church-run organizations."

The philanthropist - USATODAY.com

The philanthropist - USATODAY.com: "One thing Pitt has learned: Superstardom can be used for good.

Pitt, producer Jerry Weintraub says, is 'interested in different things now than he was 10 years ago. He's really giving back now.'

Since getting involved with Jolie, a U.N. goodwill ambassador, he has become a vocal ambassador for Bono's One campaign, which seeks to eradicate poverty. He also chairs the jury for the Global Green project, which seeks to reduce climate change by constructing environmentally friendly buildings and cities."

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Thrift stores thrive as families struggle - 10/18/06 - The Detroit News Online

Thrift stores thrive as families struggle - 10/18/06 - The Detroit News Online: "Thrift stores thrive as families struggle

Charities set up more clothing, furniture shops as ailing economy takes toll on working poor.

Christina Stolarz / The Detroit News

PONTIAC -- After three weeks of sleeping on a thin, foam mattress on the floor of his bare Pontiac home, William Lomax was ready to upgrade to a bed.

His limited income kept him away from traditional furniture stores. But the 60-year-old retired auditor found help in a different form -- the Furniture Bank, a Pontiac nonprofit organization that provides free basic furniture and household goods to those in need.

Michigan's struggling economy is one reason that the Furniture Bank -- and other thrift organizations such as the Salvation Army and Society of St. Vincent de Paul -- are expanding throughout Metro Detroit."

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

BCNG Portals Page-Whidbey youth coffee shop expands

BCNG Portals Page: "

Whidbey youth coffee shop expands

By MICHAELA MARX WHEATLEY
Oct 18 2006

Jason Tenuta, 17, usually has his hands full helping to run Island Coffee House in Langley. Recently, the South Whidbey High School senior’s responsibilities expanded.

Island Coffee House bought the Golden Otter Used Bookstore. The bookstore will now be operated by South Whidbey youth, just like the coffee shop.

“It’s really good hands-on experience. We look at bookkeeping, see where the money goes,” Tenuta said.

The team of 12 to 18-year-old volunteers have spent countless hours in recent weeks building bookshelves, cataloguing books and thinking up concepts to improve business at the bookstore.

“We went through 600 books,” Tenuta said."

Charitable givers can kiss a lot of junk mail goodbye if they're careful - USATODAY.com

Charitable givers can kiss a lot of junk mail goodbye if they're careful - USATODAY.com:
snip snip>>

"But for those of us who don't have personal assistants, dealing with charitable solicitations can take the joy out of giving. Even a small donation can trigger a tsunami of mail and phone calls from other organizations that know you care about breast cancer research or homeless cats.

'It's the No. 1 complaint we hear,' says Trent Stamp, president of Charity Navigator, a website that rates charities. 'People make a small gift, and that leads them to be harassed and pestered and deluged with mail from other organizations.'

Some folks become so annoyed by the junk mail and phone calls that they threaten to stop giving. But if you want to help causes you care about, that's not a solution. Fortunately, there are ways to give and keep a low profile. Some examples:"

Monessen shoe shiner honored for giving $113,000 to charity

Monessen shoe shiner honored for giving $113,000 to charity:
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"Yesterday, the Monessen man's record of philanthropy won him a spot in the national Hall of Fame for Caring Americans. It also earned his own shoes a quick shine."

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Want to work for the Gates Foundation?

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Want to work for the Gates Foundation?: "f you were the richest person in the world out to solve some of the hardest problems on the planet, who would you put on your team?

The newest members of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation include a World Bank vice president, a genetic engineer from seed giant Monsanto, the founder of an Internet company in Africa, and the former chief executive of a $100 million cattle-breeding company."

TownOnline.com - Arts & Lifestyle: 'SandWitch-A-Thon' looking for help

TownOnline.com - Arts & Lifestyle: 'SandWitch-A-Thon' looking for help: "SandWitch-A-Thon' looking for help
Thursday, October 12, 2006

What do you get when you cross a good witch and a fresh loaf of bread? It's a 'SandWitch-A-Thon.' Yes, it's the only philanthropic sandwich/bread collection drive of its kind, on the Saturday before Halloween, Oct. 28, national 'Make a Difference Day.'
Spread the Bread, a community bread-giving initiative to honor our heroes and to help those in need, invites our world to participate in the first of its kind 'Sand-Witch-A-Thon,' a uniquely spirited sandwich collection drive to feed local shelters and food banks and make a difference."

How Amish Will Use Donations - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.com

How Amish Will Use Donations - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.com: "Outpouring
The Amish in Nickel Mines have been deluged with contributions. Here's how they're handling the money.

Web Exclusive
By Susannah Meadows
Newsweek
Updated: 7:37 p.m. ET Oct. 12, 2006

Oct. 12, 2006 - Since the Oct. 2 shooting of 10 Amish schoolgirls, sympathetic people have responded with an outpouring of donations to help the community in Nickel Mines, Pa., pay hospital bills and for a new school. Since last week, three Mennonite groups with close ties to the Amish have been receiving those donations. Now the Nickel Mines Accountability Committee has been organized to administer the money. Herman Bontrager, norm"

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source: "Heifer International expects to scale back plans for its “global village” in Little Rock after some of the charity’s donors balked at the project’s $ 64 million price tag.

The project was designed to include eight villages encircling a 45-foot mountain, classrooms and holding areas for animals. Its cost would be just $ 3 million less than Heifer spent in 2005 on all of its operations."

Nonprofit Governance and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Nonprofit Governance and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act: "Nonprofit Governance and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Author(s): Francie Ostrower, Marla J. Bobowick
Other Availability: PDF | Order Online | Printer-Friendly Page
Posted to Web: September 19, 2006
Permanent Link: http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=311363

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.

Note: This report is available in its entirety in the Portable Document Format (PDF).

The text below is a portion of the complete document.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, passed in 2002 following widely publicized governance scandals at corporations such as Enron, was intended to deter fraud in publicly traded corporations. The Act extended boards' financial oversight responsibilities and imposed new financial disclosure requirements. Only two of these provisions applied to nonprofits. Its passage nonetheless quickly sparked discussions about nonprofit accountability and whether nonprofits should adhere to certain provisions of the Act, either on a voluntary or mandatory basis.1"

Stock market surge may boost charities - USATODAY.com

Stock market surge may boost charities - USATODAY.com: "By Sandra Block, USA TODAY
If the stock market sustains its strong performance through the rest of the year, investors won't be the only winners. Charities will likely benefit, too.

Historically, stock market performance has been closely correlated with charitable giving, research by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University shows. Charitable giving rose sharply in the '90s, then dropped off as the market sank.

'I'm very optimistic for charities this holiday season,' says Trent Stamp, president of Charity Navigator, which rates charities. 'I think it could be the biggest year in five to 10 years.'"

The Blog | Tom Watson: Exploding Philanthropy: Consumer Brands Key Giving | The Huffington Post

The Blog | Tom Watson: Exploding Philanthropy: Consumer Brands Key Giving | The Huffington Post: "Tom Watson Tom Watson

10.16.2006
Exploding Philanthropy: Consumer Brands Key Giving

When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there.
-- George Harrison

The May 2006 issue of Conde Nast's upscale consumer magazine Vanity Fair may well be remembered as a key chapter in the long history of American philanthropy. Along with the release of the We Are the World video on MTV, the explosion of rubbery 'Live Strong' wristbands, and the application of pink ribbons on everything from yogurt cups to baseball caps, the special Green Issue of Vanity Fair etched another big scratch in the timeline of the ever-expanding nonprofit sector."

Monday, October 16, 2006

IU Establishes Nation's First Endowed Chair in Fundraising - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick

PRESS RELEASE

IU Establishes Nation's First Endowed Chair in Fundraising - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick: "IU Establishes Nation's First Endowed Chair in Fundraising

Source: Inside INdiana Business

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS -- The nation's first endowed chair in fundraising has been established through a $1.5 million gift to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University from Bob Hartsook, a nationally recognized leader in philanthropic fundraising and founder of Hartsook Companies, Inc. "

Frank Sietzen: Nonprofit Congress opens today - Examiner.com

Frank Sietzen: Nonprofit Congress opens today - Examiner.com: "Frank Sietzen: Nonprofit Congress opens today
Frank Sietzen, The Examiner
Oct 16, 2006 5:00 AM (6 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 295 of 6,804 articles
WASHINGTON - Hundreds of nonprofit leaders from across the country are gathering today in Washington at the first national meeting to establish a coordinated plan for action across the country.

The Nonprofit Congress, a project of the Washington-based National Council of Nonprofit Associations, is an attempt to gather the collective voices of the sector and arrive at a series of priorities to guide sector leaders over the next few years. During the meeting the delegates will vote on their top three priorities then craft a plan for concrete action."

Where the money isn't Nonprofits face tough time filling staff jobs

Where the money isn't Nonprofits face tough time filling staff jobs: "Where the money isn't
Nonprofits face tough time filling staff jobs
By CHRISTINA OCCHIPINTI

The battle for administrative personnel is being waged throughout Fairfield County and New York’s Westcherster County, pitting the David-like nonprofit organizations against the Goliath financial sector that continues to absorb all available resources across the job market.

Hiring has become so competitive that executive assistant and administrative assistant positions in for-profit fields have undergone a significant boost in salary, said David Lewis, president of Operations Inc., a Stamford-based company that provides human resources services for small businesses and HR professionals."