ARTICLE: We're giving less to local charities (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)

ARTICLE: We're giving less to local charities (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com): "Charitable giving took a tumble locally last year, dropping nearly 20 percent for a sampling of nonprofit organizations, says a new study from The Norfolk Foundation. Contributions fell from $170.1 million in 2005 to $137.7 million in 2006, the report said. But that total still exceeds the 2004 results, the foundation's top executive said, and preliminary reports indicate a bounceback for 2007. 'There seems to be general optimism that, in fact, funding will show some increases,' said Angelica Light, the foundation's president."

Faster grants set for charities -- baltimoresun.com

Faster grants set for charities -- baltimoresun.com: "A major local foundation is launching a grants program that aims to quickly give up to $100,000 apiece to nonprofits across Maryland. The $2.3 billion Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the country's biggest private foundations, will announce the new Maryland Small Grants Program at an event today. Nonprofit advocates are calling it an unusual and welcome twist on grant-making because it simplifies the application process and reduces the wait for a response."

County nonprofits can benefit from wealth transfer - Ann Arbor Business Review - MLive.com

County nonprofits can benefit from wealth transfer - Ann Arbor Business Review - MLive.com: "A new study about the county's wealth and its potential impact for nonprofits as the Baby Boomer generation ages gives hope to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation for increased endowments. Washtenaw County residents will pass $5.25 billion onto their heirs from 2005 to 2015, according to the study commissioned by community foundations in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. That number of local dollars changing hands grows to $41 billion through 2055, showing the scope of the potential for nonprofits to capture some of the transition."

Holocaust Museum honors Houston couple, raises $600,000 at luncheon | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Holocaust Museum honors Houston couple, raises $600,000 at luncheon | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "With Sue and Lester Smith accepting the Guardian of the Human Spirit Award, Holocaust Museum Houston raised record luncheon funds last week at the Westin Galleria Hotel. Proceeds topped $600,000 at the benefit,"

The Enquirer - Zoo touts economic impact

The Enquirer - Zoo touts economic impact: "Four months before voters will decide on a levy, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on Thursday released an economic-impact study showing that it pumped almost $125 million into the economy during 2006. That's almost as much as the area's 18 fine-arts organizations combined (in 2005) and about 3½ times more than the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, according to previous studies by the same group."

Volunteers erect zoo playground in one day | ajc.com

Volunteers erect zoo playground in one day | ajc.com: "More than 300 volunteers from Home Depot, Zoo Atlanta and the Grant Park community showed up at Zoo Atlanta on Thursday for a one-day playground miracle. It is part of a $25 million program by Home Depot and KaBoom, a national nonprofit, to build 1,000 community playgrounds in 1,000 days across the United States."

Back-to-School Philanthropy Goes Chic - November 16, 2007 - The New York Sun

Back-to-School Philanthropy Goes Chic - November 16, 2007 - The New York Sun: "The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the nonprofit Learning Leaders, which trains and places volunteers in New York City public schools. With 14,000 volunteers working in 960 schools, the program is a hub for parents' engagement in their childrens' education."

Bradenton.com | 11/16/2007 | Gas prices sap Manatee nonprofits

Bradenton.com | 11/16/2007 | Gas prices sap Manatee nonprofits: "MANATEE -- Soaring gas prices that hit $3.20 a gallon locally Thursday are taking a toll on local nonprofits."

Stanford delivers $1.76M to St. Jude from golf tourney - Memphis Business Journal:

Stanford delivers $1.76M to St. Jude from golf tourney - Memphis Business Journal:: "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received a $1.76 million check Thursday from the inaugural Stanford St. Jude Championship."

The Most Elite Club in the World

The Most Elite Club in the World: "t's one of the most exclusive clubs anywhere, which is why you've probably never heard of it. Members come from 68 of the wealthiest families in 22 countries. Many are connected to business dynasties around the world. The point of the club: to give away money so that it has the greatest long-term impact on pressing global issues. 'Most philanthropists, even experienced ones, say that it's harder to give money away effectively than it is to make it,' says Beth Cohen, director of the Global Philanthropists Circle (GPC)."

The Morning News: News : Rogers Proposal To Hire Athletics Fundraiser Rare For School Districts

The Morning News: News : Rogers Proposal To Hire Athletics Fundraiser Rare For School Districts:
"'Obviously, we have seen this in colleges and universities for years. The trend of having a fundraiser for high schools is growing more and more. I'd say it is still uncommon,' said Michael Nilsen, public affairs director of the Association of Fundraising Professionals."

The NonProfit Times -Economist: Change Favors The Prepared Mind

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management:
"Raymond, senior managing director for research, evaluation, and strategic planning at Changing Our World Inc., a consulting firm working with nonprofits and private and corporate philanthropists, spoke about change and its implications at the recent conference of the New Jersey chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The session, 'Leading the Nonprofit World of 2015,' revolved around a new spin on an old adage: Change -- rather than chance -- favors the prepared mind."

Responsibility Pays - Forbes.com

Responsibility Pays - Forbes.com: "Ultimately, in exercising corporate social responsibility (CSR), these and other companies will reap the financial reward even though it may be costing them now. Sandra Taylor, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at Starbucks, said spending money to grow the business and social responsibility go hand in hand for the global coffee house chain. “Corporate social responsibility guides our strategic approach to everyday business. We strive to produce social, environmental and economic benefits for our communities and company stakeholders,” Taylor said. “As a result, when we budget for programs and resources that are vital to the growth of our business, we’re--in effect--also budgeting for CSR.”"

Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Philanthropy Day honors those who give

You can read additional stories on National Philanthropy Day on the AFP National Philanthropy Blog


Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL.: "

The press packet I received last week from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) said that Tuesday an estimated 50,000 people gathered in 135 cities across the country to honor those who give so freely of themselves, their time and their riches to benefit others. And, of course, chief among those who got together was a group who had lunch together at the University Center Club yesterday for Tallahassee's version. When you total up all the dollars and time given, the numbers are staggering"

Argus Leader Media - News-Avera gift might be SDSU record

Argus Leader Media - News: "Avera's board of directors today is to approve a multimillion dollar donation to the university that might be the largest in the school's history. Avera officials declined to say the donation amount or comment publicly on the project itself until today's announcement. But the gift and resulting partnership will move forward the $48 million planned construction of a health sciences building and the renovation of Shepard Hall, said David Chicoine, SDSU's president."

WAVY TV 10 - News, Weather, Traffic, Sports for Hampton Roads, Virginia - North Eastern North Carolina - Toy recalls effect holiday donations

WAVY TV 10 - News, Weather, Traffic, Sports for Hampton Roads, Virginia - North Eastern North Carolina - Toy recalls effect holiday donations: "By mid November the organization has usually collected half the amount of toys needed. This year, the organization has not received any toys. 'I've been making calls to our previous donors. They're skeptical about what to donate,' said Arlette Johnson, the party's organizer, 'nobody wants to buy a toy that may possibly make a child sick or injure a child or anything like that.'"

Wealthy buyers gobble down 210,000 US dollar truffle in Hong Kong - Asia-Pacific

Wealthy buyers gobble down 210,000 US dollar truffle in Hong Kong - Asia-Pacific: "The three buyers paid 143,000 euros for the 750-gram truffle in a global charity auction on Sunday, breaking all previous records in the annual auction which is often won by Hong Kong bidders."

Tips on Wise Giving: Ensuring Your Contribution is Used Appropriately - Press Release

Tips on Wise Giving: Ensuring Your Contribution is Used Appropriately - Press Release: "The last two months of the year are extremely important for charities. Some organizations might receive up to 50 percent of their overall annual gifts during this time,' said Paulette V. Maheara, CFRE, CAE, president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). 'So it's vital that donors feel confident about the charities they support, and these tips can help the public spot potential problems.'"

MyrtleBeachOnline.com | 11/10/2007 | To encourage giving, Gates foundation backs survey of the rich

MyrtleBeachOnline.com | 11/10/2007 | To encourage giving, Gates foundation backs survey of the rich: "To encourage giving, Gates foundation backs survey of the rich By Robert Frank - The Wall Street Journal As the economist John Kenneth Galbraith once wrote, 'of all the classes, the wealthy are the most noticed and the least studied.' Now, the richest man in America aims to change that. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is co-funding a study that is believed to be the largest and broadest survey of the American rich ever conducted. The questions will target American households worth $25 million or more, and the study aims to have at least 1,000 respondents - a massive sample size for people of such a high net-worth level."

Nonprofits are checking holiday toy donations twice | TuscaloosaNews.com

Nonprofits are checking holiday toy donations twice | TuscaloosaNews.com: "We’ve also been instructed not to take recalled toys from them,” he said.

Smith said the Salvation Army headquarters has kept the local wing of the organization up-to-date on the recalled toy list.

So even if a toy that the Salvation Army bought or received as a donation was on the recall list, Salvation Army toy checkers would catch it before it was given to a child, Smith said. “When we get a toy, we check it,” Smith said. “But so far, we’ve gotten no recalled toys.”

delawareonline ¦ The News Journal, Wilmington, Del. ¦ The future of the arts in Delaware

delawareonline ¦ The News Journal, Wilmington, Del. ¦ The future of the arts in Delaware: "But now some arts organizations are failing to bring in the money necessary for their long-term survival, and normally reserved Delaware arts leaders are sounding the alarm: Without community support, some institutions could disappear.

'The whole future of the arts in Delaware is at stake now,' said Tatiana Brandt Copeland,"

Pursuit of meaningful work blurs the business, nonprofit culture gap - The Boston Globe

Pursuit of meaningful work blurs the business, nonprofit culture gap - The Boston Globe: "Jobs in the nonprofit sector are growing at a faster rate than jobs in the business sector. But this might not even be the big news. The big news is that the difference between the two sectors is fading.
The gap between the nonprofit sector and the business sector is shrinking, according to nonprofit veteran Seth Rosen who blogs at technovist.com."

This Philanthropic Act Is Brought to You by Doritos - Advertising Age - News

This Philanthropic Act Is Brought to You by Doritos - Advertising Age - News: "New Jersey teen Erika Ferguson just last week was awarded a $500 grant. But there was no stuffy foundation she needed to convince. All the 15-year-old had to do was log on to DoSomething.org and post her idea to take 24 women and children living at a homeless shelter near her home in Atlantic City on a field trip to the Cape May Zoo. Retailer Game Stop provided the funding."

Inside Philanthropy: Nonprofits’ role central in economy, society

Inside Philanthropy: Nonprofits’ role central in economy, society: "Nonprofits’ role central in economy, society The economic impact of nonprofits is huge, the social role they play is critical, and the organizational challenges they face are daunting. “Nonprofit Awareness Month,” being celebrated during November in North Carolina, is a great time to nonprofits to promote the work they do and confront the obstacles they face. Roughly 1.4 million nonprofits, including 949,000 charitable organizations, are registered with the IRS and account for 5.2 percent of gross domestic product and 8.3 percent of salaries and wages paid in the U.S., according to the Nonprofit Almanac 2007 published by The Urban Institute."

toledoblade.com -- Wait nights on menu

toledoblade.com -- Wait nights on menu: "Celebrity wait nights are here to stay as a fund-raising tool. They became popular more than a decade ago, thanks to philanthropist Nan Chezek, and now nearly every organization has the idea on their menu. After all, everyone has to eat!"

www.wbjournal.com - Money-Making For Do-Gooders

www.wbjournal.com - Money-Making For Do-Gooders: "Now, two major institutions in the North Central Massachusetts nonprofit landscape are suggesting a new way for charities to come up with money: grow your own."

Program links endowed scholars with donors - News

Program links endowed scholars with donors - News: "Along with these financial changes, however, the endowed scholars program has also seen a recent transformation that is more personal and human. Joanne Goggins, executive director of stewardship and donor relations, said the program has become more about making connections through the generations, and putting faces to dollar signs.
The program, managed by the Office of University Advancement, encourages student-donor relations now more than ever, and is more proactive in making such connections possible."

Charity for its own sake? What a concept - Opinion

Charity for its own sake? What a concept - Opinion: "A seemingly ridiculous concept became a reality when, over the past two years, the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business raised over $85 million in donations from 13 alumni in return for a promise not to rename the school for any donor over the next 20 years.

When Michael Knetter became dean in 2002, he looked to significantly increase the school's budget. He began by offering up the naming rights to the entire school for a one-time $50 million donation."

clarionledger.com - Opinion | It's not too late to become a great Mississippi philanthropist

clarionledger.com - Opinion | It's not too late to become a great Mississippi philanthropist: "Our state is almost always rated the 'Most Generous State' in surveys reported in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Our total giving is not at the top, naturally, but in per capita giving, we always prevail. In other words, Mississippians stretch when they give. Many of them 'give till it hurts.' '

Philanthropy' is such an important-sounding word. In Latin it means 'the love of humankind.'

Today, it simply means 'giving'-voluntary giving for the common good. Giving feels good to the donor not just because it's the right thing to do, but because each person makes the choice to do it. And charitable giving benefits everyone."