Steinhauser: Local nonprofits now bear a heavier burden

Steinhauser: Local nonprofits now bear a heavier burden: "Donors must understand that nonprofits need operational funding to keep the doors open and be flexible to meet community needs. The United Way was one of the last sources of unrestricted funds that kept nonprofits healthy and focused on their missions."

AFP > Research & Statistics | AFP research > Many Charities Behind on Their Fundraising This Holiday Season, but Still Optimistic

AFP > Research & Statistics | AFP research > Many Charities Behind on Their Fundraising This Holiday Season, but Still Optimistic: "Many Charities Behind on Their Fundraising This Holiday Season, but Still Optimistic

(Arlington, Va.) Less than half of charities across North America are raising more money during the 2007 holiday giving season (defined as October through December) than they did last year, according to a survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

AFP’s 2007 Holiday Giving Survey found that just 48.3 percent of charities are raising more money during the last quarter of 2007 (as of Dec. 10) compared to the same period in 2006. Approximately a quarter (25.4 percent) have raised about the same amount, and 26.3 percent have raised less."

TheStar.com | comment | Don't sweat seasonal generosity

TheStar.com | comment | Don't sweat seasonal generosity: "George Fierheller, former chair of the United Way of Greater Toronto, current chair of capital fundraising for the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, pillar of the corporate community and tireless volunteer, has some advice for those who get upset about the sudden outbreak of generosity at Christmas.

Don't sweat it.

'As long as the money is going to a useful cause, it's all to the good,' he says. 'There are many, many motivations for volunteering time or money. You can't expect everyone to do things for altruistic reasons. Nor does it really matter. The `why' is less important than the `what.''"

Many Charities Behind on Their Fundraising This Holiday Season, but Still Optimistic - Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Many Charities Behind on Their Fundraising This Holiday Season, but Still Optimistic - Press Release: "AFP's 2007 Holiday Giving Survey found that just 48.3 percent of charities are raising more money during the last quarter of 2007 (as of Dec. 10) compared to the same period in 2006. Approximately a quarter (25.4 percent) have raised about the same amount, and 26.3 percent have raised less."

Steven Pearlstein - Softening Economy Doesn't Harden Hearts - washingtonpost.com

Steven Pearlstein - Softening Economy Doesn't Harden Hearts - washingtonpost.com: "Softening Economy Doesn't Harden Hearts

By Steven Pearlstein
Friday, December 21, 2007; Page D01

There's a temptation to gauge the generosity of a community by the number of million-dollar donations made to the local symphony or university, or the number of fundraising records set by the annual cancer ball or school auction. And until recently, thanks to a booming economy and real estate market, the Washington region has done pretty well by that standard."

Charitable mis-giving - Roanoke.com

Charitable mis-giving - Roanoke.com: "Editorial: Charitable mis-giving
Veterans charities that use donations to pay six-figure salaries don't deserve the public's generosity.

Americans have a soft spot for charitable causes. They give to hurricane relief funds and victims of wildfires or to whatever cause du jour tugs hardest at their hearts.

Like the war wounded.

Americans have given nearly $500 million to military charities they thought help wounded troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But surprisingly little of that money actually reaches veterans, the American Institute of Philanthropy says. Money instead is spent on slick ad campaigns, trinkets and outrageously inflated salaries for charity leaders."

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Ho Ho Ho, Fundraising Climate Looks Jolly

The Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI) indicates good charitable giving prospects this holiday season, with a stable fundraising climate that's better than this time last year and six months ago. The latest index was released Tuesday by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

The PGI, similar to a Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for charitable giving, includes three indexes on a scale from 0 to 100, based on a semiannual national survey of more than 152 nonprofit fundraising professionals. The Present Situation Index gauges the current giving environment. The Expectations Index assesses the climate for the next six months, and the overall PGI is an average of the current and future indexes. Higher scores indicate more positive or optimistic attitudes about the climate of fundraising."

2 Young Hedge-Fund Veterans Stir Up the World of Philanthropy - New York Times

2 Young Hedge-Fund Veterans Stir Up the World of Philanthropy - New York Times: "Mr. Karnofsky and Mr. Hassenfeld, both 26, are the founders and sole employees of GiveWell, which studies charities in particular fields and ranks them on their effectiveness. GiveWell is supported by a charity they created, the Clear Fund, which makes grants to charities they recommend in their research.

Their efforts are shaking up the field of philanthropy, generating the kind of buzz more typically devoted to Bill Gates and Warren E. Buffett, as charities ponder what, if anything, their rigorous approach to evaluation means for the future."

Are Rich People Generous Tippers? - City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog

Are Rich People Generous Tippers? - City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog: "What about philanthropy in general? Thomas H. Pollak, who directs the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute, a research organization in Washington, said wealthy Americans on average give a greater proportion of their incomes to charity than middle-class Americans. It is harder to say, however, whether the rich are relatively more generous than the poor, since low-income Americans are more likely to give cash to their churches or houses or worship and are less likely to claim charitable deductions in their tax filings."

Study: Charitable giving in MN surpasses $5B - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

Study: Charitable giving in MN surpasses $5B - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:: "The Minneapolis-based group said that charitable giving by individuals, foundations and corporations rose to $5.1 billion in 2005, an increase of 4.9 percent between 2004 and 2005, which is the most recent year for which comprehensive data is available.

The report, titled Giving in Minnesota, also showed that individual Minnesotans gave $4.1 billion to charity in 2005, up from $3.8 billion in 2004."

Greed gets in the way of City giving - Telegraph

Greed gets in the way of City giving - Telegraph: "Published just as the first City bonuses have been unveiled and as Christmas approaches, the report shows that if City workers (about one million of the 37m strong workforce) gave 5pc of their salary, or £4bn a year, to charity, London would match New York in terms of philanthropy.

The report argues that while bonuses are expected to be 16pc lower this year at £7.4bn, due to the credit crunch, they remain 400pc above levels 10 years ago, allowing for a considerable amount to be devoted to charitable causes."

abc7chicago.com: Ginormous Generosity 12/18/07

abc7chicago.com: Ginormous Generosity 12/18/07: "It never ceases to amaze me. You think, is it just going to get larger and larger? And it does,' said Francine Friedman, Association of Fundraising Professionals."

WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | New bill provides tax exemption for Virginia Tech victims

WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | New bill provides tax exemption for Virginia Tech victims: "President Bush is signing into legislation on Wednesday a bill that will provide a tax exemption for Virginia Tech shooting victims and their families.

Governor Kaine will be there for the signing, along with Virginia Tech President Charles Steger."

Some charities get givers' goats, or bikes or ... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Some charities get givers' goats, or bikes or ... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Instead of asking for support in general, more nonprofit organizations have entered the merchandising game. If L.L. Bean can publish a Christmas catalog, so can Heifer International, a Little Rock, Ark.-based charity that's been sending cows, goats, geese and even water buffalo to needy families since 1944."

Kansas.com | 12/19/2007 | Nonprofits interest new Barton scholar

Kansas.com | 12/19/2007 | Nonprofits interest new Barton scholar: "'She just had a presence about her,' said Kontz, who added that Groene's interest in nonprofit organizations impressed the committee.

'Being in Wichita, she'll have many opportunities for internships with nonprofit groups.'

Groene said her time as an intern with Big Brothers Big Sisters helped kindle her interest in nonprofit work.

'Seeing the impact that (nonprofits) can have on people has totally influenced my view of them,' she said."

London Free Press - City & Region - Major staff campaigns boost total

London Free Press - City & Region - Major staff campaigns boost total: "The campaign surged to about 90 per cent of its $7.2-million goal on the strength of a $470,000 gift from employees of General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and a $145,000 contribution from London Health Sciences Centre staff."

Appleton Post-Crescent: Your Fox Cities News Source - Philanthropists unveil $175M college scholarship endowment

Appleton Post-Crescent: Your Fox Cities News Source - Philanthropists unveil $175M college scholarship endowment: "GREEN BAY — Philanthropist and former Wisconsin resident John Morgridge choked up Tuesday as he spoke about the older brother who helped pave his way to college.

He was a metaphorical genie, Morgridge said, granting his wish to attend school away from their Wauwatosa home.

Now Morgridge hopes to grant such wishes many times over with a $175 million scholarship endowment announced Tuesday."

The Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com - Ft. Collins, CO.

The Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com - Ft. Collins, CO.: "Whether it is because of a deteriorating economy, fear of a recession or just plain hard times, nonprofits in Larimer County are feeling the pinch in donations this year, officials said.

'We have had quite a lot of campaigns that didn't reach their goal this year,' said Theresa Gomez, vice president of marketing and communications for United Way of Larimer County. 'It's a down economy. There's not a lot of outgrowth out there.'"

Board Café

Board Café: "Now a holiday tradition, here we take a tip from the Twelve Days of Christmas and give you the Twelve Board Café Days of Christmas. This year let's be thankful both for what we have, and for the opportunities to give to others. – Jan Masaoka, Chef/Editor

This month’s main course article
The Twelve Board Cafe Days of Christmas"

Charities special - airline passengers' spare change raises millions to help children

Charities special - airline passengers' spare change raises millions to help children: "Millions of passengers who have flown with airlines ranging from Aer Lingus to Qantas will be familiar with - and may have filled - Change for Good envelopes in the seat pocket. By asking passengers to hand in their unwanted foreign change, the initiative has since its launch 20 years ago raised over $70 million for United Nations childrens organisation Unicef, supporting projects in more than 150 countries."

Professional Fundraisers Call on Congress to Ban Percentage-Based Fundraising - Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Professional Fundraisers Call on Congress to Ban Percentage-Based Fundraising - Press Release: "ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the wake of a recent Congressional hearing which found that many veterans' charities are spending excessive amounts on fundraising, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has reiterated its call to Congress to prohibit the unethical practice of percentage-based fundraising."

Dallas' anti-panhandling plan turning parking meters into charity drops | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth News | Dall

Dallas' anti-panhandling plan turning parking meters into charity drops | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas-Fort Worth News | Dallas Morning News: "City government and civic leaders on Wednesday will call on people to quit giving money to downtown panhandlers and instead donate to charities that help homeless Dallasites.

Dallas City Hall, the DowntownDallas association and the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance are sponsoring the effort, dubbed 'Lend a Hand,' which will in part involve a public awareness campaign coupled with the conversion of old parking meters into donation recepticles, city officials say."

Some charities feel pinch more than others

Some charities feel pinch more than others: "A top philanthropy executive said Monday she has yet to see any philanthropic fallout from softening of the local economy or the subprime mortgage crisis. But some agencies report lean times."

Thinking More Globally, Giving Less Locally - washingtonpost.com

Thinking More Globally, Giving Less Locally - washingtonpost.com: "OL is scaling back its philanthropic contributions in the Washington region as it reinvents itself as a global Internet advertising firm.

This month, AOL cut funding to the Loudoun Foundation's annual summer music festival, an event it co-founded and to which it donated $60,000 to $80,000 each year. The company previously shuttered its AOL Aspires grant program, which funded activities for scores of local schools, and halted its annual pledge to Greater D.C. Cares. Loudoun Youth Inc. received what it regards as its last AOL check this year. And AOL has eliminated a community investment office through several rounds of layoffs."

Argus Leader Media - News-Donor to USD says program misnamed

Argus Leader Media - News: "The university announced that the business school, which is getting a new building on the Vermillion campus, would be renamed in honor of Miles Beacom, Sanford's longtime associate at Premier Bankcard.

But the widow of a USD alumnus - who previously gave $9.2 million to the school - says her family's donation already secured the naming rights. Lucy Buhler, wife of the late Walter Buhler, wants some of the money back.

The USD Foundation, which oversees these types of gifts for the university, declined.

Now the whole thing is up to a judge."

Fredericksburg.com - Toys for Tots not keeping up with requests WANT TO HELP?

Fredericksburg.com - Toys for Tots not keeping up with requests WANT TO HELP?: "This year's Toys for Tots wish list has grown.

Donations have not.

The requests for toys increase every year, said Staff Sgt. Rodrigo Guzman, and this year, the Marines who work to give toys to needy kids are seeing more than ever.

And while more groups have signed up to be sponsors--hosting drop-off sites and holding toy drives--the toys are trickling in slowly."

How America Gives | PARADE Magazine

How America Gives | PARADE Magazine: "Americans at all economic levels give generously: About 68% of U.S. households gave something to charity in 2006. At the top level, 21 people (up from 11 in 2005) wrote checks for at least $100 million. They included billionaires Warren Buffett, who pledged a staggering 85% (more than $40 billion) of his net worth, and Oprah Winfrey, whose $58 million in donations made her last year’s most generous celeb. These gifts grab headlines, but they’re only a small part of the story. According to the Giving U.S.A. Foundation, a whopping 65% of the contributions that help fund soup kitchens or free day care and such come from families earning less than $100,000—many of them, a lot less."

San Jose Mercury News - Donor gives $60 million to USC cancer center that healed friend

San Jose Mercury News - Donor gives $60 million to USC cancer center that healed friend: "—A University of Southern California cancer center received a surprise $60 million gift from a philanthropist because a doctor there saved her friend's life 15 years ago."

The Business of Nonprofits: You've decided to seek a grant, now what? | SavannahNow.com

The Business of Nonprofits: You've decided to seek a grant, now what? | SavannahNow.com: "You've determined that your nonprofit is properly positioned to seek a grant. In other words, you know that your organization has a specific program or project for which you will use the grant. It has a reasonable likelihood of obtaining a grant, being stable, with adequate financial controls in place. You have already identified all other existing resources in your community, town, county and, if appropriate, state that deal with the same issue, and investigated possible short- or long-term partnerships with these organizations for your particular program or project."

112 hours later, cyclists set record - Fosters

112 hours later, cyclists set record - Fosters: "After more than 111 hours of riding, John 'Blue Dog' Jurczynski and Mike 'Mad Dog' Gallagher are the new stationary cycling world record holders.

The cyclists ended more than four straight days of 'spinning' on stationary bikes at the Laconia Athletic and Swim Club Friday night."

Tough times mean people donate much less; Charities report gap in needs, resources

Tough times mean people donate much less; Charities report gap in needs, resources: "There is a growing concern about the effect of the housing slowdown on charitable donations, said Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals"

Tony Blair talks big money as £1m speech maker - Times Online

Tony Blair talks big money as £1m speech maker - Times Online: "Last month it was reported that Blair received up to £240,000 for one 20-minute speech in China. Cherie Blair typically charges about £15,000 a speech.

If he manages to maintain his high profile, the Blairs should easily be able to service and pay off the mortgages of almost £4m on their properties in Connaught Square, in London, Bristol and Sedgefield, Co Durham.

The former premier is maintaining a relentless pace as he combines his roles as peace envoy with that of international speaker and philanthropist."

Art Museum Has Been Portrait Of Difficulty

Art Museum Has Been Portrait Of Difficulty: "AMPA - People complained from the start.

The new art museum was awfully small. The exhibit space was minimal. Workshop space was limited. The museum, located behind the Curtis Hixon Convention Center, was barely visible from the street.

Many of the problems cited almost 30 years ago persist today at the Tampa Museum of Art. The convention center was torn down and relocated to Garrison Channel, but art museum officials still list similar complaints about the existing building: too small, too hidden, too poorly planned.

At 5 p.m. today, the doors of the 1979 building will close to the public for good. By the end of January, everything will be moved out. Demolition work could begin as soon as Feb. 1."

Retirees to lend talents to Howard nonprofits - Examiner.com

Retirees to lend talents to Howard nonprofits - Examiner.com: "Enter the Legacy Leadership Institute, which taps into the experience and enthusiasm of baby boomer retirees to lend a hand to the county’s nonprofits.

“I know there are people out there who would rather do policies and procedures than coming in and doing mailings,” said Faye Conley, volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Howard County."