Friday, May 02, 2008

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

The Coloradoan - www.coloradoan.com - Ft. Collins, CO.: "Dale Adamy already knows how he is going to spend his economic stimulus check coming later this month.

A longtime Fort Collins resident, Adamy said he has heard and read much about nonprofits in the area over the years and wanted to find a way he could help out."

The Toledo Free Press - A tradition for Toledo's future

The Toledo Free Press - A tradition for Toledo's future: "Recognizing the need to assist local organizations in capacity building, the Community Partnership, Toledo Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Toledo have formed a partnership to offer training and technical assistance. Capacity building is a business practice dedicated to ensuring charities run in an efficient and effective manner."

It's party time -- sort of - Austin Business Journal:

It's party time -- sort of - Austin Business Journal:: "The success of some non-events nationally shows that charities are indeed piquing donors' interest, insiders say. Charities are finding that donors are willing to give to non-events because they believe their money is going directly to help those in need as opposed to footing the bill for pricey dinners, bands and centerpieces, according to the Association of Fundraising Professionals."

As Ranks of Israeli Wealthy Swell, Philanthropic Sector Plays Catch-Up - Forward.com"

As Ranks of Israeli Wealthy Swell, Philanthropic Sector Plays Catch-Up - Forward.com": "According to the 2006 World Wealth Report, published by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini, 7,200 Israelis had more than $1 million in assets. The most recent Forbes list of billionaires included nine Israeli citizens."

WTRF-TV – News for Wheeling, West Virginia and the Ohio Valley

WTRF-TV – News for Wheeling, West Virginia and the Ohio Valley: "Charleston-based philanthropy withholding $2 million.

West Virginia University donors are withholding gifts or threatening to revoke their contributions in the wake of the Heather Bresch scandal.

Foundation President Wayne King said Thursday morning that he's had more than a dozen calls and e-mails in the last three to four days expressing displeasure over the situation."

Private Donations Enrich National Parks for 2016 Centennial

Private Donations Enrich National Parks for 2016 Centennial: "WASHINGTON, DC, May 1, 2008 (ENS) - A new way of funding improvements has been introduced into the cash-starved National Park System. The private sector is now permitted to match federal funding of up to $100 million a year on specific projects benefiting the national parks between now and the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne has announced the first national park improvement projects and programs that will get underway this spring funded by a total of $51.6 million in public and private contributions."

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Wall Street's Woes Hit Charities - Philanthropy.com

Wall Street's Woes Hit Charities - Philanthropy.com: "Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, tells the Times it is too early to know exactly how the economic downturn will affect donations. “There’s definitely a sense, particularly in the first quarter of this year, that [fundraising] is going to be challenging,” he says."

Tithe your tax!© « JVA Consulting’s Weblog

Tithe your tax!© « JVA Consulting’s Weblog: "After all, like retailers, nonprofits are slowly feeling the brunt of the economic slowdown, too. According to a new report in the Philanthropy Journal this month, revenue growth among nonprofits has slowed and donor numbers are on the decline. The Journal also identified that nonprofit fundraising growth has slowed in recent months, according to the annual State of Fundraising Survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The economy was overwhelmingly cited as the top fundraising challenge for charities in 2007."

A Politician's Favorite Charity Is . . . - washingtonpost.com

A Politician's Favorite Charity Is . . . - washingtonpost.com: "Robert G. Torricelli, the New Jersey Democrat who left office amid a corruption scandal, walked away in 2002 with almost $3 million in his campaign account. After he was caught accepting thousands of dollars of inappropriate gifts from a favor-seeking donor, Torricelli infamously asked, 'When did we become such an unforgiving people?'"

U.S., evangelicals lead way on giving | Kansas.com

U.S., evangelicals lead way on giving | Kansas.com: "The Barna Group reports that 84 percent of all adults donated money to churches or nonprofit organizations last year. That percentage has remained consistent in recent years. Last year, the mean amount given per person was $1,308. It was down slightly from giving in 2006, which averaged $1,348. That year, Americans donated a record-breaking amount of nearly $300 billion.

A comparison done by the Charities Aid Foundation in late 2006 showed that in philanthropic giving as a percentage of gross domestic product, the United States ranked first at 1.7 percent; Britain was second at 0.73 percent. The two largest beneficiaries of American generosity are places of worship (which receive about 33 percent of all donations) and education (which receives about 14 percent)."

New Orleans churches struggling on hope, prayer - ContraCostaTimes.com

New Orleans churches struggling on hope, prayer - ContraCostaTimes.com: "Economists say the billions of dollars pouring into the hurricane recovery could ease the slowdown here. With some neighborhoods ruined by the Aug. 29, 2005, storm, construction jobs should be plentiful. Tax collections from purchases of building materials and furniture should keep coming. In March, city sales tax collections, which have fluctuated since the storm, hit $11.3 million; that compares with the $12.7 million collected the month before the storm.

Still, the specter of tough times is worrisome in an area with an economy that's still recovering from massive devastation — and churches feel particularly vulnerable.

Some charitable and faith-based groups fear that local residents, worried about their job security and faced with higher prices"

The goal: no one left hungry | csmonitor.com

The goal: no one left hungry | csmonitor.com: "An editorial in this newspaper, 'Food for America's famished,' states, 'With prices skyrocketing for staples such as bread, the poor need more food donations,' and explains, 'Donations to private food banks are off by 9 percent.' The editorial concludes, 'More than 1 in 10 Americans live with what the Census Bureau calls 'food insecurity' – they're forced to skip meals. Now is not the time for other Americans to skip out on their usual generosity' (April 22)."

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Enquirer - Retired execs help nonprofits

The Enquirer - Retired execs help nonprofits: "The ESCC, which puts executives' talents and energy to use in the nonprofit sector, offers consulting services to organizations such as Costello's. In addition to coaching for executive directors, the ESCC's 88 or so members help with strategic planning, funding strategies, board development, information technology and pretty much any other issue that arises. More than half are retired, like Hand, but the ESCC is the only chapter of the nationwide organization that also allows full-time workers to volunteer."

Good feelings come before tips at charity restaurant

Good feelings come before tips at charity restaurant: "The chef admits what he thought when the concept of Robin des Bois, a restaurant dependent on volunteers, was first presented to him nearly two years ago: 'It won't work.'

But Sebastien Courville quickly adds a caveat: 'It's not what I think today.'"

Charities See Opportunity for Donations as Rebates Reach Taxpayers - New York Times

Charities See Opportunity for Donations as Rebates Reach Taxpayers - New York Times: "Charities are hoping to capitalize on the rebates that are starting to land in taxpayers’ mailboxes this week."

Bottom-line philanthropy - The Boston Globe

Bottom-line philanthropy - The Boston Globe: "Kochka's appearance was a test run for a funding pitch that a half-dozen nonprofits will make tonight to a group of potential donors, including investors, government officials, and foundation executives. Emotional appeals will fall on largely deaf ears, because many of the audience members - some of them relatively young, newly wealthy, and financially sophisticated - pick their charities the way they pick stocks: using facts and data."

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The mindless in pursuit of the powerless - Opinion - theage.com.au

The mindless in pursuit of the powerless - Opinion - theage.com.au: "Celebrity does pay when it comes to do-gooding, and we have ourselves to blame.

IN THE 1980s an enterprising British company manufactured wristbands that said, 'If hospitalised, I do not wish to be visited by Princess Diana.' It remains a brilliant concept no less for the demise of its subject, but these days you'd also need the added prophylactic of an industrial-strength insecticide to deal with the celebrity types flocking to Good Causes as prescribed by their media managers."

Amir visits to observe impact of his generosity - Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

Amir visits to observe impact of his generosity - Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com: "The amir of Qatar, the ruler of the oil-rich country that has pumped $100 million into hurricane-recovery projects, is visiting New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast today and Wednesday to see how and where the money has been spent."

Monday, April 28, 2008

'Funraiser' supports San Xavier with a true Southwestern vibe | www.azstarnet.com ®

'Funraiser' supports San Xavier with a true Southwestern vibe | www.azstarnet.com ®: "The Chronicle of Philanthropy just published a story about the top 131 private foundations in the country, and only one mentions historic restoration as one of their goals, and they only give money in Colorado and Oklahoma, so private money like this is really hard to come by for organizations like us,' Lamplot said."

NJ's nonprofit agencies worry over state budget crisis -- Newsday.com

NJ's nonprofit agencies worry over state budget crisis -- Newsday.com: "As New Jersey struggles to balance its budget, nonprofits and the people they serve _ like Addesso _ are agonizing over Gov. Jon S. Corzine's plan to deny them a funding increase come July. With rising costs for fuel, food and other expenses, they say they'll struggle to keep serving residents."

For Hopkins students, a bald move -- baltimoresun.com

For Hopkins students, a bald move -- baltimoresun.com: "That ode to flowing locks, from the 1968 hippie musical Hair, would not have served yesterday as a rallying cry for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at the Johns Hopkins University. Instead of clinging to vanity and visions of Samson-like valor, a half-dozen SigEp brothers submitted, with only minor bouts of trepidation, to a good shearing for a good cause."

Rockefeller Gives Harvard $100 Million - New York Times

Rockefeller Gives Harvard $100 Million - New York Times: "David M. Rockefeller is giving $100 million to Harvard University, his alma mater.

It is the largest gift by an alumnus in the university’s history. Eli and Edythe Broad made a $100 million gift to the university in 2005, but they are not alumni."