Morning in Maine with the Lab.

Thie week I will be posting from Maine.

Online Discussion Next Week: Becoming a Consultant - Philanthropy.com

An interesting upcoming chat from the Chronicle
Online Discussion Next Week: Becoming a Consultant - Philanthropy.com: "Online Discussion Next Week: Becoming a Consultant

Join us on August 12 at noon Eastern time for an online discussion exploring the pros and cons of becoming a consultant to nonprofit organizations."

From the Field » Blog Archive » Volunteers Blossom at the Maine State Museum

From the Field » Blog Archive » Volunteers Blossom at the Maine State Museum: "I don’t know how many times I have heard from our volunteers, “thanks for letting me be here.” I am astonished and humbled whenever I hear that. But these people really mean it. They feel privileged to be a part of this institution. They learn and grow and stretch their abilities in ways they never thought of doing before. They help people enjoy a visit, they make an artifact clean and ready for display, or they put a disorganized collection into order and feel so good as a result."

Fundraising Effectiveness Project - have you done it? - The User's Edge

Fundraising Effectiveness Project - have you done it? - The User's Edge: "Fundraising Effectiveness Project - have you done it?

When I first learned about the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), I thought it was a wonderful idea. For those of you who haven’t heard of the FEP, it is a project organized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals aimed at helping nonprofits assess their current fundraising efforts, identifying areas where they can improve and ultimately increasing their giving level."

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 08/06/2008 | Charities find new ways to ask for your money

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 08/06/2008 | Charities find new ways to ask for your money: "WASHINGTON — U.S. charities, which took in a reported $306 billion last year, hope that new strategies for finding and pressing donors will help them keep up the pace in hard economic times."

A New Eastern Exposure For Fundraisers

A New Eastern Exposure For Fundraisers: "Expatriates from Israel and several Western countries, usually successful businesspeople and high-tech specialists, are moving to places like China, India and Singapore in increasing numbers. In the region, whose total Jewish population numbers about 10,000 (China’s is by far the largest), members of the community are establishing a network of religious and cultural organizations there, and supporting Jewish causes back home, especially in Israel."

New Jersey non-profits: an economic force - Center for Non-Profit Corporations - Helping Hands - NJ.com

New Jersey non-profits: an economic force - Center for Non-Profit Corporations - Helping Hands - NJ.com: "New Jersey's nonprofit organizations touch our daily lives in countless ways: through assisting and caring for our most vulnerable people; promotion of dialogue and public discourse; protection of our natural resources; artistic and cultural enrichment; spiritual and religious fulfillment; education and mentoring of youth and adults; assembly for social change; and many other vital services to people from infancy to senior years."

Many banks maintain level of charitable giving to nonprofits despite sour economy

Many banks maintain level of charitable giving to nonprofits despite sour economy: "n recent months, newspapers awash with stories of suffering banks have caused some to wonder whether nonprofits that benefit from bank donations will feel the burn too."

MPR: Arts organizations adjust to new Bush priorities

MPR: Arts organizations adjust to new Bush priorities: "Arts organizations adjust to new Bush priorities
July 31, 2008

When St. Paul's Bush Foundation announced this week that it would change the way it channeled the $40 million a year it gives away in philanthropic support, the news sent ripples of concern throughout the state's non-profit community."

Dublin students complete charity cycle to Beijing - Ireland, Breaking News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Dublin students complete charity cycle to Beijing - Ireland, Breaking News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk: "Three Dublin students have successfully completed a charity cycle from Ireland to China in time for the Olympic Games."

Nonprofit’s executive is charitable, but no softie - Washington Business Journal:

Nonprofit’s executive is charitable, but no softie - Washington Business Journal:: "When Mary Funke walked into N Street Village nearly five years ago to be the new executive director, she wasn’t coming in to be nice. She was there to make changes."

MinnPost - Stressed art museum seeks St. Paul largesse

MinnPost - Stressed art museum seeks St. Paul largesse: "Memo to St. Paul boosters: If you want to keep the city's only art museum, you'd better get out your wallets.

The Minnesota Museum of American Art is looking at another move, a leadership change and recurring deficits, a triple whammy of organizational stress. Its reserves have dropped 40 percent in four years, from more than $2.9 million in mid-2003 to less than $1.8 million in mid-2007, according to nonprofit tax returns on the Minnesota Attorney General's website."

FOXNews.com - Hollywood Foreign Press Cuts Charitable Donations, Blames Writers Guild - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

FOXNews.com - Hollywood Foreign Press Cuts Charitable Donations, Blames Writers Guild - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment: "Last week the Foreign Press — composed of about 80 members, some of whom aren’t foreign and many of whom aren’t press — gave out its annual donations. In 2007, for example, they gave out $1,125,800.

This year, though, the number was cut to $750,000. The reason? The HFPA says it was because they lost that $6 million fee. In other words, as I predicted, the Golden Globes are blaming the writers for cutting their donations."

Driving blind to raise money for charity centre - Birmingham Post

Driving blind to raise money for charity centre - Birmingham Post: "But the event, which raised £5,000 on Sunday, also sought to raise public awareness about how being blind can leave individuals feeling isolated and vulnerable.

In order to do this, drivers with 20:20 vision were asked to don black-out goggles and to rely only on the instructor’s voice as they drove two laps around RAF Cosford."

UnionLeader.com - New Hampshire news - With roulette and craps at Rock, charities win - Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008

UnionLeader.com - New Hampshire news - With roulette and craps at Rock, charities win - Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008: "Since the Poker Room opened almost two years ago, area charitable organizations -- who donate the time of their members to operate the games for a 35 percent cut of the profits -- have raised over $2.3 million in revenue from the poker and blackjack tables. Park officials estimate the same groups may raise more than $2 million over the next year in part due to the additional gaming options."

Charity to hold 9th annual duck race | www.rgj.com | Reno Gazette-Journal

Charity to hold 9th annual duck race | www.rgj.com | Reno Gazette-Journal: "Nevada get ready for the ninth annual Great Truckee River Duck Race, a fundraiser for the foundation."

Green construction in Seattle growing on the nonprofit sector - Top Stories- msnbc.com

Green construction in Seattle growing on the nonprofit sector - Top Stories- msnbc.com: "And the number of nonprofit green buildings is expected to rise as the state requires more groups getting state money to build to energy-efficient standards.

As with private developers, nonprofits like the energy savings that come with green buildings. But other factors, including the ability to “walk their own talk,” are pulling nonprofits into green construction, said Katie Spataro, research director of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Seattle office."

'Donor fatigue': Nonprofits forced to work harder for funds

'Donor fatigue': Nonprofits forced to work harder for funds: "PORTSMOUTH — The rising number of nonprofit organizations and decreasing amount of charitable giving has some groups worried about how to maintain the social services they provide.

'I think what we're seeing on a national basis, and it applies locally, is donor fatigue,' said Mike Scarpone, executive director of Rockingham Community Action. 'There are a lot of organizations out there going after charitable dollars ... and with economic times being what they are, people have begun to scale back."

Some nonprofits score with PGA Championship, others can't get off the tee - Crain's Detroit Business

Some nonprofits score with PGA Championship, others can't get off the tee - Crain's Detroit Business: "While some local nonprofits have already brought in extra revenue from the 2008 PGA Championship, other programs are still looking for diamonds in the rough.

The PGA of America expects the PGA Championship to bring in an estimated $400,000 for nonprofits."

Seacoastonline.com: The key to charity in hard times: You and I

Seacoastonline.com: The key to charity in hard times: You and I: "That's why our story in yesterday's Seacoast Sunday about hard times cutting donations to nonprofits sounded an ominous warning.

'We anticipate a letdown in the upcoming (fund-raising) campaign,' said Liza Dube of United Way of the Greater Seacoast. 'We're being realistic about what people are going to be able to do.'"

JS Online: Picking right event date a juggling act

JS Online: Picking right event date a juggling act: "Choosing a date to host an event to maximize the potential draw of people while simultaneously keeping costs at their lowest level is a juggling act that every party planner tries to master. Knowing your target audience and their availability — just as Williams and Smith did with their wedding invitees — can often allow you to succeed at times that might otherwise seem undesirable."

Pooling their philantrophy : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina

Pooling their philantrophy : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina: "The Future Fund, an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, was created in 1999 as a way for 25- to 45-year-olds to pool their money in a collective effort to improve Greensboro. Since 2000 , the group has given out more than 50 grants worth more than $300,000 and has banked about $800,000 in a permanent endowment to empower generations of givers to come."

Northwest Asian Weekly: Asian American nonprofit prepares for grand opening

Northwest Asian Weekly: Asian American nonprofit prepares for grand opening: "In this economic climate, nonprofits are finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds, yet Asian Counseling and Referral Service managed a very successful capital campaign. In fact, they have exceeded their goal of $19.1 million, though the fundraising campaign continues in order to decrease the mortgage and funnel as much funds into direct services as possible."

WCFcourier.com - Waterloo and Cedar Falls Iowa News Homepage | News » Metro: Study finds volunteer spirit strong in Waterloo-Cedar Falls

WCFcourier.com - Waterloo and Cedar Falls Iowa News Homepage | News » Metro: Study finds volunteer spirit strong in Waterloo-Cedar Falls: "Apparently more than 37 percent of the residents in the Cedar Valley share Barnes' service commitment, according to a new Volunteering in America report released last week by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

That volunteer rate helped the Waterloo-Cedar Falls statistical area rank 14th out of 75 mid-sized cities included in the nationwide study. Roughly 54,000 volunteers in Waterloo contributed 5.7 million hours each year, making for an estimated annual economic contribution of $112 million."

The Frederick News-Post Online - Frederick County Maryland Daily Newspaper

The Frederick News-Post Online - Frederick County Maryland Daily Newspaper: "When Sarah McAleavy goes shopping to replenish supplies for the Frederick Community Action Agency's food pantry, she drives to Giant Eagle not the statewide Maryland Food Bank in Baltimore.

She said the $1,600 she now spends every other week can buy more at the local grocery store than at the food bank."

The Charleston Gazette - News - Plane clash: Strongman, groups move 727s for charity at Yeager Airport

The Charleston Gazette - News - Plane clash: Strongman, groups move 727s for charity at Yeager Airport : "CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Usually, it takes a pilot in the cockpit to get a Boeing 727 rolling down the runway. But Saturday at Yeager Airport, the ground crew took the aircraft for a spin.

Strongman Phil Pfister faced off with a 155,000-pound purple and orange FedEx plane to help raise money for Charleston's Ronald McDonald House. He became the first person to successfully pull a plane alone during this type of charity event."

Scotiabank hits the greens for charity

Scotiabank hits the greens for charity: "In a new development this year to raise additional funds for the shelter, the tournament also features an online auction in association with Blu's and Rogers Broadcasting for the use of Scotiabank's corporate suite at Pengrowth Saddledome for a Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers game."

All-star cast as colleagues get plastered for charity - The Star

All-star cast as colleagues get plastered for charity - The Star: "COLLEAGUES at a Barnsley firm got plastered - raising money for a charity which helps hospital patients who have suffered medical accidents.
Staff at Raleys solicitors sported plasters, pots, bandages and crutches as part of efforts to raise money for the charity AvMA - Action Against Medical Accidents."

Global Impact - Health - redOrbit

Global Impact - Health - redOrbit: "HOK of St. Louis is an architectural design and engineering firm with an international presence and orientation. The company is committed, not only to doing business throughout the world, but to enhancing it as well, even in the remote southeast Kenyan mountain village of Mbirikani."