Academics thrive because of generosity | StatesmanJournal.com | Statesman Journal

Academics thrive because of generosity | StatesmanJournal.com | Statesman Journal: "On a larger picture, this donation is consistent with the giving nature of Americans. We often overlook the phenomenal amounts that are being contributed every year to organizations ranging from the United Way to churches to universities and hospitals. Charitable contributions made in 2007 amounted to a record high of $306.39 billion, according to the Association of Fundraising Professionals — a huge sum, indeed."

Vilar’s complicated legacy | VailDaily.com

Vilar’s complicated legacy | VailDaily.com: "EAGLE COUNTY — Alberto Vilar likely would have attended a February performance of Puccini’s tragic opera “Tosca” to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Beaver Creek performance hall that bears his name."

Project flourishing as haven for nonprofits - Austin Business Journal:

Project flourishing as haven for nonprofits - Austin Business Journal:: "An East Austin transit-oriented development is gaining traction as a hub for nonprofit activity.

Chestnut Plaza is bringing several nonprofits, a seven-acre park and a community garden to the changing area just east of downtown. Such components are part of a multiphase, 30-acre project that includes Chestnut Commons, a 64-home subdivision already built on about four acres."

California Banker Emerges as One of Nation's Most Prolific Philanthropists :: PNNOnline ::

We are posting a few images from Maine along with our regular postings this week.


From PNN Online

California Banker Emerges as One of Nation's Most Prolific Philanthropists :: PNNOnline ::: "California Banker Emerges as One of Nation's Most Prolific Philanthropists
Posted by: philcrosby on Monday, July 28, 2008
Topic General Fundraising


Former banker Bernard Osher, whose lack of pretense has earned him the nickname 'the quiet philanthropist,' has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the arts and education over the years and intends to give away his entire fortune before he dies, the Christian Science Monitor reports."

Highway now bears name of Maine philanthropist - Boston.com

We are posting some Maine Philanthropy Stories this week.


Highway now bears name of Maine philanthropist - Boston.com: "* Home /


The Associated Press
Highway now bears name of Maine philanthropist
August 9, 2008

DEXTER, Maine—A highway in central Maine now bears the name of a prominent Maine philanthropist who died last fall at age 93.

On Friday, the state Department of Transportation dedicated Route 7, from Corinna to Garland, as the Harold Alfond Memorial Highway."

Daily Herald | Day of Giving great way to battle apathy in troubled times

Daily Herald | Day of Giving great way to battle apathy in troubled times: "bring this up now because Giving DuPage, a group the Daily Herald has long helped sponsor, is gearing up for its upcoming 'DuPage Remembers and Gives ... A Day of Volunteerism.'"

email : Webview

From Network for Good

email : Webview: "The Number One Reason Donors Stop Giving

Pop quiz! (Don't panic--you won't be graded on this.) What is the number one reason donors become 'one-time' instead of 'recurring'?

*Jeopardy music begins to play... One-two on the timpani...* And, time's up!"

Here for the first time?

We welcome you to our blogs if you are here for the first time or a regular visitor/subscriber. This week we are posting from Maine.
Please feel free to leave us comments and feedback.

GoErie.com: Nonprofits welcome 'good' stress

GoErie.com: Nonprofits welcome 'good' stress: "Those are the kinds of decisions that nonprofit boards in the Erie area have to face, as they make plans for the money they have received from the Erie Community Foundation, courtesy of the anonymous donor who gave the foundation $100 million to distribute.

We cannot presume to give advice to the 46 agencies, educational institutions, religious groups and other recipients about how to spend this new money. The donor expressed hope that the beneficiaries create endowments for their agencies through the Community Foundation. Endowments can help provide a sense of security that resources will be available as a safety net or to help an agency grow physically or expand its services"

GilroyDispatch.com | Garlic Festival defies slow economy

GilroyDispatch.com | Garlic Festival defies slow economy: "There's no such thing as a recession when it comes to garlic.

The 30th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival took in $1.72 million this year, up from $1.6 million the year before, according to the festival's outgoing president, Ed Struzik.

'It's definitely a pleasant surprise given the economy,' Struzik said Wednesday morning."

KCTCS leads U.S. community college systems in charitable contributions - Business First of Louisville:

KCTCS leads U.S. community college systems in charitable contributions - Business First of Louisville:: "Kentucky Community and Technical College System led all U.S. community college systems in charitable contributions in 2007, with more than $13.6 million.

The survey of 1,023 institutions was released by the Council for Aid to Education, a New York City-based nonprofit that conducts policy research and promotes higher education reform."

Fund-Raising Lessons: Conducting Research on Donors and the Global Changes in Philanthropy - Philanthropy.com

Fund-Raising Lessons: Conducting Research on Donors and the Global Changes in Philanthropy - Philanthropy.com: "Fund raising is becoming a global profession, but it is held to widely
varying standards throughout the world, Andrew Watt, chief program
officer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, tells us in a
lecture today.

Mr. Watt says he has “two, three contacts per week” from fund raisers
interested in working overseas."

AFP of Northern New England

AFP of Northern New England: "The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Northern New England provides ethical expertise and guidance to practitioners of philanthropy through education, training, mentoring, networking and advocacy. We represent fundraising professionals from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont who are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism."

Tony's Donuts are Legendary

Made a quick stop at Tony's today
Tony's Donuts are Legendary: "Credit snowbird John Frye as the inspiration for the latest Three-Minute Maine video, 'Tony's Donuts,' published on downeast.com. Whenever Frye returns to Maine he visits Tony's Donuts in Portland to purchase dozens of molasses doughnuts."

Walking in memory of a friend | coshoctontribune.com | Coshocton Tribune

Walking in memory of a friend | coshoctontribune.com | Coshocton Tribune: "Stevenson, who was born in Columbus, made a special stop in Coshocton on Monday on his current 13,000-mile trek from Seattle to New York to raise awareness for Huntington's Disease to do a memory walk for Coshocton resident Regis Shivers."

Charity alone won't solve hunger crisis

Charity alone won't solve hunger crisis: "The generous people who run Maine's food pantries and soup kitchens say they're seeing far too many new faces these days.

Those faces belong to hungry people. They're families and individuals who, at a time of high energy and food prices, can no longer make ends meet. And while food pantries will hold their doors open to almost anyone who shows up, their ability to fill the growing need for food in Maine is being severely tested."

Maine and Special Events

On Sunday we attended a portion of a the local fire department fundraiser which was a Yard Sale, Silent Auction and Live Auction. These are my daughters in front of one of their fire trucks.

You can read more about Special Events via our FAQ Blog

The NonProfit Times "Points of Light Refunds Continue

From the Nonprofit Times
The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Points of Light Refunds Continue

By Mark Hrywna
Some 1,200 customers are expected to receive refunds or have their travel plans fulfilled by the time the Points of Light Institute completes the process sometime in the next month. Another round of refunds went out last week and the Points of Light Institute hopes to complete it by Labor Day.

The Points of Light Institute closed its eStore early last month to investigate “significant financial and operational irregularities.” Initially, more than 1,000 affected customers were contacted in early July. An independent contractor, who had been handling the business since 2003, was terminated by Points of Light, which also contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Washington, D.C. The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined comment."

E-Quality Matters

E-Quality Matters: "Information, Choice, and our 2008 Grants

We are posting some Maine Philanthropy related stories as I am in Maine this week.
You can also use the tagging to see some historical Maine stories

My pediatrician said a funny thing the other day. I can't remember what new baby strategy we were talking about, but he suggested that if it didn't work immediately, that I should try again in a few days. Immediately, that old adage came to mind: The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again, expecting different results."

Asian Philanthropy Forum: $3 million challenge grant from Vietnamese American philanthropist

The image above is a giant globe called Eartha at theDelorme Map Store in Freeport Maine. which we visited with our kids.

Here is a International Philanthropy story.

Asian Philanthropy Forum: $3 million challenge grant from Vietnamese American philanthropist: "In May, Doan L. Phung, a 68-year old Vietnamese-American philanthropist, gave a keynote speech at the fourth annual Asian Pacific Philanthropy Consortium (APPC) conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. The theme of the conference was 'Diaspora Giving: An Agent of Social Change?' and Mr. Phung spoke about his reasons for giving back to Vietnam. At the end of his speech, Mr. Phung announced a $3 million USD challenge grant to the Vietnamese-American NGO"

'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.'"