Don't squander worldwide feeling of hope for America | Commentary

Don't squander worldwide feeling of hope for America | Commentary: "econd, we need a nimble new tech-savvy, nonprofit organization that more readily can combine public- and private-sector expertise and resources in areas such as new media and state-of-the-art communications. This organization needs to be outside the State Department in order to attract nongovernment actors who could help repair America's damaged reputation but who may not want to be officially associated with U.S. foreign policy.

That is why a broad range of organizations - including the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Strategic and International Studies' blue-ribbon Commission on Smart Power and the Defense Science Board - for several years have called for an entrepreneurial and independent new nonprofit organization to complement and supplement U.S. government public diplomacy efforts."

Asian American Giving Circles « The South Asian Philanthropy Project

Asian American Giving Circles « The South Asian Philanthropy Project: "The article by Andrew T. Ho, “Asian American Giving Circles: Building Bridges Between Philanthropy and Our Communities,” provides an excellent review of Asian American giving circles in the United States. The article provides an insight of how existing Asian American giving circles were formed in the United States, their respective characteristics, challenges they face as well as the tactics they employ to overcome those challenges."

The Hyperbolic Philanthropy of James Simon - Forward.com"

The Hyperbolic Philanthropy of James Simon - Forward.com": "James Simon (1851–1932), a Jewish cotton magnate from Berlin, was a museum benefactor of such magnitude that his current obscurity is astounding at best and a scandal at worst. As his biography finally emerges from anonymity, so does one story of the Jewish philanthropy that made Berlin a cultural capital."

What billionaires think will happen in 2009

What billionaires think will happen in 2009: ". Attitudes toward philanthropy were mixed. Some American billionaires said the faltering economy has encouraged them to give even more, while others are prioritizing their charitable gifts to social needs rather than cultural organizations."

Google and Newspapers - Finance Blog - Felix Salmon - Market Movers - Portfolio.com

Google and Newspapers - Finance Blog - Felix Salmon - Market Movers - Portfolio.com: "I did do a double-take, however, when I saw this exchange with Fortune's Adam Lashinsky:

AL: What about Google.org, Google's for-profit philanthropic arm, which is investing in alternative-energy startups?
ES: We didn't want to co-mingle philanthropy with business. We are in the advertising business.

Wasn't Google.org set up with the express intention of co-mingling philanthropy with business? I think I understand what Schmidt is saying here, which is that he doesn't want to co-mingle Google's philanthropic activities with the advertising business in particular, because that's the bailiwick of Google.com. I"

Economy takes toll on nonprofit fundraising- The New Haven Register - Serving Greater New Haven, CT

Economy takes toll on nonprofit fundraising- The New Haven Register - Serving Greater New Haven, CT: "Nonprofits in Greater New Haven, Fairfield County and Greater Hartford launched far fewer new capital campaigns in 2008 than in the previous year as the economy made fundraising difficult, according to a new survey by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.

Last year, 10 capital campaigns were begun in those three areas of the state, down more than 50 percent from 23 that were launched in 2007 and 25 launched in 2006."

Bloomberg.com: Exclusive-Madoff Con Hits Boston, Home to Victim Shapiro, Ponzi

Bloomberg.com: Exclusive: "“As a percentage of the population and significance of the charities involved, Boston was hardest-hit,” said Mark T. Williams, a professor at Boston University School of Management and a former Federal Reserve bank examiner. Shapiro “is Mr. Boston,” Williams said. “If Mr. Boston is hit, what do you think that does to Boston?”"

Nonprofit Strategies: Get ready for the new IRS Form 990 - Business - San Luis Obispo

Nonprofit Strategies: Get ready for the new IRS Form 990 - Business - San Luis Obispo: "For the first time in 30 years, the annual informational IRS filing required of most nonprofit groups, IRS Form 990, has been overhauled.

The new form must be used for nonprofit organizations that completed their 2008 tax year and are filing with the Internal Revenue Service in 2009.

According to the IRS, the redesign is based on three guiding principles: enhancing transparency, promoting tax compliance, and minimizing the burden on the filing organization."

Opinion: Madoff Scandal Hurts Women's Groups - Philanthropy.com

Opinion: Madoff Scandal Hurts Women's Groups - Philanthropy.com: "Opinion: Madoff Scandal Hurts Women's Groups

An overlooked factor in news-media coverage of investor Bernard Madoff’s alleged multi-billion-dollar pyramid scheme is the impact the investment losses will have on the nonprofit groups that advocate for women’s rights, according to Nancy Goldstein, writing for the online publication Salon."

Nonprofits affected by demographic shifts - Washington Business Journal:

Nonprofits affected by demographic shifts - Washington Business Journal:: "Immigrant populations in local suburban jurisdictions are rising, and only 7 percent of the immigrant population now lives in D.C. That’s bad news for nonprofit social and health services organizations that serve immigrant and low-income populations, according to reports released by Venture Philanthropy Partners and the Brookings Institution."

Scottish Philanthropist Scales Back Giving - Philanthropy.com

From the Chronicle Give and Take Blog

Scottish Philanthropist Scales Back Giving - Philanthropy.com: "Scottish Philanthropist Scales Back Giving

Less than two years after pledging to give about $1.5-billion to charity, the Scottish philanthropist Tom Hunter is saying he will have to slow the pace of his donations due to the economic recession."

Madoff tried to protect up to $300 million, prosecutors say - Jan. 8, 2009

Madoff tried to protect up to $300 million, prosecutors say - Jan. 8, 2009: "NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Prosecutors have accused financier Bernard Madoff - the alleged mastermind of a $50 billion Ponzi scheme - of intending to transfer up to $300 million worth of assets to protect them from seizure, and they want him locked up immediately."

Madoff had $173 million in checks ready, U.S. says - washingtonpost.com

Madoff had $173 million in checks ready, U.S. says - washingtonpost.com: "The government's written brief said the checks were discovered by investigators at Madoff's New York firm and showed the 70-year-old investment adviser tried to move money to relatives and friends before his alleged fraud became known to authorities.

One of Madoff's lawyers, Daniel Horwitz, declined to comment on the claim by prosecutors, who are asking a judge to revoke Madoff's $10 million bail and send him to jail."

Study: Minnesota foundations plan to reduce grantmaking in '09 - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:

Study: Minnesota foundations plan to reduce grantmaking in '09 - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:: "Minnesota foundations and corporate-giving programs plan to reduce their grantmaking by about 4 percent in 2009, according to a report released by the Minnesota Council on Foundations on Thursday."

The NonProfit Times -"States Push To Encrypt Donor/Client Info

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "States Push To Encrypt Donor/Client Info

By Michele Donohue

Fred Schultz, CEO and founder of the Foundation for Positively Kids (FPK) in Las Vegas, deals with a lot of confidential information in his program for medically-dependent children. The organization stores names, addresses, medication, family information and donor credit card information.

A good portion of that information arrived via email. That system now must be overhauled to accommodate a new Nevada law that requires personal information transmissions to be encrypted."

Top 10 charitable gifts of 2008 - Giving- msnbc.com

Top 10 charitable gifts of 2008 - Giving- msnbc.com: "Despite an economic recession, America's wealthiest individuals gave record amounts to charity last year.

At least 16 individuals made gifts of $100 million or more in 2008, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports. That's more people than ever have done so in the 12 years that The Chronicle has been keeping such a tally."

Nonprofits upset with school flyer policy : The Issaquah Press - News, Sports, Classifieds in Issaquah, WA

Nonprofits upset with school flyer policy : The Issaquah Press - News, Sports, Classifieds in Issaquah, WA: "Nonprofits upset with school flyer policy

January 5, 2009

By Jim Feehan

The Issaquah School District’s decision to end the practice of allowing businesses to distribute flyers to children at school has drawn the ire of nonprofits that counted on them for recruitment and fundraising. But the school district says by eliminating so called “kid mail,” school officials have more control over inappropriate content from some businesses."

Philanthropy | A giving recession? | The Economist

Philanthropy | A giving recession? | The Economist: "A giving recession?

Jan 6th 2009
From Economist.com
The downturn poses new challenges for philanthropy

AMONG the more difficult things to forecast for 2009 is what will happen to giving. On the one hand, the turmoil in financial markets has reduced the assets of many prominent givers, both foundations and individuals. Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, has lost around one-third of its value in the past year. Sir Tom Hunter, a Scottish entrepreneur who had become one of the leaders in a resurgence of British philanthropy by pledging to give away a billion pounds over his lifetime, has lost a lot of money, and says his foundation will be “scaling back what we are doing this year”. The collapse of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme has dealt a devastating blow to Jewish philanthropy in particular, as so many wealthy Jews invested their money with him, hitting several charities very hard, including prominent non-profits such as Human Rights Watch."

Indianapolis Nonprofit Examiner: Why aren't more Indy non-profits going green?

Indianapolis Nonprofit Examiner: Why aren't more Indy non-profits going green?: "The company is among at least 36 Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce members that have met enough environmental standards to make the list at IndyGreenBusiness.com.

Surprisingly, at least to me, only two or three of those companies are non-profits."

Charity Rings in New Year By Celebrating Last-Minute Donations - Philanthropy.com

Charity Rings in New Year By Celebrating Last-Minute Donations - Philanthropy.com: "January 01, 2009
Charity Rings in New Year By Celebrating Last-Minute Donations

Things have been looking up lately for Kenny Emson, senior vice president of development at the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, in Washington—just in the last three weeks."

Strapped nonprofits turn to each other | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Strapped nonprofits turn to each other | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California: "In a year when the economy has stifled charitable giving, some nonprofit groups and charities are turning to an unlikely source to stay afloat -- other charities."

American Chronicle | Communities Gearing Up for Massive Day of Service on King Holiday

American Chronicle | Communities Gearing Up for Massive Day of Service on King Holiday: "record number of volunteers on the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal holiday, fueled by President-elect Obama's call for Americans to serve on King Day and throughout the year.

Organizers of the annual service day say momentum is building in the wake of the President-elect's call and the timing of the holiday coming one day before the Inauguration. In addition to asking Americans to serve, President-elect Obama, Vice President-elect Biden, and their families will participate in service on the January 19 holiday in the Washington D.C. area."

Madoff financial scandal impacts local nonprofits | Aspen Daily News Online

Madoff financial scandal impacts local nonprofits | Aspen Daily News Online: "A handful of nonprofit organizations in Aspen, Vail and Denver were the recipients of donations from U.S. foundations that invested with accused Ponzi scam artist Bernard Madoff, records show."