Friday, February 20, 2009

NYT: Soup-Kitchen Accounting

NYT: Soup-Kitchen Accounting: "Nonprofit accounting is designed to ensure that the recipients of grants from the federal government and other benefactors are held accountable for the funds they receive. Regrettably, the big banks that have been granted billions from the Troubled Asset Relief Program are less transparent in their financial reporting than the local soup kitchen that gets federal support.

Nonprofits use what is known as 'fund accounting.' Fund accounting requires that a separate set of books be maintained for all grants that are designated for a specific activity. The aim is to ensure that the resources are spent for their intended purpose."

Charities Now Seek Bankruptcy Protection - NYTimes.com

Charities Now Seek Bankruptcy Protection - NYTimes.com: "Charities Now Seek Bankruptcy Protection

By STEPHANIE STROM
Published: February 19, 2009

On Tuesday, the board of Glass Youth and Family Services in Los Angeles voted to file for bankruptcy protection, unable to overcome falling state reimbursements, rising costs and dwindling donations."

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Fort Wayne's Homegrown Casino | Indiana's NewsCenter: Fort Wayne WPTA-TV, WISE-TV, CW, and My Network | Local & Regional

Fort Wayne's Homegrown Casino | Indiana's NewsCenter: Fort Wayne WPTA-TV, WISE-TV, CW, and My Network | Local & Regional: "The Parnell Poker Palace has been open since December 2008. The casino offers Poker, Blackjack, Roulette and Craps, while an outside vendor sells food and drinks.

The card parlour is operated by White's School of the Arts, a community center that offers programs to children. School officials say traditional revenue streams were running dry, which forced them to 'get creative.'"

Reimagining CSR

A new Blog we've seen.Thanks to FLIP for the heads up

Reimagining CSR: "Yesterday, I asked for examples of companies that are making changes to their CSR programs in light of the recession. Today, the San Francisco Chronicle's SFGate.com website posted this article about the changes Macy's is making to its community involvement activities in that city. These changes come in the wake of news that it will close its Macy's West division this spring, shrinking from 1,400 to 125 headquarters employees in San Francisco. (Here's an article from SFGate that gives some background on the cuts Macy's is making.)"

Texas Tough charity race becomes company project | Debbie Fetterman Columns | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

Texas Tough charity race becomes company project | Debbie Fetterman Columns | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News: "Team captain Kirk Woltman's passion to run for a cause helped him triple his company's participation in Texas Tough.

Woltman, of Royse City, has enlisted three seven-person teams from Plano-based Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors to compete in the Texas Tough Ultra Relay on March 29 at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park."

Calling Madoff Creditors: Trustee Wants to Talk to You - DealBook Blog - NYTimes.com

Calling Madoff Creditors: Trustee Wants to Talk to You - DealBook Blog - NYTimes.com: "Owed money by the disgraced financier Bernard L. Madoff? Irving H. Picard, the trustee overseeing the liquidation of Mr. Madoff’s investment firm, is ready to give you a status report."

FEMA Uses YouTube For Disaster Outreach - KYPost.com

FEMA Uses YouTube For Disaster Outreach - KYPost.com: "FRANKFORT, Ky. – State and federal officials are using new technology to get out important recovery information for the Kentucky disaster.

A message by Brigadier General John W. Heltzel, Director of Kentucky Emergency Management Division (KYEM), was posted Wednesday on YouTube."

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The NonProfit Times - Health Fundraisers Get Big Stimulus Win

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "February 18, 2009

Health Fundraisers Get Big Stimulus Win

By Mark Hrywna

Healthcare fundraisers will be grateful for changes in the federal government’s stimulus package. The House version of the bill initially threatened grateful patient programs by denying access to names and addresses but was eliminated from the final version approved by Congress."

AFP > Education & Career Development > Help Rebuild in New Orleans at This Year's Conference

AFP > Education & Career Development > Help Rebuild in New Orleans at This Year's Conference: "Help Rebuild in New Orleans at This Year's Conference

(Jan. 12, 2009) As part of AFP’s International Conference on Fundraising you can spend time volunteering to aid restoration efforts of communities devastated in the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.

There are several opportunities for conference participants to donate time, energy and support to help people rebuild their communities. There is also a tour available for you to visit areas of the city that have been restored thanks to volunteer efforts.

The AFP Day of Service, as well as a workshop event by The Center for Black Philanthropy, will take place Saturday, March 28. The New Orleans Philanthropy Tour happens that day as well. There is also a special fund that has been set up by the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy that will give AFP membership to deserving New Orleans fundraisers."

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > U.S. Postage Increasing for First-Class Letters, Nonprofit Mail

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > U.S. Postage Increasing for First-Class Letters, Nonprofit Mail: "U.S. Postage Increasing for First-Class Letters, Nonprofit Mail

(Feb. 17, 2009) The cost of mailing a letter in the U.S. is going up May 11. Postal rates for some nonprofit mail types will also increase, especially nonprofit parcels and nonflat machinables."

The NonProfit Times - TUSPS Smacks Nonprofit Mailers Again

From the Nonprofit Times

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "USPS Smacks Nonprofit Mailers Again

By Mark Hrywna

Charities that use premiums to fundraise have again taken it on the chin from the United States Postal Service. Nonprofit parcels and Nonflat Machinables (NFM) will again bear the brunt of postal rate increases, with percentage increases ranging from almost 10 percent to 50 percent, according to analysis from the Direct Marketing Association (DMA)."

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "Venture Philanthropy: Boldly going forward
Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf By Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf
February 16, 2009

Once the new kid on the block, venture philanthropy has grown into its own in the past decade. The urge by young and emerging entrepreneurs to spur social change and increase capacity in the charitable sector while still making a profit may have started off small, but it's gaining a lot of credence. And Canadian organizations are helping the tide along."

Nonprofits can apply for charity campaign - Juneau Empire

Nonprofits can apply for charity campaign - Juneau Empire: "ANCHORAGE - The application period for nonprofit groups to be included in the 2010 Permanent Fund Dividend Charitable Contributions Program began Feb. 13.

The program gives Alaskans the opportunity to use their PFD in a charitable way."

Lake Tahoe nonprofits weathering the storm | TahoeBonanza.com

Lake Tahoe nonprofits weathering the storm | TahoeBonanza.com: "TRUCKEE-TAHOE — Like everyone else, Truckee-Tahoe area nonprofits are feeling the squeeze of the economic recession.

Donations are shrinking, state grants are being frozen and the demand for many services provided by nonprofits are only increasing."

Hard times for the arts | Daily Record | Daily Record

Hard times for the arts | Daily Record | Daily Record: "Across the country, the news for arts organizations has been worse. In the operatic world there have been almost as many casualties as a performance of 'Tosca.' On Thursday, the Connecticut Opera announced it was going out of business after 67 seasons. Opera Pacific -- gone after four decades.

The Metropolitan has slashed four productions from the 2009-10 season. The Baltimore Opera has declared bankruptcy. Others are undergoing layoffs."

Third of donors 'will give less in next six months' - Third Sector

Third of donors 'will give less in next six months' - Third Sector: "A third of donors in the UK intend to give less to charity over the next six months, according to new research.

The figures from the Charitable Giving Report, by marketing firm Tangible Response, also show that almost half do not plan to change their level of giving."

United Way of Coweta & Fayette kicks off Shoebox Project on Valentine's Day - The Times-Herald

United Way of Coweta & Fayette kicks off Shoebox Project on Valentine's Day - The Times-Herald: "Each year, individuals and companies donate shoeboxes filled with toiletries to be given to homeless women and children in our community.

The drive officially kicks off today."

While some companies are trimming corporate travel, most trips to New Orleans are still on - New Orleans Local & Small Business News - NOLA.com

While some companies are trimming corporate travel, most trips to New Orleans are still on - New Orleans Local & Small Business News - NOLA.com: "Michael Nilsen, a spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, which also meets here in March, said the group expects about 3,500 attendees -- about average for the event.

'As we've been watching our numbers, they have been pretty positive,' Nilsen said. 'We've heard other associations talk about some serious drops and heard of some cancellations regionally but we haven't experienced that.'"

Monday, February 16, 2009

Giving In Bear Times - Forbes.com

Giving In Bear Times - Forbes.com: "Forbes gathered three experts in philanthropy to discuss strategies for giving when the markets are down.

For this market holiday, Forbes gathered a team of philanthropy experts to discuss the future of charitable contributions and investments as well as strategies for pursuing philanthropic goals in a bear market"

Downturn spurs some foundations to give more - The Boston Globe

Downturn spurs some foundations to give more - The Boston Globe: "At a time when most foundations are cutting back or maintaining last year's spending, a few are doing what hedge fund manager Ken Nickerson of the Eos Foundation calls 'counter-cyclical giving.' They're increasing their grants."

Burned by Madoff, Lappin fund rebuilds - Articles of Faith - Boston.com

Burned by Madoff, Lappin fund rebuilds - Articles of Faith - Boston.com: "Deborah Coltin, the part-time executive director of the Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation in Salem, writes a short blog post for eJewishPhilanthropy about the small Jewish community foundation's efforts to rebuild after being wiped out by Madoff. An excerpt:"

Daily Herald | 'Hero's Ball' another casualty of the economy

Daily Herald | 'Hero's Ball' another casualty of the economy: "The 'Hero's Ball' also would support the foundation's mission by encouraging civic participation and at the same time raise money for the facility.

'I've always had great admiration for first responders,' she said. 'I really thought it was an idea everybody would get on board with.'

But the economy got in the way. Letters were sent in October and follow-ups made in November for the event scheduled for Feb. 21. But it never got off the ground, and now it's been canceled."