Boredom, Not Rigor, Dampens Volunteers' Spirits - BusinessWeek

Boredom, Not Rigor, Dampens Volunteers' Spirits - BusinessWeek: "Boredom, Not Rigor, Dampens Volunteers' Spirits
Championed by the Obamas, volunteerism is on the rise. Now nonprofits need to match volunteers with tasks that maximize their talents"

Michael Jackson and Philanthropy - Philanthropy.com

Michael Jackson and Philanthropy - Philanthropy.com: "Michael Jackson and Philanthropy

As people mourn the death of the pop star Michael Jackson, fans, the news media, and others are discussing his charitable work, which some say paved the way for the current surge in celebrity philanthropy."

Buffett lunch bid hits $456,789; auction nears end | U.S. | Reuters

Buffett lunch bid hits $456,789; auction nears end | U.S. | Reuters: "The top bid as of noon EDT (1600 GMT) in the 10th annual fundraiser remains well short of last year's record $2.11 million paid by Hong Kong-based investor Zhao Danyang. The starting price was $25,000, and the auction ends at 10 p.m. EDT"

onPhilanthropy: Articles: Under a New Lens: Corporate Philanthropy in a Changed Economy

onPhilanthropy: Articles: Under a New Lens: Corporate Philanthropy in a Changed Economy: "Under a New Lens: Corporate Philanthropy in a Changed Economy
Friday, June 26, 2009
By Elisabeth Anderson, Shannon Bond & Erica Pagano

At this month’s 2009 CECP Corporate Philanthropy Summit, attendees from FORTUNE 500 CEOs to corporate foundation presidents rolled up their sleeves to talk frankly about the new realities they face as they continue to engage in their philanthropy."

Unfiltered: California Winemakers Disrobe for Charity | Articles | Wine Spectator

Unfiltered: California Winemakers Disrobe for Charity | Articles | Wine Spectator: "Unfiltered: California Winemakers Disrobe for Charity
Plus, a winery hits NASCAR’s Sonoma race, two Chicago ballplayers sign on for charity wine labels and an important warning to wine lovers with a cold"

JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - Obama: Community service is a national duty

JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - News: "Joined by first lady Michelle Obama, the president appeared Thursday at Fort McNair to promote community service. The project this day: loading 15,000 backpacks with books, healthy snacks and toys for children of the men and women of the armed forces."

CNS STORY: Even in midst of economic crisis, charity must continue, pope says

CNS STORY: Even in midst of economic crisis, charity must continue, pope says: "VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In the midst of an economic crisis, Catholic charitable agencies that assist Christians in the Middle East must give priority to caring for migrants and refugees and to reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip, Pope Benedict XVI said."

Church Chat: Wagner on the state of philanthropy in Adventist institutions - Adventist News Network

Church Chat: Wagner on the state of philanthropy in Adventist institutions - Adventist News Network: "'I don't think this is good use of God's resources or the intellect He's given us,' says Wagner, director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Philanthropic Services for Institutions.

First of all, she says, a significant number of Seventh-day Adventist institutions don't understand what 'philanthropy' is."

State grants going to arts and educational centers in western suburbs - The Boston Globe

State grants going to arts and educational centers in western suburbs - The Boston Globe: "Combined, more than $1 million in matching grants was awarded to local nonprofits with immediate plans to undertake more than $2 million worth of construction, planning, and repairs. Most are part of long-term projects that together are estimated to total near $30 million."

Study Ties Charity’s Board Size to Losses in Madoff Scandal - NYTimes.com

Study Ties Charity’s Board Size to Losses in Madoff Scandal - NYTimes.com: "A majority of more than 100 foundations that lost 30 percent to all of their assets in the Madoff scandal had four or fewer board members, according an analysis by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a charity watchdog organization."

CU to try text message donations - KJCT8.com - Grand Junction, Montrose - Weather, News, Sports |

CU to try text message donations - KJCT8.com - Grand Junction, Montrose - Weather, News, Sports |

Shared via AddThis

A related study from the Institute of Fundraising, CAF and nfpSynergy
Sending out an SMS
http://www.nfpsynergy.net/

Learning from Madoff: NCRP

Learning from Madoff: NCRP: "Full title: Learning from Madoff: Lessons for Foundation Boards

Published: June 2009

More than 80 percent of foundations that lost between 30 to 100 percent of their assets to Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme had fewer than five trustees serving on their boards."

Real life Philanthropist inspires new TV Drama

Real life Philanthropist inspires new TV Drama: "He took his two children, ages 8 and 5, out of school and began on a yearlong trek around the world. Durig their travels the family lived in South Africa, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Sri Lanka always with a goal of helping local charitable groups and programs."

These Companies Are Giving Money Away

These Companies Are Giving Money Away: "According to the folks at the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), who surveyed 140 corporations, 53% of respondents upped their giving during 2008, down a smidge from 56% who did so in 2007. And these increases were often substantial, too, with 27% bumping up their donations by 10% or more. The median annual giving totaled almost $31 million."

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > "The Philanthropist" Debuts on NBC

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > "The Philanthropist" Debuts on NBC: "'The Philanthropist' Debuts on NBC

(June 24, 2009) A new television series brings glamour, action and adventure to the world of philanthropy, but it may not be a realistic depiction of how charities work and the challenges they face."

Y.M.C.A. Found to Be the Most Valuable Nonprofit Brand - NYTimes.com

Y.M.C.A. Found to Be the Most Valuable Nonprofit Brand - NYTimes.com: "The analysis, by the marketing firm Cone LLC and Intangible Business, a British brand-valuation company, used financial data, projected growth in revenues and a survey of 1,000 Americans to determine the top 100 most valuable nonprofit brand names among organizations providing social, environmental and animal-related services."

'Chuggers' shunned as Britons try to dodge charity donations - Home News, UK - The Independent

NP'Chuggers' shunned as Britons try to dodge charity donations - Home News, UK - The Independent: "The poll shows that two-thirds of people will cross the street to avoid 'chuggers' or charity muggers.

More than a quarter admitted to falsely having told a charity worker that they had already given money to their colleague. A similar proportion said they had told a Big Issue seller that they had already bought a copy of the magazine. Nearly half of all Britons admit to telling a street collector that they have no change and 7 per cent said they had haggled over the price of an item in a charity shop."

Many Area Charities Have Too Little Funding in Reserve, New Report Finds - washingtonpost.com

Many Area Charities Have Too Little Funding in Reserve, New Report Finds - washingtonpost.com: "More than half of Washington area charities had dangerously low operating reserves even before the recession began, leaving them especially vulnerable to service reductions in a time of sharply declining revenue, according to a new report."

No time like the present to get back in the giving mood

No time like the present to get back in the giving mood: "Melissa Brown, associate director at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, said, 'The way the economy goes determines how charity goes.' Brown also stated that although 70 percent of Americans typically give about 3 percent of their income to charity, the average individual donation dropped from $225 in 2007 to $190 last year.

According to Rapidata's Charity Direct Debit Tracking Report 2009, cancellation rates of direct debit contributions to charities skyrocketed from 50 percent in September to an astounding 67 percent in Decembe"

Bill Clinton's summit evolves amid financial crisis | U.S. | Reuters

Bill Clinton's summit evolves amid financial crisis | U.S. | Reuters: "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Responding to the global recession, former U.S. President Bill Clinton's philanthropic summit this year will focus on ways for companies to profit from tackling poverty, climate change, health and education."

John Crace on how the credit crunch shrunk the charity lunch | Business | The Guardian

John Crace on how the credit crunch shrunk the charity lunch | Business | The Guardian: "Things aren't looking quite so good this time round. With the auction due to end on Friday, the bidding stands at $75,300. This is partly because hedge-fund managers are - thankfully - thinner on the ground, and partly because the ones who are still trading are the ones who realised it would be piss-poor PR to waste their client's money so extravagantly."

Television Review - 'The Philanthropist' - In a New Series, James Purefoy Is a Rich Man Who Grows a Conscience in Africa - NYTimes.com

Television Review - 'The Philanthropist' - In a New Series, James Purefoy Is a Rich Man Who Grows a Conscience in Africa - NYTimes.com: "The pilot, which will be shown on Wednesday, was shot on location in southern Africa and is dazzlingly filmed; the cinematography alone stands out. But it’s the hero’s duality — he’s a good Samaritan with a flawed personality — that helps make “The Philanthropist” an unusual and exhilarating network series."

Paulette's Point of View

Paulette's Point of View: "On the Road
I enjoyed some great meetings with AFP chapters in Tampa and Orlando last week. The primary topic of discussion was, of course, the economy and how organizations are faring."

Professional Volunteers Needed - Philanthropy.com

Professional Volunteers Needed - Philanthropy.com: "Professional Volunteers Needed

While applauding President Obama’s effort to get more Americans to volunteer, Rachael Chong says more needs to be done to get professionals to donate their skills in accounting, computers, marketing, and other white-collar jobs."

Tips for Using the Web, E-mail and Social Networking to Net Wired Wealthy Donors : By Abny Santicola : FundRaising Success

Tips for Using the Web, E-mail and Social Networking to Net Wired Wealthy Donors : By Abny Santicola : FundRaising Success: "In the session 'Taking Leadership Online: What's Hype and What Works in Online Fundraising' at Fund Raising Day in New York 2009 presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater New York Chapter in early June, presenters Nancy Haitch, deputy vice president of development for International Rescue Committee; Alia McKee Scott, principal at Sea Change Strategies; and Jono Smith, vice president of nonprofit marketing at Network for Good, discussed management strategies that trail-blazing organizations have followed in using the Internet to begin, sustain and enrich relationships with top donors, prospects and volunteers."

Getting down and dirty with Lend a Hand - allDAY - msnbc.com

Getting down and dirty with Lend a Hand - allDAY - msnbc.com: "From TODAY producer Molly Palmer

Today was the first day of Al Roker's annual Lend a Hand charity and my first time working on this incredible part of our show."

Stimulus offers funds with strings attached to nonprofits - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

Stimulus offers funds with strings attached to nonprofits - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:: "At a time when nonprofits are watching their funding dry to desperation levels, stimulus money is proving a coveted but elusive — and often frustrating — short-term solution.

Among the challenges are the amount of money available, the multiple pots various nonprofits might tap for funds, and the administration by multiple agencies. Not every nonprofit category is even eligible. Deadlines and payout times are staggered. The turnaround from receipt to spending is fast. Some money is allocated through the federal government as competitive grants, while other funds are distributed through the state and counties."

Fontana company maintains a no-layoffs pledge in unique way | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Fontana company maintains a no-layoffs pledge in unique way | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California: "But California Steel apparently has found a way to maintain its no-layoff practice that dates back to the company's start in 1983: All of the company's nearly 900 workers remain on California Steel's payroll, but since late April many have been spending workdays on projects at nonprofit sites around the Inland area, including a women's shelter, an animal rehabilitation center and the San Bernardino National Forest."

Frantz: It’s unfair to expect athletes to double as activists | San Francisco Examiner

Frantz: It’s unfair to expect athletes to double as activists | San Francisco Examiner: "Brown’s criticism is not merely inappropriate or unfair — it’s flat wrong. The Tiger Woods Foundation does much more than conduct golf clinics for kids. It funds university scholarships, allows students to study at Tiger Woods Learning Centers, provides millions of dollars in grants to more than 100 charities annually, and “Tiger’s Action Plan” is a program that helps teachers, youth groups and other leaders to help kids reach their fullest potential."

Culture Vulture: Arts a luxury? Not in the big picture - Salt Lake Tribune

Culture Vulture: Arts a luxury? Not in the big picture - Salt Lake Tribune: "Arts organizations in Utah have certainly felt the pinch in the current recession. Consider these recent stories:"

Is Sage off the menu for this year’s diners? - Times Online

Is Sage off the menu for this year’s diners? - Times Online: "This year, the auction has been open for a day. Against a minimum price of $25,000, the auction has seen only four bids, as I write, with a maximum of $30,100 offered so far. It runs until Friday, so there is time yet. But Buffett, along with plenty of other people, has had one of his worst ever years. The chance for you and up to seven of your friends to pick his brains over a T-bone and cola lunch — he picks up the tab but is notoriously frugal — might not be worth that much this time around."

The Uniform Project - One Year, One Dress, One Cause | BlogHer

From Blogher

The Uniform Project - One Year, One Dress, One Cause | BlogHer: "The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for slum children in India."

BBC NEWS | Europe | Women 'dip in the nip' for charity

BBC NEWS | Europe | Women 'dip in the nip' for charity: "Almost 200 Irish women have braved the chilly waters of the North Atlantic - and their own blushes - to take a 'dip in the nip' to raise money for charity."

Partnerships and Mergers: The Hype and the Promise | eJewish Philanthropy: The Jewish Philanthropy Blog

Partnerships and Mergers: The Hype and the Promise | eJewish Philanthropy: The Jewish Philanthropy Blog: "Partnerships and Mergers: The Hype and the Promise
Posted by Richard Marker | June 22, 2009 | Category: Best Practice |

Last summer I wrote a piece, Should you go it alone: partnerships and collaborations, on giving organizations a useful tool for the ifs and hows of partnerships and mergers. It is one of the most requested pieces I have ever written. It was based on fairly extensive experience in the area: both as the ceo of a foundation which invested heavily in such partnerships and as a periodic consultant to organizations which were exploring mergers and partnerships."

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: "A new international organization with Omaha ties allows executives to use their business expertise to assist nonprofit organizations in developing nations.

Executives Without Borders was founded in 2008, said Lori Stohs, an account executive for Microsoft Corp. in Omaha and a founding board member. Board members reside in the United States, Singapore, India and France."

Al Roker in L.A. for goodwill tour - Los Angeles Times

Al Roker in L.A. for goodwill tour - Los Angeles Times: "Starting Monday in L.A., Roker will be in a different city each day this week to surprise a local charity organization with much-needed supplies and donations to improve their communities.

'This country, in a sense, was built on charity and volunteerism,' Roker said. 'A lot of these places . . . are the ones that are on the front lines every day.'"

I've been named a trustee -- what do I do now? | thetimesherald.com | The Times Herald

I've been named a trustee -- what do I do now? | thetimesherald.com | The Times Herald: "As a successor trustee, your primary duty is to preserve and protect the trust assets for the use of the named beneficiaries.

To accomplish that objective, you should assemble a team to assist you with your duties as trustee, especially if you have never acted as trustee before. Two key team members are your attorney and accountant."

Gorbachev Records Ballads for Charity

Gorbachev Records Ballads for Charity: "Gorbachev recorded the CD of traditional Russian love ballads to raise money for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation , a children's cancer charity named for his late wife. According to Pravda , Gorbachev collaborated with Andrey Makarevich, singer for Russian rock band Time Machine, to record the seven tracks on 'Songs for Raisa,' all songs the late Raisa loved."

Rapid City Journal | News » Local | Spearfish Relay for Life sets new state record

Rapid City Journal | News » Local | Spearfish Relay for Life sets new state record: "At Friday's opening ceremony, Bevs B's team was proclaimed the new record holder after raising $35,000 to fight cancer -- the most money raised statewide by an individual team."

Charity's raffle winner to take home $1.3 million

Charity's raffle winner to take home $1.3 million: "Ads touting the raffle had said the prize would be $1.6 million in cash or a five-bedroom house valued at $1.9 million, but not enough tickets were sold to make the house an option, said Kim Lande, a spokeswoman for the charity.

In its marketing materials, the charity was careful to explain that at least 30,500 of the 35,000 available tickets had to be sold before the home could be offered. Only 28,500 tickets were sold, which also lowered the amount of the cash prize.

Despite the tough economy, Ronald McDonald House Charities sold 5,000 more tickets than it did last year."

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: "Time to get out your checkbooks and line up seven of your friends for lunch with Warren Buffett.

Bidding starts at $25,000 on a special eBay Web site at 5 p.m. today in Buffett's annual fund-raiser for the Glide Foundation of San Francisco. Final bids are due at 5 p.m. Friday."

Article - WSJ.com

Article - WSJ.com: "By Shelly Banjo
A DOW JONES NEWSWIRES COLUMN


NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--When it comes to philanthropy, Morgan Stanley (MS) says there is a double bottom line: dividends for those the company helps, and dividends for the company itself.

Isabelle Halphen, a vice president in equity research, experienced that balance sheet first hand, along with 35 other employees, by participating in the company's Social Enterprise Strategy Challenge. In the eight-week program, the employees provide pro-bono financial advisory services to nonprofit organizations."

Area nonprofits feel urge to merge - BostonHerald.com

Area nonprofits feel urge to merge - BostonHerald.com: "Bay State nonprofits struggling to stay afloat amid a global economic recession and an abysmal state budget crisis are warming up to an idea that was considered an anathema just a year ago: mergers."

Funding the arts by Evansville Courier & Press

Funding the arts by Evansville Courier & Press: "EVANSVILLE — Economists may quibble over exactly when the nation's financial decline fell into a 'recession,' but Glenn Roberts can tell you when it crystallized for him.

For Roberts, the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra's executive director, it came in a phone call in November."

Political fundraising is tougher these days - Kansas City Star

Political fundraising is tougher these days - Kansas City Star: "Political fundraising.

“It’s definitely tougher to raise money,” said Sharon Hoffman, who is organizing a $250-per-person pass-the-hat gathering planned for this week in Kansas City. “It’s the economy, and that makes sense.”

Republican operative Jeff Roe agrees: “People are being pickier with their money.”"

Zoo might cut hours, staff to bridge deficit

Zoo might cut hours, staff to bridge deficit: "The fatal tiger mauling of a 17-year-old on Christmas Day 2007 has had a ripple effect that caused donors to pull back and visitors to stay home, and led the zoo to spend on safety upgrades.

It's a triple whammy in one of the worst recessions on record.

The zoo is projecting a $17 million budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, down $3 million from the current budget."

Companies Have Shied Away From Golf Spending - NYTimes.com

Companies Have Shied Away From Golf Spending - NYTimes.com: "He’s our own TARP money,” Pete Bevacqua, the U.S.G.A.’s chief business officer, said in an interview at the United States Open.Golf was held up as an emblem of excess by members of Congress as they scrutinized the spending of banks, especially those that received money as part of the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program. Executives of institutions that received government bailout funds did not want to be seen spending taxpayer money on golf.

“What has happened has put golf sponsorship on the wrong side of public perception,” said Casey Alexander, who covers the golf industry for the New York-based Guilford Securities. “It’s on the radioactive list.”"

Julia Moulden: How You Earn Your Living Can Become The Way You Give Back

Julia Moulden: How You Earn Your Living Can Become The Way You Give Back: "He doesn't know it yet, but Dennis is part of an emerging movement of people who are reinventing their work to help save the world. It's a movement based on a powerful new idea: that doing good can mean more than volunteering and philanthropy. How we earn our living can actually become the way we give back."

MN nonprofits facing more needs, fewer resources | KXNet.com North Dakota News

MN nonprofits facing more needs, fewer resources | KXNet.com North Dakota News: "Nonprofits that serve the poor in western Minnesota are caught in a classic dilemma in these tough economic times: More need, fewer resources."

Study finds religious people more likely to volunteer | Gainesville.com | The Gainesville Sun | Gainesville, FL

Study finds religious people more likely to volunteer | Gainesville.com | The Gainesville Sun | Gainesville, FL: "Recent studies from Harvard professor Robert Putnam and University of Notre Dame scholar David Campbell show that religious people are three to four times more likely to be involved in their community."