Mollie Hemingway: Tithing Gets Harder in Tough Times but People Still Pass the Plate and Grow Rich in Spirit - WSJ.com

Mollie Hemingway: Tithing Gets Harder in Tough Times but People Still Pass the Plate and Grow Rich in Spirit - WSJ.com: "Saddleback wasn't alone. Nearly 40% of the congregations in various denominations providing figures cited a decline in giving last year (compared to 29% in 2008), according to a March report from State of the Plate, a research project by Maximum Generosity ministry and Christianity Today International. Close to a third reported lower-than-expected collections for December, a month that traditionally helps many churches meet their budgets."

Big Names, Smaller Expo, and a Virtual Option at American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Conference | 2010 Annual Meeting and Exposition

Big Names, Smaller Expo, and a Virtual Option at American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Conference | 2010 Annual Meeting and Exposition: "The American Society of Association Executives and The Center for Association Leadership will offer a virtual component to its 2010 Annual Meeting and Exposition, just one of the several new twists at the event, scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center August 21–24. The annual conclave will also feature a scaled-back expo floor, a new business appointment lounge for exhibitors and attendees, free registration for meeting planners who accompany their CEOs, and two major music stars to open and close the conference."

Food donations serve as 'springboard' for pantries | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader

Food donations serve as 'springboard' for pantries | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader: "For many local food banks, the food drive on Saturday is a big part of how they survive the warmer months that bring higher demand for their services, but also fewer donations."

ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation - ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFITS

ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation - ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFITS: "Introduction

Anyone who has formed a nonprofit or read the “How to Start a Nonprofit” FAQ understands that it involves extensive time, dedication and expense. For that reason it is important to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of this venture. The vast majority of questions coming to the ASU Lodestar Center focus on nonprofits being organized for religious and charitable purposes. Such an organization qualifies for tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code as a 501(c)3. In the IRS code there are over 35 designations for nonprofits. Careful research needs to be done to determine the correct designation. This article will be limited to the examining the advantages and disadvantages of 501(c)3s."

Is it time to switch to nonprofit sector? �| ajc.com

Is it time to switch to nonprofit sector? �| ajc.com: "For many years, Steve Perry was a top sales performer in corporate America. As Southeast area manager for Gartner, the leading information technology research and advisory company, he was also a leader for charitable causes. Perry led the United Way campaign for his division and later joined the board of TechBridge, a nonprofit organization that provides IT advice to other nonprofits.

He found himself more drawn to philanthropy and fund-raising. “I loved the intangible feeling that you get when you help another person. It was time for me to evolve my career,” he said."

Foundations Get High Marks for Response to Economic Crisis - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Foundations Get High Marks for Response to Economic Crisis - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Foundations Get High Marks for Response to Economic Crisis

By Caroline Preston

Foundations appear to have responded quickly and intelligently to the economic crisis, directing more of their money for recession relief to the hardest-hit parts of the country, according to a study released today.

The study was conducted by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, and paid for by the Philanthropic Collaborative, a group of foundations, nonprofit organizations, and lawmakers"

Sleeping With the Cellphone: The 20-Something Donor - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Sleeping With the Cellphone: The 20-Something Donor - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Are people in their 20s really that much different from their older peers?

A recent study by Convio, Edge Research, and Sea Change Strategies shows that this emerging generation of donors gets involved with charities in a decidedly new-media way.

An article in this week's Chronicle shows how nonprofit groups are changing their fund-raising strategies to appeal to donors in their 20s and offers tips for how to connect with Generation Y."

Riders brave weather for charity | thespectrum.com | The Spectrum

Riders brave weather for charity | thespectrum.com | The Spectrum: "Walker was part of the 16th anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. He was joined by legendary NASCAR driver Harry Gant and an estimated 200 motorcyclists in the trek that began Saturday in Indian Wells, Calif., and will end May 9 in Randleman, N.C."

Think of charitable giving as investing | PoconoRecord.com

Think of charitable giving as investing | PoconoRecord.com
In fact, when ordinary people give small gifts to dozens of different groups, it may be a tell-tale sign that their giving is off the cuff, rather than strategic. It's an indication that you're responding to a friend or pitch, and treating giving much like buying shoes.

The painful acknowledgement of coming up short

The painful acknowledgement of coming up short
We experienced this recently, as we had to re-think our involvement in the PlayPumps initiative, which brings clean drinking water to rural African villages. When we were first introduced to the technology, we believed both the technology and the business model for its deployment had enormous potential and jumped in with both feet to help create PlayPumps International-U.S. as a US-based fundraising and marketing organization to support the initiative. As we’ve noted in the past, we’re proud of the successes the initiative has had - PlayPumps are now bringing play opportunities and improved access to safe water in hundreds of communities and schools in Africa. In addition, these efforts have helped spark a number of new play-related technologies now being offered by various organizations and the initiative has highlighted the important role that social entrepreneurship can play in global development. However, we also acknowledge that the organization has fallen short of the aggressive goals that were developed at the outset, and all involved have learned many lessons.

The Nonprofit Quarterly | The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Challenges Ahead for New Foundation Head

The Nonprofit Quarterly | The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Challenges Ahead for New Foundation Head
May 1, 2010; Source: The Gazette | This interview with the new CEO of the Memorial Health System Foundation is useful for its insights into an unusual kind of change in the hospital sector. We have written in the NPQ Newswire about nonprofit hospitals being acquired by for-profits. In this case, a public hospital in Colorado Springs is undergoing major changes in its health care practices while a citizen commission examines whether to reorganize the hospital as a nonprofit.

Nick Jonas and Bayer Diabetes Care Announce 'Give Back. Simply Win.' - KTEN.com News Weather Sports Ardmore Durant Sherman Denison-

Nick Jonas and Bayer Diabetes Care Announce 'Give Back. Simply Win.' - KTEN.com News Weather Sports Ardmore Durant Sherman Denison-: "Bayer's 'Give Back. Simply Win.' contest was designed to reward people with diabetes for their charitable efforts. Entering the contest is simple; it is open to people with diabetes in three age categories: 6 to 12, 13 to 17 and 18+ years. Contestants can visit www.NicksSimpleWins.com and answer three questions about their charitable efforts. Nick and a team of judges will select one grand prize winner from each of the three age categories. The contest begins today and entries will be accepted until August 5, 2010."

Exclusive : Citi’s work and future strategies in microfinance | Microfinance News

Exclusive : Citi’s work and future strategies in microfinance | Microfinance News: "Microfinance Focus, May 4, 2010: Microfinance Focus has taken an exclusive interview with Robert Annibale, Citi Foundation’s Global Director of Microfinance, and Pam Flaherty, Director of Citi Corporate Citizenship and CEO and President of the Citi Foundation who speaks extensively about Citi’s work and future strategies in microfinance and the role of donors."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Delivering Aid to People Who Are Rarely There

The Nonprofit Quarterly | The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Delivering Aid to People Who Are Rarely There: "Leslie Clark heads a foundation that, at first blush, seems like a contradiction in terms and purpose. Her group—the Nomad Foundation—is dedicated to bringing health care and education to nomads of Niger, the world's poorest country."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Maine’s Volunteer Lawyers—A Powerful Model

The Nonprofit Quarterly | The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Maine’s Volunteer Lawyers—A Powerful Model: "Volunteer lawyers—supplementing, not substituting for Legal Aid or Legal Services attorneys—make themselves available at various courthouses in Portland, Lewiston, and Biddeford on various days of the week to offer free advice. We’ve seen similar nonprofit efforts in the past, such as the Housing Court Task Force in New York City, and we can assure you that they are phenomenally valuable and appreciated."

Donor Retention |

Donor Retention |: "Three Types of Donors Today and Three Ways to Keep Them

In an informal poll of fund raising clients it was not surprising to learn that a major challenge in the current economy is donor retention. In addition, this is the #1 question we get in emails and telephone calls each week. Here is what we have learned from donors we have interviewed over the years, and of late, in recent studies about their continued giving."

DeVoses donate $22 million to Kennedy Center program | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

DeVoses donate $22 million to Kennedy Center program | freep.com | Detroit Free Press: "Betsy and Dick DeVos of Grand Rapids have pledged the money to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., for the newly named DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center. The gift, announced Monday in Washington, includes $2.5 million to support operations at the institute over five years and an additional $20 million to create an endowment."

'I'm still in control' says Wilderness Society boss - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

'I'm still in control' says Wilderness Society boss - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "he Wilderness Society's Executive Director insists his management committee remains in charge despite a rival group's claims.

A breakaway group, Save the Wilderness Society, passed a resolution to dissolve the existing committee at a meeting in Canberra on Sunday, saying members have lost faith."

Orchestra's $1.1m loss a 'short-term issue'

Orchestra's $1.1m loss a 'short-term issue': "TS home is the Opera House and it plays under star conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, but they were not enough to save Sydney Symphony from a loss of almost $1.1 million last year.

The orchestra's managing director, Rory Jeffes, said the global financial crisis had contributed to the 2009 loss and that the result ''will obviously impact how we look to run the business'', in particular the structure of its music series."

A Year of Living Generously: The land of good-deed-doing - thestar.com

A Year of Living Generously: The land of good-deed-doing - thestar.com: "Some people spend a year indulging themselves, travelling the world in grand style. Not Lawrence Scanlan. The much-published author and community service activist spent a year living generously in a highly innovative way to demonstrate that individual kindnesses are as important as big-bucks philanthropy. He chose to be a volunteer, rather than mere observer, at 12 Canadian-based or Canadian-supported philanthropic groups. It took him about a year, spending a month at each. The result is A Year of Living Dangerously: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Philanthropy (Douglas & McIntyre, 343 pages, $32.95)."

Azim Premji is India's Bill Gates: Forbes- Hindustan Times

Azim Premji is India's Bill Gates: Forbes- Hindustan Times: "Software tycoon Azim Premji plans to set up a world-class university to train teachers who will fan out to the teacher training institutes in India's 600 districts.

'It will be a world-class university with a large endowment,' 64-year-old Premji told Forbes magazine noting, 'Most of these institutes are a complete mess with the teachers leading the classes worse than the teachers that come to get trained.'"

Charity contests let you pick winning nonprofits | StarTribune.com

Charity contests let you pick winning nonprofits | StarTribune.com: "Frank Altman isn't a particularly anxious guy. But the Minneapolis nonprofit he runs could suddenly be $1 million richer next week, if it rallies enough votes in a new online philanthropy experiment launched by Sam's Club."

Wealthiest Colleges Reap Biggest Tax Subsidies -CBO

Wealthiest Colleges Reap Biggest Tax Subsidies -CBO: "WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Most tax-exempt borrowing by colleges and universities benefited the schools who can most easily afford to finance capital projects on their own, the Congressional Budget Office said in a Friday report."