Foundations Collaborate with White House to Scale Social Innovation | onPhilanthropy

Foundations Collaborate with White House to Scale Social Innovation | onPhilanthropy: "In addition, an independent coalition of more than 20 of the nation’s leading national and regional funders have created the “Scaling What Works” initiative, a complementary set of investments led by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) to extend the reach and impact of the Social Innovation Fund and similar efforts to help high-impact nonprofits succeed. The Council on Foundations also released a letter signed by more than 130 heads of community foundations from across the country that signaled their support for the Social Innovation Fund and the Administration’s agenda to investment in community solutions."

Painted Chair Affair sets fundraising record | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer

Painted Chair Affair sets fundraising record | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer: "The Painted Chair Affair offers unique furniture pieces and a variety of theme chairs. “We had an amazing turnout this year, which proves that even in this challenging economic climate, Battle Creek is an exceptionally generous community,” says Painted Chair Affair event chair Julie Shouldice."

4 Social Media Efforts to Aid the Gulf Coast

4 Social Media Efforts to Aid the Gulf Coast: "The far-reaching Gulf oil spill tragedy has left many people feeling powerless to help out. But beyond the official Deep Horizon response, pockets of non-profits and people are starting to use social media tools to organize grassroots activities throughout the Gulf region. Here’s a quick look at four tools and efforts geared towards delivering aid and cleaning up crude oil in local coastal areas."

Myths About Women and Weight Lifting … Er, Grant Proposal Writing! | Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog

From Pamela Grows's Blog
Myths About Women and Weight Lifting … Er, Grant Proposal Writing! | Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog: "o, what, pray-tell does women’s weight lifting have to do with writing grant proposals?

Well, just like women and weight lifting, a lot of myths have built up around writing grant proposals over the years. Here are just a few:

We can’t rely on foundation funding.

Truth: Nonsense. I‘ve worked with organizations that derive a good 70-80% of their overall budgets from foundation funding. And, while well diversified, sustainable funding is important, there is no reason why, with a well run system of developing compelling proposals and sending and tracking your grant requests and reports on a regular basis, you can’t begin relying on foundation grant funding for a major portion of your budget today while you build upon other areas of support."

To Give or not to Give: Members of Associations Waiting to be Asked for Donations the Right Way, New Study Finds - About Us - ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership

To Give or not to Give: Members of Associations Waiting to be Asked for Donations the Right Way, New Study Finds - About Us - ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership: "To Give or not to Give: Members of Associations Waiting to be Asked for Donations the Right Way, New Study Finds
June 2, 2010

WASHINGTON—Members of associations across the country give generously to community causes and organizations, but fewer than 15 percent ever make a contribution beyond dues and fees to the professional associations to which they belong. A new study recently published by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, The Decision to Give: What Motivates Individuals to Support Professional Associations, explores giving by association members both to community causes and to associations, while also highlighting some opportunities to increase donations among association members."

Nonprofit groups to be counted by Mississippi � The Commercial Appeal

Nonprofit groups to be counted by Mississippi � The Commercial Appeal: "Many of the estimated 38,000 nonprofit groups operating in Mississippi will begin receiving letters from the state this week asking for verification that they're still in existence and doing business here, according to Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.

Hosemann, in DeSoto County last week to update local leaders on a variety of topics, also outlined his goals for the 2011 legislative session. Among the priorities is better regulation of nonprofit groups."

The Nonprofit QuarterlyThe Four Horsemen of the Nonprofit Financial Apocalypse

The Nonprofit Quarterly: "As the recession loomed, Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) realized that its clients—borrowers, financial advisees, and grant recipients—had been exposed to a virulent flulike virus. The financial crisis was like a pervasive, all-encompassing malady. And like health workers fighting a true epidemic, NFF’s clients would be exposed to the disease and expected to fight it simultaneously. There was no vaccination program, although there were some swift and thoughtful efforts by funders to maintain funding levels, release restrictions on grants, and provide real-time relief. And it was well understood that the disease could be fatal."

The Nonprofit Quarterly

The Nonprofit Quarterly: "As the recession loomed, Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) realized that its clients—borrowers, financial advisees, and grant recipients—had been exposed to a virulent flulike virus. The financial crisis was like a pervasive, all-encompassing malady. And like health workers fighting a true epidemic, NFF’s clients would be exposed to the disease and expected to fight it simultaneously. There was no vaccination program, although there were some swift and thoughtful efforts by funders to maintain funding levels, release restrictions on grants, and provide real-time relief. And it was well understood that the disease could be fatal."

Bylaws Checklist | Blue Avocado

Bylaws Checklist | Blue Avocado: "Because regulations about nonprofit bylaws are done individually by state (rather than the federal government) there is quite a bit of variation. For example, in Ohio and New York, nonprofit boards must have a minimum of three members, but in California the minimum is one. It's important to obtain the applicable state laws and make sure that the bylaws are in compliance. In addition, some cities have further regulations for nonprofits. Ask your city attorney's office for guidance. For example, some states and cities have different rules for nonprofit organizations for which the board automatically includes an elected official or government employee as a result of that individual's election or employment."

CharityVillage� Research: Six tips to keep your team motivated

CharityVillage� Research: Six tips to keep your team motivated: "It’s no surprise that employees in the nonprofit sector are generally paid less than their contemporaries in the private and public sectors. While we’d like to believe the sector’s employees are equally motivated by salary as they are by the organization’s mission and impact on the community, the most recent voluntary and nonprofit labour force study released by the HR Council for the Voluntary and Non-Profit Sector indicates that we are losing a key group of young, talented, and innovative leaders to sectors better equipped to offer not only more enticing financial rewards, but also greater potential for career learning, growth, and opportunity. The HR Council also sites that only 29% of nonprofits took steps beyond salary increases to improve their work environment."

ADVOCACY MATTERS, NO REALLY - Association Bisnow - Washington

ADVOCACY MATTERS, NO REALLY - Association Bisnow - Washington: "Whether it's ol' fashioned guilt on the rise, or just more families finding coins in the couch, household charitable giving is expected to rebound 3-4.5% this year for a total between $222 billion and $227 billion, according to a new report from Boston College's Center on Wealth and Philanthropy. The study, published by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is based on a new model that looks at an array of data from the Federal Reserve to the National Association of Realtors and beyond."

House Passes Extension of Charity Tax Breaks - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

House Passes Extension of Charity Tax Breaks - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "May 28, 2010, 03:00 PM ET
House Passes Extension of Charity Tax Breaks

By Grant Williams

The House of Representatives has approved legislation to extend through the end of 2010 several key tax incentives for charitable donations, including one designed to encourage older people to make donations through their individual retirement accounts.

The bill, HR 4213, will be considered by the Senate when it returns to work the week of June 7."

Paulette's Point of View: Philanthropic Decisions at the Bakery

Paulette's Point of View: Philanthropic Decisions at the Bakery: "You may have seen the news that Panera, a U.S.-based bakery and restaurant chain, has launched a new nonprofit store in St. Louis that will operate in exactly the same way as its other stores will. EXCEPT, it doesn’t offer any prices. Customers are told to donate whatever they want for their meal. It could be one cent, or ten dollars or 100 dollars. The company hopes to open additional nonprofit, pay-what-you-like restaurants if this one succeeds."

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "The Boston College/AFP 2008 estimate differs from the Giving USA estimate of $229.28 billion, published annually by the Giving Institute in conjunction with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. The 2009 Giving USA statistics are due out in a few weeks. The Giving USA estimate for 2007 was $235.58 billion given by individuals for a decrease of 2.5 percent compared to 2008."

Local summer festivals threatened by economy

Local summer festivals threatened by economy: "Around here everyone has a festival going on,” said the spokesman for Miamisburg Historical Society’s Memorial Day weekend events. “People around here just expect it.”

But economic pressures and reduced corporate sponsorship have several summer festivals in jeopardy. A few have already been canceled."

Volunteers' goal: 1 million meals for quake-stricken Haiti | KOMO News - Breaking News, Sports, Traffic and Weather - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional

You can find links to other Disaster Relief Fundraising stories on the AFP Resource Center Disaster Relief Blog

Volunteers' goal: 1 million meals for quake-stricken Haiti | KOMO News - Breaking News, Sports, Traffic and Weather - Seattle, Washington | Local & Regional: "The massive effort involved 2,000 people who worked to pack a million meals for people still going hungry in the poverty-stricken, quake-ravaged country.

The prepackaged meals for six are being created by hand, one at a time."

Principal Charity Classic: Tournament's biggest issue might be running out of tickets | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register

Principal Charity Classic: Tournament's biggest issue might be running out of tickets | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register: "amie Alt has a problem. The tournament director for this week’s Principal Charity Classic had 70,000 any-day tickets printed for the Champions Tour golf event at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines this week.

“Right now we’re concerned about having enough tickets,’’ Alt said. “It could become an issue if ticket sales continue like they have been.’’"

2009 U.S. Household Charitable Giving Down | eJewish Philanthropy: The Jewish Philanthropy Blog

2009 U.S. Household Charitable Giving Down | eJewish Philanthropy: The Jewish Philanthropy Blog: "Almost every day we seem to be receiving new information on 2009 giving trends and possible scenarios for this year. Last week, we saw a downbeat report for 2010 that included this, “nearly two-thirds of survey respondents report they plan to either reduce their giving or keep it the same as last year.” Today, we have the release below from Boston College’s Center on Wealth and Philanthropy."

Applications Open Today for the 2011 Collaboration Prize | Rosetta Thurman

From Rosetta Thurman's blog

Applications Open Today for the 2011 Collaboration Prize | Rosetta Thurman: "Applications open today for the 2011 Collaboration Prize, a $250,000 national award designed to identify and showcase models of collaboration among nonprofit organizations. The 2011 Collaboration Prize is a national award presented to nonprofit organizations that collaborate effectively to gain greater impact. In 2011, the Collaboration Prize will award a total of $250,000 to the collaborations that best exemplify the impact that can result from working together. Each of the eight finalists will receive $12,500 and the winner will receive an additional $150,000."

Virginia Business - News: Philanthropy’s changing role in Virginia

Virginia Business - News: Philanthropy’s changing role in Virginia: "This could be a defining time for Virginia’s nonprofits and their supporters. The recession might be over, but its damage lingers. People are hurting, and unemployment is high."

McClearly wins AFP's top research award | Philanthropy Journal

McClearly wins AFP's top research award | Philanthropy Journal: "Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded Skystone Ryan Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy, its top research award, to Rachel McCleary for her book, Global Compassion: Private Voluntary Organizations and U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1939"