Are Charity Walks and Races Worth the Effort? - SmartMoney.com

Are Charity Walks and Races Worth the Effort? - SmartMoney.com: "t was too late to turn back. Sigmon was caught up in the nation's most peculiar, if widely accepted, charitable exercise -- the athletic fund-raising event. Every year tens of millions of Americans ask friends to sponsor them in events ranging from 3-mile 'fun runs' to 100-mile bike treks. And while it's such a feel-good phenomenon that few pause to examine it, the once bush-league strategy has exploded into a high-profile funding source for some of the nation's biggest nonprofits. The largest such event -- the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life -- raised more than $400 million last year. Meanwhile, the ever-growing movement includes tens of thousands of tiny 'thons,' collecting for schools, hospitals and homeless shelters. As soon as the weather warms, the walkathoners take to the streets, proudly parading in their oversize T-shirts and ribbon pins."

IRS’s Mistakes Cause Headaches for Some Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

IRS’s Mistakes Cause Headaches for Some Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "ut the list is misleading in places, with some well-established groups listed that have, in fact, filed their paperwork. On the list were the names of some of the biggest and most well-established colleges in the United States, for example, such as George Washington University and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. So, too, was the Islamic Center, a prominent Washington nonprofit established in 1957 and located just a few blocks away from the vice president’s official residence."

IRS’s Mistakes Cause Headaches for Some Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

IRS’s Mistakes Cause Headaches for Some Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "ut the list is misleading in places, with some well-established groups listed that have, in fact, filed their paperwork. On the list were the names of some of the biggest and most well-established colleges in the United States, for example, such as George Washington University and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. So, too, was the Islamic Center, a prominent Washington nonprofit established in 1957 and located just a few blocks away from the vice president’s official residence."

Multimillionaire pooch dies at age 12 (84 in dog years) - TODAY Pets & Animals - TODAY.com

Multimillionaire pooch dies at age 12 (84 in dog years) - TODAY Pets & Animals - TODAY.com: "Despite his millions, Trouble had been troubled in his later years; the dog was blind and feeble when he died, sources told the Daily News. That's not to mention the dozens of death and kidnapping threats he received, according to a spokesman for the Helmsley Charitable Trust, which receives the balance of the funds set aside for Trouble’s care. That care reportedly included $8,000 a year for grooming, $1,200 for food, and a full-time bodyguard."

Can Collective Community Action Lead To Fundraising Success? | Beth’s Blog

Can Collective Community Action Lead To Fundraising Success? | Beth’s Blog: "In April, the Knight Foundation and Monitor Institute published a new report called “Connected Citizens” that looks at the impact of networks on communities, and asks, what do these emerging networks mean for community change?"

We Want to Come See You This Summer! � NonprofitMaine

We Want to Come See You This Summer! � NonprofitMaine: "The MANP staff will be spending a day out of our office for our 6th Annual Staff Volunteer Day, and we are looking for a project. Because we support and value the work you do as part of Maine’s nonprofit community, this is our way of saying thank you for all you do.

Here are the details: the MANP staff is available for one weekday this summer from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Our staff of eight will come to your organization and volunteer for the day to assist you with your proposed project."

The Charitable Challenge - BusinessWeek

The Charitable Challenge - BusinessWeek: "'The Girl Scouts, the Red Cross, the pastoral churches … are becoming America's management leaders,' Drucker wrote. 'In two areas, strategy and the effectiveness of the board, they are practicing what most American businesses only preach. And in the most crucial area—the motivation and productivity of knowledge workers—they are truly pioneers, working out the policies and practices that business will have to learn tomorrow.'"

Education and Training

Nonprofit Management Programs in Virginia listing from VANNO

Education and Training: "Education and Training


Earn a certificate in nonprofit management or sharpen your skills in a specific functional area. The following educational institutions offer education or training applicable to nonprofit management professionals.
Nonprofit Management Programs in Virginia"

Day of Giving receives $131,910 for Armstrong nonprofits - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Day of Giving receives $131,910 for Armstrong nonprofits - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "The women have labeled the county's first Day of Giving last month a success and already have a goal set for next year's event. On May 12, $131,910 was donated to participating nonprofits through the community foundation. The nonprofits will receive a match from the foundation of 18.5 cents for every dollar donated.

'That day we were just over the moon here,' Knappenberger said. 'I was confident we could raise $50,000.'"

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Madoff Fraud Helps Bring Down Curtain on Florida Theater

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Madoff Fraud Helps Bring Down Curtain on Florida Theater: "une 6, 2011; Source: New York Times | Maybe we'll never know the full toll on the nonprofit community of Bernard Madoff's ponzi scheme. But the damage is still being felt. The New York Times reports that earlier this week Florida Stage, 'a well-regarded Palm Beach theater devoted to putting on new plays,' filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy"

Critics Question Philanthropist's Growing Influence in Big School Districts - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Critics Question Philanthropist's Growing Influence in Big School Districts - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Critics Question Philanthropist’s Growing Influence in Big School Districts

June 9, 2011, 10:14 am

Twenty-one of the country’s 75 largest school districts are now led by alumni of the philanthropist Eli Broad’s training center for education administrators, prompting growing scrutiny of the billionaire’s influence on U.S. schools, Education Week writes.

Critics say graduates of the Broad Superintendents Academy pursue a policy of corporatizing schools, applying business-management techniques to education, and diluting the roles of teachers and parents."

Mark Rosenman: Commercializing the Public Good

Mark Rosenman: Commercializing the Public Good: "The first of these was cause-related marketing -- arrangements in which for-profit enterprises boosted their brand image and sales by tying some small portion of their profits to a charity or social need. Arrangements like Product RED, while generating some good, always seem to benefit the commercial enterprise more than the nonprofits they were intended to help. Indeed, studies have shown that such arrangements actually reduce individual consumers' donations to the causes they ostensibly support, as well as altruism in general. As tax-evading Product RED spokesperson Bono once famously said, You don't have to give money anymore, you can just shop. Similarly, when corporations try to build their customer base using social networking and crowd-sourcing for their contributions programs, it is principally the businesses and tech-savvy charities that win.

Cause-related arrangements were followed by 'social entrepreneurs' determined to use the wisdom and experience of the market to rationalize the charitable sector and bring it to higher levels of efficiency and impact. Often backed by 'social venture capital,' they sought a new way to 'do the deal' to leverage private resources for public good while still achieving significant returns on investment, thus disrupting the flow of capital into existing philanthropic foundations."

Toms Glasses: The Newest Buy-One-Get-One Product From Toms Shoes | Fast Company

Toms Glasses: The Newest Buy-One-Get-One Product From Toms Shoes | Fast Company: "The glasses themselves--which start at $135--come in three styles and feature three hand-painted stripes that are supposed to represent you, the person you're helping, and Toms connecting you. The company, which gave away a million shoes last year, is launching its eye care programs in Nepal, Tibet, and Cambodia (where Pol Pot targeted people who wore glasses). It's working with what it calls a 'Sight Giving Partner,' the Seva Foundation, which will administer the actual eye programs."

275,000 Groups Lose Charity Status - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

275,000 Groups Lose Charity Status - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "The Internal Revenue Service said today that 275,000 nonprofits have lost their tax-exempt status because they did not file legally required documents for three consecutive years. That move trims the number of tax-exempt groups by about 14 percent.

Many of the groups that lost their exemptions are charities, and donors to those organizations cannot claim a charitable deduction for gifts to the groups after the IRS makes the list official."

Automatic Revocation of Exemption

Automatic Revocation of Exemption: "Automatic Revocation of Exemption


Most tax-exempt organizations are required to file an annual return or notice with the Internal Revenue Service. (See Annual Return Filing Exceptions for a list of organizations that are not required to file.) Section 6033(j) of the Internal Revenue Code automatically revokes the exemption of any organization that fails to satisfy its filing requirement for three consecutive years. The automatic revocation of exemption is effective as of the due date of the third required annual filing or notice."

Website Aims to Help Organizations Better Communicate Their Impact - Press - AFP

Website Aims to Help Organizations Better Communicate Their Impact - Press - AFP: "Website Aims to Help Organizations Better Communicate Their Impact

May 31, 2011

Your organization is committed to maximizing your impact and to telling your story in an accessible, concise way. You'd like a faster method for finding potential donors and collaborators. People want to help you make a difference - through donations, volunteering, and more - but often struggle to understand what your organization wants to achieve and has already accomplished in a succinct, consistent format."

Annual event celebrates The Power of the Purse

Annual event celebrates The Power of the Purse: "Since 2004, the foundation has sponsored an event called 'The Power of the Purse,' recognizing women and the work they do to help so many charitable causes.

Just think about the occasions we have given of our time. When our children are young, we volunteer at various fundraisers at their schools - bake sales, spaghetti suppers and pancake breakfasts. Maybe you are one of the ladies that take admissions at the Lake County Fair or make Easter Eggs to sell for charitable causes. We have done it all."

Woman, 82, traveling the country in a big rig for charity - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Woman, 82, traveling the country in a big rig for charity - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Along the way, Kirsch and driver Annabella Wood are raising money for and awareness of the foundation that has granted nearly 1,600 wishes to seniors across the country who have never had the time, finances or ability to fulfill them.

Kirsch read about the Twilight Foundation in a newspaper and checked it out. The group pursued her first wish -- to be a Las Vegas showgirl -- but couldn't get a club to go along with it."

The AFP Blog: One and Done?

The AFP Blog: One and Done?: "Interesting piece in the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Prospecting Blog on Smile Train and their new donor approach—make a gift and the chari..."

Thank-you notes aid higher ed scholarships - USATODAY.com

Thank-you notes aid higher ed scholarships - USATODAY.com: "Before scholarship recipients at Barton College receive money for the spring semester, the advancement office attempts something the students' mothers have probably failed at numerous times - getting them to write thank-you notes."

Armstrong Scandal Could Cost Livestrong $10-Million, Expert Says - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

From the Chronicle of Philanthropy


Armstrong Scandal Could Cost Livestrong $10-Million, Expert Says - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Armstrong Scandal Could Cost Livestrong $10-Million, Expert Says

June 7, 2011, 10:38 am

The cancer charity Livestrong could face a $5-million to $10-million loss in donations as investigators probe doping allegations against its founder, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Bloomberg writes."

Fire Up the Lapsed-Donor Reactivation Machine : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

Fire Up the Lapsed-Donor Reactivation Machine : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: "Most donors don’t set out to lapse. In fact, many don’t know they have lapsed. Some stopped giving because their income changed, they have new interests or you unintentionally irked them. But others will give again (and again) if you help them remember what made them support you in the first place.

A lapsed-donor renewal program doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. If you have the budget, predictive modeling can help you identify which of your lapsed donors are most likely to give again. But even without that tool, you can still reactivate a respectable percentage of your former supporters and be cost-effective about it."

The AFP Blog: Economic Governance—Data Driven Impact

The AFP Blog: Economic Governance—Data Driven Impact: "“Why would he be talking about economic governance in the AFP Blog?” It’s a fair question. I went to the Asia Foundation’s launch of a new ..."

VIDEO Harleysville croquet tournament could be biggest in the country - Souderton Independent - Montgomery News

VIDEO Harleysville croquet tournament could be biggest in the country - Souderton Independent - Montgomery News: "Between the 150 players in the June 4 Nonprofit Invitational Croquet Tournament and the 30 in the preceding day’s Senior Division Croquet Tournament, there were 180 people competing during the two days of this year’s third annual Whack & Roll.

The biggest thrill of this year’s event, though, was watching the checks being handed out to the 21 local nonprofit organizations that also benefited from the event, Dan Lapp, Mennonite Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania’s director of development, said."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Why "Good" Overhead Is Better than "Bad" for Nonprofits

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Why "Good" Overhead Is Better than "Bad" for Nonprofits: "une 3, 2011; Source: Businessweek.com | There ought to be a prize in philanthropy for the person who finally answers definitively the question, 'how much overhead is OK for a nonprofit?' Bloomberg Businessweek columnist Rick Wartzman, who also is the executive director of the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University, zeroes in on that question as the one that perplexes donors most when deciding whether a nonprofit is worthy of their support."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | What is Reasonable Nonprofit Compensation? A Guide to Avoid IRS Penalties

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | What is Reasonable Nonprofit Compensation? A Guide to Avoid IRS Penalties: "Do some nonprofit organizations pay too much compensation? If recent news stories are any indication, the answer is an emphatic “yes.” Not a week goes by without reading about a nonprofit executive earning more than one would expect a “nonprofit” to be paying, especially one that relies on tax-deductible donations and government grants for support. Such news stories are generally critical of the generous compensation packages being paid and question the propriety of this practice. While this may be an issue at some of the larger nonprofits, the average organization struggles to meet its payroll obligations, even for the modest salaries it pays."

A new chapter on fundraising • Lifestyle (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)

A new chapter on fundraising • Lifestyle (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital): "But for good a cause. Fotos created 'Written on Stone' for a unique fundraiser at the Annapolis college later this month. Called 'Art of the Book,' it features the work of more than 45 artists tasked with producing pieces inspired by literature. Some are riffs on the physical form of books themselves; others use the story or subject of a book as their theme."

Ducks net cash for lucky few: Rotary charity race's 5th annual event raises about $100,000 | The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment

Another Duck Race

Ducks net cash for lucky few: Rotary charity race's 5th annual event raises about $100,000 | The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment: "Mark Frost of Nashville, Tenn., might love his rubber ducky more than Ernie from 'Sesame Street' loves his.

If your rubber ducky won you $15,000, you'd love it, too.

Frost had bought 10 of the approximately 30,000 ducks dumped off the Wando River Bridge on Saturday afternoon for the fifth annual Rotary Charity Duck Race. Individuals and companies donated $10 per duck, and each duck made them more likely to earn a prize."

Gates Foundation backs city school 'tough decision'

Gates Foundation backs city school 'tough decision': "A decision by Pittsburgh Public Schools to eliminate an in-house teacher academy is not likely to jeopardize a $40 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

'We understand that Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers had to make a tough decision about the teacher academy,' Christopher Williams, a foundation spokesman, said Thursday. 'We respect that, and we support them in having to do that.'"