Central Asia Institute a cautionary tale for boards

Central Asia Institute a cautionary tale for boards: With a settlement agreement signed between the Montana Attorney General’s office and the Bozeman-based Central Asia Institute, and the U.S District Court’s dismissal of the lawsuit against the institute and its executive director, Greg Mortenson, a sad chapter in botched nonprofit management closes.

What remain open are questions about the implications of the CAI case for nonprofit organizations in general. How could such serious management lapses have occurred? How could they have been prevented?

New Nonprofit Grants Designed to Help Keep State Parks Open - Sonoma, CA Patch

New Nonprofit Grants Designed to Help Keep State Parks Open - Sonoma, CA Patch: The California State Parks Foundation announced today that it will award grants totaling $328,586 to 13 organizations, including the Valley of the Moon Natural History Center and the Sonoma Ecology Center in the Sonoma Valley, fighting to keep local parks off the chopping-block .

Man buys out local K-Mart, donates everything to charity

Man buys out local K-Mart, donates everything to charity: A Kentucky businessman walks into a K-Mart, buys everything in it and donates it all to charity.

It's no joke.

Indiawest: Narayana Murthy to Receive ‘Global Humanitarian Award’

Indiawest: Narayana Murthy to Receive ‘Global Humanitarian Award’: ndian philanthropist N.R. Narayana Murthy, the founder of tech giant Infosys and an influential advocate for rural development in India, was May 10 named the recipient of the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award, which is presented each year by the Tech Museum of San Jose, Calif.

Ways to Sustain Your Nonprofit - Memphis Daily News

Ways to Sustain Your Nonprofit - Memphis Daily News: Sustainability is a current buzzword. It’s also an important concept for each of us to integrate into our work, our communities and our personal lives. They are all connected, especially for those of us who work or volunteer in the nonprofit sector. Questions and concerns related to sustainability are often unasked and unanswered. How can we sustain our work in light of growing demand and contracting funds? How long can we continue to operate like this? And, on a personal note, how can I get through today?

Northeast Portland's Iris Newhouse, 85-year-old Red Cross volunteer, scales back on disaster relief work after 110 tours | OregonLive.com

Northeast Portland's Iris Newhouse, 85-year-old Red Cross volunteer, scales back on disaster relief work after 110 tours | OregonLive.com: After 110 tours as a disaster relief volunteer for the Oregon Red Cross -- in more than 40 states -- you would think 85-year-old Iris Newhouse would have had enough.

Not so.

From Charitable Giving to Strategic Investing | Stanford Social Innovation Review

From Charitable Giving to Strategic Investing | Stanford Social Innovation Review: While there were standard panels on effective grantmaking, this year’s COF conference seemed to signal that foundations of all types are poised to start describing the billions of dollars they send to local communities around the world as strategic investments, not just charitable gifts. That shift from an insular and closed industry to a networked, public-facing force for social change isn’t going to happen overnight, but COF offered foundation leaders solid advice for how to embrace it now, achieve success, and have greater impact:

5 Visions Of The Future Of Service In America | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

5 Visions Of The Future Of Service In America | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: To wrap up a series that has, for the first time, showcased innovation in the volunteering or “service” sector, let me share with you what I, as a humble and relatively new player in the space, see as the future of service in America:

Shelburne Museum announces $4.5 million in contributions and breaks ground on Center for Art and Education

Shelburne Museum announces $4.5 million in contributions and breaks ground on Center for Art and Education: SHELBURNE, Vt. (May 16, 2012) Shelburne Museum Director Thomas Denenberg announced three major gifts to the museum’s capital campaign totaling $4.5 million.

Griego: Black men join force for good: giving circle - The Denver Post

Griego: Black men join force for good: giving circle - The Denver Post: I met Gater and White on Tuesday night at the Denver Foundation's annual celebration. They were talking with Tony Pigford, executive director of Engage 8, a nonprofit in City Council District 8, and Anthony Hicks, a consulting resource analyst for Oracle. The four are among 23 men who make up the new Denver African American Philanthropists giving circle.

"It's a group of men who very strategically want to give back to the community via time, talent and treasure — because it's not all about money," Hicks said.

In Search of the Hybrid Ideal (SSIR)

In Search of the Hybrid Ideal (SSIR)

One for the books - Sun Sentinel

One for the books - Sun Sentinel: Nearly 300 teachers gathered recently at the Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yacht Center for the annual "Broward Education Foundation Teacher Grant Awards Ceremony." They received individual grants up to $5,000 each to support innovative teaching programs.

UF&Shands to begin addition for children’s hospital - The Independent Florida Alligator: Campus

UF&Shands to begin addition for children’s hospital - The Independent Florida Alligator: Campus: Guzick said the project is in the general conceptual design phase now, but he hopes to begin construction in two to three months.

“We can only do this with philanthropy,” Guzick said. There are funds set aside for the project, but he said he hopes to raise money for at least half the cost.

Ethnic Philanthropy Extends Its Reach: A Conversation with Maha Freij of the Center for Arab American Philanthropy - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

Ethnic Philanthropy Extends Its Reach: A Conversation with Maha Freij of the Center for Arab American Philanthropy - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: How important are charitable or philanthropic funds established by ethnic or racial groups? Has the development of middle classes in the African American, Asian American, and Latino communities reduced the pressure on groups to generate capital to fund the needs of their own communities? Have comparatively newer ethnic or racial groups in the U.S. begun to develop their own charitable grantmaking mechanisms?

These questions were prompted by a chance coincidence, a get-to-know-you conversation with Maha Freij, the founder of the Center for Arab American Philanthropy, that turned into a two-hour exploration of the importance and implications of philanthropy identified with and controlled by emerging and longstanding ethnic and racial groups.

Once-troubled youths tell their tales at Covenant House gala | NJ.com

Once-troubled youths tell their tales at Covenant House gala | NJ.com: ovenant House serves about 2,000 homeless adolescents a year in New Jersey, said Jill Rottmann, the agency’s executive director. The organization, which has crisis centers in Newark and Atlantic City and programs in Elizabeth and Montclair, runs on a budget of $9 million a year.

For the past nine years, the agency has held the fundraiser "A Night of Broadway Stars," in which youth and young adults perform and tell their stories. Rottmann said the event raises about $850,000 for New Jersey’s Covenant House, which mostly serves people ages 18 to 21.

Lawrence Clayton, who played the lead in the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of "Les Miserables," said performing with Covenant House kids from all over the nation has been "amazing."

Two tribes - when male panelists meet female campaigners - Civil Society - Governance - Blogs - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Two tribes - when male panelists meet female campaigners - Civil Society - Governance - Blogs - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Men may have ruled the political panel, but women packed the punches from the audience in the Civil Society Question Time debate, says Niki May Young.

What do you do when one of the headliners from your ground-breaking debate decides to have a baby instead of attend your event? Panic, that's what, consider crying for a moment, then take a breath and get into action stations.

Four Ways to Make Your Grant Appendix Shine

Four Ways to Make Your Grant Appendix Shine: Four Ways to Make Your Grant Appendix Shine

Document illuminated by overhead lightMay 2012

Whether you're an established organization familiar with the grant process or you are a new nonprofit venturing into the state or federal grant writing realm for the first time, chances are you're overwhelmed by the amount of information requested by the funder—and the herculean efforts it can take to gather everything by the deadline. Narratives and budgets are critical elements, but just as crucial in importance—and sometimes overlooked—is your proposal's appendix. "How in the world can I gather all of this information in such a short period of time?" you may ask. "What happens if I’m not able to obtain all the necessary components before the deadline?" There's one simple answer: your grant will not be selected for review, and all the sweat equity and sleepless nights you and your staff have invested in the project will be for naught. Following are four "Do's and Don'ts"—some basic, helpful tips to ensure your application is in A form—elements that will make or break your proposal.

Paul Jolly Interviews Andrea Kihlstedt about Asking Styles

Paul Jolly Interviews Andrea Kihlstedt about Asking Styles: Paul Jolly Interviews Andrea Kihlstedt about Asking Styles

May 2012

When I was a young fundraiser, it delighted me to contradict the stereotype of the fundraiser as a gregarious glad-hander. My "secret weapon" was that I was a very good listener.

And so, when my colleague Andrea Kihlstedt recently showed me her system of Asking Styles, it helped me understand my strength. In the Asking Styles lexicon I'm a Kindred Spirit—an intuitive introvert

IRS Remains On Hunt For Revocations - TheNonProfitTimes

IRS Remains On Hunt For Revocations - TheNonProfitTimes: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoked the tax-exempt status of almost 280,000 organizations last year but potentially missed more than 15,000 others, according to a report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

The IRS made extensive outreach efforts but almost 25,000 organizations did not receive reminders to file, according to the report. More than 9,580 of approximately 24,450 organizations that did not receive a delinquency notice also might have been excluded from the At-Risk Listing published in July 2010.

Adoption Campaign Taps Iconic Animals As Pitchpets | Co.Create: Creativity \ Culture \ Commerce

Adoption Campaign Taps Iconic Animals As Pitchpets | Co.Create: Creativity \ Culture \ Commerce: Iconic characters of popular culture have a long history of advertising tie-ins. Notable pairings have included the controversial (The Flintstones and Winston cigarettes), the catchphrase-spawning (The Simpsons and Butterfinger), and the downright bizarre (Alf and Telecom USA)--and you can now file The Hong Kong Animal Adoption Cent

Study: Many Nonprofits Misreporting Solicited Donations - San Diego News Story - KGTV San Diego

Study: Many Nonprofits Misreporting Solicited Donations - San Diego News Story - KGTV San Diego: Forty-one percent of all 37,987 charities and other nonprofit groups that collected at least $1 million according to their most recent report to the Internal Revenue Service made what experts agree is a ridiculous claim: They raised significant amounts of money without spending a dime to do so.

About Us � AFP Florida Caucus

About Us � AFP Florida Caucus: About the Florida Caucus

The AFP Florida Caucus is a coalition of the 17 AFP Florida Chapters and the Puerto Rico Chapter. The AFP Florida Caucus is dedicated to advancing philanthropy by enabling people and organizations to practice ethical and effective fundraising through education, training, mentoring, research, credentialing and advocacy; and under an informal joint relationship, convene as a group to conduct statewide business of interest to the chapters as well as sponsor and conduct a statewide educational event Planet Philanthropy.

The Nonprofit Sector in Florida:
• Is the fourth largest employer among Florida industries
• Between Nonprofits and Foundations, it holds assets exceeding $91 billion
• Generates more than $48 billion in total revenue, expending over $44 billion
• Generates more than $61 billion in total economic activity

Institute expands and takes on sole fundraiser - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Institute expands and takes on sole fundraiser - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: The Institute of Fundraising is to hire a fundraiser and six other new posts as part of its new strategy focusing on research and policy work.

Conn. Finds New Nonprofit Liaison - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

Conn. Finds New Nonprofit Liaison - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: When Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy appointed former State Rep. Deb Heinrich to a cabinet-level position as the state’s nonprofit liaison, no other such position existed in the U.S., according to Heinrich. The goal of the new position was to improve the relationship between the state and its nonprofit partners, as NPQ has previously reported. After a stint, which included the creation of an office that developed efficiencies to ensure more on-time payments from the state to nonprofit contractors, Heinrich stepped down earlier this year, and now Malloy has appointed her replacement: Alyssa Goduti.

Scoutmaster has proven to be a worthy fundraiser � Standard-Times

Scoutmaster has proven to be a worthy fundraiser � Standard-Times: Raising $1.2 million in the two years he's been in San Angelo, Reeve was able to speak about fundraising challenges from a West Texas perspective in his 90-minute presentation, which, after an introduction of what Boy Scouts is all about, dealt with rebounding from natural catastrophes that the council endured last year.

Donors And Funders Are Also Consumers - TheNonProfitTimes

Donors And Funders Are Also Consumers - TheNonProfitTimes: Some of the strongest brands in the United States belong to nonprofits. Brand management experts have measured the worth of some of those brands to be in the billions of dollars. How did they get that way? They got there by following these simple principles.

Let Your Brand Manage Risk

It helps to see brands as risk management tools for consumers. Usually it’s not risk in the sense of bodily harm or death, although this is a consideration when

Capital (One) Bikeshare: Pondering the Corporate Branding of Our Beloved Bike-Sharing Program: DCist

Capital (One) Bikeshare: Pondering the Corporate Branding of Our Beloved Bike-Sharing Program: DCist: t was big news last week when Citibank offered up $41 million to brand New York's nascent bike-sharing system. Not only will the sponsorship offer the new system much-needed operating cash, but it will also allow Citbank to paint the system's 10,000 bikes blue for five years.

In January, our own iconic Capital Bikeshare bikes became focus of similar discussions—according to the Huffington Post, D.C. officials are floating a number of sponsorship, branding and advertising opportunities to help cover the costs associated with running the popular and ever-expanding bike-sharing network. (Next stations? Near the U.S. Capitol.)

COMIC ARTIST NIGHT @ THE OPERA | Portland Opera

COMIC ARTIST NIGHT @ THE OPERA | Portland Opera: Our latest Comic Artist Night @ The Opera was for CANDIDE, and this time we invited our friends on Twitter! Scroll down to see what our artists came up with. You can also see the comments that appeared on Twitter during the dress rehearsal here and it's not too late to join the fun! Tell us what you think on Twitter and use #pdxCandide to tweet your thoughts about the artwork and our production of CANDIDE. The artists' work will also be on display in the Keller Auditorium Lobby at Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE, May 11, 13m, 17, 19.

A little book has a big impact on how to run a charity - CSMonitor.com

A little book has a big impact on how to run a charity - CSMonitor.com: While the subject of "Leap of Reason" is "managing to outcomes" – a topic that sounds almost as exciting as "101 uses for duct tape" – the book is, in fact, a bracing call to arms. In an era of tight funding, Morino argues, nonprofits – such as charities and service organizations promoting the public good – need to prove that they are doing what they say they are doing.

Statewide nonprofit association’s goals explained � Local News � The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Statewide nonprofit association’s goals explained � Local News � The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia: LEWISBURG — One of the fastest-growing segments of West Virginia’s economy is the nonprofit sector, which now boasts one out of every 10 jobs in the state — more than twice as many people as the mining industry.

Nonprofits expecting better year - The Washington Post

Nonprofits expecting better year - The Washington Post: According to a canvas of community organizations in the region, nearly half (46 percent) report that their donors have expressed plans to maintain or increase contributions this year, compared with 27 percent last year and only 15 percent in 2009, according to a report released Monday by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. The group surveyed nonprofits in the District, Northern Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland.

Charity to let county take home saddled with debt

Charity to let county take home saddled with debt: RACINE — Nobody wants the house that Danielle Shakoor grew up in — even for free.

Not LaSalle Bank, which took the house at 1520 Winslow St. in a 2008 foreclosure, then shed it in a sheriff’s sale two years later.

Tax-Exempt Organization Deadline Nears - Forbes

Tax-Exempt Organization Deadline Nears - Forbes: It’s important to remember that loss of tax-exempt status can spell disaster for some organizations: not only does it mean that the organization must file income tax returns and pay tax but perhaps more importantly, it means that donors cannot take tax deductions for contributions. The ability to claim a deduction is often the motivation for individuals to make a charitable donation; without it, many potential donors may go elsewhere (or not give at all). That means it’s crucial to stay compliant.

For most tax-exempt organizations, the key date is May 15. That’s the filing deadline this year for calendar year tax-exempt organizations (otherwise, it’s the 15th day of the fifth month following the close of the tax year).

Jeff Skoll | Stanford Social Innovation Review

Jeff Skoll | Stanford Social Innovation Review: n this interview with Stanford Social Innovation Review Managing Editor Eric Nee, Jeff Skoll discusses how the Skoll Foundation’s work has evolved over the years, what makes Participant Media such a successful movie studio, and why he created the Global Threats Fund.

Eric Nee: When you embarked on philanthropy, did you have any role models or people you turned to for advice?

Jeff Skoll: One of my role models when I