How much can Sri Lanka help itself? | Tom Widger | Global development | guardian.co.uk

How much can Sri Lanka help itself? | Tom Widger | Global development | guardian.co.uk: How much can Sri Lanka help itself?

Indigenous charity and philanthropy could transform development in Sri Lanka – but will it be for better or for worse?

- Sent using Google Toolbar

Long economic slog saps church, charity assistance in Oregon

Long economic slog saps church, charity assistance in Oregon: PORTLAND, Ore. — Economists say the recession is over, but Oregon churches and charity organizations say they don't see it. Demand for private and public aid is rising, they say, and the money to provide it is down.

Organizations are dipping into reserves, scaling back programs or turning people away, The Oregonian (http://bit.ly/Nu2lP4 ) reported Tuesday. Other organizations are dealing with volunteer burnout and donor fatigue.

Embracing Failure Does Not Mean Embracing Mistakes

Embracing Failure Does Not Mean Embracing Mistakes: Jamie wrote a piece referencing one of the great (and unexpected) takeaways from our Blogworld New York session on Humanize. In the book, we cite NTEN as one of our shining examples of a truly human organization. The intel Amy Sample Ward shared as our panelist was REALLY AWESOME, even more than I thought it would be, so much so that we plan to create a whole new case study series of posts about it either here on SocialFishing or over on Get Me Jamie Notter. She showed us how NTEN views authenticity, experimentation, guiding principles, transparency, and a whole lot more.

Mass. Nonprofits Challenged to Chart a New Course of Action

massnonprofit.org ::: une 7, 2012 — While the Massachusetts nonprofit sector has shown “enormous innovation, introspection, and creativity” in response to the economic crash four years ago, its future well-being depends on charting a new course of action, according to a major report released today by The Boston Foundation.

Noting that the sector is threatened by “its challenging financial health,” the report—Passion and Purpose Revisited, a follow-up to a similar analysis completed in 2008—calls on Massachusetts nonprofits to map their future based on research, better alignment of programs and funding, and evidence-based performance measures.

Deconstructing Philanthropy: The fossilized newsletter?

Deconstructing Philanthropy: The fossilized newsletter?: But when I started thinking, I realized that the question was wrong. To me, the question isn’t whether or not newsletters are relevant. The question is where and with whom newsletters work. Let’s start by looking at two charities (invented by me!) with two scenarios – and see if we can’t bring a clearer and sharper perspective to the newsletter issue.

Write a Book! Questions to Ask Yourself Before Submitting a Book Proposal - Resource Center - AFP

Write a Book! Questions to Ask Yourself Before Submitting a Book Proposal - Resource Center - AFP: Write a Book! Questions to Ask Yourself Before Submitting a Book Proposal

Ditch Your Board Composition Matrix | Blue Avocado

Ditch Your Board Composition Matrix | Blue Avocado: hat's wrong here is that these board composition matrices focus our attention on what people are, rather than on what the organization needs board members to do.

Three traps of the board composition matrix

Donor-Advised Funds: Non-Transparent Tax Shelters for Good | Blue Avocado

Donor-Advised Funds: Non-Transparent Tax Shelters for Good | Blue Avocado: Nonprofits are probably most familiar with donor-advised funds (DAFs) at community foundations: a donor gives, let's say, $1 million to a community foundation and gets a $1 million tax deduction that year. Over the next several years, the donor "advises" the foundation to pay out the $1 million in grants to various nonprofits that the donor selects. Donor-advised funds are also administed by commercial institutions such as Fidelity and and Chase. Writer Jeff Angus took a closer look at DAFs for Blue Avocado:

Charities open their finances to donors via smartphone apps – USATODAY.com

Charities open their finances to donors via smartphone apps – USATODAY.com: Potential donors in New Jersey and Washington state can already check out charities on their smartphones before they write checks. Other states are likely to follow, says Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Good Works Co. - Tools and Resources from AFP Techknow

Good Works Co. - Tools and Resources from AFP Techknow: I’m just back from the inaugural AFP TechKnow Conference, which took place earlier this week in Orlando. It was a jam-packed few days and I’m still processing all the information I took in.

Over the two days of the conference, speakers referred to many tools and websites that could be used for reference, analytics and measurement. As well, a few of us were storifying sessions, and many speakers posted their handouts to Slideshare or the Techknow website. I thought it would be worth pulling all those great references together into one place.

Volunteers help after thieves sabotage lifeline service

Volunteers help after thieves sabotage lifeline service: Emergency response volunteers were called out to help after thieves cut off a vital medical alert telephone line in the Highlands.

More than 200 vulnerable people in the West Highlands were put at risk on 8 June when metal thieves interfered with a subsea communications cable in Loch Carron.

The disruption immediately cut off local telephone and internet services, including special telecare services. These are used by vulnerable people to summon medical help in the event of an emergency in their homes.

Nonprofits struggle with fewer resources as demand grows - Editorials - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington news, weather and sports

Nonprofits struggle with fewer resources as demand grows - Editorials - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington news, weather and sports: Thurston County nonprofits are straining under the weight of the recession, withdrawing programs and restructuring staff in order to meet their new fiscal realities.

It’s the same story across the state and the nation. State and federal funding has steeply declined along with private and corporate giving, leaving nonprofits to execute painful downsizing, even as the demand for services has been increasing at an alarming rate.

Study: Arts earn their keep in Portland | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Study: Arts earn their keep in Portland | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: A new study by a national arts advocacy organization offers a more complete snapshot.

Americans for the Arts collected data specific to Portland for its Arts & Economic Prosperity IV survey.

It suggests that Portland's nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $49.1 million industry, with organizational spending of $26.5 million and audience expenditures of $22.6 million.