Friday, September 21, 2012

Federal Workplace Charity Drive Cuts Goal to 4-Year Low - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Federal Workplace Charity Drive Cuts Goal to 4-Year Low - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Federal Workplace Charity Drive Cuts Goal to 4-Year Low

September 21, 2012, 10:07 am

The Combined Federal Campaign for the Washington, D.C., area is reducing its fundraising goal for 2012, the first such drop in recent memory, according to the Federal Times.

The $62-million target is $2-million below last year’s collection from U.S. government employees based in the Washington area and represents the lowest target since 2008 for the drive, the largest of the regional CFC campaigns.

White House Hosts Innovation Forum for Philanthropists - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

White House Hosts Innovation Forum for Philanthropists - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: More than 150 leaders in philanthropy and finance gathered at the White House on Thursday for a private meeting on “innovation in philanthropy” that featured Jean Case, chief executive of the Case Foundation, as a keynote speaker.

Utah lost 38 percent of nonprofits, charities since 2009 | Deseret News

Utah lost 38 percent of nonprofits, charities since 2009 | Deseret News: Nonprofits in Utah dropped by 38 percent to 3,568 since 2009 as many are struggling to find finances for already struggling budgets, according to a study by the Community Foundation of Utah.

Four out of every five nonprofit organizations in Utah work with budgets of less than $100,000 while employing more than 5 percent of the state’s work force.

Kathleen P. Enright: Building Non-Profit Resilience: Strong Roots in a Harsh Climate

Kathleen P. Enright: Building Non-Profit Resilience: Strong Roots in a Harsh Climate: For those of us who work in philanthropy, we are continually looking for how we can strengthen organizations that operate in their own types of droughts -- environments where their services are often most critical when funding is scarce, as demonstrated unambiguously by the recent financial crisis. Working in this type of environment requires strong roots. Yet all too often, grantmakers are focused on seeing immediate results from their grants neglecting the foundational roots that build the resilience required to sustain a non-profit organization for the long-term. As a result, grantees go without proper support for capacity building.

Are Online Philanthropy Contests Worth the Effort? - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Are Online Philanthropy Contests Worth the Effort? - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: After this year’s Chase Community Giving contest closed after a troubled start, some nonprofit leaders debated the costs and benefits of participating in these type of vote-driven corporate philanthropy contests in The Chronicle’s LinkedIn group.

Some nonprofit leaders say they have had success with the contests, while others are skeptical of whether the campaigns benefit nonprofits or the corporate donor.

Here are some highlights from the debate:

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Lessons from a Board’s Failure or Campus Coup Squelched - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Lessons from a Board’s Failure or Campus Coup Squelched - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Last June, the University of Virginia’s governing body, called the “Board of Visitors,” made an unexpected move. They asked University President Teresa Sullivan to step down. By the end of the month, the Board stunningly reversed its decision. What happened in between her firing and re-hiring is another great example of the tension between closely held power and the public will.

Microsoft Mobilizes to Create Opportunities for 300 Million Youth Around the World

Microsoft Mobilizes to Create Opportunities for 300 Million Youth Around the World: Microsoft YouthSpark is a new companywide initiative to create opportunities for 300 million youth through a range of global programs, delivered in partnership with governments, nonprofits and other businesses.

Ex-NFL Owners Give $24-Million to Fla. Grant Maker - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Ex-NFL Owners Give $24-Million to Fla. Grant Maker - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Wayne and Delores Weaver, the former owners of football’s Jacksonville Jaguars, have dissolved their family foundation and donated its $23.7-million in assets to the city’s Community Foundation, writes The Florida Times-Union.

Fast start helps online fundraising challenge set record | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Fast start helps online fundraising challenge set record | Richmond Times-Dispatch: -

Richmonders gave early and often Wednesday, helping The Community Foundation set a record in its annual online fundraiser less than a third of the way through the 36-hour event.

A little before 8 p.m., more than 8,000 donors had committed more than $589,000 to area nonprofit groups in The Amazing Raise, topping last year's total.

Can ‘#GivingTuesday’ do for charities what ‘Black Friday’ does for retailers? - The Washington Post

Can ‘#GivingTuesday’ do for charities what ‘Black Friday’ does for retailers? - The Washington Post: In addition to the 92nd Street Y, the effort is being promoted by leaders at notable non- and for-profit organizations, including nonprofit software service provider Blackbaud, which is hosting its annual conference Bbcon starting at the end of the month. Mashable COO Sharon Feder, The Economist’s Matthew Bishop and Stanford professor Robert Reich are also listed among those helping to promote the effort.

IKEA Foundation Expands Its Giving to American Groups - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

IKEA Foundation Expands Its Giving to American Groups - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The IKEA Foundation, in Sweden, is expanding its giving to American nonprofits that fight poverty in the developing world, the organization said today.

The foundation says it will provide seven grants this year totaling more than $40-million to nonprofits in Britain and the United States.

Where to Find a Consultant: In Your Community or Elsewhere? - Good Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Where to Find a Consultant: In Your Community or Elsewhere? - Good Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Where to Find a Consultant: In Your Community or Elsewhere?

September 19, 2012, 7:13 pm

By Penelope Cagney

Among the decisions charities must make when it comes time to hire a fundraising consultant is whether to use someone local or someone outside the community. There are advantages to both.

Locals already know about donors in the community and will not need to be brought up to speed. Board members and staff who have already worked with them may trust and be comfortable with them.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Dough Rising for Panera Bread Foundation - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Dough Rising for Panera Bread Foundation - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: For the fourth time, Panera Bread Company is converting a for-profit restaurant into a nonprofit Panera Cares Cafe, that in many ways mirrors its for-profit parent. The latest Panera Cares is in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Like the first three similar ventures, the main difference for customers is that the menu lists “suggested donations” in lieu of prices, and payment is made via a donation box

Reflections from Stanford Nonprofit Management Institute: New Skills for a Complex World | Beth’s Blog

Reflections from Stanford Nonprofit Management Institute: New Skills for a Complex World | Beth’s Blog: New Skills for a Complex World” was the theme of the seventh annual Nonprofit Management Institute, a two-day conference for several hundred nonprofit leaders sponsored by the Stanford Social Innovation Review and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) earlier this week.

How to create an effective campaign

How to create an effective campaign: With so many charities vying to tell the wider world about their cause, trying to get your charity's message out to potential donors and supporters can be a challenge. So how do charities make sure that their communications campaigns reach their target audience and have the desired effect? We asked charity communications experts for their top tips.

Nonprofits part of push to raise money - News - Progress-Index

Nonprofits part of push to raise money - News - Progress-Index: PETERSBURG - The Amazing Raise, a fundraising effort for nonprofits throughout the region, kicks off at noon today and continues through 6:30 p.m. Thursday. A total of 28 organizations within the area stand to benefit from the event.

According to the organization's website, www.givesouthsideva.org, the event is "a unique, online giving event that provides an opportunity for people who care about the Greater Richmond region to come together and raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits in 36 hours."

Donors to nonprofit campaign groups can remain secret - Washington Times

Donors to nonprofit campaign groups can remain secret - Washington Times: With the presidential campaign now entering in its final phase, a federal appeals court Tuesday overturned a ruling that could have curbed the ability of secret-money outside groups from running advertisements during that critical time.

The court said that nonprofit groups such as Crossroads GPS, the Republican group helmed by Karl Rove, do not have to disclose their donors, even if they run ads that clearly name a political candidate in the two months before an election.

Marybeth Gasman: Student-driven, Student-led Giving: Prairie View A&M University Steps Out in Front

Marybeth Gasman: Student-driven, Student-led Giving: Prairie View A&M University Steps Out in Front: Research shows that when students are exposed to philanthropic giving while in college they are more likely to give once they graduate. Students who learn why giving is important are also more likely to be engaged in campus activities as alumni. At many majority institutions throughout the nation, especially well resourced colleges and universities, teaching students about giving and why fundraising is important to the success of the institution have become the norm. At my own institution, the University of Pennsylvania, we have a program called Penn Traditions that teaches student leaders about the role of philanthropy in the future of Penn. The program is hugely successful.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Real Estate Billionaire Jorge Perez On Why Cities Need Museums - Forbes

Real Estate Billionaire Jorge Perez On Why Cities Need Museums - Forbes: Jorge Perez has a bit of an inferiority complex about Miami. He loves the city, but he knows it doesn’t have a world class museum. So he’s trying to change that, with a pledge to give the Miami Art Museum a mix of cash to fund a new building that will bear his name. He’s also donating some of his own collection of Latin American art. Altogether the gift will be worth between $35 million and $40 million, Perez says. I sat down with Perez at the Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy, held in New York City in June, to talk about what motivates him to give and why he chose to support Miami’s art museum.

With 11 New Members, 'Giving Pledge' Signers Now Numbers 92 - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

With 11 New Members, 'Giving Pledge' Signers Now Numbers 92 - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: While the list announced today includes well-known philanthropists such as Peter B. Lewis, chairman of Progressive Insurance Companies, it also counts people who haven’t yet made a name for themselves in major-league giving, such as Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, and Jonathan M. Nelson, founder of Providence Equity Partners.

Editorial: Donors envision stronger southern Dallas | Dallas Morning News Editorials - Opinion and Commentary for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News

Editorial: Donors envision stronger southern Dallas | Dallas Morning News Editorials - Opinion and Commentary for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News: Dallas has benefited in recent weeks from several key examples of corporate philanthropy aimed at shoring up the city’s foundations. On Monday, Highland Capital Management stepped forward with a $50,000 donation to Mayor Mike Rawlings’ GrowSouth initiative. Last week, 7-Eleven made a $300,000 donation to boost crime-fighting efforts in two of the 27 hot spots targeted citywide. On Aug. 29, Comerica Bank announced its own $50,000 donation to GrowSouth.

What inspires this kind of philanthropy? We posed the question to Mark Okada, co-founder and chief investment officer of Highland Capital, who said his company started in Los Angeles and could have chosen any place in America to call home. The company chose Dallas for its central location, low cost of doing business, minimal hassles and eager workforce, Okada said.

Rockland nonprofit nets $1M anonymous donation | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

Rockland nonprofit nets $1M anonymous donation | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME: ROCKLAND — A nonprofit organization that offers field research and leadership training opportunities in a remote island setting off Maine's coast has received an anonymous donation of $1 milliion.

The Hurricane Island Foundation announced the gift on Monday.

Nothing ‘Quiet’ About Archdiocese’s Campaign - TheNonProfitTimes

Nothing ‘Quiet’ About Archdiocese’s Campaign - TheNonProfitTimes: he archdiocese tightened its belt by slashing expenses and forged ahead with a parish-based, $135-million capital campaign called “Changing Lives Together,” which ends next year.

“We launched the campaign because we had to. That’s the bottom line,” said William Blaul, the campaign’s communications coordinator.

Now nearing the halfway mark of the staggered campaign, Changing Lives Together has received $52 million in pledges from more than 36,000 households. The pledges are to be paid over three years. “Changing Lives Together is right on goal,” Blaul said. “Our fulfillment right now is right where we want it to be -- better than 90 percent.”

20 Ways to Make Your Nonprofit Auction More Effective

20 Ways to Make Your Nonprofit Auction More Effective: Respondents had a variety of thoughts about what they will do differently next year. Over 60% said they would start the process of getting items earlier. Greater use of online was cited by 39% of respondents. Thirty one percent said they would get more high priced items while 19% said they would get additional lower priced items to appeal to more people.

Monday, September 17, 2012

UC fundraising arm cutting to fill budget gap | CommunityPress.com | cincinnati.com

UC fundraising arm cutting to fill budget gap | CommunityPress.com | cincinnati.com: Just as it is trying to complete a $1 billion capital campaign by next summer, the University of Cincinnati’s fundraising arm is slicing jobs to plug its own $1 million budget gap.

The UC Foundation is offering early retirement to 16 employees age 60 and older, and intensifying performance reviews to get more out of its current staff of about 100, according to minutes of its executive committee meeting in early August.

Seven Millionaire Nonprofit CEOs - ABC News

Seven Millionaire Nonprofit CEOs - ABC News: For the past decade, the Chronicle of Philanthropy has published the highest salaries of the chief executives of the nation's top charities and foundations. According to the most recent findings, which cover 2010 and half of 2011, the top earners routinely make more than $1 million and received a median pay increase of 3.8 percent in 2011.

The YWCA USA Reorganizes Starting With A New CEO, Plan - TheNonProfitTimes

The YWCA USA Reorganizes Starting With A New CEO, Plan - TheNonProfitTimes: The YWCA USA will usher in a new era by the end of the year, not only with its first permanent CEO in more than two years, but also a new governance structure for the 250-affiliate organization for women.

First School of Philanthropy gets approval in US - Charity fundraising news - News - Civil Society

First School of Philanthropy gets approval in US - Charity fundraising news - News - Civil Society: Indiana University has received approval to create a School of Philanthropy, in what is believed to be the first time a university has given ‘school’ status to the study of the topic.

While the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana has a long history of producing academics and work on philanthropy, the university has only just been given the go-ahead by its local authority to create a School of Philanthropy which will focus on education, training and research.

Charities Must Battle Myths About Overhead - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Must Battle Myths About Overhead - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Charities Must Battle Public Misconceptions About Overhead Costs

By Dan Pallotta

Nonprofit organizations build movements that mobilize people to fight the worst forms of human suffering. But when it comes to dealing with the systemic issues that undermine its true potential, the nonprofit sector has no movement to mobilize itself.

And while nonprofits speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, they have no national voice to defend against investigative reporters, lawmakers, and others who attack them—often maliciously and incorrectly—for spending too much on executives’ salaries and on the overhead and infrastructure expenses it would take to grow.

BBC News - Past philanthropists: How giving has evolved

BBC News - Past philanthropists: How giving has evolved: But clearly not everything is the same as it was 100 years ago.

The biggest change affecting the older foundations has probably been the growth of government, with state funding now covering areas that they weren't previously, such as health and education.
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I think the Gates Foundation will be the last big foundation for a while”

Prof Leslie Lenkowsky Indiana University

"Nowadays people call philanthropists the third sector but in many ways that's a bit of a misnomer," says Beth Breeze. "[In Victorian times] they were the first sector. If they didn't build a hospital no-one would."

Charity notebook: United Way kicks off new fundraising campaign without announcing a goal | syracuse.com

Charity notebook: United Way kicks off new fundraising campaign without announcing a goal | syracuse.com: Syracuse, N.Y. -- After falling short of its fundraising goals for four consecutive years, the United Way of Central New York has launched its new fundraising campaign without publicly announcing a dollar goal.

It is part of the United Way's new strategy to shift the spotlight of its 2012-2013 campaign on pressing community needs United Way funded nonprofit agencies are trying to address, said Frank Lazarski, the United Way's president.

Executive Pay Increased by Median of 3.8% in 2011, Chronicle Survey Finds - Executive Compensation - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Executive Pay Increased by Median of 3.8% in 2011, Chronicle Survey Finds - Executive Compensation - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Helene Gayle, leader of the relief group CARE, took a pay cut during the recession, as did all of the nonprofit’s staff members. Her current salary, $419,204, is no higher than it was in 2008.

By Ben Gose and Marisa L�pez-Rivera

The median pay for executives of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations kept up with inflation in 2011—and some experts say that might be the best that charity leaders can hope for in the near future.

Chief executives at the nation’s biggest charities and foundations received a median pay increase of 3.8 percent in 2011, according to The Chronicle’s annual survey of executive compensation and benefits. That’s slightly better than the 3-percent inflation rate for the year.

Internal Revenue Service Webinar Registration Page

Internal Revenue Service Webinar Registration Page: IRS Presenters:

Steven Grodnitzky, Tax Attorney, Manager, IRS Exempt Organizations Office

Emily Mangrum, Tax Law Specialist, IRS Exempt Organizations Office
When disasters strike new charities spring up to help the victims, and existing charities want to expand their activities to provide disaster relief. But often, these organizations don’t understand the complexities of starting and operating an organization to provide disaster relief.