Friday, November 09, 2012

Top 10 tips for nonprofit annual reports | Communicate and Howe!

Top 10 tips for nonprofit annual reports | Communicate and Howe!: hese organizations issued a 2012 edition of the Best Practices in Charity Annual Reporting. Since my last post continues to be widely read, I thought that I should take a look at their 2012 edition.

As I did last time, I will list each of the top ten tips recommended by the judges of the Voluntary Sector Reporting Awards. I will then comment on them from the perspective of a communications professional. My focus is to cover new ground and not repeat my comments in the last post.

Arts Branding Sucks. Here Are 4 Ways To Fix It | Co.Design: business innovation design

Arts Branding Sucks. Here Are 4 Ways To Fix It | Co.Design: business innovation design: Hollywood movies were as bland and formulaic as their posters, there’d be no point in going to see them. If the writers, directors, and performers on Broadway were as memorable as their publicity materials, their shows would be unwatchable.

Groups Work on Attracting Women Philanthropists - NYTimes.com

Groups Work on Attracting Women Philanthropists - NYTimes.com: Apparently, the high-powered volunteers were on to something. The local United Way groups have grown into 137 Women’s Leadership Councils that have raised $985 million in 12 years.

The wider philanthropy world, too, is discovering the differences between men and women. A half-dozen studies have been published in the last two years — the first systematic research into gender and philanthropy — revealing that women generally donate more, are more actively involved in the given charities, demand more proof of effectiveness and prefer somewhat different causes than men.

Largest-Charities Methodology: Size, Then Financial Efficiency - Forbes

Largest-Charities Methodology: Size, Then Financial Efficiency - Forbes: The annual list of the largest U.S. charities is a roster of the country’s biggest as calculated by Forbes. However, biggest is not necessarily the best. That’s for you to figure out, but we’ll give you a start beyond the five deemed worthy of all-star status.

Beyond Competition, Running for a Cause - NYTimes.com

Beyond Competition, Running for a Cause - NYTimes.com: Last year, according to the New York Road Runners, organizers of the New York City Marathon, more than $34 million was raised for charity. Moreover, fund-raising experts expect that the vast majority of runners in this year’s race will still honor their commitments.

“I’m sure they’re disappointed, and there might be some who are annoyed,” said Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va. “But based on what we’ve seen in other situations where a charity event has been canceled because of weather or some other once-in-a-lifetime type circumstance, people generally don’t take it out on the charity.”

Mr. Nilsen said he would not be surprised to see “two-thirds, maybe more” of the charity marathoners meet their commitment to deliver the money they raised.

More Family Firms Make Philanthropy Their Business - NYTimes.com

More Family Firms Make Philanthropy Their Business - NYTimes.com: amily-owned companies are increasingly making philanthropy a cornerstone of their business model, according to Betsy Brill, president of Strategic Philanthropy, a Chicago-based firm that advises donors and their legal and financial advisers.

“Businesses that are owned or controlled by families are using philanthropy as part of a business strategy and aligning the family’s core values with the company’s,” Ms. Brill said. “It makes sense and can also be extremely beneficial to business objectives such as attracting and retaining great employees and improving the company’s reputation as a good corporate citizen with its customers, community and vendors and suppliers.”

Richmond Folk Festival gets record donations | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Richmond Folk Festival gets record donations | Richmond Times-Dispatch: RICHMOND, Va. --

Public contributions to the Richmond Folk Festival amounted to far more than a drop in the bucket, as volunteers collected $108,000 during the festival's three-day run last month.

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Goodwill pushes for greater regulation of donation boxes - California Watch - The Sacramento Bee

Goodwill pushes for greater regulation of donation boxes - California Watch - The Sacramento Bee: ut in cities and counties across the country, Goodwills are pushing for municipal and state regulation - and often winning. Local chapters have argued that donation boxes divert money from the community and contribute to blight.

Goodwill chapters have helped pass legislation in several states, including New Jersey and Michigan.

Ten Things You Might Have Missed (October 30, 2012) - Resource Center - AFP

Ten Things You Might Have Missed (October 30, 2012) - Resource Center - AFP: Ten Things You Might Have Missed (October 30, 2012)

What Nonprofits Can Learn from the Response Media Model - NPQ

What Nonprofits Can Learn from the Response Media Model - NPQ: esponse media has a bad rap, and most of it is deserved. The idea is to comb through search queries on the Web to see what people are looking for and then create a page that specifically answers that question. In a perfect world, this would mean that if enough people searched for “how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” and there was no good answer for that already, some really well-informed people at the Woodchuck Research Institute would be kind enough to write a Wikipedia article explaining the answer succinctly, and then we all move along with our day.

GT | Newsroom - Georgia Tech Posts Near Record Philanthropy

GT | Newsroom - Georgia Tech Posts Near Record Philanthropy: The Georgia Institute of Technology posted the second best year-to-year philanthropy results in the Institute’s history for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. Private gift income to the Institute and its associated foundations totaled $118.4 million, as reported to the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), which measures only gifts received, excluding pledges.

Needed: A Multi-level Approach to Credentialing Volunteer Management

Needed: A Multi-level Approach to Credentialing Volunteer Management

University of Kent offers stand-alone Masters-level course in Fundraising and Philanthropy | UK Fundraising

University of Kent offers stand-alone Masters-level course in Fundraising and Philanthropy | UK Fundraising: University of Kent offers stand-alone Masters-level course in Fundraising and Philanthropy
Published on 8 November 2012, by howardlake
in

Training

The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at the University of Kent is offering a Masters level module in Spring on 'Fundraising and Philanthropy' as a stand-alone course for people working in the local charity sector.

Update: Fundraising for Sandy Victims Totals More Than $116.2-Million - Recovering From Sandy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Update: Fundraising for Sandy Victims Totals More Than $116.2-Million - Recovering From Sandy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Update: Fundraising for Sandy Victims Totals More Than $116.2-Million

November 8, 2012, 9:15 am

By Anais Strickland

Here are the latest totals from charities that are raising money for Superstorm Sandy relief and recovery efforts. Combined with previously reported figures, more than $116.2-million has been raised.

Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs - Planned Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs - Planned Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs

By Holly Hall

Donor-advised funds last year grew for the first time since 2007, the best year the funds had before the recession took hold, according to a study released today.

Using data from 652 organizations, the National Philanthropic Trust examined the performance of the funds, which allow people to set up charitable accounts, take an immediate tax deduction, and channel money to whatever charities they want whenever they want.

Cumberland funder to help raise $20 million for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina

Cumberland funder to help raise $20 million for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina: Cumberland funder to help raise $20 million for nonprofits

November 8, 2012 � Leave a Comment

By Todd Cohen

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Cumberland Community Foundation has launched an effort help local nonprofits raise a total of $20 million in endowment funds by 2020.

The Foundation already is working with 30 nonprofits and manages endowments for many of them.

November 7520 Rate Settles to 1.0% | Planned Giving Design Center

November 7520 Rate Settles to 1.0% | Planned Giving Design Center: For purposes of determining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or a term of years, or a remainder or a reversionary interest, Revenue Ruling 2012-30 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for November 2012 is 1.0%; down 0.2% from the October rate of 1.2% and unchanged from the September rate of 1.0%.

Will Sandy Destroy Fundraising? - Association Bisnow (DC)

Will Sandy Destroy Fundraising? - Association Bisnow (DC): Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington president Chuck Bean says not to worry. He’s confident Americans will only dig deeper rather than divert their giving to hurricane relief. Non-hurricane-related non-profits, which start their big fundraising push during the three to four weeks after Thanksgiving, need to continue talking about their mission and what they do with donations to make sure people give the same amount or more. The end of the election today will also allow for more opportunities to capture the public’s attention.

Risk Management In Mid-Sized and Small Museums - Cultural Heritage Partners

Risk Management In Mid-Sized and Small Museums - Cultural Heritage Partners

Monday, November 05, 2012

Center on Philanthropy symposium will focus on preparing for the future : Newscenter : IUPUI

Center on Philanthropy symposium will focus on preparing for the future : Newscenter : IUPUI: INDIANAPOLIS -- Powerful new ideas are transforming philanthropy. What are these forces? How will they affect nonprofits’ and donors’ ability to make a difference?

These and other questions will be addressed during the annual symposium sponsored by the Center on Philanthropy, located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus.

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation Honors the Work of Five Nonprofits

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation Honors the Work of Five Nonprofits: n celebration of Native American Heritage Month and to underscore the importance of philanthropy, the third annual Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation Dinner honored five Santa Barbara County nonprofits for their contributions to the community on Friday night at the Chumash Casi

Dissolving a nonprofit: The lifespan of Event Committee Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Dissolving a nonprofit: The lifespan of Event Committee Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The attorney for K&L Gates handling Event Committee Pittsburgh's closure was unable to comment on the dissolution, according to the law firm's spokesman, Michael Rick.

However, John R. McGinley Jr., the attorney who spent six years working on the dissolution of St. Francis Hospital, said with revenues of $217, the cost of keeping Event Committee Pittsburgh exceeded the benefit of shelving the organization in case it might be needed again.

Mr. McGinley said there are hordes of zombie nonprofits (he called them "shell nonprofits," sort of like shell corporations) existing in name and incorporation, sitting on shelves in offices around the city but not doing anything.

"Operating small nonprofits can be very cost-intensive relative to the benefits," he said, adding that most are better off finding another nonprofit with a similar or the same mission and transferring their assets over, then dissolving.

Nonprofit founder urges charities to pool resources - The Washington Post

Nonprofit founder urges charities to pool resources - The Washington Post: Now 25 years later, Egger is stepping down as head of D.C. Central Kitchen to start a similar charity in Los Angeles. Capital Business caught up for a chat.

Chris Brown to announce new children’s charity called ‘Symphonic Love’ - National Celebrity Headlines | Examiner.com

Chris Brown to announce new children’s charity called ‘Symphonic Love’ - National Celebrity Headlines | Examiner.com:

Chris Brown is hoping to help others by starting a children’s charity. Looking to revamp his image and maybe even soften up the idea that he was convicted of assaulting woman, the artist will announce a new children’s charity called Symphonic Love to the public on Monday.

Washington area charities take action to prepare for ‘fiscal cliff’ - The Washington Post

Washington area charities take action to prepare for ‘fiscal cliff’ - The Washington Post: At the nonprofit United Communities Against Poverty, Nina Lewis has a goal for this holiday season: Don’t let one volunteer slip away.

Her position as volunteer coordinator was created in October as part of the charity’s strategy to gird itself against the looming federal budget cuts, which threaten to hack $178,595 from its government funding.

Program gives farmers chance to support their favorite non-profit | Alexandria Echo Press | Alexandria, Minnesota

Program gives farmers chance to support their favorite non-profit | Alexandria Echo Press | Alexandria, Minnesota: For the third consecutive year, America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives eligible farmers the opportunity to win a $2,500 donation to direct to their favorite local nonprofit organization. Farmers can enter between now and Nov. 30 for their chance to help a nonprofit in need.

Benefit Telethon Generates Record Volume of Individual Donations For Hurricane Sandy Victims

Benefit Telethon Generates Record Volume of Individual Donations For Hurricane Sandy Victims: he American Red Cross and NBCUniversal announced today that “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” a live, one-hour benefit telethon, generated nearly $23 million in support of victims impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

A record number of individual donations by phone, text and online were accepted by the American Red Cross during the 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. time period beginning on Friday, November 2, 2012. The volume of website and phone traffic exceeded previous benefit telethons in support of the American Red Cross over the last five years.

Philanthropy Turned to Short-Term, Project Funding During Recession

Philanthropy Turned to Short-Term, Project Funding During Recession: We examined new data from 2004-2010 for the newly released (and revised) “The Philanthropic Landscape: The State of Multi-Year Funding” and found that reported multi-year grantmaking in 2009 fell 21 percent to $5.5 billion during a time when total grantmaking declined only by 13 percent. If we excluded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the nation’s largest grantmaker, from the analysis, the drop becomes pronounced at more than 33 percent.

Lyric Hammersmith

Lyric Hammersmith: Follow these simple steps to make a donation towards the Capital Development:

Step 1: Click on Floor 1 or Floor 2
Step 2: Click on a room to see what items are

Yahoo’s Homepage Isn’t Raising Enough Money For Hurricane Sandy Relief, Let’s All Step Up | TechCrunch

Yahoo’s Homepage Isn’t Raising Enough Money For Hurricane Sandy Relief, Let’s All Step Up | TechCrunch: Silicon Valley is slowly getting into gear, with Yahoo! doing its normal fundraising on its homepage. There’s only one problem, though: It doesn’t seem like the site is raising that much money. Now mind you, any money during this time is fantastic, but if you look back to 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, Yahoo! performed quite well for fundraising during that period.

Let’s look at Yahoo’s homepage today, which features the donation page and tracks how much money has been raised. I believe this is fantastic and it’s something every major site should add, maybe including ours:

Wells Fargo 'Days of Giving' Donates to 8 Roswell Non-Profits - Roswell, GA Patch

Wells Fargo 'Days of Giving' Donates to 8 Roswell Non-Profits - Roswell, GA Patch: Eight Roswell non-profits were honored with $1,000 Days of Giving donations Tuesday as the Wells Fargo program exceeds $1 million in grants to groups across Georgia this fall, since its beginning four years ago

In all, 62 groups received $1,000 checks at a community breakfast at Founders Hall in Roswell. Three additional breakfasts are occurring across Atlanta this fall and 251 groups in all will receive the same gift.

SBA Loans For Nonprofit Operations - TheNonProfitTimes

SBA Loans For Nonprofit Operations - TheNonProfitTimes: If your nonprofit operates in any county that has been declared a major disaster area by President Barack Obama due to Hurricane Sandy, it might be eligible for low-interest loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA).