Lockheed Martin Ends Boy Scout Funding Over Policy on Gays – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Lockheed Martin Ends Boy Scout Funding Over Policy on Gays – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin is pulling its financial support for the Boy Scouts of America over the youth organization’s continued ban on gay adults serving as troop leaders, the Associated Press reports.

Mass. Wants More Disclosure on Nonprofit Bosses’ Pay – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Mass. Wants More Disclosure on Nonprofit Bosses’ Pay – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Mass. Wants More Disclosure on Nonprofit Bosses’ Pay

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said Thursday that she will push for faster and more complete disclosure of executive compensation at the state’s big nonprofits, The Boston Globe writes.

Recovering From Year-End Setbacks, an Arts Group Puts Supporters on Stage - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Recovering From Year-End Setbacks, an Arts Group Puts Supporters on Stage - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: By Raymund Flandez

To jump-start year-end giving, Maryland Youth Ballet is putting its best supporters front and center—and on stage.

Small Rutland, Vt., gets creative and smashes US blood-donation record on 3rd try (12/18/13 5:42 pm)

Small Rutland, Vt., gets creative and smashes US blood-donation record on 3rd try (12/18/13 5:42 pm): After Rutland's 11th annual Gift of Life Marathon collected 2,337 pints of blood Tuesday, the regional Red Cross said it's unlikely to undertake another such drive because of the difficulty of staging it. Rutland required some 300 Red Cross staffers from New England and New York, 200 volunteers and thousands of donors.

"We had agreed that this would be the last time we went for a national record," said Steve Costello, one of the main organizers of the Rutland drive, which broke the previous one-day U.S. record of 1,968 pints set by Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2011.

SOI Tax Stats - Tax Stats Table Wizard

SOI Tax Stats - Tax Stats Table Wizard: he Statistics of Income (SOI) Tax Stats Table Wizard

The Tax Stats Table Wizard will enable you to design your own customized data tables.

The data presented in the Tax Stats Table Wizard are the products of the Statistics of Income Division of the Internal Revenue Service. There are two types of data available. The first type is aggregated data, formatted to prevent the disclosure of private taxpayer information. This formatting includes specific notations in the table which note the combination and/or suppression of certain data points. (These notations are explained in the table footnotes.) The second type is public-use microdata which are not subject to disclosure concerns.

Advisors Still Fumbling the (Charitable) Ball | Planned Giving Design Center

Advisors Still Fumbling the (Charitable) Ball | Planned Giving Design Center: During the past ten years many nonprofit organizations have turned over the reins of charitable gift planning to independent professional advisors; however, many advisors have not taken the opportunity to learn about and integrate planned giving into their practices. In this article, advisors Randy Fox and Gary Shunk suggest that advisors who recommend planned gifts will be not only be rewarded financially, they will also develop client relationships that are more fulfilling at a deeper, more meaningful level. And as a result, philanthropy will be better served.

Big philanthropy: are the critics right to be suspicious? - podcast | Global development | theguardian.com

Big philanthropy: are the critics right to be suspicious? - podcast | Global development | theguardian.com: In the global south, however, suspicion lingers about the size and motives of these US-based organisations.

Hugh Muir examines the issues, asking where big philanthropy is heading, what challenges it faces, and how it could be done better. He is joined in the studio by Loren Treisman from the Indigo Trust, one of the charitable trusts held by the Sainsbury family, founders of one of the UK's largest supermarket chains.

How to Move Your Nonprofit Board from Fundraising to Financing

How to Move Your Nonprofit Board from Fundraising to Financing: know that this is a fairly controversial view, but perhaps it would be less controversial if we moved away from fundraising for nonprofits and worked to finance nonprofits instead. Just changing the terms can make a huge difference for a board.

We have to recognize that fundraising is a broken model. Most nonprofits chase low-return fundraising efforts that keep them from achieving financial sustainability. Instead nonprofits and their boards must together create and execute on an overall strategic financial model for the impact they want to achieve.

Editorial: Nonprofits need your help fulfilling wishes

Editorial: Nonprofits need your help fulfilling wishes: It’s not just local merchants who would appreciate your business during this unusually short holiday season.

It’s also the literally hundreds of mid-valley nonprofit organizations, which work hard throughout the year to improve the quality of life in their communities.

How Charitable Giving Can Boost Office Morale While Helping The Community - Forbes

How Charitable Giving Can Boost Office Morale While Helping The Community - Forbes: For businesses, charitable giving has an added benefit: it provides networking and marketing opportunities while also increasing the business’s presence in the community. If a business also encourages employees to participate, workplace morale will improve as each person feels as though they are making a difference in the community. By forming a task force that helps organize and track the project, businesses can further boost worker confidence.

First Person Nonprofit: A Day in the Life of a Major Gifts Officer | Blue Avocado

From Blue Avocado
First Person Nonprofit: A Day in the Life of a Major Gifts Officer | Blue Avocado: So exactly how do you lead someone up to a $1 million ask? The director of major gifts at a large regional environmental organization agreed to tell us everything . . . as long as we didn't reveal

2013’s Philanthropy Buzzwords - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

 Lucy has an interesting list

2013’s Philanthropy Buzzwords - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Selfie” may be the Oxford English Dictionary’s choice for word of the year, but the nonprofit world is abuzz with other language that reveals what’s on the minds of people working to promote the common good. Here’s my list of the words that capture 2013 and beyond. Share yours on The Chronicle’s website, philanthropy. com:

Certificate in Nonprofit Management � Nonprofit Management � Academic Programs � Marlboro College Graduate School

Certificate in Nonprofit Management � Nonprofit Management � Academic Programs � Marlboro College Graduate School: Are you employed or otherwise involved in a nonprofit organization and eager to gain valuable expertise that will make your contribution more effective? Our renowned 80-hour series helps nonprofit leaders like you gain and refine the skills needed to strengthen your organizations and achieve your missions. The certificate course provides immediately-applicable training in the core competencies of nonprofit management. It is intended for people who want to make a serious investment in their not-for-profit careers. The program combines the best of face-to-face learning with ongoing discussion via online learning portals.

Donors Flee When Processing Too Slow | The NonProfit Times

Donors Flee When Processing Too Slow | The NonProfit Times: hiloh Stark, chief digital officer at Amnesty International (AI) in Washington, D.C., was unhappy six months ago when he looked at the organization’s website traffic from mobile devices. There were an impressive number of visitors from mobile users but the visitors who made a gift through their donation page were considerably fewer.

“The primary thing we saw was our mobile traffic rate was up but our mobile conversion rate was down,” said Stark. “These were trends that were important to our future campaigns.” They got to work on creating an improved donation page.

Foundation Invests Assets in Local Community and Sees Results in Many Ways - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Foundation Invests Assets in Local Community and Sees Results in Many Ways - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The Great Recession has been tough on everyone, as we all know, but it may have been doubly hard on nonprofits. Not only did the demand for social services increase at a rapid rate as people looked for help, but the funding was decreasing from both government and contributed sources. The window for this latter problem may not be closed, as many foundations that invest in Wall Street average the amount earned over the past three to five years to determine the amount they can give away in grants this year. So, the stock market’s downturn is still included in those calculations. Not to mention the fact that many foundations lost large portions of their principal, which is only now beginning to rebound.

Can you tell your nonprofit’s story in 30 seconds? � Philanthropy North Carolina

Can you tell your nonprofit’s story in 30 seconds? � Philanthropy North Carolina: Time is precious. So in telling your nonprofit’s story, be brief.

Imagine you are in a checkout line at the store, or in the stands at a game, or in an elevator. Someone, a potential donor, asks about your nonprofit.

You need an “elevator speech” th

NPR Deepens Coverage & Expands Listener Experience With $17 Million In Grants : NPR

NPR Deepens Coverage & Expands Listener Experience With $17 Million In Grants : NPR: NPR DEEPENING COVERAGE & EXPANDING LISTENER EXPERIENCE WITH $17 MILLION IN FOUNDATION AND DONOR SUPPORT

Grants From John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, Ford Foundation and Individual Donors

Registration under way for Washington County Gives - Herald Mail Media: Community News

Registration under way for Washington County Gives - Herald Mail Media: Community News: he Community Foundation of Washington County will host its second 24-hour Web-based, social-media-driven fundraiser, Washington County Gives, on May 6.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Community Foundation, foundations across America will also participate in this one day of giving known nationally as Give Local America. This partnership will provide access to a nationwide pool of matching dollars, in addition to local matching dollars.

The Three Gold Coins and the Christmas Kettle - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

The Three Gold Coins and the Christmas Kettle - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: A real holiday story to warm the cockles of your heart takes place in Morris, Illinois, a small town of about 15,000 people on the Illinois River some 60 miles southwest of Chicago. The story comes from the Morris Daily Herald.

“A 10-year tradition was continued Monday when an anonymous donor dropped three solid gold coins into one of the Salvation Army’s collection buckets in Morris,” writes reporter Jessica Bourque.

“It’s hard not to expect them after so many years, but every time I’m still surprised and excited,” Denise Gaska, executive director of We Care of Grundy County, told the paper.

Top Ten: 2013 #GivingTuesday Recap! - Resource Center - AFP

Some related material is here  http://afprc7.blogspot.com/search/label/NPGivingTuesday


Top Ten: 2013 #GivingTuesday Recap! - Resource Center - AFP

Small But Mighty Diversity Efforts - Chapter News - Chapter - AFP

Small But Mighty Diversity Efforts - Chapter News - Chapter - AFP: Small But Mighty Diversity Efforts

December 11, 2013

Though they are a small chapter with only 51-100 members, that didn’t stop the AFP Miami Chapter stop from making great strides in their work towards a more diverse and inclusive fundraising world. The chapter set their sights on a diverse future of fundraising, earning them the Charles R. Stephens Excellence in Diversity Chapter Award for 2012-2013.

Growth Crises and Three Phases of Governance Response - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Growth Crises and Three Phases of Governance Response - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Editors’ note: This article was adapted from “Board/Staff Relationships in a Growth Crisis: Implications for Nonprofit Governance,” originally published online, March 7, 2011, by the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (http://nvs.sagepub.com/content/41/1/82), and subsequently published in NVSQ’s print publication in 2012.1 The authors appreciate Peter Roberts’s extensive editing support for this article.

This article looks at the ways in which board/staff relationships played out in four small cultural organizations—two museums and two performing arts companies— as each passed through three distinct phases of a growth/financial crisis. This research may inform nonprofit boards and managers in a couple of ways:

Facing Financial Pressure, Old South Church Sells a Book

massnonprofit.org ::: December 5, 2013 — Needing to put itself on a stronger financial path, the Old South Church in Boston’s Copley Square decided a year ago to divest itself of non-producing assets, and this week learned that the sale of an old book—but not just any old book—will bring it more than $13 million.

The Bay Psalm Book, the first book printed in America, in 1640, sold at auction in New York City late last month to an Australian private equity fund founder and philanthropist for the highest price ever recorded for a print book in an open sale – $14.2 million.

Giving Tuesday Results Mixed; Citizens Bank Donates $357K

massnonprofit.org ::: December 6, 2013 — Approximately 370 Massachusetts nonprofits participated in Giving Tuesday this week—a five-fold increase over last year, better than the three-fold increase in participation at the national level—but with fundraising results varying significantly, bolstered by the Citizens Bank Foundation donating $357,500 to 15 organizations.

Charitable Standard Mileage Rate

Part III - Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous - n-13-80.pdf: The standard mileage rate is 14 cents per mile for use of an automobile in rendering gratuitous services to a charitable organization under � 170. See section 5 of Rev. Proc. 2010-51.

What Kind Of Philanthropist Are You? A How-To For Aligning Your Giving With Your Personal Values - Forbes

What Kind Of Philanthropist Are You? A How-To For Aligning Your Giving With Your Personal Values - Forbes: s the year comes to a close, it is time to consider how we show our generosity, so we can allocate our resources deliberately and effectively.

For those looking to put their philanthropic urges into action, the challenge lies not in finding a worthy cause, but rather in choosing among the large number and variety of available options

Exit Agreements for Nonprofit CEOs: A Guide for Boards and Executives - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Exit Agreements for Nonprofit CEOs: A Guide for Boards and Executives - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: When the founder or longtime executive of a nonprofit leaves an organization, the board often grapples with how to say goodbye and thank you. This question is loaded with complexities— feelings and relationships come into play, as do financial, legal, and reputational risks and rewards. There is a range of motivations for considering an exit agreement, some quite compelling. The executive, for instance, may seek a financial acknowledgment that he or she has skillfully led the organization over a long tenure—and maybe for a salary well below market rate. Still, actions that might have strong support within the board and meet the needs and expectations of the executive might not play well with the IRS, a state attorney general, or in the court of public opinion.

This article is intended to offer readers a context and a set of choices in considering whether an exit agreement is needed and, if so, what might be included. Because this is a relatively new area of exploration for the sector, each situation brings unique features, and broad generalizations aren’t possible. What we offer here is a framework for:

SCAN OF PHILANTHROPY IDENTIFIES “5 Ms” KEY TO ADVANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

D5: CHICAGO, IL – A scan of philanthropy commissioned by the D5 Coalition has revealed emerging trends within the sector to successfully advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The comprehensive scan, which reviewed written and web-based resources from philanthropy, as well as the fields of organizational effectiveness and social justice, identified five key elements—the “5 Ms”—critical to advancing DEI: Mobilizers, Missions, Money, Moments and Movements. A copy of the full report is available here.

Business Doing Good: A Resource for (Smaller) Business | npENGAGE

Business Doing Good: A Resource for (Smaller) Business | npENGAGE: I love nonprofits. But they aren’t the only ones who do good works. Good is for everyone.

I’ve thought a lot about this, about the nature of good in the world – and specifically the corporate world – as I have traveled on my own professional journey. And guess where I ended up? Right here with the launch of Business Doing Good.

What Nonprofits can learn from Panera's CEO | Proposals, Etc.

What Nonprofits can learn from Panera's CEO | Proposals, Etc.: What Nonprofits can learn from Panera’s CEO
Posted on November 29, 2013 by Carla

This autumn I had the pleasure of listening to Panera Bread CEO Ronald Saich speak about his Panera Cares initiative. As a business in the food industry, his company gave away fresh baked goods daily. Even though he was making huge in-kind donations to food banks and shelters, he felt disconnected from really making a difference.

Charity Lotteries ~ A European Success Story | Carolyn M. Appleton

Charity Lotteries ~ A European Success Story | Carolyn M. Appleton: During a morning seminar, I sat behind a friendly gentleman from the Netherlands, Jan Wezendonk. Jan is Chairman of the Board of Nationaal Fonds Kinderhulp, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to needy children.

Jan and I struck up a conversation that morning, and we have remained in touch online. Jan told me one of the most successful ways in which his organization has been funded is via the EU Charity Lottery. You can read an overview about how privately-funded lotteries work via the Association of Charity Lotteries in the European Union.

Funders & Doers: Teaming up for disaster relief, #GivingTuesday & Beyond | Adnan Mahmud

Funders & Doers: Teaming up for disaster relief, #GivingTuesday & Beyond | Adnan Mahmud: The trouble is, most of us tend to remember to give only after disasters and during the holiday season -- especially with the growing popularity of the "Giving Tuesday" movement, observed Dec. 3 this year. But for the millions of people in need locally and globally, access to medical care, housing, food and water aren't only problems once or twice a year. Poverty doesn't take a day off.

We needs more funders. We need more people to give and we need existing philanthropists to stretch their wallets a little bit more. All of us can do better by giving actively, as much as we can, and not just when we're prompted to by a major tragedy or a date on the calendar.

Introducing Giving Tuesday, a day devoted to philanthropy | Metro

Introducing Giving Tuesday, a day devoted to philanthropy | Metro: CanadaHelps president and CEO Marina Glogovac, one of the 15 founding partners of Canada’s Giving Tuesday, said the timing of the event was perfect.

“There are different months in Canada focused on different charitable sectors,” said Glogovac. “But in terms of consumer awareness, I think it’s a good day to kind of add something that says we shop, we get deals, we spend money to get what we want, and we also should remember that we should give back.”

Seven ways not to give to charity - The Washington Post

Seven ways not to give to charity - The Washington Post: he holiday season is one of the prime seasons for giving. But there’s a right way to show your charitable spirit—and a wrong way. Here are seven wrong ways:

Dropping off the broken and unfashionable

Only good stuff, please, aid workers tell donors | Inquirer News

Only good stuff, please, aid workers tell donors | Inquirer News: BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar—Disaster relief officials here on Friday appealed to donors to give only goods that were usable to avoid further delays in their distribution to survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

Social welfare officer Victoria Tagum, who heads the distribution of relief in Eastern Samar, said donations still had to be sorted because many contained items that were no longer of any use.

Add Giving Tuesday to calendar | The Columbus Dispatch

Add Giving Tuesday to calendar | The Columbus Dispatch: The high season for charity has generally lacked a splashy start. Giving Tuesday, coming on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, aims to change that.

Supporters say the fledgling campaign to create a national day of giving — now in its second year — offers a good antidote for a shopping hangover. You’ll still lighten your wallet, but you’ll probably feel better about your choices.

The “To Do List for Growth for 2014”

The “To Do List for Growth for 2014”: In 2014, planning must become a priority! Planning for work will help professionals from all types of nonprofits “work their plan” in 2014 and beyond. For those who have already created a comprehensive plan for fundraising and organizational growth next year, we commend you. For those who haven’t, consider our “To Do List for Growth for 2014.”

Telemarketers for charities keep most of the Mass. take - Worcester Telegram & Gazette - telegram.com

Telemarketers for charities keep most of the Mass. take - Worcester Telegram & Gazette - telegram.com: Of the $266.6 million that Bay State donors gave last year to charity fundraising campaigns run by professional solicitation firms, those for-profit firms pocketed a whopping $175.7 million, nearly two-thirds of the donations.

The charities in whose names the millions were raised kept just under $91 million, about a third of the total, according to a new report from Attorney General Martha Coakley's office.

Gifts to charity differ by regions in US - Opinion - The Boston Globe

Gifts to charity differ by regions in US - Opinion - The Boston Globe: When it comes to charitable giving, America is a world-beater. According to Giving USA, an annual compendium of national data on philanthropy, Americans last year donated more than $316 billion to charity, or roughly 2 percent of GDP. Contrary to popular belief, most of that money didn’t come from foundations or corporations. It came from individuals. In 2012, donations from private American households added up to about $223 billion.

Donor-advised funds: Where charity goes to wait - Ideas - The Boston Globe

Donor-advised funds: Where charity goes to wait - Ideas - The Boston Globe: With much of America still suffering from the effects of the Great Recession, the sheer amount of money piling up in tax-exempt investment accounts has begun to rankle some experts on charity. Though it is impossible to draw a direct line that shows these accounts are diverting money from working charities, critics point out that while Americans have been giving away the same percentage of their disposable income for decades, these funds have been growing at a rapid clip. According to a report by the National Philanthropic Trust, one of the biggest donor-advised fund programs in the country, donor-advised funds took in a total of $13.7 billion in contributions last year—almost 40 percent more than in 2007—but paid out only $8.6 billion in grants, a difference of just over $5 billion.

As Giving Tuesday Nears, Wise Up About Charities - Forbes

As Giving Tuesday Nears, Wise Up About Charities - Forbes: As December approaches, you may be ready to amp up your charitable giving to maximize your 2013 tax write-off. You might even plan to contribute on#GivingTuesday — the nonprofit world’s answer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when donors are urged to unite and give, give, give (this year, it falls on Tuesday, December 3).

But how can you be sure your gift

Seven Reasons To Tell Your Kids What They Will (Or Won't) Inherit - Forbes

Seven Reasons To Tell Your Kids What They Will (Or Won't) Inherit - Forbes: For many people, estate planning is both a private matter and a morbid topic – not something that parents want to discuss with their adult children. While having such conversations takes a lot of courage, families that speak freely about these delicate issues can avoid problems down the line.

Opinion: Church-Related Social Ties Boost Giving by Faithful – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Opinion: Church-Related Social Ties Boost Giving by Faithful – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The cohesive social connections that form within congregations, rather than faith itself or theological teachings, drive the higher rates at which religious people donate to charity, a political scientist asserts in a Time magazine opinion column.

David E. Campbell, a Notre Dame professor and co-author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, says research for the book turned up no evidence linking belief per se with giving. Rather, he writes, “the ‘secret ingredient’ for charitable giving among religious Am

$3.8 million raised by the Singapore Red Cross for victims of Typhoon Haiyan

$3.8 million raised by the Singapore Red Cross for victims of Typhoon Haiyan: The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has raised $3.8 million for victims of Typhoon Haiyan since it launch an appeal for donations on Nov 11, said SRC secretary-general Benjamin William on Wednesday.

How one nonprofit loved their lapsed members back � The Butterfly Effect (Blog) � Cause & Effect

How one nonprofit loved their lapsed members back � The Butterfly Effect (Blog) � Cause & Effect: Well, Audubon decided to begin a “don’t worry about it” forgiveness program for their 20 year members who hadn’t renewed their membership.

Instead of allowing their membership to lapse, each 20 year lapsed member received a carefully handwritten note on one of Audubon’s stunning bird note cards.

In the handwritten note, Audubon thanked this loyal member for many years of support.

Leaders Fight For Clear, Fair Political Activity Rules | The NonProfit Times

Leaders Fight For Clear, Fair Political Activity Rules | The NonProfit Times: Imagine there is a law that mandates you cannot drive fast, but the speed limit is not posted: You have been given no definition of what it means to go fast. This is the situation charities face when it comes to political activity. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has failed to define what constitutes political activity, relying on the “facts and circumstances” of each case to decide whether an organization is participating in political activities.

Celebrate #GivingTuesday | The White House

Celebrate #GivingTuesday | The White House: Typically, the holidays are a moment when many Americans volunteer to help the most vulnerable. Others make charitable contributions that can last throughout the holiday season. Next week, we will celebrate #GivingTuesday, a worldwide effort to raise awareness and motivate action for the common good.

Join in to help others with #GivingTuesday | Deseret News

Join in to help others with #GivingTuesday | Deseret News: Utahns are generous people, which is why our state leads the nation in charitable giving and in volunteerism. This culture of compassion is part of what makes Utah an enviable place to live. My hope is that the #GivingTuesday movement will encourage Utahns to go to even greater lengths to care for those in need.

Second Annual Giving Tuesday | Social Velocity

Second Annual Giving Tuesday | Social Velocity: Tuesday, December 3rd is the second annual Giving Tuesday, an exciting experiment that started last year to “create a national day of giving to kick off the giving season on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.” Last year’s first Giving Tuesday saw some impressive results:

More than 2,500 recognized #GivingTuesday™ partners from all 50 states
Blackbaud processed over $10 million in online donations on 11/27/12 – a 53% increase when compared to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving the previous year.
DonorPerfect recorded a 46% increase in online donations and the average gift increased 25%.
More than 50 million people worldwide spread the word about GivingTuesday – resulting in milestone trending on Twitter.

North Country non-profits struggle to grow jobs and attract dollars | News from North Country Public Radio

North Country non-profits struggle to grow jobs and attract dollars | News from North Country Public Radio: A new study released last week found that 36 non-profits in the North Country generated more than $400 million in economic activity, providing roughly 10% of all the jobs in the region.

Cali Brookes, head of the Adirondack Foundation, which co-sponsored the study and hosted a meeting of non-profits groups at the Wild Center last week. She ays the non-profit sector is playing a more prominent role in the economy. “This being rural America and small towns, the non-profits are more visible, they’re more active, and more engaged," said Brooks. You can see them stronger and brighter here than in other places.”

Charitable Giving in America – An Infographic - CHARITABLE GIVING COALITION

Charitable Giving in America – An Infographic - CHARITABLE GIVING COALITION

Generosity Without Borders on #GivingTuesday | Randal Mason

Generosity Without Borders on #GivingTuesday | Randal Mason: Luckily, the interconnected nature of our world applies to creating opportunities and solutions as well. International education, business partnerships, and cultural knowledge--there's a wealth of ideas and experiences to be shared and leveraged for the greater good. So, as we approach #GivingTuesday, which kicks off the holiday giving season, why not consider going global with your gifts?

Charity Leaders Live – when things go wrong | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

Charity Leaders Live – when things go wrong | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: Charity Leaders Live – when things go wrong
Occasional crises are inevitable, but being prepared and practising your response procedure can make all the difference

The AFP Blog: Giving Tuesday

The AFP Blog: Giving Tuesday: Giving Tuesday began last year as a national day of giving in the United States, attracting thousands of charities and generating countless dollars in contributions. The theme of the day, happening after shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, has resonated with many people. This year, Giving Tuesday is launching in Canada, and AFP is proud to be one of the sponsoring organizations.

The Second Annual “Protect Giving Day” Invites You to Be the Charitable Deduction - Press - AFP

The Second Annual “Protect Giving Day” Invites You to Be the Charitable Deduction - Press - AFP: On Nov. 20, more than 200 attendees representing over 140 organizations participated in the Charitable Giving Coalition’s Protect Giving – DC Day.

In its second year, the Charitable Giving Coalition set out to continue the fight to preserve the full value of the charitable deduction by convincing Congress that WE are the charitable deduction. Broken out into 36 teams, they attended hundreds of meetings across the Hill, all portraying their connection to the charitable deduction.

My New Favorite Holiday | Elaine Martyn

My New Favorite Holiday | Elaine Martyn: Whether it's a natural disaster in the Philippines, a horrific rape case in India, or political turmoil in Egypt, women in the Global Fund network rise to the occasion because we are in this together. Being part of the Global Fund community makes you an activist who cares as much about how you advocate for women's rights as you do the impact itself.

We live in new era of philanthropy. Kathy Calvin and Henry Timms tell us that it's no longer just about big wealth. It's about big impact and it's not just billionaires and world leaders who can make a difference. We couldn't agree more. In fact, this is the foundation on which Global Fund was built on 25 years ago.

Put the “Giving” Back into Turkey-Day

Put the “Giving” Back into Turkey-Day: Our reactions were startlingly different. I grabbed the handle of my umbrella more tightly and tried to frame my response. In the very same instant, my colleague handed her umbrella to the stranger – who thanked her politely. We walked on, sharing one umbrella, and entered the restaurant for our meeting.

As we looked out the window, dry and cozy, we saw the man making his way slowly down the street in a wheelchair. My colleague’s umbrella was providing him with shelter from the deluge – at least for the time being.

Should philanthropy be instinctive or strategic?

Baltimore Gears Up for 'Giving Tuesday’ With a Grass-Roots Campaign - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Baltimore Gears Up for 'Giving Tuesday’ With a Grass-Roots Campaign - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Baltimore has bragging rights to uphold: Last year, the event’s first year, a local charity, the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, raised more than any other nonprofit in America that day, according to Giving Tuesday organizers.

Giving Tuesday: Magnify Your Generosity This Year | David Nocenti

Giving Tuesday: Magnify Your Generosity This Year | David Nocenti: In homage to the true spirit of Thanksgiving, last year saw the launch of "Giving Tuesday," a new, unofficial holiday devoted to charity. Created by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, Giving Tuesday is a movement to popularize a national day of philanthropic activity on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. (This year, the date falls on December 3.)

The initiative struck an instant chord -- last year over 2,500 partners from all 50 states led charitable giving campaigns, and more than 50 million people worldwide spread the word about Giving Tuesday, as evidenced by milestone trending about the day on Twitte

South Florida nonprofits mobilize for Giving Tuesday - Sun Sentinel

South Florida nonprofits mobilize for Giving Tuesday - Sun Sentinel:There's a national day to give thanks, why not a day to give back?

That's the idea behind Giving Tuesday, a campaign started last year by nonprofits to mobilize support on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and kick off what many call "the giving season."

More South Florida nonprofits are taking part in the effort this year and spreading the word through email, websites, Facebook and Twitter, often using the hashtag #GivingTuesday.

Multichannel Marketing For Nonprofits

Multichannel Marketing For Nonprofits: Here are some key facts about how fundraising and email are changing for nonprofits:

On its own, email is not enough: the median click-through rate for 2013 was 0.5%;
Over 50% of email is on mobile now;
People participate because they’re drawn in by stories and visuals;
Multichannel marketing is a great way to raise optimism and engagement.

Controversial Philanthropist Peter Lewis Dead at 80 - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Controversial Philanthropist Peter Lewis Dead at 80 - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Peter B. Lewis died on Saturday, leaving behind a notable legacy in his philanthropy. A member of the Giving Pledge, he was known to have strong opinions and principles, progressive politics, a love for the arts and higher education, and high expectations of those he funded. In just one of a few high-profile disagreements he had with grantees, for instance, Lewis resigned summarily from the Guggenheim Museum board in 2005, citing “differences in direction” after being on its board for eight years and contributing $77 million. This was four times as much as any trustee had ever given. The dsipute was substantive in this case, centering on whether the museum should focus locally or internationally but Lewis was known to be as generous with his opinions as with his money.

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Five Ways Grantmakers Can Smash Silos

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Five Ways Grantmakers Can Smash Silos: Grain silos along the west side of the small West Texas town of Ralls, Texas by Leaflet [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

In our latest Smashing Silos in Philanthropy: Multi-Issue Advocacy and Organizing for Real Results, NCRP Research and Policy Director Niki Jagpal and I note how multi-issue coalitions have been responsible for some of the biggest policy developments of recent years. When organizations advocating and organizing in disparate spaces see the connections and come together, the results are transformative.

Foundations prefer to go their own way � Philanthropy North Carolina

Foundations prefer to go their own way � Philanthropy North Carolina: Private foundations typically do not collaborate with one another, like to find their own grantees and stick with them, prefer not to push their agendas on grantees, and prefer financial returns to investments that advance their mission.

After Nonprofit Fraud, Mere Restitution is Insufficient - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

After Nonprofit Fraud, Mere Restitution is Insufficient - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: e Washington Post followed up its “Diversions” series with a story on Saturday that should act as a reminder to nonprofits that reporting crimes against them is a responsibility not just to their donors and constituents but also to the rest of the sector..

We have previously acknowledged that the response of some few nonprofits to employee fraud is to seek restitution and keep it quiet in hopes that they will not lose face with donors and the public. This leaves the perpetrator to go on and steal from other organizations. This is just plain irresponsible, and boards should understand that it is an ethical issue. And while NPQ would like to believe that perhaps the group that suffered the fraud in the first place would go on to tighten up their systems, these two stories indicate these organizations may still not be as attentive to detail as they might need to keep themselves safe.

Charities Victimized by Theft Often Eschew Criminal Cases – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Charities Victimized by Theft Often Eschew Criminal Cases – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Charities Victimized by Theft Often Eschew Criminal Cases

Nonprofit groups hit by internal fraud or theft—but looking to avoid bad publicity or a donor backlash—frequently decline to pursue legal action against suspected embezzlers in exchange for repayment of the lost funds, according to The Washington Post.

Charities 'must vet for social media experience when hiring'

Charities 'must vet for social media experience when hiring': The chief executive of Beating Bowel Cancer, who has made the inaugural list of top 30 charity CEOs on social media, says it is essential now that when a charity hires a new CEO, that it is sure they are social-media savvy.

Mark Flannagan made the comments at an event to unveil the list of the top 30 charity CEOs on social media.

Charity Choice: When Donor-Advised Funds Trump Private Foundations - Forbes

Charity Choice: When Donor-Advised Funds Trump Private Foundations - Forbes: So in 2008 Norm, now 70, and Elaine, now 65, created the “Brodsky Foundation”–which isn’t (despite its name) a private foundation but a donor-advised fund. Like a private foundation, a DAF functions as a conduit. You make your contribution and claim your tax deduction now, then dribble money out to specific operating charities over years or decades while your charitable dollars are invested and growing tax free or nearly tax free (with a private foundation, there’s a small investment tax).

Charities latch onto 'crowdsourcing' - CSMonitor.com

Charities latch onto 'crowdsourcing' - CSMonitor.com: Instead of looking for a few large donors, they're finding that acquiring many small ones is an effective way to battle homelessness, poverty, hunger, and so on. Instead of narrow appeals tied to specific events or drives – as has long been done for charity walks and races – philanthropic groups are using the power of the Internet to expand their fundraising to a mass audience at a much lower cost than traditional methods.

The result: a small-donation bonanza that is capturing the largest chunk of the crowdsourcing market.

KPBJ.COM | World Vision anticipates record-setting 'Giving Tuesday' after�Thanksgiving | Business Daily | The KPBJ | KITSAP PENINSULA BUSINESS JOURNAL

KPBJ.COM | World Vision anticipates record-setting 'Giving Tuesday' after�Thanksgiving | Business Daily | The KPBJ | KITSAP PENINSULA BUSINESS JOURNAL: SEATTLE — World Vision is one of thousands of nonprofits taking part in the second annual observance of Giving Tuesday. Held after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday has a simple goal: after two days focused on shopping (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), it’s meant to be a day to refocus on giving thanks by giving back.

Thune-Wyden Letter Aids Bid to Save Charitable Deduction: Taxes - Bloomberg

Thune-Wyden Letter Aids Bid to Save Charitable Deduction: Taxes - Bloomberg: Opponents of President Barack Obama’s proposed cap on charitable deductions say they have gotten a boost from a bipartisan letter by two Senate Finance Committee members that urges maintaining the tax break.

Senators John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, and Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, composed their letter last week and intend to deliver it to leaders of the Finance panel, Bloomberg BNA reports, as debate heats up revising the U.S. tax code.

Giving Tuesday to pair shelter residents, downtown businesses - Chico Enterprise Record

Giving Tuesday to pair shelter residents, downtown businesses - Chico Enterprise Record: Residents of two area shelters will turn the tables Dec. 3 when they take part in "Giving Tuesday," a national program that encourages charitable organizations to give back to communities that have helped them.

Residents of Esplanade House, a shelter for families, and Skyway House, a program to aid families and individuals in the treatment of substance abuse, will join with Downtown Chico Business Association members in clean-up projects.

Hall charities reap less from Georgia Gives Day

Hall charities reap less from Georgia Gives Day: The second annual Georgia Gives Day wrapped up its online fundraiser with significantly more money raised across the state, but numbers taking a slight dip in Hall County.

Hall County donations slid from $2,726 in 2012 to $2,511 raised this year.

The Marietta Daily Journal

The Marietta Daily Journal: MARIETTA — A local millionaire businessman convinced the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University to teach graduate students this fall about the importance of philanthropy.

With literally millions of ways to give, Tom Hughes asked the students what nonprofit is the best in the “Philanthropy of Business” class, the first course focused on charity giving offered by KSU.

7520 Rate for December Unchanged at 2.0% | Planned Giving Design Center

7520 Rate for December Unchanged at 2.0% | 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 2013-26 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for December 2013 is 2.0%; unchanged from the November rate of 2.0% and down 0.4% from the October rate of 2.4%.

Artist-Endowed Foundations: Two New Publications from The Aspen Institute | Planned Giving Design Center

Artist-Endowed Foundations: Two New Publications from The Aspen Institute | Planned Giving Design Center: The Aspen Institute has announced the release of two brand new free online publications as a follow-up of its 2010 study for artists interested in creating a private foundation and we have them for you right here!

National Study of Artist–Endowed Foundations
A study of the emerging artist-endowed foundation field in the US

The play’s still the thing at N.C. Shakespeare Festival � Philanthropy North Carolina

The play’s still the thing at N.C. Shakespeare Festival � Philanthropy North Carolina: NCShakes, which began in February 1977, reduced its staff from 16 full-time and part-time positions to the equivalent of five full-time positions. It cancelled its annual fall production of a Shakespeare play, which this year would have been Macbeth. And it scrubbed its 36th annual production of A Christmas Carol.

But NCShakes’ nonprofit board of trustees had no intention of shutting down the company permanently, says Pedro Silva, an actor who has worked for the company since 1977 and served as managing director since 1983.

Pity Charity: When “Storytelling” is Abuse - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Pity Charity: When “Storytelling” is Abuse - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Writing in a blog on the Skoll World Forum for Social Entrepreneurship, Sebastien Marot discusses the practice by charities of featuring poor or abused children in videos meant to raise funds.

He says, “such a process re-traumatizes them and can stigmatize them forever. As one victim explains, ‘You know, my reputation has been lost because of this video…. Everybody looks down on me.’”

He points to two recent cases picked up by the media in Cambodia, where he is based, and references one organization which was accused of faking such stories “again,” and another where an “orphanage” staged an auction of children’s photos, having the children present them “to heighten audience pity, and thus, sales.” These kinds of actions by aid organizations re-victimize children.

Tainted Donors and Donations | The Nonprofit Legal Blog

Tainted Donors and Donations | The Nonprofit Legal Blog: Nonprofit institutions often face difficult decisions when their donors or donations become tainted as a result of a scandal

$9-Billion in Gifts at Risk if Deduction Is Reduced, Study Forecasts - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

$9-Billion in Gifts at Risk if Deduction Is Reduced, Study Forecasts - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: As nonprofits begin a new round of lobbying against President Obama’s longstanding efforts to limit the value of the charitable deduction, the American Enterprise Institute estimates that such a move would prompt donors to withhold more than $9-billion in gifts a year—a higher amount than previous studies have found.

YMCA charity programs harvest food for hungry - CollegiateTimes.com

YMCA charity programs harvest food for hungry - CollegiateTimes.com:In an effort to reduce hunger in the area, the YMCA at Virginia Tech has created a variety of programs that grow or donate food to charities.

One of the YMCA volunteers, Brenda Springer, has been able to donate a plethora of apples through her program, Neighborhood Harvest.

Making the Most of Your Fundraising Service Provider Investment : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

Making the Most of Your Fundraising Service Provider Investment : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: ollowing is some information you need to know when considering using an outside resource for fundraising assistance. (And, no, this isn’t an argument that one method is better than another.)

Let’s get three things out of the way. First, for the sake of this article, I’m going to use the acronym FSP (fundraising service provider) to refer to consultants, agencies, trusted partners, vendors or any other nomenclature you (or they) want to use to describe this resource. Trying to be politically correct by constantly including all the possible titles would be too taxing.

Engage. Listen. Connect. Support. - National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy

Engage. Listen. Connect. Support. - National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy: Over the last decade, philanthropy's response to research on generational transition in the nonprofit sector has ranged from panic – "Who will carry on when the Boomers retire?" – to a big yawn – "These generational transitions always take care of themselves."

For those of us living the transition, either as Boomers or as younger leaders, the research is up-close and personal.

2012 Annual Report - About AFP - AFP

2012 Annual Report - About AFP - AFP: Download the 2012 Annual Report for AFP, AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and AFP Foundation for Philanthropy - Canada in the Attachments section below.

So, You Want to Be a Speaker? Read the 2013 Speaker Report. | Avectra Blog

So, You Want to Be a Speaker? Read the 2013 Speaker Report. | Avectra Blog: f you hire speakers for meetings or conferences, or if you are a professional speaker, you’ll want to check out the 2013 Speaker Report published by consulting firms Tagoras and Velvet Chainsaw. In the report, you’ll learn how associations are using speakers for meetings, conferences and other events.

60 Minutes And The Gates-Buffett 'Giving Pledge': What They Got Right--and Wrong - Forbes

60 Minutes And The Gates-Buffett 'Giving Pledge': What They Got Right--and Wrong - Forbes: The “Giving Pledge”, the push by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to convince billionaires around the globe to dedicate half their wealth to philanthropy, has hardly been a secret effort—but now that it’s surfaced on 60 Minutes it’s gained an even higher profile. There are some obvious reasons that one might be concerned about the idea –but, it turns out, they’re not the right ones. Still, there are reasons why those serious about effective philanthropy should be worried about the model Gates and Buffet promoted on CBS.

First, the wrong reasons to be concerned. Some will see the Giving Pledge signatories as seeking only to launder their reputations

The Giving Game: Surviving Philanthropy's Schemers Dreamers & Volunteer Vixens - Come Hell or High Heels | BlogHer

The Giving Game: Surviving Philanthropy's Schemers Dreamers & Volunteer Vixens - Come Hell or High Heels | BlogHer: I've been involved in philanthropy for nearly thirty years and I’ve seen and done it all: celebrity-studded red carpet events to grassroots community arts fundraisers; white glove garden club soirees to PTA-type fundraisers. Though the dollar amounts and locales may vary, there is one common denominator that is found in almost every fundraising endeavor:
a group of volunteer women, a.k.a “the committee,” who work behind the scenes to bring the event to fruition. Depending on the motivations of these women and the vagaries of the group dynamic, this committee can either be the lifeblood of an organization—bringing in much needed money, visibility and fresh ideas—or the death knell of it.

IRS Warns Consumers of Possible Scams Relating to Relief of Typhoon Victims

IRS Warns Consumers of Possible Scams Relating to Relief of Typhoon Victims: RS Warns Consumers of Possible Scams Relating to Relief of Typhoon Victims

IR-2013-90, Nov. 15, 2013

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today issued a consumer alert about possible scams taking place in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. On Nov. 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan — known as Yolanda in the Philippines — made landfall in the central Philippines, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that have resulted in flooding, landslides, and widespread damage.

Following major disasters, it is common for scam artists to impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers. Such fraudulent schemes may involve contact by telephone, social media, email or in-person solicitations.

Yunus and his ‘Cinderella moment’

Yunus and his ‘Cinderella moment’: Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus called his acceptance of the inaugural Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship at the UN in New York on June 5 “a Cinderella moment”.

Giving It Away: Philanthropy In South Florida | WLRN

Giving It Away: Philanthropy In South Florida | WLRN: Wednesday is the second annual Give Miami Day. It's an effort by The Miami Foundation to focus charitable giving for local organizations. Miami and South Florida have a history of giving, though our relatively young metropolis may lack the generational giving enjoyed by older, more established areas.

GuideStar and Technology Affinity Group (TAG) Launch Simplify, an Efficient Approach to Grantmaking - Press Release - Digital Journal

GuideStar and Technology Affinity Group (TAG) Launch Simplify, an Efficient Approach to Grantmaking - Press Release - Digital Journal: WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - November 18, 2013) - GuideStar and the Technology Affinity Group (TAG) today announced Simplify, www.simplifynow.org, a new approach to information-sharing between funders and grantees. Simplify eliminates the repetitive elements of grant applications, so nonprofits can spend time advancing their missions rather than completing unnecessary paperwork, and funders can manage their grantmaking process more efficiently. Together, Simplify is a seamless, automated information flow allowing funders and nonprofits to focus less on process and more on purpose.

Retention: Right Questions … Wrong Answers | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits

Retention: Right Questions … Wrong Answers | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits: Retention: Right Questions … Wrong Answers
By Roger Craver | November 19, 2013
Print This Post Print This Post

As you can see from Tom’s post yesterday, when it comes to fundraising planning and budgeting, The Agitator clearly believes the most important questions should focus on boosting retention and increasing lifetime value.

Tom phrased the ‘Boss’s’ key planning questions this way:

The Skills Businesspeople Gain on Nonprofit Boards - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

The Skills Businesspeople Gain on Nonprofit Boards - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: UK Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd used the occasion of the country’s “Trustees Week” to issue a call for more businesses to encourage their employees to join the ranks of nonprofit board members. Noting that there already are a million volunteer leaders in the UK, he cited a significant number of vacant board seats in the charity sector. This challenge is also prevalent among US nonprofits—and no doubt in other parts of the world, too. And as anyone who has served on a nonprofit board knows, even when there is a full complement of board members, there is always a need to consider who will come next, and how the board will renew itself over time.

Project helps charities engage diverse donors - The Globe and Mail

Project helps charities engage diverse donors - The Globe and Mail: This fundraising success story was highlighted earlier this year at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) South Asian Philanthropy Conference in Toronto, as part of its “From Diversity to Inclusion in Philanthropy” initiative. This three-year project was organized by the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Canada and the Greater Toronto and Ottawa chapters of the AFP, and received support from Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.

Ms. Magazine | We've Got You Covered | Spring 2013

Ms. Magazine | We've Got You Covered | Spring 2013: This early incident foreshadowed McCormick’s lifelong commitment to women’s equality: She became a pioneering feminist philanthropist, singlehandedly funding the research and development of the birth-control pill. And she wasn’t the only woman of her time opening her purse for women’s rights. A century ago, women of means with a political or social-improvement agenda often put their money where their mouths were. Whether their wealth came through inheritance, business success or divorce settlements, women philanthropists played important roles in shaping America’s reform movements in education, health, welfare and, especially, women’s voting rights.

Dikembe Mutombo, Lauren Bush, Jorge Perez On Building Their Philanthropies - Forbes

Dikembe Mutombo, Lauren Bush, Jorge Perez On Building Their Philanthropies - Forbes: We held a “speed-round” the Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit last spring. The idea was to introduce the participants to four busy and groundbreaking philanthropists: NBA great Dikembe Mutombo, activist and model Lauren Bush Lauren, South Florida condo king Jorge Perez and real estate scion Francine LeFrak.

Rich Kinder, John Arnold among top Houston philanthropists this year - Houston Business Journal

Rich Kinder, John Arnold among top Houston philanthropists this year - Houston Business Journal: The forecast for the entire year is a total of $12.2 billion, an 8.8 percent increase over last year, reports Dallas-based Atlas of Giving.

Religious giving continues to lag as fewer people attend and join churches. Causes receiving the largest increases in donor funds include environmental, humanitarian, education and donor-advised funds.

Lack of Watchdog Rating a Worry for Small Charities - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Lack of Watchdog Rating a Worry for Small Charities - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Amid the debate over what measurements Charity Navigator uses to rate nonprofit groups, some smaller charities are raising concerns not over how watchdogs make their assessments but whom they assess, according to The Seattle Times.

Charity Navigator does not consider organizations with annual revenue of less than $1-million and has reviewed only about 7,000 of the country’s 1.5-million-plus registered nonprofits. Small Seattle-area charities tell the Times that the lack of a watchdog’s imprimatur can turn off donors who increasingly give online and do research into how potential recipients use their dollars.

The 50 Philanthropists Who Have Given Away The Most Money - Forbes

The 50 Philanthropists Who Have Given Away The Most Money - Forbes: n order to separate words and actual deeds, FORBES, in partnership with the Philanthropic Research Institute, decided to rank which Americans gave the most in the last calendar year–not money pledged but actual cash deployed in the field. “Givers now want to see an impact while they’re still alive,” says PRI founder R.J. Shook, a former Wall Street entrepreneur. The Philanthropic 50 was winnowed from a short list of 1,620 people, most of whom showed up in PRI’s proprietary data?base that denoted the 50,000-plus largest individual donations to recipients for 2012.

▶ Art iPads from Darien Library - YouTube

▶ Art iPads from Darien Library - YouTube: Published on Nov 11, 2013

Darien Library is offering iPads loaded with apps and programs designed to allow users the opportunity to explore the relationship between art and technology.

The 5 ASKing Traits: An AFP International Conference on Fundraising Education Session Sneak Peek! - Resource Center - AFP

The 5 ASKing Traits: An AFP International Conference on Fundraising Education Session Sneak Peek! - Resource Center - AFP: Knowing your personal ASKing style, as well as the style of your boss, partner or co-worker, can be incredibly insightful. These five ASKING traits apply to everyone in everyday situations: from ASKing for a raise and travel vouchers for a canceled flight to medical advice and ASKing for gifts. I can show you how to gauge the reactions you may be receiving, and with a few simple refinements you will be making your best ASK every time.

A Generational Transition

A Generational Transition: Making Change by Spending Down" is a new commentary series of The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (ACBP) - in partnership with the Foundation Center - to share insights and lessons of ACBP as it spends down its endowment by 2016 and closes. Each month various stakeholders will contribute new posts that will explore how ACBP's decision to spend down affects a broad range of interests: from mission, employees and grantees, to investments and legacy. Decision makers across the social sector will benefit from the first-hand knowledge and community of learning being created.

The series - which will run for a year or more - is being disseminated through the Foundation Center’s PhilanTopic, Transparency Talk and GrantCraft blogs and here on eJewish Philanthropy.]

Georgia Gives Day Celebrates Giving With Reception - 41NBC

Georgia Gives Day Celebrates Giving With Reception - 41NBC: Julie Wilkerson, president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, says the second annual Georgia Gives Day was a great success.

"We're here to celebrate that day, and also as part of national philanthropy day to appreciate our donors" said Wilkerson. "A lot of the organizations have brought some of their donors and volunteers just to say thank you for what they do for us throughout the year."

Nonprofits have a great story to tell � Philanthropy North Carolina

Nonprofits have a great story to tell � Philanthropy North Carolina: The broken economy has given nonprofits a rare opportunity to talk about the important role they play in serving people and places in need.

Through the stories they tell, nonprofits can help their supporters understand the urgent needs in their communities, their organizations’ impact in addressing those needs, and the difference donors and volunteers can make by investing in those organizations.

What’s your plan for telling your story? � Philanthropy North Carolina

What’s your plan for telling your story? � Philanthropy North Carolina: Your story — about the community need you address, and the difference you make in the lives of people — is the lifeblood of your organization.

Fundamental to your effectiveness in delivering services, raising money and operating your organization is your ability to tell that story in a clear, compelling way.

� 2013 Report Measures Nonprofit Fundraising Effectiveness

� 2013 Report Measures Nonprofit Fundraising Effectiveness: A recently released report titled the 2013 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report prepared by the AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and the Urban Institute ”helps nonprofit organizations measure and compare their annual growth in giving by gain/loss category and increase the net by maximizing their gains and minimizing their losses.”

Thoughts On Philanthropy From Ancient Philosophers Maimonides and Bob Hope - Forbes

Thoughts On Philanthropy From Ancient Philosophers Maimonides and Bob Hope - Forbes: ou just work day and night if the cause in your heart is justified. You just go out and drive yourself to get the money. And you have fun doing it. It’s a real rush. The people I particularly dislike are those who say ‘I’m going to leave it in my will.’ What they’re really saying is ‘If I could live forever, I wouldn’t give any of it away.’ “

Philosopher Maimonides may have originated the idea that teaching a man to fish is better than just giving him a fish:

Challenge Gift Drives and Corporate Matching Gifts - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Challenge Gift Drives and Corporate Matching Gifts - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Anyone who’s ever listened to a public radio station in the U.S. will be familiar with the concept of a challenge gift drive. Deep into the annual pledge drive, the radio host announces something like, “Sponsor X is committing $5,000 toward our goal of $10,000, but only if we can raise the rest of our goal by the end of the month,” or “Sponsor Y will match, on a 1:1 basis, each of the first $5,000 in gifts we receive until the end of the month.” No matter what your taste in radio programming, these time-sensitive pledge drives are inevitably irritating to listen to. Even professional fundraisers would rather hear music. Yet they endure. Why?

Cynder Sinclair: Nonprofit Foundations, and Battling the Class Divide in Philanthropy

Cynder Sinclair: Nonprofit Foundations, and Battling the Class Divide in Philanthropy: In working with individual nonprofits, it doesn’t take long to see how much time we all spend concerned with what foundations will or won’t fund; but revenue from funders is a relatively small part of the overall funding picture. The vast majority of private philanthropic dollars (approximately 75 percent in a typical year according to the annual Giving USA report) come from individual donors. And in most cases, individuals represent the greatest potential source of funds. So I advise nonprofits to focus on individual donors more than they do on foundations.

Author Gore Vidal's Harvard Bequest Fuels Legal Battle - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Author Gore Vidal's Harvard Bequest Fuels Legal Battle - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Relatives of the late Gore Vidal are on opposite sides of a looming court fight over the iconoclastic author’s bequest of a reported $37-million fortune to Harvard University, according to The New York Times.

Americans Gave Bulk of $1-Million-Dollar Gifts Last Year, Global Study Finds - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Americans Gave Bulk of $1-Million-Dollar Gifts Last Year, Global Study Finds - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: America’s wealthy donors far outstrip those of other countries in the number of gifts of $1-million or more they make, a new study shows.

Americans provided $14-billion of the $19-billion in gifts of $1-million or more made to charity from donors around the world last year, according to the study, which looked at donations from people in China, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States,

Georgia Gives Day encourages online donations

Georgia Gives Day encourages online donations: Many nonprofits in Hall County hope people go to the Georgia Gives Day website today to donate to their organization.

It’s the second annual day of online fundraising. Last year, the website raised $900,000 from 7,700 contributors. Betsy Reid, communications director for the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, said it hopes to draw 10,000 donors this year

The AFP Blog

The AFP Blog: Communicating Ethics, One Person at a Time
You may have heard about the recent Washington Post investigation into wide-spread “theft, fraud, embezzlement and other unauthorized use of funds” that has occurred at more than 1,000 charities involving hundreds of millions of dollars.

On one hand, you can say this this isn’t a big deal and point out that of the 1.6 million nonprofits in the U.S., only about 1,000 have encountered these sorts of problems. Or note that funding for government agencies that oversee nonprofits has been substantially cut. On the other hand, we can acknowledge that that the sector has real work to do in this area.

Free, Electronic Bequest-Potential Calculator Unveiled (Blog Update) | LinkedIn

Free, Electronic Bequest-Potential Calculator Unveiled (Blog Update) | LinkedIn: You can learn more about the Bequest Potential Calculator at Michael Rosen Says… (http://wp.me/p1h0KY-B9). After you use the Calculator, let me know what you think and whether or not your organization is realizing its full planned giving potential.

Free, Electronic Bequest-Potential Calculator Unveiled michaelrosensays.wordpress.com

Smart fundraising professionals realize the value of understanding their nonprofit organization’s planned giving potential.

Responsible investing evolves, raises questions � Philanthropy North Carolina

Responsible investing evolves, raises questions � Philanthropy North Carolina: The market for socially responsible investing is changing, and institutional investors should pay attention to its growing influence and visibility, a new study says.

A recent report estimated that at the end of 2012, the responsible investing market had $3.74 million in assets under management, or 11.2 percent of the $33.3 trillion in total assets under management in the U.S., says the study by Commonfund Institute.

Cincinnati Fundraising Comes Through With $61.7 Million | The NonProfit Times

Cincinnati Fundraising Comes Through With $61.7 Million | The NonProfit Times: United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s (UWGC) 2013 campaign exceeded the 2012 campaign, with the most new dollars since 2007. The 2013 campaign raised more than $61.7 million, some $650,000 more than last year, an increase 1 percent. UWGC reported it was the most new dollars since 2007 and the second-highest new dollar total in 10 years.

Willis Turner-Can T�a Obreht Make You a Better Fundraiser? : FundRaising Success

Willis Turner-Can T�a Obreht Make You a Better Fundraiser? : FundRaising Success: Can T�a Obreht Make You a Better Fundraiser?

Opinion: Pursuing the Promise of a 'Nasdaq for Nonprofits' - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Opinion: Pursuing the Promise of a 'Nasdaq for Nonprofits' - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The New York Times profiles Lindsay Beck, a cancer survivor with charity experience and an M.B.A., and her nascent efforts to develop the equivalent of a stock market to finance nonprofits.

Ms. Beck tells Times business columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin that she came up with the idea while pursuing her masters at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She had previously started Fertile Hope, an organization that helped female cancer survivors with pregnancy, after her own bout with the disease.

Colby College | Colby Magazine | Anonymous Alum Funds Nonprofit Course for Local Causes

Colby College | Colby Magazine | Anonymous Alum Funds Nonprofit Course for Local Causes: or three years, Morrione, Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology, had taught a popular seminar, Nonprofit Organizations and Philanthropy, in which students write grants for area nonprofits and donate $10,000 to the nonprofit(s) deemed most deserving.

The success of the course at Colby, which was funded by the Sunshine Lady Foundation, endowed by Doris Buffet, landed Morrione on the foundation’s academic advisory team. One of his recommendations: that after three years colleges fund the course themselves. “Somebody who is doing well with it ought to be able to find funding elsewhere,” Morrione said.

Bill Gates and Bill Clinton Revolutionized Philanthropy. Now They Talk About What's Next | Wired Business | Wired.com

Bill Gates and Bill Clinton Revolutionized Philanthropy. Now They Talk About What's Next | Wired Business | Wired.com: You want a world-class conversation about the future of global health, the vanguard of philanthropy, and the divide between ignorance and data-driven knowledge? Bring in the Bills. Gates and Clinton, that is.

They share much more than a first name. Both pivoted from spectacular first acts to second careers devoted to tackling some of the biggest problems on the planet. To do this, they have capitalized on their previous roles, their connections, and their brainpower. In Clinton’s case, it turned out that the attributes that make for the ultimate politician work equally well in the service of philanthropy.

Tom's of Maine announces winning nonprofits for $150K in grants for community projects (11/12/13 4:32 am)

Tom's of Maine announces winning nonprofits for $150K in grants for community projects (11/12/13 4:32 am): KENNEBUNK, Maine — Fifteen nonprofits from Maine to Washington are sharing $150,000 in grants as winners of Tom's of Maine's fifth annual "50 States for Good" program.

SBF Foundation launched to encourage corporate giving - Channel NewsAsia

SBF Foundation launched to encourage corporate giving - Channel NewsAsia: The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) Foundation was launched on Tuesday, and has received S$18 million in donations since July to kick-start its corporate giving programmes.

The Hottest Way To Give To Charity - Forbes

The Hottest Way To Give To Charity - Forbes: In the staid world of charitable giving, what’s the hottest charitable giving vehicle out there these days? Donor-advised funds–once the poor man’s version of a private foundation. More people are setting them up; contributions are up; the average account size is up; and grants from the funds to charity are up.

In an effort to grow, storied Morristown nonprofits merge | Daily Record | dailyrecord.com

In an effort to grow, storied Morristown nonprofits merge | Daily Record | dailyrecord.com: ORRISTOWN — The name may have changed, but the services offered haven’t.

In fact, with new subsidiary the Morristown Neighborhood House, Morristown’s Cornerstone Family Programs has only gotten bigger.

Chief Executive Officer Patrice Picard said the rebranding and addition of the Neighborhood House will allow the organization to better achieve its mission of “empowering individuals and families to overcome life’s challenges and helping them to build better lives.”

Take Your Non-Profit’s #GivingTuesday Strategy to the Next Level | CCS Philanthropy 360

Take Your Non-Profit’s #GivingTuesday Strategy to the Next Level | CCS Philanthropy 360: ou may have read my recent post on CCS Philanthropy 360, “Maximize the Power of #GivingTuesday This December 3rd For Your Non-Profit.” In it, I shared strategies for your non-profit to share client stories and test new ideas using social media, as well as ways to increase ROI.

Because we still have 22 days to go until #GivingTuesday, I wanted to share a few other tactics that are more advanced if you’re ready to take your organization’s #GivingTuesday campaign to the next level.

Atlas v Blackbaud v Giving USA | Atlas of Giving

Atlas v Blackbaud v Giving USA | Atlas of Giving: A question often asked by those who are new to the Atlas of Giving is, “How is Atlas different from Giving USA or the Blackbaud Index?” First, the short answer:

While all three products use their own respective methodologies to measure and report past giving, the Atlas of Giving is primarily focused on quantifying what will happen in the future – how much will be given, to what causes, and by whom. Neither Giving USA nor the Blackbaud Index produces a forecast of future giving.

#GivingTuesday – A movement encouraging everyone to give back | The Giving Institute

#GivingTuesday – A movement encouraging everyone to give back | The Giving Institute: love giving.

Is there anything better than the joy you feel when you decide, for yourself, with your family or maybe on behalf of an organization, to make a donation to a worthy cause? It’s high up there on my list, for sure.

I also love #GivingTuesday, the movement focused on celebrating the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) as the opening day of the giving season. A wonderful group of people, including Henry Timms (interim executive director of the 92nd Street Y), Matthew Bishop (The Economist) and Rob Reich (Stanford University) launched this movement in 2012 as a way to help expand the reach of those engaged in giving back.

Billionaire donates $2 million to Alicia Keys charity | General News | Hollywood.com

Billionaire donates $2 million to Alicia Keys charity | General News | Hollywood.com: licia Keys' Black Ball charity auction received a $2 million (�1.3 million) donation from pharmaceutical mogul Stewart Rahr. R

In our opinion: Charitable giving to churches provides a great benefit to society | Deseret News

In our opinion: Charitable giving to churches provides a great benefit to society | Deseret News: The concerns about giving to churches are not just ill informed. They display a high degree of ignorance about an important part of the nation’s social fabric — one that costs government nothing and yet saves the public from enormous costs. Not only do churches provide direct aid and charity to suffering people, such as through Catholic Charities or the philanthropic, charitable and welfare efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (which owns this newspaper), virtually all religions teach their members to perform acts of charity and kindness on their own.

| Top 25 Worcester Non-Profits Total Billions - Spheres of Influence

GoLocalWorcester | News | Top 25 Worcester Non-Profits Total Billions - Spheres of Influence: Today's GoLocalWorcester "Spheres of Influence" utilizes an infographic to show the city's top revenue-generating nonprofits by size, indicating just how big a presence some of the organizations have in Worcester.

But what about their impact on the community itself? The Worcester Regional Research Bureau reported in June that 20% of Worcester's land is owned by nonprofits such as churches, college, and hospitals -- which are tax-exempt institutions.

'Three Cups' Charity to Get $1.2-Million From Insurer - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

'Three Cups' Charity to Get $1.2-Million From Insurer - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: he Montana charity founded and formerly led by philanthropist and author Greg Mortenson will receive $1.2-million from its insurance company to cover legal costs from lawsuits over Mr. Mortenson’s memoir Three Cups of Tea and a state investigation of the group’s finances, the Associated Press reports.

Decider, House Rules; why charities should have the freedom to choose whether they pay trustees | nfpSynergy

Decider, House Rules; why charities should have the freedom to choose whether they pay trustees | nfpSynergy: Decider, House Rules; why charities should have the freedom to choose whether they pay trustees

Nonprofit news roundup, 11.08.13 � Philanthropy North Carolina

Nonprofit news roundup, 11.08.13 � Philanthropy North Carolina: The top 1,000 foundations tracked by the Foundation Center made over 145,000 grants totaling nearly $21.2 billion throughout the U.S. in 2011, including 3,153 grants totaling $521 million in North Carolina, or 2 percent of those foundations’ U.S. grants and grant dollars, according to Foundation Stats, a new online tool from the Foundation Center.

The Key to Less Stress and Better Year-End Fundraising | Pamela Grow

The Key to Less Stress and Better Year-End Fundraising | Pamela Grow: The Key to Less Stress and Better Year-End Fundraising

November 7, 2013

Email

Are you running around like a headless chicken in these last eight weeks of the year trying to accomplish your organization’s year-end fundraising single-handedly?

Relax. Year-end fundraising season provides the ideal opportunity to engage board members, volunteers and staff — and improve the results of your year-end appeal.

Nelson: Too bad philanthropy doesn’t extend to our art

Nelson: Too bad philanthropy doesn’t extend to our art: his is a city that understands the value of a buck.

Parking meters still take nickels and, if you search with enough vigour, you can still find a pint of beer that’ll give you change from two dollars.

It also knows a thing or two about art — the beautiful downtown Portland Museum of Art showcases works by such luminaries as Monet, Degas, Klee and Renoir.

Not bad for a rough and ready city on the blue collar trim of the U.S. with an urban population barely a fifth the size of Calgary’s.

Communicating should be the heart of your job � Philanthropy North Carolina

Communicating should be the heart of your job � Philanthropy North Carolina: Charitable work is rooted in communication.

Whether you deliver services, make grants, raise money, advocate, manage staff or volunteers, work with the board or run the back office, your effectiveness and impact depend on how well you communicate.

At many nonprofits and foundations, however, communications get short-changed. Developing the skills and tools needed to understand and connect with multiple audiences can seem like a diversion of resources.

Young Men Most Likely to Give Charitable Gift

Young Men Most Likely to Give Charitable Gift: Young Men
The World Vision survey, which is conducted annually as part of the World Vision Gift Catalog campaign, revealed that 56 percent of men ages 18-34 have given a charitable gift, versus 36 percent of older men (ages 35 and above) and 37 percent of their female counterparts in the same age group.

A Simple, Smart, and Easy Way to Raise More Money Next Year: 50 Asks in 50 Weeks

A Simple, Smart, and Easy Way to Raise More Money Next Year: 50 Asks in 50 Weeks

Nell Newman makes organics her own | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Nell Newman makes organics her own | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: She launched Newman’s Own Organics with business partner Peter Meehan in 1993. It started as a division of Newman’s Own and became independent in 2001. Newman’s Own Organics pays a royalty to the Newman’s Own Foundation for the use of Paul Newman’s name and likeness. The foundation has given away $350 million since 1982.

Newman, who majored in human ecology at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, returned to Maine to speak Wednesday at the Maine Community Foundation’s annual Inspiring Philanthropy talk at the University of Southern Maine.

What’s human ecology?

Year-end Appeal Checklist - Resource Center - AFP

Year-end Appeal Checklist - Resource Center - AFP

The Blackbaud Index: Overall Charitable Giving Grew 4.3% in September, Online Giving Was Up 9.9% - Press Release - Digital Journal

The Blackbaud Index: Overall Charitable Giving Grew 4.3% in September, Online Giving Was Up 9.9% - Press Release - Digital Journal: The Blackbaud Index today reported that overall charitable giving increased 4.3% and online giving increased 9.9% for the three months ending September 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012. As reported in the Charitable Giving Report, overall giving grew approximately 2% for the full year 2012 and online giving grew by about 11% in 2012 compared to 2011.

The Overhead Debate: Charities Risk Widening Rift With Donors Over Administrative Costs - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

The Overhead Debate: Charities Risk Widening Rift With Donors Over Administrative Costs - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The Overhead Debate: Charities Risk Widening Rift With Donors Over Administrative Costs

By Brian Mittendorf

It’s rare that nonprofit accounting makes headlines, but it certainly has had its share of time in the spotlight in recent months. Most recently, an investigation by The Washington Post into substantial “diversions” of assets among nonprofit organizations highlighted issues of financial accountability. The report examined embezzlement, fraud, and other irregularities at more than 1,000 nonprofits.

Witches, skeletons, zombies march in NYC Halloween parade thanks to online fundraising - Daily Journal

Witches, skeletons, zombies march in NYC Halloween parade thanks to online fundraising - Daily Journal: A light drizzle didn't stop curious onlookers and wildly dressed marchers from strutting their stuff along Manhattan's Sixth Avenue in the annual parade, which was canceled last year due to Superstorm Sandy and was put on this year only after an emergency online fundraising campaign netted more than $50,000 in donations.

Donor Relations Guru: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Donor Relations Guru: Should I Stay or Should I Go?: The career path of a fundraising or donor relations professional is an interesting one.    After last week's blog it becomes even cleare...

Judge Rules Met Museum Allowed to Charge 'Suggested' Fee - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Judge Rules Met Museum Allowed to Charge 'Suggested' Fee - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A New York State Supreme Court judge has thrown out key portions of two lawsuits over the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s admissions practices, ruling that the museum is not in breach of prior state and city agreements in charging a suggested entry fee, The New York Times and Bloomberg report.

Pimco Billionaire Says He Will Give All His Money to Charity - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Pimco Billionaire Says He Will Give All His Money to Charity - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: nvestor Bill Gross, who has been locked in a Twitter battle with fellow billionaire Carl Icahn over philanthropy, said Wednesday that he and his wife are committed to giving away their entire fortune before they die, Bloomberg writes

Washington Post Diversions Piece: What it Really Means - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Washington Post Diversions Piece: What it Really Means - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The salacious headline of the Washington Post article on reported “diversions” of nonprofit assets reads, “Inside the hidden world of thefts, scams and phantom purchases at the nation’s nonprofits.” Therein lies the problem: the lure implies that the nonprofits are involved in and parties to these “thefts, scams and phantom purchases,” as opposed to victims of people inside or outside of the organizations who were quite intent on plundering charitable resources. It looks to the Nonprofit Quarterly that the diversions reported in the article are nonprofits that had been cheated by employees, vendors, and outside financial advisors, but not engaged in trying to cheat donors or the public.

Ex-Defense Secretary Robert Gates Named to Head Boy Scouts - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Ex-Defense Secretary Robert Gates Named to Head Boy Scouts - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The Boy Scouts of America announced Wednesday that Robert Gates, who served as secretary of defense in the Obama and George W. Bush administrations, will be the youth organization’s next president, reports the Associated Press.

November 7520 Rate Settles to 2.0% | Planned Giving Design Center

November 7520 Rate Settles to 2.0% | 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 2013-22 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for November 2013 is 2.0%; down 0.4% from the October rate of 2.4% and unchanged from the September rate of 2.0%.

Survey Finds Direct Mail Gets Quicker Action than Email

Survey Finds Direct Mail Gets Quicker Action than Email: If you deal with your snail mail more quickly than email, you are part of the overwhelming majority of people who do. That's according to recent research in the UK from the Direct Mail Association (DMA). The study, called From letterbox to inbox - Building customer relationships 2013, was released this past summer.

3 Tips for Communicating Your Nonprofit's Results

3 Tips for Communicating Your Nonprofit's Results: As nonprofit leaders and grant writers, we know that outcomes are important to funders. We hear about it all the time as the “strings” attached to grants.

Nonprofit academy launches in Lynchburg - NewsAdvance.com : Local News

Nonprofit academy launches in Lynchburg - NewsAdvance.com : Local News: hese course titles, and more, opened for business in Lynchburg on Tuesday with the official launch of the Central Virginia Academy for Nonprofit Excellence.

The academy, commonly known as CVANE, will offer classes to teach skills needed in running a successful nonprofit group. Its kickoff event Tuesday at Central Virginia Community College drew about 50 nonprofit organizers from the Lynchburg area as well as Anne Holton, the wife of Sen. Timothy M. Kaine.

Still recovering: Government shutdown slams nonprofits | Door County Advocate | doorcountyadvocate.com

Still recovering: Government shutdown slams nonprofits | Door County Advocate | doorcountyadvocate.com: Several nonprofit and government agencies in Door County are still picking up the pieces after the federal government shutdown threw a monkey wrench into their operations earlier this month.

Nonprofits Must Respond Swiftly to Critical News Stories - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Nonprofits Must Respond Swiftly to Critical News Stories - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofits Must Respond Swiftly to Critical News Stories

By Tim Delaney

For the second time in recent months, a major newspaper has overreached to give all nonprofits a black eye by publishing an article essentially questioning the integrity of nonprofits that have been victimized by fraud or unfortunate circumstances.

The AFP Blog: Countdown to NPD Impact

The AFP Blog: Countdown to NPD Impact: This year we’re looking to connect all of those events into a single campaign to help celebrate NPD on an international level. The critical part of our new campaign, Countdown to Impact, is our new NPD website: npdlove.com. On the website, you can read inspiring stories of how people are helping to change the world and “showing their love,” as well as tips on wise giving and a list of NPD events around the world.

The State of Grantseeking Fall 2013 Report

The State of Grantseeking Fall 2013 Report: he State of Grantseeking Report Fall 2013

The seventh semi-annual survey, conducted by PhilanTech and GrantStation, provides a snapshot of the current state of grantseeking. The 1,108 respondents represent a wide range of nonprofits, varying in size, geographic location and mission focus.

Over 80% of respondent organizations received grant awards in the first six months of 2013. More organizations received larger grants than in the same period in 2012, but the median grant size decreased by 8%.

BBC News - The City Story exhibition celebrates philanthropy

BBC News - The City Story exhibition celebrates philanthropy: An exhibition marking 800 years of philanthropy in London is due to open in a former 14th Century monastery.

The Charterhouse, in Farringdon, is staging The City Story which explores London's history of philanthropy through stories past and present.

Take Care When Asking Staff and Volunteers to Make a Donation

massnonprofit.org ::: it’s tempting and convenient to solicit your organization’s staff and volunteers. However, these two critical groups are in very different positions, so they can’t be treated alike in terms of asking for money.

If fundraising is concentric circles, as consultants often say (you ask your friends and then their friends and then their friends’ friends), then it seems to make sense to start asking right in the bosom of the family: from your staff and volunteers. Indeed, this is what most non

Companies tie giving abroad to bottom line, local needs � Philanthropy North Carolina

Companies tie giving abroad to bottom line, local needs � Philanthropy North Carolina: Local needs and corporate financial performance in countries in which they do business are the main factors that drive U.S. companies to make social invests abroad, a new study says.

Eighty-six percent of companies that gave internationally say they plan to increase or maintain the size of their foreign giving budget, says the study, commissioned by Global Impact and prepared by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.