Back Britain's charities campaign aims to help in times of financial difficulty | Voluntary Sector Network - CAF partner zone | guardian.co.uk

Back Britain's charities campaign aims to help in times of financial difficulty | Voluntary Sector Network - CAF partner zone | guardian.co.uk: Charities play a pivotal role in the UK delivering services to the vulnerable and often providing support where there is a vacuum. And while challenges such as fundraising, attracting new donors and volunteers and making the best use of resources is nothing new, recent research by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) suggests charities are facing an exceptionally tough time.

Rio Ferdinand surprises charity worker with random act of kindness on train - ESPN FC

Rio Ferdinand surprises charity worker with random act of kindness on train - ESPN FC: Not so Thursday, when @rioferdy5 used his social media fetish to perform a random act of kindness for a stranger on a train between Manchester and London.

Amazed that she was sitting in the same carriage as Ferdinand, commuter Michelle Clarke texted her friends to brag that she was hob-nobbing with the Manchester United defender.

Claudia Jacobs: Charity Begins at Home?

Claudia Jacobs: Charity Begins at Home?: Most people (if they think about this at all), think that people grow up being charitable because of the way they were brought up by their parents. New research soon to be released from a study of college students taking non-profit and philanthropy courses across 34 universities in three Midwestern states, found that might not be the case. In this forthcoming study 51 percent of students surveyed said they never discussed their parents' volunteer work or philanthropy with them and 37 percent relayed that they only briefly discussed it. Only 13 percent of students reported discussing their parents' volunteer work or philanthropy in any kind of in depth manner. But yet these same students were intrigued and curious enough to enroll in a course where students would be learning about philanthropy by granting funds to local non-profits.

Do you consider yourself a fundraising artist? - Fundraising Detective

Do you consider yourself a fundraising artist? - Fundraising Detective: Do you consider yourself a fundraising artist?

Is great fundraising art? If it is, then are the best fundraisers artists?

Your first instinct is probably to say "of course not", but before you jump to conclusions, I'd like you to take a second to think again.

According to Seth Godin's new book The Icarus Deception, we're all (potentially) artists and it's up to us to embrace the opportunities this mindset presents to us. According to Godin,

Real Time Charitable Giving | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

Real Time Charitable Giving | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project: Contributors to the “Text to Haiti” earthquake relief campaign were spur-of-the-moment donors who often induced friends and family to give, too, new research finds

Report is first in-depth study of mobile giving

WASHINGTON, DC – Charitable donations from mobile phones have grown more common in recent years. Two thirds (64%) of American adults now use text messaging, and 9% have texted a charitable donation from their mobile phone.

Red Cross Releases Report on Haiti Earthquake Donations

Red Cross Releases Report on Haiti Earthquake Donations: The American Red Cross recently released a three-year update on its response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, made possible by donations from the public.

The report, which can be found at www.redcross.org/Haiti, shows that hundreds of thousands of people are living in safer homes and have improved access to water and health services thanks to the generous donations following the earthquake.

Who's Hosting the Nonprofit Blog Carnival in 2013?

Who's Hosting the Nonprofit Blog Carnival in 2013?: Here are the hosts for 2013 with links to one of their most recent blog posts, so you can get a taste of their work. Get acquainted if you aren't familiar with these folks and follow them on your social media.

A newsmaker you should know: Her work with nonprofits brings recognition - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A newsmaker you should know: Her work with nonprofits brings recognition - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Armed with excellent writing skills and knowing that she liked working with people, she started working with a nonprofit organization while still a paralegal. That's when she realized that might be the career field for her.

"I liked the nonprofit world. It seemed like a good fit," she said.

It was a good fit, indeed. Ms. Rutowski recently was honored for her work with nonprofits with the Outstanding Fundraising Executive honor from the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Western Pennsylvania.

Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog | The great donor exodus – and what to do about it

Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog | The great donor exodus – and what to do about it: Ever since the Urban Institute and the Association of Fundraising Professionals created the Fundraising Effectiveness Project a few years ago, I have been tracking the results religiously. They provide a near real-time scorecard on what is driving the bulk of charitable giving in our country. The headline of the results is this: Repeat donors matter most. But we are terrible at keeping them. The good news is we could double the fundraising results of most nonprofits by doing a better job keeping our donors. Just imagine what impact such an increase could have on virtually all charity missions!

Fiscal-Cliff Tax Deal Expected to Boost Charitable Giving - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Some related Fiscal Cliff articles we've seen
 
Fiscal-Cliff Tax Deal Expected to Boost Charitable Giving - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Fiscal-Cliff Tax Deal Expected to Boost Charitable Giving

January 10, 2013, 9:14 am

By Suzanne Perry

The tax provisions adopted by Congress to avert the year-end “fiscal cliff” will increase charitable giving by an estimated 1.3 percent, or $3.3-billion, in 2013, according to a new Urban Institute analysis.

Philanthropic donors get as much as they give - San Antonio Express-News

Philanthropic donors get as much as they give - San Antonio Express-News: Philanthropy, the voluntary sharing of time and money to make the world a better place, is more than a zero sum game in which the donor has to lose something for for the recipient to gain something of like value. Donors also clearly come out ahead. The act of making a gift helps them realize more of their human potential and become better people.

Single bottle of Obama's beer nets $1,200 for charity - Bites

Single bottle of Obama's beer nets $1,200 for charity - Bites: We guess that people are still really, really interested in getting a taste of President Obama's Honey Ale: One report now shows that a group of Minnesotans paid $1,200 for a single bottle.

A Married Couple's Guide To Estate Planning - Forbes

A Married Couple's Guide To Estate Planning - Forbes: Starting for deaths in 2011, and now going forward, widows and widowers can add any unused exclusion of the spouse who died most recently to their own $5.12 million tax-free amount.

Microfinance nonprofit Kiva launches in D.C. - The Washington Post

Microfinance nonprofit Kiva launches in D.C. - The Washington Post: Cantua plans to be among the first few local entrepreneurs to request small loans — as little as $25 — from a network of more than 870,000 lenders online through Kiva, a San Francisco- based nonprofit. Kiva launched its Washington, D.C.-focused initiative on Tuesday.

Loans on Kiva are paid back to the lender. Kiva partners with organizations all over the world—called “field partners”—to identify and screen entrepreneurs. Field partners determine the interest rate on the loan, and keep the interest for their own operational costs

Workplace Giving Had a Reboot in 2012 to Meet Changes, Challenges in the Economy - RE:Philanthropy

Workplace Giving Had a Reboot in 2012 to Meet Changes, Challenges in the Economy - RE:Philanthropy: In 2012 there were further signs that the once staid tradition of employees taking part in annual workplace giving campaigns has been upended by digital technology, younger workers with new ideas, and the need for more engagement between employers and employees. Those are the preliminary findings from America’s Charities 2012 Snapshot: Trends and St

Steven Hacker: Membership Dues: What Does the Future Hold? | Association News

Steven Hacker: Membership Dues: What Does the Future Hold? | Association News: Membership Dues: What Does the Future Hold?

A question being asked regularly these days and one that every astute association executive should be thoughtfully considering is: Should the traditional membership-dues model be altered? There is growing evidence of organizations beset by changing circumstances that render their traditional membership-dues models out of step. A few examples:

‘Cliff’ crisis still seen looming for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina

‘Cliff’ crisis still seen looming for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina: Legislation passed by Congress on New Year’s Day to address the so-called “fiscal cliff” crisis simply delayed the resolution of big issues that affect charities, an advocacy group says.

“Nonprofits must remain vigilant during the next couple of turbulent months and be prepared to mobilize to lift their voices to federal policymakers,” the National Council of Nonprofits says in a statement.

Nonprofits Advised to Cultivate New Leaders and Keep Investing

massnonprofit.org ::: January 4, 2013 — Cultivating the next generation of leaders while investing in technology and innovative ways of operating are among the best steps Massachusetts nonprofits can take in the near term to help assure themselves of continued success, according to a long-time sector leader.

“There’s a tremendous reservoir of talent in our sector and in the best organizations they’re allowed to flourish and grow. It’s incumbent upon on us, as board members and staff, to seek out and nurture those people,” said Jonathan Spack, executive director of Third Sector New England (TSNE), a Boston-based nonprofit that provides management and leadership resources to nonprofits statewide.

Why the 'fiscal cliff' deal is an incentive to give to charity - CSMonitor.com

Why the 'fiscal cliff' deal is an incentive to give to charity - CSMonitor.com: Why the 'fiscal cliff' deal is an incentive to give to charity

The "fiscal cliff" deal's phaseout of itemized deductions is really a sneaky way to raise marginal income tax rates and creates an economic incentive to give to charities, Burman writes.

Act now to give IRA assets to charity - CBS News

Act now to give IRA assets to charity - CBS News: MoneyWatch) A provision in the recently enacted "fiscal cliff" law could provide a significant tax benefit for seniors who want to donate part of their IRAs to charity. Of course, there's some fine print along with the benefit.

Man Runs to DC From Maine for Charity - ABC News

Man Runs to DC From Maine for Charity - ABC News: Gary Allen, an avid runner and Maine resident, is lacing up his sneakers in an attempt to run from Mount Desert Island to the nation’s capital.

Allen hopes to run about 40 to 50 miles per day to complete his 700-mile trek to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, the day of President Obama’s second inauguration.

In Bonobos, the Origins of Anonymous Charity? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

In Bonobos, the Origins of Anonymous Charity? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: In soliciting and accepting donations, charities are naturally reliant on the human impulse to do good and to share, and now, scientists have some new insights as to the roots of that impulse. Duke University evolutionary biologists Jingzhi Tan and Brian Hare have recently published an article in the journal PLOS ONE titled, “Bonobos Share with Strangers.” The authors consider humans’ “propensity to share with non-relatives and even strangers” to be “one of the most puzzling human behaviors from an evolutionary perspective.” In a series of experiments with bonobos, an ape closely related to the chimpanzee, at an animal sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, however, the researchers believe they may have caught a glimpse of where that behavior comes from.

The researchers’ findings “show that even when there was no immediate social reward, bonobos are still motivated to help a stranger acquire out-of-reach food.” In the experiments, bonobos were given a helping of food and the chance to release a stranger, and the bonobos opted to help the stranger achieve freedom, and then shared their food with that stranger. Next, the bonobo that had been freed would go free another bonobo who was in the same predicament that he or she had just escaped.

As Asian-Americans’ Numbers Grow, So Does Their Philanthropy - NYTimes.com

As Asian-Americans’ Numbers Grow, So Does Their Philanthropy - NYTimes.com: As Asian-Americans’ Numbers Grow, So Does Their Philanthropy

Title sponsorships - where the line between marketing and philanthropy blurs - Houston Chronicle

Title sponsorships - where the line between marketing and philanthropy blurs - Houston Chronicle: The line between philanthropy and marketing blurs when it comes to the dozen-plus title sponsorships in Houston

Houston culture grows, thanks to contributions - Houston Chronicle

Houston culture grows, thanks to contributions - Houston Chronicle: Philanthropy has given Houston a cultural full house, so to speak, making it one of few U.S. cities with its own ballet, opera, symphony and theater companies, plus major museums and many fine, smaller organizations.

Patriots' Patrick Chung on charity launch - Entertainment, Pop Culture, Style and Hot Trends - Trending Blog - ESPN Playbook - ESPN

Patriots' Patrick Chung on charity launch - Entertainment, Pop Culture, Style and Hot Trends - Trending Blog - ESPN Playbook - ESPN: Chung has a broad vision for his foundation, seeing it eventually spreading from its base in Massachusetts to having a nationwide presence. He already has received financial support from his teammates, including defensive lineman Vince Wilfork.

"It was important to get my teammates involved. He [Wilfork] didn't ask for anything. He was just: 'I got you, man.' It's like a brotherhood almost in the locker room," Chung said. "If they need something and I can help, I'm going to do it.

Sad Silent Auction Winners – In Legal Terms - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Some related articles on Auctions

Sad Silent Auction Winners – In Legal Terms - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: There are so many ways to create problems for one’s self when fundraising. One kind of problem with a lot of potential fallout occurs when you are auctioning a service in return for the highest donation. In this case submitted as a question to Mark Pestronk, a lawyer specializing in travel law, a travel agency donated a trip complete with a list of restrictions but the nonprofit who auctioned the service did not disclose the restrictions. Now the donor who placed the winning bid is angry and the travel agency (the other donor) feels hung out to dry.

The spirit of philanthropy | Agents of Good

The spirit of philanthropy | Agents of Good: The spirit of philanthropy
You are here: Home � The spirit of philanthropy

A special post by a Special Agent: Ann Rosenfield. Now that some of the hub-bub from the holiday fundraising period has passed, it’s easier to reflect

The AFP Blog

The AFP Blog: Saturday, January 5, 2013
One Conversation Complete, Many More to Come
Happy New Year!

I’ve talked previously—both on this blog and in The Chronicle of Philanthropy—about the debate for the charitable deduction being just the first conversation in a larger discussion about

Fiscal cliff law brings mixed news to charitable organizations | TribLIVE

Fiscal cliff law brings mixed news to charitable organizations | TribLIVE: Charity leaders say they‘re relieved the tax law Congress passed on New Year‘s Day does not more severely limit the tax advantages of making donations.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which kept the country from going over the “fiscal cliff,” erases some uncertainty about tax rules that affect giving but still might impact charities and donors, the leaders said.

“There‘s some good in it and some bad in it for charities,”

MCF | Minnesota Grantmakers Anticipate Slight Increase in 2013 Giving

MCF | Minnesota Grantmakers Anticipate Slight Increase in 2013 Giving: Minnesota Grantmakers Anticipate Slight Increase in 2013 Giving
Source: Minnesota Council on Foundations 01/07/2013

(Jan. 7, 2013) ― The Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) reported today that Minnesota grantmakers forecast slightly higher giving in 2013. According to MCF’s 2013 Outlook Report, foundations and corporations believe their grantmaking will increase about two percent from 2012.

Billionaire Christian Donors Drop Bid to Find Owner for Mass. School - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Billionaire Christian Donors Drop Bid to Find Owner for Mass. School - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Billionaire Christian Donors Drop Bid to Find Owner for Mass. School

January 4, 2013, 10:56 am

The billionaire owners of the Hobby Lobby retail chain have donated the campus of a former prep school in Massachusetts to a national Christian group, ending their own effort to find an evangelical operator for the property, says the Associated Press.

Foundation grants seen fueling economy � Philanthropy North Carolina

Foundation grants seen fueling economy � Philanthropy North Carolina: Grantmaking by U.S. foundations has big short-term and long-term impacts on the economy, a new report says.

Foundation grants totaling $37.85 million in 2010 generated nearly 500,000 jobs immediately, a total that grew to nearly 1 million within a year and to at least 8.8 million over the long-term, says the report by The Philanthropic Collaborative.