Amplify Austin effort was trial by fire for local charity | www.statesman.com

Amplify Austin effort was trial by fire for local charity | www.statesman.com: Since its 2007 inception, I Live Here, I Give Here, devoted to promoting philanthropy throughout Central Texas, has struggled to prove its worth to local charities and funders. It faced the same questions all nonprofit newbies confront: What’s your point? Do you actually make a difference? Will you still be here 10 years from now?

Amplify Austin was a test. A very big, very public one.

“This was about the credibility of our organization,” Martin said.

After raising $2.7 million in 24 hours, credibility is no longer a proble

The nonprofit sector’s role in N.H.’s economy - New Hampshire Business Review - April 5 2013

The nonprofit sector’s role in N.H.’s economy - New Hampshire Business Review - April 5 2013: The viewpoint held by many nonprofit leaders is that one of the first tasks facing our state is to step forward and clarify, with data and outcome analysis, what the role and impact of the nonprofit sector is in our state.

We need to go beyond the reality that the nonprofit sector employs one out of seven workers in New Hampshire and generates over $9 billion toward the state’s GDP. We need to go beyond the fact that nonprofits help bring over $1 billion in federal funds into the state each year. And we need to go beyond the fact that our work is critical to tourism, to a healthy workforce and to ensuring the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents.

Charity Navigator 3.0: The Empirical Empire’s Death Star? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Charity Navigator 3.0: The Empirical Empire’s Death Star? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Editor’s Note: The following essay, written by William Schambra, the director of the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, is one part of a two-part point/counterpoint series. The other essay in this series, by Charity Navigator President and CEO Ken Berger, is available here.



The empire of empiricism – the kingdom of counting, the sultanate of statistics – continues its relentless march from conquest to conquest. Thanks to Charity Navigator, metrics is now poised to seize the commanding heights of the nonprofit sector, having long ago conquered and thoroughly colonized the land of philanthropy.

New name, several activities on tap for Jewish Federation women

New name, several activities on tap for Jewish Federation women: Women’s Division of Jewish Federation is changing its name to Women’s Philanthropy.

“With this name change, our community will be in line with over 70 other communities who have adopted Women’s Philanthropy, and our connection to the wider Federation world is strengthened,” said Women’s Philanthropy President Bari Freiden.

Aid groups: US should send cash, not food, abroad - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Aid groups: US should send cash, not food, abroad - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports: The White House will not say whether Obama's budget proposal, scheduled to come out next week, will seek to change the way foreign food aid is distributed. But food aid groups, farm groups and their allies in Congress are preparing for the possibility.

At issue is whether the government should ship U.S.-grown food overseas to aid developing countries and starving people or simply help those countries with cash to buy food. The United States now donates much of its food aid by shipping food abroad, a process many food aid groups say is inefficient.

Nonprofit Industry News Article Detail | Sage Nonprofit Solutions

Nonprofit Industry News Article Detail | Sage Nonprofit Solutions:Email marketing is a major selling point for businesses in any industry. These updates can inform consumers about sector news, as well as showcase new products or services and positively influence sales. Many nonprofits look at this the same way - they can make the most of advertisements by investing in email marketing.

The Importance of Scheduling Nothing | LinkedIn

The Importance of Scheduling Nothing | LinkedIn

Nearly half of population 'gives to charity at least once a month

UK Survey

Nearly half of population 'gives to charity at least once a month: Poll by the microfinance provider Oikocredit says one in ten gives once a week, but 17 per cent do so less than once a year
Click here to find out more!

One in 10 people say they give to charity once a week and 47 per cent say they give at least once a month, according to a survey by microfinance provider Oikocredit.

But 17 per cent of people say they give to charity less than once a year.

The survey, which examines the importance of transparent investment to donors, is based on a poll of 2,016 people across the UK.

Shar McBee: You Only Want Me for My Money! Tips for Nonprofits looking for Charity Sponsorship

Shar McBee: You Only Want Me for My Money! Tips for Nonprofits looking for Charity Sponsorship

What charities need to know about the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

What charities need to know about the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act: Eva Abeles and Melora Jezierska explain the implications for the sector in this country of a new piece of tax legislation from the United States

It is fair to say that the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act has not been on the charity world’s radar because it is, after all, a piece of US tax legislation. However, because Fatca imposes additional reporting and compliance burdens on all banks and financial institutions, it will affect how these entities interact with charities.

What is Fatca?

N.Y.'s Folk Art Museum Survives by Reining in Ambitions - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

N.Y.'s Folk Art Museum Survives by Reining in Ambitions - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: N.Y.’s Folk Art Museum Survives by Reining in Ambitions

April 3, 2013, 9:49 am

The American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan, which nearly closed two years ago after defaulting on a $32-million construction loan for a capacious new home, has stabilized with new leadership and lowered expectations, writes The New York Times.

My view: Gift puts Utah's legacy of impact investing, Salt Lake City on the map | Deseret News

My view: Gift puts Utah's legacy of impact investing, Salt Lake City on the map | Deseret News: Philanthropy in Utah took a large step on Jan. 29 when the business school at the University of Utah announced the creation of the James Lee Sorenson Center for Global Impact Investing through a $13 million personal gift from Sorenson himself. While there had been activity around impact investing in the Intermountain West, this gift put Salt Lake on the map in a new way. Why was this so different? There are several reasons.

Record number of PFD recipients gave to charities this year | State News | ADN.com

Record number of PFD recipients gave to charities this year | State News | ADN.com: More than 26,000 people pledged $2.4 million this year from their permanent fund dividends to Alaska non-profits through the Pick. Click. Give program -- a new record, the agency announced Tuesday.

The program allows recipients to donate a portion of their permanent fund check to qualifying charities.

Furry Friends Help Raise Money for Charity at USC | ATVN

Furry Friends Help Raise Money for Charity at USC | ATVN: Net Impact teamed up with World Vision Acts to help the micro finance institution World Vision Micro.

This organization helps fundraise loans for livestock business owners in third world countries to help them become financially independent.

Local vendors and pet shops donated the animals for the day to support this cause.

Art of Philanthropy award: Art of Philanthropy award winner - OrlandoSentinel.com

Art of Philanthropy award: Art of Philanthropy award winner - OrlandoSentinel.com: nternational photographer Greg Davis of Austin, Texas was awarded the inaugural Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation "Art of Philanthropy" award for his photograph "Blanket Weaver" at the 54th Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.

Nonprofit Conference on Fundraising Development

Nonprofit Conference on Fundraising Development: Welcome!

Registration is now open for the upcoming:
Nonprofit Conference on Fundraising Development Speaker Series Session

Date: April 30, 2013
Time: 8:00a.m. - 12:30p.m. Eastern Time

Massachusetts Nonprofit Sector Has Grown 19% in Last Decade

massnonprofit.org ::: March 28, 2013 — The number of public charity nonprofits in Massachusetts increased by nearly 19% during the last decade and today employs one out of every seven workers in the state, up slightly from 10 years ago.

Today, 455,900 people—14.5% of the state’s workforce—work for nonprofits, according to figures recently released by Independent Sector, a national coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs.

Michigan nonprofits: See where fundraising conditions are best in the state | MLive.com

Michigan nonprofits: See where fundraising conditions are best in the state | MLive.com: LANSING, MI — Nonprofits in west and southwestern Michigan seem to be better off than organizations in other areas of the state.

CEOs Key to Aussie Fundraising - Report | Pro Bono Australia

CEOs Key to Aussie Fundraising - Report | Pro Bono Australia: CEOs are the lynchpin of fundraising, and board members are giving and serving in many ways but few have fundraising as a clear expectation in their governance role or receive any training in it, according to new Australian research.

These are some key findings from an exploratory study aiming to build an evidence base about the role Australian Not for Profit CEOs and boards play in supporting fundraising and development by Alexandra Williamson and Dr Wendy Scaife, from the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.

Lenfest Foundation plans to spend all of its assets - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lenfest Foundation plans to spend all of its assets - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: PHILADELPHIA -- The Lenfest Foundation, one of Philadelphia's last remaining powerhouse philanthropies, has undertaken a series of changes that will dramatically alter its leadership and mission, and effectively maps out a path to its end.

Reality Check: US Philanthropy Gains with Consumer Confidence | MNI

Reality Check: US Philanthropy Gains with Consumer Confidence | MNI: "I think we will see pretty solid giving in 2013," said Andrew Watt, chief executive of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, which represents about 30,000 fundraisers and the 1,200 organizations they work for, who together raise about one-third of the total charitable revenue in the U.S. "We are beginning to see a significant improvement in giving."

Preliminary AFP data show that about 60% of its members reported an increase in revenue of at least 5% last year, to a level that was 15% above that of 2010, Watt said.

Prison firm withdraws gift to name FAU football stadium - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

Prison firm withdraws gift to name FAU football stadium - Schools - MiamiHerald.com: ust hours after the latest student protest, Boca-Raton based GEO Group on Monday withdrew its planned $6 million gift to Florida Atlantic University, a gift that would have put its name on the school’s football stadium.

A Deluge of Wealth | Rich Floridians - Florida Trend

A Deluge of Wealth | Rich Floridians - Florida Trend: Rich Floridians
Philanthropy: A Deluge of Wealth
Wealth transfer in the next 10 years could total $322 billion.

Nerdist Bringing Back Course Of The Force For Second Run To Comic-Con

Nerdist Bringing Back Course Of The Force For Second Run To Comic-Con: For the second year in a row, Comic-Con attendees will have the chance to fight for a good cause when the head to San Diego for the nerdy convention. Nerdist and Lucasfilm are bringing back Course of the Force, their charity relay race, which now run between the Bay Area and San Diego.

Nine Tips on Deducting Charitable Contributions | Planned Giving Design Center

Nine Tips on Deducting Charitable Contributions | Planned Giving Design Center: Nine Tips on Deducting Charitable Contributions
News story posted in Treasury by Marc Hoffman on 1 April 2013| comments
audience: National Publication | last updated: 1 April 2013

Nonprofit investors expect portfolio growth | Philanthropy North Carolina

Nonprofit investors expect portfolio growth | Philanthropy North Carolina: Nonprofit institutional investors and pension funds expect portfolios to grow in 2013 and over the next three years and five years, a new survey says.

Among 217 institutional investors with combined assets of $123 billion who attended the Commonfund Forum and responded to the third annual Commonfund Investor Outlook Survey, investment in emerging markets also is expected to continue to grow.

Investors’ average forecast for the S&P 500 Index is for growth of 7.9 percent, with a median forecast of 8 percent.

Book Review: Why Philanthropy Matters - WSJ.com

Book Review: Why Philanthropy Matters - WSJ.com: In 2011, a research study conducted by Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy revealed that annual charitable gifts from households whose wealth came from their own business or their family's were no different, on average, from the gifts of those who had inherited their wealth. An earlier version of the study, conducted in 2007, before the onset of the recession, found that current-generation business owners and their relatives were giving three times as much as heirs and heiresses did. Far from holding on to every hard-earned cent, in other words, entreprene

Advisory Boards and Other Bodies: Yes or No and Why or Why Not? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Advisory Boards and Other Bodies: Yes or No and Why or Why Not? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Advisory Boards and Other Bodies: Yes or No and Why or Why Not?

The Power of One | Avectra Blog

The Power of One | Avectra Blog: There’s an abundance of metrics that show the growing influence of social media and social platforms on an organization’s ability to successfully attract, engage and retain donors. Yet the statistics reported in the 2012 survey commissioned by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Urban Institute, the 2012 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report demonstrated the continued downward spiral of donor retention.

Charities Can Minimize the Strain on Volunteers Too Close to a Cause - Volunteers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Can Minimize the Strain on Volunteers Too Close to a Cause - Volunteers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: But passion can be a volatile thing, and harnessing it in a way that benefits both the individual and the organization can be a challenge. Following are ways that nonprofit managers have tried to protect volunteers and employees who have been directly affected by a group’s cause while making sure that the cause is well served.

BLACKBAUD INDEX: Fundraising & Online Giving Trends

BLACKBAUD INDEX: Fundraising & Online Giving Trends

The Blackbaud Index: Overall Charitable Giving in
February Was Up 2.9%, and Online Giving Grew 10.8%

The Blackbaud Index today reported that overall giving increased 2.9% and online giving increased 10.8% for the three months ending February 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012, indicating a continued recovery of charitable giving.

Nonprofits benefit from student-run business - News - McPhersonSentinel - McPherson, KS

Nonprofits benefit from student-run business - News - McPhersonSentinel - McPherson, KS: McPherson College's Etch program, formed in November, is doing this in the form of a student-led business of sorts. Business marketing students meet with nonprofit administrators to determine projects and timelines. Graphic design students then compile the information into an eye-catching piece, similar to professional companies.

Top athletes' charities often don't measure up to what charity experts would say is an efficient, effective use of money - ESPN

Top athletes' charities often don't measure up to what charity experts would say is an efficient, effective use of money - ESPN: An "Outside the Lines" investigation of 115 charities founded by high-profile, top-earning male and female athletes has found that most of their charities don't measure up to what charity experts would say is an efficient, effective use of money.

Using guidelines set by nonprofit watchdogs Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, "Outside the Lines" found that 74 percent of the nonprofits fell short of one or more acceptable nonprofit operating standards. The standards cover all sorts of aspects, such as how much money a nonprofit actually spends on charitable work as opposed to administrative expenses and whether there are enough board members overseeing the organization.

Nonprofit urges execs to 'man up' � Knoxville News Sentinel

Nonprofit urges execs to 'man up' � Knoxville News Sentinel: Kose, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, and a volunteer “little brother” with the organization will be visiting workplaces beginning this month offering free lunch and a less than 45-minute sales pitch on how giving of yourself for four hours a week can change a child’s life.

The lunch-and-learn events are part of the organization’s “Man Up — Real Men Mentor” campaign that kicks off in April and runs through June.

Corporate Sponsorship or Taxable Advertising? | CharityLawyer

Corporate Sponsorship or Taxable Advertising? | CharityLawyer: Generally, exempt organizations are taxed on income from any unrelated trade or business activities regularly carried on by the organization, less any permitted deductions. Promotion of private companies is generally considered advertising – an unrelated business activity. If the recognition given to corporate sponsors is deemed to be advertising, then the sponsorship payment may be taxed as unrelated business income and will not be counted as public support for purposes of qualifying as a public charity.