A Weirdly Useful Column. Various tidbits. - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

A Weirdly Useful Column. Various tidbits. - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Just a warning…this is a weird column. No overall theme. Just a collection of tidbits and miscellaneous thoughts that I wanted to share with you.

Here goes:

Nonprofits need better guidance on tax-exempt standards - The Washington Post

Nonprofits need better guidance on tax-exempt standards - The Washington Post: The IRS’s improper scrutiny of conservative groups’ applications for tax-exempt status certainly warrants investigation. But we must not lose sight of the underlying problems that led to this situation: the lack of workable standards to determine what activity the Internal Revenue Service considers “political” and how much of it a nonprofit group can do.

Smart Money | Stanford Social Innovation Review

Smart Money | Stanford Social Innovation Review: In recent years, there has been much talk within the nonprofit sector about “strategic” or “effective” philanthropy, aimed at maximizing the social impact of foundation grants to nonprofit organizations. This talk takes place in the context of nonprofit organizations’ perennial and increasing concern that the large majority of philanthropic dollars are earmarked for particular projects – often designed by foundation staff with little or no consultation – rather than for general operating, or core, support. In 2001, less than 16 percent of the grants budgets of the thousand largest foundations provided general operating support.1 Many observers of the nonprofit sector argue that this relatively small proportion of core support seriously diminishes the efficacy and vitality of the organizations and the sector as a whole.2

Laurene Powell Jobs and Anonymous Giving in Silicon Valley - NYTimes.com

Laurene Powell Jobs and Anonymous Giving in Silicon Valley - NYTimes.com: "One of the main ways she is able to do that is because of the way she has structured her organization, Emerson Collective. It is an LLC, like a small business, instead of a tax-exempt 501(c)(3), like a charitable organization or foundation. That means that Emerson can make grants, for-profit investments and political donations — and does not have to publicly report its donations as a foundation does.

That strategy is becoming more common, as people seek flexibility, freedom and anonymity in their investments, said Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, who teaches philanthropy at Stanford, runs her own philanthropy and is a close friend of Ms. Powell Jobs."

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IRS Publishes FAQs about Operating as an Exempt Organization | Planned Giving Design Center

IRS Publishes FAQs about Operating as an Exempt Organization | Planned Giving Design Center: The IRS has published a list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding record keeping requirements for tax-exempt organizations, the types of activities in which they can engage, and notification requirements when material changes occur in their purposes or activities.

Reasonable Compensation: A Section 4958 Primer | Planned Giving Design Center

Reasonable Compensation: A Section 4958 Primer | Planned Giving Design Center: Summary

Last month the Internal Revenue Service published its final Colleges and Universities Compliance Project report, which included an examination of executive compensation in connection with the excess benefit transaction rules under IRC section 4958. In this article, PGDC contributing author Dennis Walsh, CPA examines the findings of the report and suggests actions to be taken and questions to be asked by nonprofits when setting executive compensation.

Fresh faces taking on philanthropy in Toledo - Toledo Blade

Fresh faces taking on philanthropy in Toledo - Toledo Blade: he look of philanthropy in Toledo is beginning to evolve, in the form of local young professionals from different industries working together to advance the community.

More than a dozen committee members, most of them under 30 years of age, have been working for a year to plan tonight's MDA Toledo Summer Kickoff Fund-raiser, a event to assist the local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Which Causes Do Most Nonprofits Serve?

Which Causes Do Most Nonprofits Serve?: Which Causes Do Most Nonprofits Serve?

May 2013

We wondered: which cause areas have the most nonprofits working in them? And which have the fewest?

Google Giving

Google Giving: "Google’s Global Impact Awards

Global Impact Awards support nonprofits using technology and innovation to tackle tough human challenges. We look for entrepreneurial teams with an idea to change the world and a healthy disregard for the impossible. In addition to announcing the finalists for the Global Impact Challenge in the UK, we are proud to support recent Global Impact Awardees, Polaris Project, La Strada International and Liberty Asia, for the creation of a collaborative data network that can better protect victims, identify best practices and map global trafficking trends."

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Honor Others through Memorial Gifts that Create a Legacy | npENGAGE

Honor Others through Memorial Gifts that Create a Legacy | npENGAGE: "Honorariums and memorial gifts are meant to celebrate an occasion or celebrate the life of a friend or relative.  Should I ask if you’ve ever made an honor or memorial gift, most of you would say “Yes!”  And, should I ask if that was a current gift – a one-time gift given from disposable income – most of you would say “Yes!” again.  On behalf of the several million charitable organizations in the United States and Canada, I extend a heartfelt “Thank you!” for your thoughtful and generous contribution.  Honorariums and memorials may contribute 20 percent to 30 percent of annual revenue at some organizations.   For them, these gifts transform their mission work."

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Growing Gifts, Shrinking Match Imperil Pittsburgh Giving Day - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Growing Gifts, Shrinking Match Imperil Pittsburgh Giving Day - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The Pittsburgh Foundation might end its annual online Day of Giving, which has raised $21-million for local charities since 2009, because donations are outstripping its ability to provide matching funds, writes the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Is Hosting The Olympics Good For Local Charities? The Psychology Of Philanthropy

Is Hosting The Olympics Good For Local Charities? The Psychology Of Philanthropy: It is often believed that mega-events like the Olympics are good for a city but though many of the benefits are implied they get a monetary value attached; 'leadership','world-stage', etc. The hangover that occurs economically afterward often leave countries wondering who did the math.

The Global Afterlife Of Your Donated Clothes : Parallels : NPR

The Global Afterlife Of Your Donated Clothes : Parallels : NPR: "It's a scene played out across the U.S.: people donating their old clothes, whether through collection bins or through large charities, to help others.

Melissa Vanouse donates clothes a couple of times a year.

"I think it all pretty much stays local — that's kind of the idea," she says.

But it doesn't. Martha's Table, like other charities, only has so much room and can only keep clothes for so long. At some point, charities call in a textile recycling company."

A small big thing… | Hands-on Fundraising

A small big thing… | Hands-on Fundraising: "First lesson – an open mind, even when you just don’t know enough to know you don’t know enough – can be a good thing.

We hired consultants to help us get started. One guy was the outward face of the team. He had lots of experience in politics. He was polished. He knew people and dropped a name or two. He hooked us up with a good copywriter."

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Half of Americans Say Giving Is Best Part of Wealth - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Half of Americans Say Giving Is Best Part of Wealth - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Giving money away to good causes is the most satisfying part of life for at least half of America’s millionaires and billionaires, according to a survey released Tuesday.

Philanthropy ranked highest for a bigger share of the rich than the possessions and lifestyle that come with wealth, according to the study of 711 people with at least $3-million in assets beyond their home.

IUPUI professor provides retrospective as Rockefeller Foundation turns 100 : Newscenter : IUPUI

IUPUI professor provides retrospective as Rockefeller Foundation turns 100 : Newscenter : IUPUI: The May 16 issue of Nature magazine provides a historic perspective on the Rockefeller Foundation in an article written by Schneider, “Philanthropy: The difficult art of giving.” Schneider is a professor of history in the School of Liberal Arts and a professor of philanthropic studies in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI.

Rachael Chong: The 10 Most Generous Marketing Geniuses

Rachael Chong: The 10 Most Generous Marketing Geniuses: This past fall, a group of marketers, led by the 92nd Street Y and the UN Foundation, created the first annual day of giving: Giving Tuesday. No single person owned the day and more than 2,500 corporations, non-profits, small businesses and consultancies participated to celebrate helping others. What launched as a small grassroots effort soon took on a life of its own and is now poised to grow far beyond U.S. borders.

Nonprofits lag on investment policies � Philanthropy North Carolina

Nonprofits lag on investment policies � Philanthropy North Carolina: Among over 150 finance executives at trade associations, public charities and other nonprofits participating in a survey conducted in February for a third-party research firm and analyzed by Raffa Wealth Management, 38 percent lack guidelines that require sufficient levels of diversification and 43 percent neglect to indicate the degree of discretion given to outside advisers.

Yes, you can fire a volunteer | The NonProfit Times

Yes, you can fire a volunteer | The NonProfit Times: Yes, you can fire a volunteer
by The NonProfit Times - May 20, 2013

How do you fire someone who isn’t an employee?

This question, which might strike many in the for-profit world as too ridiculous to contemplate, actually is a concern regarding volunteers, according to Susan J. Ellis, a consultant who specializes in volunteering and volunteer management.

Special Event Raises $5.5 Million | The NonProfit Times

Special Event Raises $5.5 Million | The NonProfit Times: Special Event Raises $5.5 Million
By The NonProfit Times - May 20, 2013

The 28th annual AIDS Walk New York (AWNY) brought a crowd of 30,000 participants to Central Park in New York City through non-stop rain on Sunday. Dozens of corporate sponsors, hundreds of corporate teams, and tens of thousands of individual walkers collectively raised $5.5 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Young Houston couple giving away $4 billion to big ideas - Houston Chronicle

Young Houston couple giving away $4 billion to big ideas - Houston Chronicle: Now, he and wife, Laura, are focusing their energies on giving the money away to organizations and projects that will help transform the world. Last year alone, the couple gave away or pledged $423 million for various projects that include a $26 million obesity study.

Taking Stock of Grantmaker Streamlining | Project Streamline

Taking Stock of Grantmaker Streamlining | Project Streamline: When it comes to streamlining, how do you line up?

Have you made progress, improved your processes, decreased costs, and increased efficiency? After five years, what are the practices that really matter in streamlining?

A new report—Practices That Matter—explores streamlining trends, successes, barriers, and perceptions. Most importantly, it prescribes the way forward for grantmakers that want to match their practices to their values in supporting nonprofit missions.

7 Questions: Accountability for Community Impact | Leadership That Creates the Future

7 Questions: Accountability for Community Impact | Leadership That Creates the Future: The quality of life in our communities is hugely affected by the work of many, many small groups of people who give their time to make something better.

Over time, they attract community resources – volunteers, donations, gifts in kind, free use of community space. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the goal of our efforts to attract all those resources is the direct impact we intend to have in the community.

The AFP Blog: Generations Apart, But United Together

The AFP Blog: Generations Apart, But United Together:Four very different philanthropists, all under 30, focusing on four different causes using four different ways to make a difference. And yet, it was their commonalities that were the most inspiring: The impact they made, the lessons they learned, common themes of love, tolerance, respect and generosity.