Lucas Family Funds Gordon Parks Hall, First U. of Chicago Building Named for African American - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Lucas Family Funds Gordon Parks Hall, First U. of Chicago Building Named for African American - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: According to the Chicago Tribune, Lucas and Hobson have made a $25 million pledge to After School Matters, a Chicago nonprofit for which Hobson is board chair, bringing “the couple’s commitment to Chicago institutions to at least $50 million since marrying last year.” Hobson also serves as president of Chicago-based Ariel Investments, and her Ariel colleague, John W. Rogers, chair and CEO, is an alum and chair of the board of the University of Chicago Lab Schools.

Smithsonian Institution Goes to Court Seeking to Modify Donor Restrictions | Planned Giving Design Center

Smithsonian Institution Goes to Court Seeking to Modify Donor Restrictions | Planned Giving Design Center: Nearly fifty years ago, entomologist and Smithsonian researcher Dr. Carl Drake left the Smithsonian Institution his collection of insects subject to certain restrictions. In addition, he created an endowment at the Smithsonian with $250,000 (worth about $4,000,000 today) for the Smithsonian to add insects to his collection. Today, the Smithsonian asserts that the restrictions imposed by Dr. Drake on his collection and endowment are no longer feasible and has filed a court petition seeking to use the collection and endowment in a manner different from that prescribed by Dr. Drake.

How to Ask Your Employer to Give Back - TheStreet

How to Ask Your Employer to Give Back - TheStreet: It's very easy to find out, but it's not always where employees begin," says Rachel Hutchisson, director of corporate citizenship and philanthropy at Blackbaud and lead blogger for BusinessDoingGood.com.

"Often people are so passionate about their cause that they just say, 'This is something good, we should do it,' but they haven't done the necessary advance research. If your company already supports your charity or another similar charity, then asking them for more will just make you look uninformed."

Playwriting Charity Arises From Philip Seymour Hoffman Libel Case – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Playwriting Charity Arises From Philip Seymour Hoffman Libel Case – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: A friend of the late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is launching a foundation to support promising playwrights as part of a settlement with The National Enquirer over an article it published about the two men, The New York Times reports.

House Tax Plan Would Limit Charitable Deduction - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

House Tax Plan Would Limit Charitable Deduction - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofit advocates slammed a plan offered Wednesday by the chief tax architect of the House that would sharply limit charity tax breaks for people at all income levels.

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.

Developing Leaders by Stepping Aside - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Developing Leaders by Stepping Aside - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Developing Leaders by Stepping Aside

Make your thank-you notes memorable � Philanthropy North Carolina

Make your thank-you notes memorable � Philanthropy North Carolina: Thanking a donor for a gift should be the first step in cultivating the next gift.

Yet too many nonprofits treat thank-you notes as the end of cultivation process, not the beginning.

A thank-you note should be personal, written for an individual donor.

Nonprofit executives: fundraising advice, tips, and exhortations | FundraisingCoach.com

Nonprofit executives: fundraising advice, tips, and exhortations | FundraisingCoach.com: Since both Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day are observed in February here in the USA, we're taking a look at the "care and feeding of nonprofit CEOs." We know in CompassPoint's recent national survey of nonprofit fundraising, that CEO's are particularly feeling the pressures of tightening budgets and diminishing fundraising results. If our nonprofits are going to thrive, we need these men and women to have the support and staffing to carry out their missions with full funding.

Volunteerism is at lowest level since 2002 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Volunteerism is at lowest level since 2002 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Just over a quarter of adults in the U.S., 26.2 million people, volunteered for an organization in 2013, a percentage that has fallen for the last two years and reflects the lowest level of volunteerism since the government started keeping track in 2002.

The data were released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and collected at the behest of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency. The information reflects volunteerism between September 2012 and September 2013.

Why is Fundraising More About Leadership Than About Skills? editor notes #93

Blue Avocado |: Fundraisers never lack for advice. One board member tells you that foundations should be giving you money, while another thinks we should talk to Bill Gates. The staff thinks you should raising money from corporations. And the friend you run into at the grocery store tells you to raise money via Twitter or on Kickstarter.

SheGives Launches New Giving Circle Model of Philanthropy

massnonprofit.org ::: February 25, 2014 — SheGives, a new giving circle model that supports designated nonprofits in Greater Boston while empowering its members to target their philanthropy, has identified eight nonprofits that are on track to receive at least $235,000 this spring.

Launched last September just a few months after Kirstan Barnett, its president, established the entity, SheGives today has 100 members.

Mass. Nonprofit Merger Activity Remains Flat – and Challenging

massnonprofit.org ::: While the number of nonprofit mergers in Massachusetts increased from 250 in the 2001-2006 period to 280 over the following six years, the rate of mergers remained a constant 0.75% during those 12 years, reflecting the growing number of nonprofits in the state, according to The Bridgespan Group, a Boston-based nonprofit advisor to nonprofits that conducted the analysis.

Fundraising, Part 4: Data key for independent schools � Philanthropy North Carolina

Fundraising, Part 4: Data key for independent schools � Philanthropy North Carolina: Median fundraising revenue grew to nearly $600,000 in the 2012-13 school year, up from about $500,000 in 2000, according to a survey of NAIS member schools that generated responses from 970 institutions.

That growth was consistent for the period, except for a slight blip during the recession, but even then many schools found they could turn to a small number of donors who had the capacity to dig deeper and who “understood the challenges schools were facing,” Orem says.

The AFP Blog: Measuring Our Impact Locally

The AFP Blog: Measuring Our Impact Locally: I spend many weeks traveling from one group of fundraisers to another through the course of the year, much of that in North America, Mexico, Canada and the United States. I also visit groups of fundraisers and AFP members around the world. It’s eye opening to see the diversity of experience reflected in fundraising communities around the world, and to realise some of the underlying similarities—in issues and solutions—that they share.

I've been in Hong Kong and Indonesia recently. Two chapters that, on paper, look very small. But the potential for both is huge,

Grants: Outputs Versus Outcomes | The NonProfit Times

Grants: Outputs Versus Outcomes | The NonProfit Times: The best way to position your organization for a grant, said Thompson, is to communicate impact in measurable, quantifiable terms. “Simply describing the services your organization provides doesn’t do the job. You’ve got to move beyond that to define the results of those services. Providing clear, easy-to-digest snapshots of impact can turn a so what response into a wow.”

Nonprofit giving day planned for May - St. Louis Business Journal

Nonprofit giving day planned for May - St. Louis Business Journal: The Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation on May 6 will host a 24-hour fundraising campaign for local nonprofits.

Fundraising Ideas & Donor Retention Tips from npEXPERTS | Blackbaud

Fundraising Ideas & Donor Retention Tips from npEXPERTS | Blackbaud: Download the FREE Fundraising Ideas eBook
Donor Retention Strategies from Nonprofit Experts

Extend the Charitable Deduction to Every American - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Extend the Charitable Deduction to Every American - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Extend the Charitable Deduction to Every American

By Thomas Peters

Much of organized philanthropy accepts the idea that the federal tax code’s charitable deduction is both a valuable motivator and an appropriate acknowledgment of charitable giving in America. Not surprisingly, whenever the idea is floated to change or abolish this current IRS provision, many philanthropic leaders quickly engage to block such a move.

Will ScarJo Oxfam Controversy Hurt Philanthropy? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Will ScarJo Oxfam Controversy Hurt Philanthropy? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Now, the celebrities, actors, athletes, people who are the focus of our celebrity-obsessed culture, will be less likely to become philanthropic.” So says Trevor Neilson of the Global Philanthropy Group, commenting upon the criticism that actress Scarlett Johansson received after she signed on with the carbonated drink–maker company, SodaStream, which has a factory located in an Israeli settlement in the Palestinian West Bank.

Many United Way Campaigns in Peril - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Many United Way Campaigns in Peril - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: As of this past weekend, the United Way campaign in Lewiston, Pennsylvania was supposed to be close to wrapping up. But at over a hundred thousand dollars short of the campaign’s $600,000 goal, officials of the United Way of Mifflin-Juniata are making a big push, looking for new donors and asking past donors to increase their giving.

5 Elements Of Your Association’s Brand

5 Elements Of Your Association’s Brand: We spend a disproportionate amount of time on our association’s brand look. We review iteration after iteration of a reimagined logo. Every year we agonize over the conference look – location-based or theme based? We tinker with website design. Look is critically important but so are the other elements of your brand.

Guide aims to help funders be more ‘transparent’ � Philanthropy North Carolina

Guide aims to help funders be more ‘transparent’ � Philanthropy North Carolina: ransparency includes making available information such as past grants awarded, the process for selecting grantees, performance assessments and strategy documents, says “Opening Up: Demystifying Funder Transparency,” a guide from GrantCraft in collaboration with Glasspockets.

GrantCraft, a joint project of the Foundation Center and the European Foundation Centre, says 75 percent of survey respondents reported seeing increased demand for funder transparency over the past five years.

Spring and Special Events – Magical or Deadly? | Karen Osborne |

Spring and Special Events – Magical or Deadly? | Karen Osborne |: Back-to-back events, exhausting staff and volunteers, not netting enough, no time for follow-up from one because another is on its heels. Poor donor retention from one year to the next, so you have to find NEW people to attend. The returnees are bored and want NEW, exciting venues, more sparkle and entertainment (or so the lead volunteers report). Major gift work? Who has time for that?

Fairfield County Giving Day Planned For March 7 | The Ridgefield Daily Voice

Fairfield County Giving Day Planned For March 7 | The Ridgefield Daily Voice: NORWALK, Conn. -- A new way in which community members can help support the important work of local nonprofits, Fairfield County Giving Day, will be held Friday, March 7.

Around Town: Boys & Girls Club, YWCA each receive flexible $100,000 grants : Wsj

Around Town: Boys & Girls Club, YWCA each receive flexible $100,000 grants : Wsj: verhead costs like paying staff to administer services, providing transportation to families or children and general operating costs can be tricky to consistently fund for nonprofits like Johnson’s when donations or grants can be designated for specific programs or purposes.

Free-Membership Plan Yields Reams of Data for Dallas Museum – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Free-Membership Plan Yields Reams of Data for Dallas Museum – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Free-Membership Plan Yields Reams of Data for Dallas Museum

The Dallas Museum of Art’s switch to a membership plan that asks patrons to provide data about themselves and how they use the institution rather than paying a fee has a trove of customer data and generated interest among other museums, writes Bloomberg Businessweek.

SF explores plan for nonprofits to manage plaza spaces, hold events | Other News | San Francisco | San Francisco Examiner

SF explores plan for nonprofits to manage plaza spaces, hold events | Other News | San Francisco | San Francisco Examiner: San Francisco is seeking to continue its creative approach to public spaces, which has included parklets and sidewalk gardens, with a plan to let nonprofit groups manage large city plazas and hold cultural events.

The plaza program proposed by Mayor Ed Lee with the support of Supervisor Malia Cohen is currently being vetted by various city bodies and ultimately would require Board of Supervisors approval to become law.

The Dos and Don'ts Of Fundraising From Charles Best, Tim Ferriss, And Alexis Ohanian | Fast Company | Business Innovation

The Dos and Don'ts Of Fundraising From Charles Best, Tim Ferriss, And Alexis Ohanian | Fast Company | Business Innovation: When Charles Best and Tim Ferriss met on the wrestling mat in high school, they never imagined they'd be crowdfunding titans. Joined by Alexis Ohanian, Reddit cofounder and fellow crowdfunding champion, they shared insights on the world of fundraising during last week's live chat. Here are four commandments from these experts of crowdfunding.

Local chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals honored | Business People | ADN.com

Local chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals honored | Business People | ADN.com: ANCHORAGE- AK: The Association of Fundraising Professionals Alaska Chapter president, Beth Rose, is pleased to announce the Alaska Chapter has received the prestigious Ten Star Gold Award from AFP International. The Ten Star Gold Award is the highest recognition given to local chapters who have achieved many of the key objectives and goals outlined in the international organization’s strategic plan. The Alaska Chapter is one of 28 chapters among 235 worldwide to receive this distinction.

James Piereson’s Advice to Aspiring Philanthropists - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

James Piereson’s Advice to Aspiring Philanthropists - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: In his recent op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Simon Foundation chief James Piereson has some unconventional counsel for wealthy people considering philanthropy.

Piereson cites the recent exchange between James Wilson and Bill Gates, where Wilson pushes back against Gates’s “giving pledge” initiative. Wilson advises against worrying about major giving until you’re 50—until then, focus on getting rich and raising your family. Those pursuits alone are more than enough to keep someone busy. Andrew Carnegie, who began his own philanthropy when in his 40s, said, “It is more difficult to give money away intelligently than to earn it in the first place.” Gates himself did not engage in significant individual philanthropy while building Microsoft, emulating other major philanthropists like Carnegie, Warren Buffett, Thomas Monaghan, and T. Denny Sanford.

Nonprofit Dissolution: What to Do When Closing the Doors - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Nonprofit Dissolution: What to Do When Closing the Doors - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Editors’ Note: This article contains sidebars and tables not available in the digital version. Please purchase a reprint for full content.



Dissolution, or the closing of an organization in its current state, is more common than one might think. But when an organization seriously considers ending its life, it’s a difficult and complex process. It is a time of mixed and strong emotions for those involved, including a nonprofit board, senior staff, administrative and line staff, partners, and stakeholders.

Not everything that matters can be measured

Not everything that matters can be measured: I frequently hear nowadays that our sector doesn’t actually know if we’re doing any good.

This makes me really cross. There’s something ridiculously patronising about the notion that day after day a bunch of charity sector workers and volunteers turn up to work with no idea at all if what they’re doing is helping!

Legacy donations could rise by half if prompted by solicitor

Legacy donations could rise by half if prompted by solicitor: esearch has shown that a fifth of adults are more likely to remember a charity in their will if they are prompted by a solicitor, more than 50 per cent more than the proportion who would leave a legacy unprompted.

A report by financial services organisation Foresters reported that 12 per cent of UK adults say they intend currently to leave a legacy to charity, but this figure could be increased to 19 per cent if more emphasis is put on the practice.