Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University Strike an Extraordinary Deal | Nonprofit Quarterly

Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University Strike an Extraordinary Deal | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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Post to this Blog will be less frequent during the holiday season.  We  will resume our usual level of posting when AFP reopens on January 4th.  Thank you for your continued readership.

Hartford Symphony Stalemate and Shutdown Threat Awfully Redundant | Nonprofit Quarterly

Hartford Symphony Stalemate and Shutdown Threat Awfully Redundant | Nonprofit Quarterly: "In these days of at your convenience digital communication, you’d think nonprofits wouldn’t just repeat each other’s publicly failed strategies but learn from them instead. Why, then, are we looking at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra threatening its musicians with a shutdown if they do not accede to a 30 percent pay cut? Those labor negotiations have been in negotiation for almost a year."



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Survival of the fittest: how small charities can stay afloat | CAF partner zone | The Guardian

Survival of the fittest: how small charities can stay afloat | CAF partner zone | The Guardian: "These are tough times for small charities. One in seven charity chief executives say their organisation is struggling to survive, growing to one in five among smaller charities – according to a 2015 survey by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and the Association of Chief Executives Voluntary Organisations (Acevo)."



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Musical Chairs on the Board of California Performing Arts Center | Nonprofit Quarterly

Musical Chairs on the Board of California Performing Arts Center | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Last Monday, NPQ reported on public discord surrounding the board of the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, California, and in particular, its chairman, Robert Farnsworth. At a board meeting two days later, a new chair was elected, although Farnsworth will remain on the board. As a result of this leadership change, the Cheng Family Foundation—a long-time funder of the organization—has withdrawn a request that its name be removed from the center’s 756-seat theater, Cheng Hall."



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Another Region Beset with Post-Recession Nonprofit CEO Departures | Nonprofit Quarterly

Another Region Beset with Post-Recession Nonprofit CEO Departures | Nonprofit Quarterly: "NPQ published a number of stories during the recession that it seemed that few long-term nonprofit executives were leaving their posts. We speculated that seasoned execs were digging in to see nonprofits through a turbulent period and that the resignations and retirements might come later, once the environment stabilized a bit.

Now, Western N.Y. is the second region where the local press has discussed a rash of resignations or retirements among mid-sized to large nonprofits."



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Vogel: Smart Philanthropy | Vermont Public Radio

Vogel: Smart Philanthropy | Vermont Public Radio: "A recent report from Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell shows that on average, 70 percent of the money raised by professional fundraisers for Vermont charitable groups goes to the fundraiser, and only thirty percent goes to the nonprofit. So it’s easy to become cynical.

On the other hand, the needs that nonprofits try to address are critical. A recent study by the Vermont Community Foundation found that one in four Vermonters are not earning enough to make ends meet. And one in five Vermont families pays more than 50% of their income for housing."



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6 Major Shifts in Corporate Philanthropy, New Report Finds

6 Major Shifts in Corporate Philanthropy, New Report Finds:



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The Best and Worst Charities (According to Consumer Reports) - NonProfit PRO

The Best and Worst Charities (According to Consumer Reports) - NonProfit PRO: "On Monday, Consumer Reports released its “Best and Worst Charities for Your Donations” list. By no means as comprehensive as the magazine’s robust coverage and hands-on reviews of cars, appliances and electronics, the list is intended as a snapshot for would-be donors, offering a CliffsNotes on this year’s biggest charity scam, an overview of the three big charity watchdogs and tips on how to avoid charity scams. It’s entry-level stuff, but sound information nonetheless—an accessible starting point for first-time donors."



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A Sensible Makeover for the Ford Foundation - The New York Times

A Sensible Makeover for the Ford Foundation - The New York Times:



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Why Zuckerberg’s Critics Are Wrong - The New Yorker

Why Zuckerberg’s Critics Are Wrong - The New Yorker: "The backlash is no surprise. The sheer size of Zuckerberg’s grant, currently valued at forty-five billion dollars, shows just how concentrated wealth has become, and the earnest rhetoric of his mission statement, couched as a public letter to his baby daughter, reinforced a sense of Silicon Valley’s overweening confidence in its ability to fix the world. Hostility toward philanthropy is nothing new; when John D. Rockefeller established his eponymous foundation, he was attacked for reasserting “the old reign of aristocracy under the new names of philanthropy and science.” And Zuckerberg’s move comes at a time of anxiety about the rise of so-called philanthrocapitalism."



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Attendee Experience Mapping - ASAE Technology Conference & Expo

Attendee Experience Mapping - ASAE Technology Conference & Expo: "What is a Customer Journey Map?
Often used by Fortune 500 Companies, customer journey maps allow you to walk in the shoes of your customer by traveling with them as they interact with your company. They provide an accurate outside-in view, focusing on desired outcomes from the customer’s perspective. (Michael Hinshaw, 2012). They help illustrate individual customer’s needs, interactions that are necessary to fulfill those needs, and the resulting emotional states a customer experiences throughout the process. (Joel Flom, 2011)

How can we take this concept and turn it into a model that would helpful for associations & meeting planners to assess their own meetings and plan more successful ones in the future? The M&E Council is using Customer Journey Maps as a guide to create our own model for associations & meeting planners; we are calling it “ExperienceGuru”."



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Turmoil on Senior Staff Gives Funders Pause: Two Cases in the Arts | Nonprofit Quarterly

Turmoil on Senior Staff Gives Funders Pause: Two Cases in the Arts | Nonprofit Quarterly: "The boards of two nonprofit arts groups—one in Irvine, California, the other in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—are facing difficult questions from philanthropic supporters in the wake of recent changes in senior staff leadership. While the underlying stories are somewhat different, in both instances board and staff leaders seem to have fallen out of step with one another, and funders are reacting to leadership transitions that have, at the least, been poorly explained, if not poorly executed."



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The Limitations of Nonprofit Audits: A Cautionary Case | Nonprofit Quarterly

The Limitations of Nonprofit Audits: A Cautionary Case | Nonprofit Quarterly: "NPQ has repeatedly suggested to readers that they need to be cautious about depending on an audit to provide the board with a sense of security about its financial systems. This story is perhaps a more dramatic case in point than most.

NPQ has reported on the tragedy and allegations surrounding the federal GEAR UP grant award to the state of South Dakota that first came to national attention with the murder-suicide of a family of six in the small town of Platte, South Dakota in September 2015. Mid-Central Educational Cooperative (MCEC), the agency which administered GEAR UP on behalf of the SD Education Department, commissioned its own forensic audit of its handling of GEAR UP funds. The audit results were made public last week, and MCEC’s board were briefed publicly yesterday."



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Are We There Yet? A Conversation on Performance Measures in the Third Sector | Nonprofit Quarterly

Are We There Yet? A Conversation on Performance Measures in the Third Sector | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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New Online Site to Function as a ‘Yelp’ for Grant Makers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

New Online Site to Function as a ‘Yelp’ for Grant Makers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "People review charities on GreatNonprofits, restaurants on Yelp, companies on Glassdoor, hotels on TripAdvisor, home-repair companies on Angie’s List — and just about every other entity somewhere. Foundations have so far mostly escaped such public scrutiny, but now their time has come.

Meet GrantAdvisors.org, an embryonic online review site that asks grant seekers, grantees, foundation employees, and others to describe their experiences working with foundations: Were their guidelines helpful, their staff members receptive, their reporting requirements reasonable? And, in the end, would you recommend working with them?"



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10 Great Charitable Deductions For The 2015 Holiday Season -- The Motley Fool

Interesting list via the Motley Fool

10 Great Charitable Deductions For The 2015 Holiday Season -- The Motley Fool: "We at the Fool are big supporters of charitable giving, as you can see from our annual Foolanthropy campaign (check out this year's details here). In addition to the Fistula Foundation, our 2015 Foolanthropy partner, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other charities that support wonderful causes."



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The Ice Bucket Challenge Was Not Peer-to-Peer Fundraising - NonProfit PRO

The Ice Bucket Challenge Was Not Peer-to-Peer Fundraising - NonProfit PRO: "The beloved (Otis Fulton, my husband and Turnkey’s psychologist) leapt from his chair with a shocked expression on his face and social science book-of-the-day in hand. He said, “The Ice Bucket Challenge was not peer-to-peer fundraising!”
Like a cow, I chewed the bland cud of my oatmeal and blankly stared back at him.
“Don’t you see?” he said. “Peer-to-peer is a closed loop. The Ice Bucket Challenge was an open loop.”"



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Harrison’s Fund hoping for a bah humbug Christmas » Charity Digital News

Harrison’s Fund hoping for a bah humbug Christmas » Charity Digital News: "So next time you’re nursing a hangover after the office party, or you’re up to your eyeballs in wrapping paper and getting annoyed, spare a thought for Harrison and the boys like him, have a good old moan, then pop a pound (or two) into the Bah Humbug Box. You can get your grumpy friends and cranky colleagues involved too.”"



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Reporting Net Assets In Correct Columns - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Reporting Net Assets In Correct Columns - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Financial statements of nonprofits display net assets (equity) in three classes: unrestricted, temporarily restricted and permanently restricted. These categories are based on the existence or absence of donor-imposed restrictions and are defined in the accounting standards under FASB ASC 958-210-20."



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#GivingTuesday Headed Toward $70 Million - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

#GivingTuesday Headed Toward $70 Million - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times:



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Case statement helps organizational efficiency - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Case statement helps organizational efficiency - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Nonprofit managers and fundraisers are aware of the need for a good case statement to rally support of one kind or another. What many of them overlook is the benefit case statements can have beyond fundraising."



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Amid the Buying, a Tuesday Devoted to Giving - The New York Times

Amid the Buying, a Tuesday Devoted to Giving - The New York Times: "“Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world,” wrote the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. That field has been pretty narrow lately, with so much of the news focused on murderous violence — from Paris to Colorado Springs. So let’s take note: today is #GivingTuesday, the fourth anniversary of a day that offers a glimpse of the world beyond the pathological extremes: a view of the commonplace generosity and social concerns of millions of people."



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Nonprofits, Aiming for Relevance, Try On New Names - The New York Times

Nonprofits, Aiming for Relevance, Try On New Names - The New York Times: "ive-On NY is among dozens of nonprofit groups in the city and surrounding area that are shedding longstanding — and sometimes long-winded — names and embarking on efforts to rebrand themselves."



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This Giving Season, Make Sure You Stand Out - PhilanTopic | PND | Foundation Center

This Giving Season, Make Sure You Stand Out - PhilanTopic | PND | Foundation Center: "Whenever someone offers marketing advice like this, my first impulse is to ask: "Do you have a study you can point me to that offers evidence in support of that claim?" As you might imagine, the conversation usually turns pretty quickly to other subjects.

So what does it really take for your organization's brand to resonate and be remembered by donors at this time of year?

Here are five things that will help:"



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Does #GivingTuesday Really Work Or Is It Just Hype? : Goats and Soda : NPR

Does #GivingTuesday Really Work Or Is It Just Hype? : Goats and Soda : NPR: "#GivingTuesday was born four years ago to encourage people to open their wallets for a good cause. Not everyone is a fan. Some critics think #GivingTuesday clutters people's inboxes with empty fundraising appeals that provide no compelling reason to give. And they ask why the day is in December, a time when most charities see a bump in donations anyway as folks remember how nice it is to be generous (and to get a tax deduction for the current year).

On the other hand, it's hard to argue with the results. Last year alone, #GivingTuesday pulled in a whopping $46 million in charitable donations – a 63 percent increase from 2013."



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Giving Tuesday: Your Opinions, Please | Nonprofit Quarterly

Giving Tuesday: Your Opinions, Please | Nonprofit Quarterly: "At NPQ, we feel that we often are consciously waiting out heavily promoted or evangelized fads. Is this nonprofit/philanthropic sector more rife with them than others? Probably not, but over time we have noted that although some advances are real, leading to new practice, some new ideas just cycle through, eventually losing steam because their results have not lived up to their loudly heralded promises. In the worst cases, inadequate or even regressive concepts stick around for years—well marketed but underperforming—because no one wants to challenge them."



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Grassroots giving goes mainstream: Popular giving circles are sweeping across the country

Grassroots giving goes mainstream: Popular giving circles are sweeping across the country: "There’s a new form of grassroots giving that is taking Canada’s charitable sector by storm.

Here’s how it works: Gather 100 people four times a year, with every person committing $100 per meeting. Each meeting lasts no longer than one hour, during which time members listen to pitches from three local charities, then vote on which charity will get the pot of pooled money. Charities issue tax receipts to donors and repo"



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Why communities of color are getting frustrated with Collective Impact / Nonprofit With Balls

Why communities of color are getting frustrated with Collective Impact / Nonprofit With Balls: "Talking to other nonprofit leaders, I’ve started noticing some patterns. There is definitely a sense of frustration of how CI has been manifesting in Seattle, and among leaders of color, that sense of frustration is even more palpable. We need to have an open discussion about how Collective Impact has been affecting diverse communities, and work toward some concrete actions that would make it more effective."



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#GivingTuesday Set To Usher-in Holidays - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

#GivingTuesday Set To Usher-in Holidays - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "The fourth iteration of #GivingTuesday kicks off at midnight Tuesday, with thousands of nonprofits preparing to officially kick off their busiest time of the year with visions of donors dancing in their heads."



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Mental-Health Groups Miss Opportunities to Build Support - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Mental-Health Groups Miss Opportunities to Build Support - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "In the aftermath of tragic events perpetrated by people who are mentally ill, such as mass shootings, 88 percent of charities focused on mental-health issues did not alter their fundraising efforts, according to a new study.

And 72 percent of such nonprofits, the survey reported, saw no change in the amount of money they raised after such events.

This failure to plea more aggressively for support at a time when their cause is on the minds of the public represents a missed opportunity, says Benjamin Waxman, executive director of the Mental Health and Addiction Network, known as MHANe."



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Museums Test New Ways to Captivate Patrons—With and Without Technology | Nonprofit Quarterly

Museums Test New Ways to Captivate Patrons—With and Without Technology | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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7 Canadians Who Know What Fundraising Is All Aboot | changefundraising

7 Canadians Who Know What Fundraising Is All Aboot | changefundraising:



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The importance of screening volunteers / L’importance du filtrage des bénévoles | Volunteer Canada

The importance of screening volunteers / L’importance du filtrage des bénévoles | Volunteer Canada: "Organizations have moral, legal and ethical responsibilities to the people they reach.

This includes members, clients, employees and volunteers. Screening is especially important for organizations that work with vulnerable people. Vulnerable people may include children, people with disabilities and senior adults.

The benefits of screening are:

People’s skills and experience are better matched to the needs and opportunities of organizations
The quality and safety of volunteer programs in communities are improved
The risks and liability for people and organizations are reduced"



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New IRS Gift Substantiation Guidelines Opposed by National Council of Nonprofits | Nonprofit Quarterly

New IRS Gift Substantiation Guidelines Opposed by National Council of Nonprofits | Nonprofit Quarterly: "A new voluntary gift substantiation regime proposed by the IRS is being opposed by the National Council of Nonprofits as well as a number of individual state associations of nonprofits.

The system would provide an alternative to the “contemporaneous written acknowledgements” now in use by providing 501(c)(3) nonprofits with the option to report gifts over $250 to the IRS by the donor’s social security number. Though it is not intended to be mandatory, it is seen as being confusing, unnecessary, and potentially injurious to giving. NCN’s statement reads:"



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Stakeholders Squabble over Future of San Francisco Arts Center | Nonprofit Quarterly

Stakeholders Squabble over Future of San Francisco Arts Center | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Behind closed doors, many nonprofit arts organizations struggle these days to make payroll and to find new ways to fulfill their missions and serve their communities. But when the stakeholders of an arts group start pointing fingers and questioning leadership decisions—publicly—it’s hard to keep those doors closed. In San Francisco, a call last week for the dismissal of the executive director of the African American Art and Culture Complex has created a firestorm, adding a public relations challenge to already-existing tensions around mission and finances."



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3 Tips To Control Your Nonprofit’s Google Search Results

3 Tips To Control Your Nonprofit’s Google Search Results: "3 Tips To Control Your Nonprofit’s Google Search Results"



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Stop Ignoring This Amazing Source of Contributions | Michael Rosen Says...

Stop Ignoring This Amazing Source of Contributions | Michael Rosen Says...: "Stop Ignoring This Amazing Source of Contributions
There is a funding source that donated $12.5 billion to charities last year. Sadly, most nonprofit organizations ignore this massive opportunity for support with only 23 percent saying they are “very familiar” with how this funding source works, according to a report from Vanguard Charitable.

I’m speaking of Donor Advised Funds."



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Top of the Phoenix Lists: Corporate Volunteer Programs - Phoenix Business Journal

Top of the Phoenix Lists: Corporate Volunteer Programs - Phoenix Business Journal:



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Women in Nonprofits: Then & Now | GuideStar Blog

Women in Nonprofits: Then & Now | GuideStar Blog:



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An Imperative for Nonprofit Boards: The Time is Now to Step Up Your Game | Exceptional Boards

An Imperative for Nonprofit Boards: The Time is Now to Step Up Your Game | Exceptional Boards: "Earlier this year, BoardSource released Leading with Intent: A National Index of Nonprofit Board Practices 2015 in which chief executives and board chairs used BoardSource’s 10 basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards — including mission, financial oversight, and strategy — to assess their board’s performance. The result was a disappointing B- average, reflecting “responsible, but not necessarily exceptional, performance.” The Leading with Intent survey found that boards have a particularly difficult time adapting and adjusting to change, noting that “boards do well at functions related to compliance and oversight, but face challenges with their strategic and external work.”

Given the critical role boards play in influencing and guiding the work of social sector organizations, when it comes to performance, anything less than exceptional is simply unacceptable. Underpinning all of our fiduciary and legal responsibilities on the boards we serve is the need to help our organizations adapt, innovate, and…change."



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Giving by donor-advised funds surges

Nonprofit news roundup, 11.20.15 « Philanthropy North Carolina: "Giving by donor-advised funds surges

Charitable giving from donor-advised funds grew 27 percent in 2014 to $12.49 billion, while contributions from donors to donor-advised funds grew 14.1 percent to $19.66 billion, and grantmaking assets of donor-advised funds grew $23.9 percent to $70.7 billion, a new report says."



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Sector Crusader Rick Cohen Dies SuddenlyThe NonProfit Times

Sector Crusader Rick Cohen Dies SuddenlyThe NonProfit Times: "Rick Cohen was at times the conscience of the nonprofit sector, one of its most honest skeptics and yet always a champion for the underdog. Cohen, editor of The Cohen Report, national correspondent for Nonprofit Quarterly and former executive director of the National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) , died Nov. 17 at age 64 in his Virginia home. The cause of death is pending."



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Fidelity Charitable opens doors to bitcoin giving - The Boston Globe

Fidelity Charitable opens doors to bitcoin giving - The Boston Globe: "The charitable savings arm of Fidelity Investments will start accepting bitcoin, signaling a wider acceptance of the virtual currency once used by money launderers and drug dealers trying to skirt authorities."



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Special Video Feature: Nonprofit Governance’s New Frontier: Empowered and Connected Stakeholders | Nonprofit Quarterly

Special Video Feature: Nonprofit Governance’s New Frontier: Empowered and Connected Stakeholders | Nonprofit Quarterly: "The new communications environment has created a new governance environment. It is far easier for an organization’s stakeholder groups to communicate with one another and organize against boards when they make decisions that stakeholders disapprove of. NPQ has been following two remarkable cases of this dynamic at Sweet Briar College and the San Diego Opera. This video will allow you to hear firsthand from the new board chairs of both organizations. What did governance look like before and after the stakeholder action? There is an enormous amount of useful information here for all boards. Check it out and use it as a learning tool for your board!"



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Courting young donors, experts urge focus on tangibles - Times Union

Courting young donors, experts urge focus on tangibles - Times Union: "UAlbany advancement administrators conduct one-on-one meetings with young alumni, connecting with potential donors individually to convince them to give back to the institution.
The goal, assistant director of young alumni programs Brian Rudolph said, is to instill giving habits in the recent graduates. Though the tactic is expensive, it is effective, he said.
Philanthropy experts agree that nonprofits must court young givers early, hoping millennials get in the habit of donating their time and money."



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Furniture Finds Second Homes at Local Nonprofits | GW Today | The George Washington University

Furniture Finds Second Homes at Local Nonprofits | GW Today | The George Washington University: "National nonprofit organization Oxford House manages a network of fully furnished homes that are rented to people in recovery without the typical obstacles, such as background or credit checks. Residents must only promise to “stay clean and sober, pay an equal share and get along with their housemates,” according to Maria Hampton, manager of Oxford House outreach services.  

Ms. Hampton said that the successful program wouldn’t be possible without the help of the George Washington University ReUSE program, an initiative to reduce the university’s carbon footprint and divert items from the landfill through donations."



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AFP Celebrates National Philanthropy Day in New York - Press - AFP

AFP Celebrates National Philanthropy Day in New York - Press - AFP: "AFP held its second National Philanthropy Day Honors in New York City on Nov. 12 at the historic 92nd Street Y, honoring six individuals and organizations from across North America for their extraordinary philanthropic impact.

AFP’s 2015 National Philanthropy Day Honorees included:

Outstanding Philanthropist: Macon and Joan Brock, Virginia Beach, Va.
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: Peter Ferrantelli, San Diego, Calif.
Outstanding Corporation: The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Ga.
Outstanding Foundation: The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, Winter Park, Fla.
CARTER Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Individual: Kinsey Morrison, Louisville, Ky.
CARTER Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Group: Youth Making a Difference, Pratt, Kan.
The event featured a variety of speakers, including Maria Cuomo Cole; Geoff Canada; 92nd Street Y Executive Director Henry Timms; AFP New York City Chapter President Mark Hefter; and the 2015 National Philanthropy Day Honorary Chair T. Denny Sanford, a billionaire philanthropist who received AFP’s 2012 Outstanding Philanthropist Day Honor. "



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Philanthropies Rise as Source of Revenue for Pressed U.S. Cities - NonProfit PRO

Philanthropies Rise as Source of Revenue for Pressed U.S. Cities - NonProfit PRO:



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Atlantic Philanthropies Gives $177 Million to Study Dementia - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Atlantic Philanthropies Gives $177 Million to Study Dementia - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "The Atlantic Philanthropies, which will conclude its grant-making commitments next year, announced on Monday the capstone of its work on aging populations: a $177 million grant to create a new institute to study dementia.

The new organization, the Global Brain Health Institute, will be run by the University of California at San Francisco and Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland, both longtime Atlantic grantees."



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As baby boomers retire, Maine nonprofits faced with succession dilemma — Next — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine

As baby boomers retire, Maine nonprofits faced with succession dilemma — Next — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine: "Marble, 66, is among scores of gray-haired Maine nonprofit leaders who are expected to retire in coming months and years, making room for big changes in mission-driven organizations supporting human services, the arts, education, health care, the environment and other public concerns.

The figures in Maine track national percentages, but Maine’s fragile economy and its status as the oldest state in the nation confer extra significance. With about 6,500 nonprofits in Maine employing one in every seven Mainers, experts say the shift in leadership could have wide-ranging social and economic repercussions."



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Embark: A Retrospective of Our 2015 Conference »Blog

Embark: A Retrospective of Our 2015 Conference »Blog: "Embark. That is exactly what more than 1,100 of the country’s most influential leaders of the charitable community did last month as we gathered in Miami for the Independent Sector 2015 conference. What a fitting location beside the glistening waters of Biscayne Bay with the Port of Miami a stone’s throw away! We also were able to come alongside close-by artistic and cultural treasures that fueled our imaginations for the future (more about this below). One thing is certain: while it was the first time IS met in the Gateway City, it surely won’t be the last!"



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This Town, That Town: Washington, D.C.’s Hirshhorn Museum Has Its Anniversary Gala in New York | ARTnews

This Town, That Town: Washington, D.C.’s Hirshhorn Museum Has Its Anniversary Gala in New York | ARTnews:



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The Center for Effective Philanthropy » Reshaping the Business of the Board: Grantpickers or Strategic Thinkers?

The Center for Effective Philanthropy » Reshaping the Business of the Board: Grantpickers or Strategic Thinkers?: "If the job of the foundation board is to oversee strategy and determine the effectiveness of the organization in achieving its goals, isn’t it also the board’s job to pick the right grantees?

Probably not."



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You need a plan for your UBTI -The Nonprofit TImesThe NonProfit Times

You need a plan for your UBTI -The Nonprofit TImesThe NonProfit Times: "Many organizations seek to fundraise by means other than the traditional ones, and such alternative sources can be quite helpful. They can also be quite effective in raising red flags with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state regulators, resulting in close scrutiny of an organization’s finances and severe penalties when lines have been crossed."



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Matching nonprofit and for-profit missions- The Nonprofit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Matching nonprofit and for-profit missions- The Nonprofit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "St"



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Charity chairs group produces guide to chair/CEO relationship

Charity chairs group produces guide to chair/CEO relationship: "“The key to success is a constant willingness to learn and adapt, and not to leave problems or issues neglected,” she said.

Ruth Lesirge said the report was “not an easy how-to guide: our purpose is to make chairs think about how to get the best out of the relationship and the abilities of their CEO".  She added that the chair-CEO relationship can “make or break a charity” and getting it right is one of the biggest contributions chairs can make to the effectiveness of their organisations.

The guide will be launched at an event tonight and can be downloaded for free from the Association website."



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Artists Protest Brooklyn Museum’s Hosting of Real Estate Summit | Nonprofit Quarterly

Artists Protest Brooklyn Museum’s Hosting of Real Estate Summit | Nonprofit Quarterly: "One wonders how the Brooklyn Museum, set in the midst of an area in the borough being actively gentrified, did not anticipate objections to their renting the museum as a site to the 6th Annual Brooklyn Real Estate Summit, which promises to include more than 600 “top retail, condo, multifamily and office players in the Brooklyn market,” all aiming to shape Brooklyn “into a place to live, work and play,” addressing such questions as, “What opportunities for value-add exist in the seemingly picked-over areas?”"



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A Veterans Day Call for Cleaning Out the Scamming Veterans Charities | Nonprofit Quarterly

A Veterans Day Call for Cleaning Out the Scamming Veterans Charities | Nonprofit Quarterly: "The stories of crummy veterans charities ripping off charitable donors under the guise of helping veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars continue to pile up. Stories abound of various players purporting to help veterans setting up 501(c)(3) public charities and sometimes 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations ostensibly established to help the men and women returning from this nation’s overseas military engagements, but operating with little or no direct benefit to veterans and often significant misinformation to the public and to government agencies and officials."



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Grants Via DAFs Hit Record $12.49 Billion - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Grants Via DAFs Hit Record $12.49 Billion - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Grants made through donor-advised fund accounts hit an all-time high of $12.49 billion in 2014, a 27-percent increase from 2013’s $9.83 billion. Donor-advised fund accounts, which refer to irrevocable, tax-deductible contributions administered by a charitable sponsor with grants recommended by donors, accounted for 7.6 percent of all individual giving and 5.5 percent of all gifts to charities in 2014."



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Find common ground to promote collaboration « Philanthropy North Carolina

Find common ground to promote collaboration « Philanthropy North Carolina: "Charities like to tout their partnerships yet often fail to explain how they actually work and why they matter.

Collaborative partners should work together to develop a story that makes it easy for donors and other supporters to understand the partnership, including the need it addresses, the people it serves, the way it operates, and the difference it makes for its community."



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St. Francis House of Boston Gala Sets a Record by Raising $750K

massnonprofit news ::: "November 5, 2015 — St. Francis House of Boston, the largest day shelter in Massachusetts, recently set a record at its annual gala, raising $750,000, beating its goal by $50,000, to support the men and women it serves by providing rehabilitative and housing services."



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7 More Weeks – Are You Ready for Year-End Fundraising? - Clairification

7 More Weeks – Are You Ready for Year-End Fundraising? - Clairification: "This is the giving season! Between now and December 31st, statistically, are the “make or break” weeks for your annual fundraising. It doesn’t matter what fiscal year you’re on. Donors operate on a calendar year.

So I’m offering up 5 tips to help you out."



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Giving Tuesday, In Its Fourth Year, Is Now Officially a “Thing” | Nonprofit Quarterly

Giving Tuesday, In Its Fourth Year, Is Now Officially a “Thing” | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Giving Tuesday, In Its Fourth Year, Is Now Officially a “Thing”"



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Fundraiser Fail: What to do when your new fundraiser isn't living up to expectations

Fundraiser Fail: What to do when your new fundraiser isn't living up to expectations:



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Donor Development and the Marriage of Quantitative and Qualitative Data | Nonprofit Quarterly

Donor Development and the Marriage of Quantitative and Qualitative Data | Nonprofit Quarterly: "How do qualitative and quantitative data help in your fundraising? Here are some thoughts that are less about tools and more about how information can be used to help us communicate more effectively.

From data about nonprofits themselves to the data that nonprofits use to woo donors, we have no dearth of information about the nonprofit relationship with, well, information. The road to “big data” started with the information explosion in the 1940s, and libraries, governments, companies and nonprofits have played catch-up ever since. In the past few years in particular, as web tools become increasingly accessible, data has been seen as the key to donations and impact."



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“Opera is Dead! Symphonies are Dead!” Doomsaying in the Arts No Good for Business | Nonprofit Quarterly

“Opera is Dead! Symphonies are Dead!” Doomsaying in the Arts No Good for Business | Nonprofit Quarterly: "During and immediately after the recession, the newswires were abuzz with conflicts between classical music organizations and the unions that represented their musicians and other workers. Some of those conflicts played out in public, complete with standoffs, walk-outs, lockouts, and the organizing of stakeholders to support one side or another. In the midst of all of that, doomsayers were intoning the deaths of opera, of large symphonies, etc., but now such stories are fewer and further between."



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Restricted and Unrestricted Funds for a Nonprofit

Restricted and Unrestricted Funds for a Nonprofit:



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The Games Art Historians Play: Online Game-based Learning in Art History and Museum Contexts – ProfHacker - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Games Art Historians Play: Online Game-based Learning in Art History and Museum Contexts – ProfHacker - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education: "Considering a few models within my own discipline of art history will orient colleagues curious about venturing down this pedagogical path, but, as with any learning tool, game-based learning will have to fit the specific context of a given course or program.

To begin with some definitions, game-based learning differs from gamification in several important ways. Sometimes the latter is reduced to bells and whistles such as gold stars and progress bars, but gamification is potentially a much more subtle and powerful teaching strategy. T"



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The AFP Blog: Calling Young Professionals (And Those Young at Heart)

The AFP Blog: Calling Young Professionals (And Those Young at Heart): "Calling Young Professionals (And Those Young at Heart)
Guest blogging this week on the AFP Blog is the Marketing Chair of AFP’s Youth in Philanthropy Committee Valerie M. Pletcher, MinstF (Adv Dip). Valerie talks about AFP’s collaboration with the Jefferson Awards Foundation Students in Action program and our role in educating youth about fundraising and philanthropy.

When I was a young fundraising professional, I was heavily influenced by my upbringing with Fred Rogers. You know, Mister Rogers (the PBS show).  He always found the most creative ways to teach kids about giving and receiving—and with no strings attached."



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Report: Economic recovery slow for Northeast Florida nonprofits | jacksonville.com

Report: Economic recovery slow for Northeast Florida nonprofits | jacksonville.com: "While fewer area nonprofits operate in the red and some larger area ones are seeing positive revenue and asset growth, individual donor giving in Northeast Florida “remains soft,” according to a report released Tuesday by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida."



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The Lessons of the Philanthropy 400: Investing in Fundraising Matters in a More Competitive World - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The Lessons of the Philanthropy 400: Investing in Fundraising Matters in a More Competitive World - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "For instance, the American Red Cross files a single Form 990 while charities of a similar size, like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America or Ducks Unlimited, file individual Forms 990 for hundreds or thousands of affiliates. Looking at the informational tax returns in isolation provides too little insight about the financial heft of charities at a national level.

Perhaps the lesson that is most important for all in philanthropy to understand from the rankings is that the investments charities have made in professionalizing their fundraising is paying off. Competition for donors is stiff, and only those groups that invest in keeping their donors loyal can expect to keep contributions flowing steadily."



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Nonprofits: Time to Go Pro | Gila Weinberg | The Blogs | The Times of Israel

Nonprofits: Time to Go Pro | Gila Weinberg | The Blogs | The Times of Israel: "What does it mean to professionalize your team? Simply put, it means clearly defining each person’s role, and ensuring that they are professionally trained and experienced to excel at that role.

This may sound obvious, but to many nonprofit leaders it is not. It’s hard to make the transition from “everyone does everything” to “each professional does their part”.  A founding director might think, When we started out, we did all the fundraising ourselves, with no development training; why do we need to hire an experienced fundraiser or grant writer now? When we founded this organization, we managed the finances ourselves; why must we hire a professional to manage our finances now?"



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Why Rural Philanthropy Should Ensure Access to Quality Back Office Services | Nonprofit Quarterly

Why Rural Philanthropy Should Ensure Access to Quality Back Office Services | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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Donations to Red Cross plunge: Typical ebb and flow or sign of lost faith? - CSMonitor.com

Donations to Red Cross plunge: Typical ebb and flow or sign of lost faith? - CSMonitor.com: "Donations to Red Cross plunge: Typical ebb and flow or sign of lost faith?
The humanitarian relief organization saw donations fall by nearly a third in the past year, according to the latest charitable giving survey conducted by The Chronicle of Philanthropy."



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Kansas City charitable foundation gets national attention | The Kansas City Star

Kansas City charitable foundation gets national attention | The Kansas City Star: "The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation grabbed the top “rising star” ranking in an annual report published Thursday on America’s 400 largest public charities.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy analyzed a 25-year history of private donations to nonprofits and found that the Kansas City foundation rose in a ranking from No. 400 in 1991 to No. 56 on the 2015 list in terms of annual support."



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Sigma Chi gets chilly to fight ALS | Concordiensis

Sigma Chi gets chilly to fight ALS | Concordiensis: "On Monday, Oct. 26, the brothers of Sigma Chi fraternity held an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in just-below 50-degree weather as part of their Derby Days to help raise money for the ALS Association.

Union’s chapter of the fraternity has chosen to dedicate its Derby Days week to fundraising for and raising awareness of ALS."



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Why the world needs more online charity community forums | nfpSynergy

Why the world needs more online charity community forums | nfpSynergy:



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Harvard Raises $1 Billion for 2nd Consecutive Year - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Harvard Raises $1 Billion for 2nd Consecutive Year - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Harvard University collected $1 billion in donations in the 12 months ending June 30, the second straight year in which its fundraising reached the 10-figure mark, Bloomberg writes, citing the institution's annual report issued Thursday."



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Would You Donate To A Soft Drink Company?- NPT TimesThe NonProfit Times

Would You Donate To A Soft Drink Company?- NPT TimesThe NonProfit Times: "The Blackbaud index showed a corresponding revenue growth of 1.7 percent that plummeted 8.9 percent when adjusted for inflation.

A study released just a few weeks ago by the Association of Fundraising Professionals shows charities are losing three more donors each year than new and returning donors are giving to organizations. Fewer than half of donors supported the same charity two years in a row."



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Komen’s Folly: A Decline in Fundraiser Ranking Tells the Story in Numbers | Nonprofit Quarterly

Komen’s Folly: A Decline in Fundraiser Ranking Tells the Story in Numbers | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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Live From BBCON: Empathy Gap Stalling Progress - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Live From BBCON: Empathy Gap Stalling Progress - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Innovation is sweeping through the nonprofit world and beyond yet there remains an “empathy gap” when it comes to investing in solutions to address society’s problems, according to Nicholas Kristof.

The New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner presented Monday’s keynote at BBCON 2015, Blackbaud’s Conference for the Philanthropic Community, at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, "



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Von der Heydens Give Duke $8.36 million to Support Arts, Global Health | Duke Today

Von der Heydens Give Duke $8.36 million to Support Arts, Global Health | Duke Today: "DURHAM, NC - An $8.36 million gift from Duke University alumnus and trustee emeritus Karl von der Heyden and his wife, Mary Ellen, will support the arts at Duke and graduate students at the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI), President Richard H. Brodhead said Wednesday."



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Why Young Trustees Matter This #Trusteesweek | Alex Swallow

Why Young Trustees Matter This #Trusteesweek | Alex Swallow:



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Fundraising staffing a matter of need - Crain's Detroit Business

Fundraising staffing a matter of need - Crain's Detroit Business: "he vast difference in employee numbers — from one to 550 at the seven nonprofits surveyed for this story — relies on the amount of private and public dollars rolling in and whether there are endowments. (Crain's Detroit Business contacted 12 nonprofits — three in four sectors — universities, arts foundations, medical foundations and social services foundations. Three of them chose not to provide numbers on development staff size or be interviewed. Two more answered part of the survey, but were not receptive to being interviewed.)

Surprisingly, the solo fundraising employee (see story) can corral $1 million if he or she knows how to obtain government grants. Typically, social service agencies' gifts are smaller, while a university might receive a $6 million endowment.

"A lot of nonprofits are small," said Paula Brown, head of the Detroit chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and executive director and fundraiser for Reading Works in Detroit. "Once an organization gets its legs and starts growing, they can (hire) fundraising staff.""



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Atlantic Philanthropies Will Donate Archives and $4 Million to Cornell University - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Atlantic Philanthropies Will Donate Archives and $4 Million to Cornell University - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Atlantic Philanthropies will donate its archives to Cornell University, The Cornell Daily Sun reports.

The records document the philanthropy's roughly $8 billion in grants distributed over more than three decades. The gift also includes a $4-million grant to Cornell’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, part of its library."



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Toward a Theory of Sector Selection | Nonprofit Quarterly

Toward a Theory of Sector Selection | Nonprofit Quarterly: "s social entrepreneurs around the world create new organizations to solve emerging public problems, they do so drawing on a broad range of organizational forms, ranging from the traditional nonprofit form to the classic business corporate form—and, most recently, a whole host of hybrid forms located between these poles. Sometimes, the initial institutional auspice works well for the entrepreneur, and constitutes a firm foundation on which to build the organization. Often, however, the question of which form to adopt generates substantial stress inside the organization, because the reasons one form would be preferred over another are not well understood. The complexity of this decision is exacerbated by the continually blurring distinctions between for-profit and nonprofit organizations around the world. For example, more and more nonprofit organizations are integrating earned income models—with sales, revenues, and profits—into their nonprofit activities. At the same time, the socially oriented business attempts to integrate selflessness and social impact into its for-profit activities."



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Opinion: Bloomingdale’s ‘Icons With Impact’ Campaign Symbolizes Worrisome Shift in Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Opinion: Bloomingdale’s ‘Icons With Impact’ Campaign Symbolizes Worrisome Shift in Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "The descriptions read like failed pitches for a sitcom on the nonprofit world: A punk-rock makeup artist supports music programs for urban youth. A magazine director sponsors a school in Haiti. A "stylist, humanitarian, and power-mom" provides "everyday heroes" with "life-changing style experiences."
These blurbs accompany the "Icons With Impact," featured in October in Bloomingdale’s windows on 59th Street in Manhattan and on the store’s website.

The store, in partnership with Levi’s, selected eight stylish "trendsetters" who merited the honor by their involvement in a charity, thus "setting a new standard for giving back — and looking seriously stylish in the process.""



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Wasteful Fundraising Practices

Holly Hall in Inside Philanthropy
Wasteful Fundraising Practices:

I’m ending this series about consultant Jimmy LaRose’s effort to ignite a fundraising revolution where I began—with a story about Jimmy’s attack on so-called feasibility or campaign-planning studies. Fundraising consultants get paid for these studies to figure out how ready a nonprofit organization is for a capital campaign and what the monetary goal should be.  




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What Makes a Charity Tax-Exempt? Issues for Government Oversight and Due Diligence | Nonprofit Quarterly

What Makes a Charity Tax-Exempt? Issues for Government Oversight and Due Diligence | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Assisted by Uncle Gene, Hana has composed a very competent review of the requirements for entities to receive 501(c)(3) designations and, as she puts it, “whether governmental authorities are appropriately enforcing those requirements.”

After very helpfully reviewing Treasury regulations what it means to be “charitable” or “educational,” two of the possible purposes for 501(c)(3) status, Hana and Gene perceptively note that some critics have suggested that “it’s too easy to pass the requirements for furthering a ‘charitable’ or ‘educational’ purpose” and that this “anything goes” approach “has only been made worse by the new Form 1023-EZ” that the IRS started using last year for “streamlined” 501(c)(3) applications. The 1023-EZ form, a three-page application that simplifies qualification for 501(c)(3) status down to answering 11 basic questions about proposed activities, makes the IRS review process of the past look like an insuperable obstacle course in comparison."



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Nonprofit Compensation (Self) Reform at Colleges and Universities | Nonprofit Quarterly

Nonprofit Compensation (Self) Reform at Colleges and Universities | Nonprofit Quarterly: "As the arguments for student loan reform and free college education take the main stage in political rhetoric, university executive compensation plans are slowly but gradually being drawn into the spotlight. At the executive level, nonprofit compensation packages include high salaries, housing packages, and such perks as retention bonuses and performance bonuses. This issue isn’t limited to just the university systems; NPQ has been reporting for the past couple of years on efforts to cap nonprofit executive pay from California to New York. Recently, though, the University of Illinois took steps that indicate they could be giving up controversy for the role of a leader in compensation reform."



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Nonprofits Face Internal Leadership Shortfall - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Nonprofits Face Internal Leadership Shortfall - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Nonprofit senior managers are engaged in an elaborate game of musical chairs, with 44 percent of C-suite positions filled during the past two years taken by members of other organizations. Internal promotions have resulted in just 29 percent of new hires, half the rate of the for-profit sector.

“The Nonprofit Leadership Development Deficit,” produced by The Bridgespan Group of Boston, Mass., and released today, f"



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The Nonprofit Leadership Development Deficit | Stanford Social Innovation Review

The Nonprofit Leadership Development Deficit | Stanford Social Innovation Review: "The Nonprofit Leadership Development Deficit

Succession planning is the No. 1 organizational concern of US nonprofits, but they are failing to develop their most promising pool of talent: the homegrown leader."



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Follow-up with 2014 Technology Innovation Award Winner: Alexandria Seaport Foundation | 501cTECH

Follow-up with 2014 Technology Innovation Award Winner: Alexandria Seaport Foundation | 501cTECH: "Questions answered by Kathy Siefert, Director of Development at Alexandria Seaport Foundation. This follow-up survey is designed to serve as a resource for understanding how grants serve nonprofits, and what obstacles grant recipients might encounter while implementing projects."



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Thoreau’s Ferocious Critique of Philanthropy Does Not Make Him “Selfish” | Religion Dispatches

Thoreau’s Ferocious Critique of Philanthropy Does Not Make Him “Selfish” | Religion Dispatches: "THOREAU’S FEROCIOUS CRITIQUE OF PHILANTHROPY DOES NOT MAKE HIM “SELFISH”"



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Corporate giving: do Irish companies make the effort?

Corporate giving: do Irish companies make the effort?: "Having said that, more companies are now turning away from chequebook CSR and photo ops and becoming involved in developing long-term partnerships with organisations that result in positive projects,” she added.
According to Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), a not-for-profit organisation that helps companies develop and measure their CSR strategies, it is increasingly employees who lead the way in terms of deciding what type of initiatives their organisation will engage with. Moreover, according to Moira Horgan, marketing manager for BITCI, CSR has become increasingly important to organisations, not simply as a marketing tool, but as something essential in aiding recruitment and retention"



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A pacifier trades for a Myrtle Beach Vacation for charity | WBTW.com

A pacifier trades for a Myrtle Beach Vacation for charity | WBTW.com: "I really can’t go door-to-door to my friends and say, ‘do you want to help donate American dollars to this charity in the Netherlands,’ but what I can do is use the power of social media,” said Morin.

For the last week, she has made big strides.

Morin started her trading with a pacifier worth less than five dollars, and was able to trade it for a breakfast gift basket worth about $20. She then traded the gift basket for a $400 dollar Roomba vacuum."



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How to Remove an Unproductive Board Member — Strategic Awareness Essentials

How to Remove an Unproductive Board Member — Strategic Awareness Essentials:



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Baby Boomers Poised to Give $8 Trillion, Study Says - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Baby Boomers Poised to Give $8 Trillion, Study Says - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Retirees are expected to donate about $6.6 trillion in cash and $1.4 trillion in volunteer services during the next 20 years as baby boomers retire, according to a report released today.

People give at higher rates after they retire, so extended life spans mean people are in their prime donor years longer than in previous eras, and that is good news for nonprofits smart enough to capture the attention of such donors.

The study, conducted by consulting company Age Wave in partnership with Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management"



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William and Mary launches $1 billion drive, with help from $50 million gift - The Washington Post

William and Mary launches $1 billion drive, with help from $50 million gift - The Washington Post: "The College of William & Mary has landed its biggest private gift ever — $50 million — as it begins a school-record $1 billion fund-raising campaign, a landmark development for the venerable public school founded in colonial Virginia."



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Weills Pull $20-Million Gift After Court Denies College Renaming - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Weills Pull $20-Million Gift After Court Denies College Renaming - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Weills Pull $20-Million Gift After Court Denies College Renaming
Paul Smith's College will not receive a $20-million donation from billionaire philanthropists Joan and Sanford Weill that was contingent on adding Ms. Weill's name to the small upstate New York institution, reports The New York Times. A state judge earlier this month rejected the proposed renaming to Joan Weill-Paul Smith’s College, which would have required voiding a provision in the will of the institution's original benefactor."



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Brave New Frontier: The Tweeted Proposal | Nonprofit Quarterly

Brave New Frontier: The Tweeted Proposal | Nonprofit Quarterly: "The Deluxe Corporation Foundation is replacing the tedious nature of grant writing with the ‘Short & Tweet’ campaign in which nonprofits can state their case in a mere 140 characters. Through this new Twitter campaign, small nonprofits can be nominated for a chance to receive a $10,000 grant."



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Drury launches Master of Nonprofit & Civic Leadership degree program

Drury launches Master of Nonprofit & Civic Leadership degree program: "SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 21, 2015 — Drury University will soon begin offering a new graduate degree for professionals seeking to enhance their skill sets in the nonprofit and civic sectors.

The Master of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership is a unique offering in a community where nonprofit organizations employ about half of all private workers and play an integral role in tackling pressing issues such as poverty, healthcare and education. The program aims to truly enhance the quality of life in the Ozarks by preparing emerging and mid-level leaders for executive service in these key institutions."



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Nonprofits move in on millennials in hopes of nabbing the next generation of philanthropists. The competition for these would-be do-gooders is fierce. | Crain's New York Business

Nonprofits move in on millennials in hopes of nabbing the next generation of philanthropists. The competition for these would-be do-gooders is fierce. | Crain's New York Business: "The Yellowstone Park Foundation invited several hundred 20- and 30-somethings to its first benefit for young patrons this month. Tickets to support a “national treasure” cost $100—a relative bargain for the opportunity to hobnob at the Bowery Hotel. For the foundation, it was an investment in the future: building relationships with young professionals who could one day become the philanthropic faces of the organization."



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Nonprofit’s local branches hammer out merger | Richmond BizSense

Nonprofit’s local branches hammer out merger | Richmond BizSense: "The two local affiliates of home rehab nonprofit Rebuilding Together are working to nail down a merger.

Rebuilding Together Richmond and Rebuilding Together Tri-Cities have announced their intention to combine forces in a merger that would see the Tri-Cities affiliate absorbed into its larger northern neighbor.

The nonprofit would maintain a physical presence in Petersburg; the Tri-Cities affiliate’s coverage area also includes Colonial Heights, Hopewell and the counties of Dinwiddie, Prince George and southern Chesterfield. But operations and oversight would be combined with the Richmond office, which is located at 406 W. Franklin St."



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Recognition Circles: The Art and the Science, Part One | Lynne Wester | LinkedIn

Recognition Circles: The Art and the Science, Part One | Lynne Wester | LinkedIn: "This two-part guest blog from DRG Group member Debbie Meyers attempts to demystify the recognition circle, in theory and in practice. Part one discusses the rationale behind having recognition circles (the art), including why we should have them and how they should operate. Part two highlights some of the FAQ’s and logistics in setting up a family of circles (the science)."



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Bequests: Planning Ahead ... Way Ahead - NonProfit PRO

Bequests: Planning Ahead ... Way Ahead - NonProfit PRO: "For most of us, the fundraising we do is not the stuff of legend. Instead, it’s the bread and butter of our organizations—the consistent, hard and thoughtful work that reaps results online, through the mail, at events, in personal meetings and via other means.
Or perhaps it really is legend—because our fundraising is what keeps the lights on, "



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42% Of Americans Say They Can't Afford To DonateThe NonProfit Times

42% Of Americans Say They Can't Afford To DonateThe NonProfit Times: "Among the biggest obstacles to giving is affordability. Some 42 percent said they can’t afford to give. Almost 1 in 4 said they already give enough to nonprofits. About 1 in 8 said they it’s because they “can’t give enough to make a difference.”"



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Social Alchemy: Transforming Problems Into World-Changing Ideas | Exceptional Boards

Social Alchemy: Transforming Problems Into World-Changing Ideas | Exceptional Boards:



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Ask for 'strange amounts' and use red donate buttons, says US fundraising consultant | Third Sector

Ask for 'strange amounts' and use red donate buttons, says US fundraising consultant | Third Sector: "Speaking yesterday at a session of the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands, Nowers, who is chief executive of the US-based fundraising agency Nexus Direct, said that asking for an unconventional sum from donors – such as $17 rather than $10 or $20 – was an effective way to get them to increase their donations, according to focus groups in multiple countries.

"Using a strange amount will always improve your results," she said"



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Fundraisers barely lasting a year - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Fundraisers barely lasting a year - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "The average tenure of a major gifts officer in the philanthropic sector is 16 months, according to the Philanthropy Leadership Council. With the expense in time, money and missed opportunity associated with turnover, organizations have a number of reasons for wanting to keep quality officers onboard."



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Sunsetting in Michigan: Local Foundation Prepares to Shut its Doors | Nonprofit Quarterly

Sunsetting in Michigan: Local Foundation Prepares to Shut its Doors | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Readers can read more about the arguments for this practice here in this extraordinary article by Buzz Schmidt , which is also published as our feature today. In it, he makes a good case for making a careful choice between perpetuity and a deliberate and more time-limited deployment of philanthropic assets.

“Shutting down in 2017 was always part of the plan,” "



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Face-to-face fundraising is ‘recession proof’, IFC delegates hear

Face-to-face fundraising is ‘recession proof’, IFC delegates hear: "Income levels from face-to-face fundraising tends to grow during a recession, delegates at the International Fundraising Congress were told yesterday.
In a masterclass at the conference in Holland held by Resource Alliance, delegates were told that data from Europe and South America shows that face-to-face fundraising is “recession free”. The session was led by David Cravinho, head of regular giving at Unicef (Switzerland), and Daryl Upsall, of Spanish based Daryl Upsall Consulting International."



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Center for Effective Philanthropy Gets a Surprise $1.1M Grant

massnonprofit news ::: "October 17, 2015 — The Center for Effective Philanthropy, a Cambridge nonprofit that develops research on grant makers’ performance, was one of two organizations to recently receive an unsolicited $1.1 million grant to enhance its capacity to support philanthropy."



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Crowd Fundraising for the Arts: No Running, Walking, or Freezing Plunges Required | npENGAGE

Crowd Fundraising for the Arts: No Running, Walking, or Freezing Plunges Required | npENGAGE: "In 2011, in the name of raising money for the Special Olympics, I participated in the Polar Plunge. As a native Texan going to graduate school in Wisconsin, I signed up on a sunny September day not only to support the cause, but also because it seemed like something that would make for a good story one day. When February rolled around, it was with shock and horror that I realized exactly what I had signed myself up for—blocks of ice had been removed to make a hole in a lake that was completely frozen solid several feet deep. After jumping in, you swam across the short length of the hole (about 10 yards), and emerge, wet and freezing, only to get to race through temps in the teens to try to warm up in a lukewarm hot tub. As a Texas girl, I am not exaggerating when I say I thought I literally might freeze to death."



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Opinion: Hilton Prize Offers Important Lessons for Foundations - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Opinion: Hilton Prize Offers Important Lessons for Foundations - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "As men and women in their best evening dress gathered at the Waldorf Astoria last week for the awarding of the 20th annual Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, they were there for more than a run- of-the-mill gala.

Outside the ballroom, massive and stunningly beautiful backlit photos portrayed the people whose lives have been changed by the winners of the prize, the biggest philanthropic honor for humanitarian groups. As guests cradled cocktails and munched mini crab cakes, the huge lighted images provided an arresting backdrop for a prize competition that in many ways demonstrates how more of philanthropy should work."



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N.J. Town Panel OKs Demolition of Doris Duke Mansion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

N.J. Town Panel OKs Demolition of Doris Duke Mansion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Officials in central New Jersey have approved plans by the nonprofit that manages the late socialite and philanthropist Doris Duke's rural estate to raze her 122-year-old home, reports the Associated Press. The vote Thursday night by the Hillsborough Township Historic Preservation Commission culminated a lengthy hearing process over the demolition plan, which drew strong opposition from local preservationists."



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Your #GivingTuesday 2015 Prep List - Third Sector Today

Your #GivingTuesday 2015 Prep List - Third Sector Today:



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Jack Dorsey Pledges Fifth of Tech Firm Square to Charity - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Jack Dorsey Pledges Fifth of Tech Firm Square to Charity - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Tech mogul Jack Dorsey has launched a foundation to aid needy communities around the world and will give it a nearly one-fifth stake in mobile-payments company Square, Quartz and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report. Mr. Dorsey, Square's chief executive officer and biggest shareholder, revealed the donation in the firm's filing Wednesday for an initial public offering valued at $275 million."



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Providence: Bike-share program still on track - News - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI

Providence: Bike-share program still on track - News - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI: "The city has not given up hope of finding a corporate sponsor willing to finance a bike-share system officials have been trying to develop for the last two years.
"Bike share is alive and well," said Evan England, spokesman for Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza last week.
The company working for the city on the project is "optimistic we will reach a sponsorship agreement" to make Providence bike-share a reality, said Sheila Dormody, Elorza's director of policy in a phone interview."



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Investments in Art Fertilize Growth in Rural Towns | Nonprofit Quarterly

Investments in Art Fertilize Growth in Rural Towns | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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The Diversity Crisis: Do Nonprofits Need Quotas? - 101fundraising

The Diversity Crisis: Do Nonprofits Need Quotas? - 101fundraising: "Look at your board and your leadership team…
How many are men?
How many are over 50?
How many are white?
If the answer is: “most of them” – you are leaving money on the table. Lots of money."



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Stress Testing the Charitable Organization | Planned Giving Design Center

Stress Testing the Charitable Organization | Planned Giving Design Center: "There are more than 1 million nonprofits in the United States, and more than 70% of these entities receive annual support of less than $200,000.  Philanthropic advisors play an important role in guiding these volunteer-driven nonprofits in the performance of their vital community work.  Here's a tool to help them stay healthy and improve sustainability."



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Calendar Confusion: Year-End Communications on a Summer Fiscal Year | Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog

Calendar Confusion: Year-End Communications on a Summer Fiscal Year | Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog:



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N.Y. State Shutters Pet Hospice Supported by Celebrities - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

N.Y. State Shutters Pet Hospice Supported by Celebrities - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "New York State officials have closed an upstate shelter for ill and injured dogs and cats, accusing its owner of multimillion-dollar mismanagement, reports the Associated Press. The group had won televised kudos from Oprah Winfrey.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Susan Marino, owner of the Angel's Gate animal hospice, steered $3.1 million raised from 2007 to 2012 into personal expenses and failed to file required financial reports."



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Thanks to Penn State Football, the Open Wounds of the Sandusky Scandal Still Fester | Nonprofit Quarterly

Thanks to Penn State Football, the Open Wounds of the Sandusky Scandal Still Fester | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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Philadelphia Orchestra Players OK Deal, but for Just One Year - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Philadelphia Orchestra Players OK Deal, but for Just One Year - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Philadelphia Orchestra Players OK Deal, but for Just One Year
Philadelphia Orchestra musicians approved a new contract Monday, but the unusual deal lasts only 12 months and appears to have been adopted with reservations, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer."



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Contest Philanthropy Mutates—Can It Be Made to Fit? | Nonprofit Quarterly

Contest Philanthropy Mutates—Can It Be Made to Fit? | Nonprofit Quarterly: "It’s no secret that NPQ is not a big fan of contest philanthropy, but we are appreciative of taking the best of an overall abominable idea and using it for good.

The idea of “venture philanthropy” is not new, nor is the practice of making nonprofits compete for funding while admonishing them to cooperate. In 2014, Nonprofit Quarterly outlined the basic tenets of this way of giving, as some major donors make use of a model of engaged investment (also not a new notion). Recent variations on this theme of lusting after business methods while wanting to appear hip have included the “shark tank” for nonprofits, adapted from the reality show of the same name."



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Seeking Billions, N.Y. Arts Groups Rev Fundraising Engines - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Seeking Billions, N.Y. Arts Groups Rev Fundraising Engines - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "With 16 New York City cultural institutions engaged in campaigns to collect $3.47 billion for expansions and renovations, The New York Times looks at the art and practice of big-league fundraising, and whether the donor pool is deep enough to support so many big-dollar drives."



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Show the value of planned giving « Philanthropy North Carolina

Show the value of planned giving « Philanthropy North Carolina: "Planned gifts can make a big difference for charities by providing a long-term source of critical support.

So charities should invest the time and effort to tell the story of why those gifts matter, how they are created, and their impact on the people they serve, their communities and their donors."



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11 questions that donors ask themselves - The NonProfit Times www.thenonprofittimes.com/The NonProfit Times

11 questions that donors ask themselves - The NonProfit Times www.thenonprofittimes.com/The NonProfit Times: "uring “Why Developing an Integrated Marketing Program Must be Your Number One Priority” at the recent National Catholic Development Conference event, Don F. Olson, owner of DonO Communications in Michigan City, Ind., shared the 11 questions every donor asks themselve"



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Technology And The Modern Fundraiser - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Technology And The Modern Fundraiser - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "The new and growing challenges of today might be met with tomorrow’s advancements in technologies such as virtual reality, image reading and consolidated databases in the years to come."



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