Clash at Koret Foundation Shows Perils of Cloudy Succession Plans - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Clash at Koret Foundation Shows Perils of Cloudy Succession Plans - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Board members at the Koret Foundation have spent a good deal of the past six months prepping their lawyers and sniping at one another when they could have been devoting their energy to grants designed to help the poor and celebrate Jewish art and pursuing other priorities of the San Francisco philanthropy."



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Disrupting Charity: What is the future of philanthropy? | The Agenda

Disrupting Charity: What is the future of philanthropy? | The Agenda: "In 2012, DoSomething, a nonprofit organization focused on creating grassroots social change, discovered text messaging was the best way to communicate with its youthful audience. They didn’t anticipate the consequences."



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MPs wrong to recommend a new class of umbrella lotteries, says chair of Lotteries Council | Third Sector

MPs wrong to recommend a new class of umbrella lotteries, says chair of Lotteries Council | Third Sector: "In response to a report on society lotteries, Clive Mollett says it underestimates the important contribution made by 'more professional forms of fundraising'"



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Miami philanthropist Kirk Landon dies at 85

Miami philanthropist Kirk Landon dies at 85: "Landon was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by the Miami chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2011. In 2004, he made the single largest individual donation in Florida International University's history to create the Landon Undergraduate School of Business.

"They're producing tomorrow's leaders," he told the Miami Herald.

Plus, "They asked," he said."



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Gifts Rename Buildings at Yale and Indiana U. - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Gifts Rename Buildings at Yale and Indiana U. - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "A 14-story tower on Yale University's campus will be renamed for David Swensen, the longtime manager of the school's endowment, following a $25 million gift made in his honor, Bloomberg writes. The donation was made by Peter Baldwin, a Yale alumnus and New York University historian, and Lisbet Rausing, also a historian and the daughter of Swedish industrialist Hans Rausing.
"



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Nonprofit Tax-Exemption Approvals Double, Thanks to Simplified Form - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Nonprofit Tax-Exemption Approvals Double, Thanks to Simplified Form - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "he Internal Revenue Service approved 94,365 applications from organizations seeking 501(c)(3) designations in fiscal year 2014, more than double the number approved in the previous two years.

The one-year jump was due to the introduction of an alternative, three-page electronic version of the 26-page form 1023, the IRS said in its 2014 Data Book, an annual report released Tuesday. The electronic option, 1023-EZ, first became available in July 2014 and provides a streamlined way for organizations with annual gross receipts of less than $50,000 to apply for tax-exempt status."



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Pamela Barden 4 Fundraising Questions I Can't Answer : FundRaising Success

Pamela Barden 4 Fundraising Questions I Can't Answer : FundRaising Success: " had an interesting discussion earlier this week with someone about "best practices" in fundraising. We both agreed that while some things are pretty well proven, others just don't have a long enough track record to be as definitive.
For fundraisers who need to be both donor-oriented and bottom-line-oriented — how much income did this net? — it can be frustrating when we really don't know but have to rely on a combination of our gut and what we've read (often written by people who don't have all the answers, either)."



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9 Factors to Determine if a Walk/Run Event is Ideal for Your Nonprofit - Third Sector Today

9 Factors to Determine if a Walk/Run Event is Ideal for Your Nonprofit - Third Sector Today: "Being a race director for the past seven years now, I am often asked how to quickly pull together a 5K run or walk for “fill-in-the-blank” cause. My answer is rather straightforward:  there is no easy or fast way to plan, organize, and execute a successful fundraising event of any kind, especially a race. The reality is – hosting a walk/run event of any size is a lot of hard work! The 5K for which I am responsible attracts 3,000 participants, volunteers, and spectators combined, along with raising $118,000 for the non-profit beneficiary."



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Huge Jump In Tax-Exempt Organizations, ApplicationsThe NonProfit Times

Huge Jump In Tax-Exempt Organizations, ApplicationsThe NonProfit Times: "The number of tax-exempt entities jumped almost 13 percent to 1,723,315 during 2014, an increase of 124,302 organizations after marginal movement during the prior three years. The number of applications more than doubled — to 117,538 — during 2014 compared to 2013."



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Getting value from your blog (#2): An alternative to the news media | Rob Cottingham | LinkedIn

Getting value from your blog (#2): An alternative to the news media | Rob Cottingham | LinkedIn: "That's where your blog comes in. Your reflections on a news story that affects your organization can fit in perfectly. So can an anecdote about how customers are finding a new use for your product, or a behind-the-scenes look at how you're taking extraordinary steps to fill orders despite, say, a weather crisis."



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Growth not without struggle for Austin’s philanthropic groups - Community Impact Newspaper

Growth not without struggle for Austin’s philanthropic groups - Community Impact Newspaper: "Report claims just 15 percent of area’s nonprofits have paid staff
Most of Austin’s nonprofits are small, short on cash and operate without paid staff, according to a new report detailing the state of the city’s nonprofit sector.
There are more than 5,800 nonprofit organizations in Austin, a 36 percent increase since 2004, according to the Greenlights study. That is higher than the state—28 percent—or national—20 percent—average increases during that time. However, nearly three-quarters of area nonprofits have annual incomes less than $100,000, and less than 40 percent of sector leaders report having strong organizational financial health."



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The philanthropy bug bites Millennials - Houston Chronicle

The philanthropy bug bites Millennials - Houston Chronicle: "And because of this, philanthropy is poised for a sea change.

"Right now, we're trying to engage Millennials," says Anna Babin, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Houston. "They have a different world view about philanthropy. We did focus groups with them. They care about basic needs, like food and housing and education. They're sitting in our workplaces right now...""



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A legacy of philanthropy: How foundation support benefits Pittsburgh, today and tomorrow

A legacy of philanthropy: How foundation support benefits Pittsburgh, today and tomorrow: "Carnegie. Hillman. Mellon. Heinz. Frick. The names of business tycoons who made their money through the hard work of southwestern Pennsylvania residents now adorn libraries, museums, and even a university in Pittsburgh. Their omnipresence in the area is a daily reminder of the tradition of philanthropy that’s turned a blue-collar steel town into something entirely different. Once a capital of steel mills and factories, Pittsburgh now boasts top-tier universities and hospitals that churn out groundbreaking research and innovations. No longer covered in a black mist from the mills lining the banks of the three rivers, Pittsburgh had 109 green buildings in 2012, just behind Denver, Boston, and Charlotte, N.C. "



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The Executive Transition You Want to Avoid - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

The Executive Transition You Want to Avoid - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly:



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N.Y. Dance Troupe Launched by Walmart Heiress to Close - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

N.Y. Dance Troupe Launched by Walmart Heiress to Close - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "edar Lake Contemporary Ballet, a New York avant-garde dance troupe founded and shepherded by retail heiress Nancy Walton Lurie, announced plans last week to shut down, the New York Observer and The New York Times report. Ms. Lurie, a niece of the late Walmart founder Sam Walton, declined to comment on the decision to close the company, but a source close to the organization attributed the move to financial issues."



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What Nonprofit PR Pros Can Learn From Bob Dylan | Peter Panepento | LinkedIn

What Nonprofit PR Pros Can Learn From Bob Dylan | Peter Panepento | LinkedIn: "Today’s nonprofit communications teams should instead be thinking about how they can be speaking to the people they most want to reach — whether those people are reporters, potential donors, or activists.

I recently challenged nonprofit communicators to stop approaching media relations like they did in 2007. Today, I’d like to share some suggestions on how your organization can approach its media relations in a more engaging way."



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Charities should say what they mean « Philanthropy North Carolina

Charities should say what they mean « Philanthropy North Carolina: "Charities have a tough job, and they’re making it tougher by communicating poorly.

The job of charities is to address the symptoms and causes of social and global problems, and to make their communities better places to live, work and play."



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Barbara Walters Helped Engineer Geffen's Lincoln Center Gift - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Barbara Walters Helped Engineer Geffen's Lincoln Center Gift - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Barbara Walters Helped Engineer Geffen's Lincoln Center Gift
The New York Times examines the backstory of David Geffen’s $100-million naming gift to Lincoln Center and the controversy in philanthropic circles over the terms of the gift, particularly the venue’s pledge to keep the Hollywood mogul’s name on its concert hall in perpetuity."



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“Ah, Integration: If Only ...” Whether you Will or Whether you Won’t, it’s All in the Mind - 101fundraising

“Ah, Integration: If Only ...” Whether you Will or Whether you Won’t, it’s All in the Mind - 101fundraising: "What exactly are we talking about? Simply put, it’s making sure that your various communications, for whatever purpose – fundraising, profile or campaigning – speak with one voice, so they make the most sense your audience. If you’re not pulling together, you’re pulling apart."



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Business Rx: Here’s why, ethically, you should stop bashing business - The Washington Post

Business Rx: Here’s why, ethically, you should stop bashing business - The Washington Post: ". Philanthropy is not penance. Productive business leaders tend to be benevolent. When they see a need, they want to provide solutions. This mindset extends to their philanthropy. Yet instead of thanking them for their giving, many beneficiaries view philanthropy as an obligation or form of penance for extracting profits from society"



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“Lucky” 13 ways to make reply devices work - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

“Lucky” 13 ways to make reply devices work - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "t’s no secret that attention spans are short. You only have a few seconds to make that connection to the donor, entice her to open your direct mail piece and send back a gift. With such a narrow margin for error, everything in the package must work double-duty to funnel the donor toward a gift, even the reply device.

Robin Riggs of RobbinsKersten Direct and Kevin Pickett of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center shared a number of techniques to make your reply devices stand out at the Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation 2015 Washington Nonprofit Conference."



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Meadows Foundation gives SMU $45M, largest gift in school’s history | Dallas Morning News

Meadows Foundation gives SMU $45M, largest gift in school’s history | Dallas Morning News: "Southern Methodist University becomes the recipient Monday of the largest single gift in the school’s history, a $45 million grant from the Meadows Foundation, which is designating $25 million for the Meadows Museum and $20 million for Meadows School of the Arts."



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M&S staff raise £6.6k for LIVES charity - Boston Standard

M&S staff raise £6.6k for LIVES charity - Boston Standard: "The employees took part in a 12-month fundraising campaign for the charity, and organised a range of activities from sponsored bag packing, bingo, bake sales and a 30-mile per staff member static cycle challenge. M&S head office awarded the store an extra £1,500 for its efforts, taking the total to just over £6,600 for the charity."



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What's Needed to Become a Nonprofit Board Change Agent? | Eugene Fram

What's Needed to Become a Nonprofit Board Change Agent? | Eugene Fram: "Nonprofit board members with business backgrounds often become frustrated with the moderate pace for change that is characteristic of nonprofit boards. Most resign or remain on the board as passive directors, not wanting to create internal conflict in organizations that are dedicated to developing positive social programs. Here are some qualifications for unusual board members that want to become change agents and lead boards and/or organizations to making substantial positive changes. *"



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Blackbaud CEO talks about his first year on the job - Post and Courier

Blackbaud CEO talks about his first year on the job - Post and Courier:



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2 Methods for Justifying Personalized Donor Communications | GuideStar Blog

2 Methods for Justifying Personalized Donor Communications | GuideStar Blog: "The issue of personalization arises in virtually every conversation pertaining to donor communications. Personalized communication can result in revenue increases ranging from sublime to off-the-charts.

But personalization takes a lot of time and effort, and not all organizations have the bandwidth."



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