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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Charities 'less pessimistic' about the future despite the tough climate, report finds | Third Sector

Charities 'less pessimistic' about the future despite the tough climate, report finds | Third Sector: Ian Oakley-Smith, a director at PwC, says the latest Managing in a Downturn study shows signs that morale in the sector is improving

Charities are growing less pessimistic about the future despite the tough fundraising environment and a rising demand for services, according to a report published today.

Managing in the 'New Normal' – Adapting to Uncertainty is the sixth in the Managing in a Downturn series produced annually by the Charity Finance Group, the Institute of Fundraising and PwC.

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Four Ways Arts Nonprofits Weather Tough Times

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Four Ways Arts Nonprofits Weather Tough Times: "With more than 70 other local professional theater companies in operation and competing for arts dollars, the article highlighted how these five organizations “defied the recession” by making it through their first year. Now, two years later and with 12 additional theater companies in the area, a recent follow-up story provides an update on these theaters, all still in operation, and offers a list of four tips for small arts organizations navigating similarly challenging courses:"

How the Downturn Changes Strategy Work - Good Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

How the Downturn Changes Strategy Work - Good Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Over the past three years, my thinking, like that of many of my colleagues, has changed radically.

First, strategy now seems to be as much about good decision making as good planning. Rather than thinking of myself as the expert architect of a process that will eventually yield strategy, I now work with executives to make good decisions in real time.

In arriving at those decisions, we draw on some of the tools in a typical strategic-planning process, but a decision-making orientation changes the consulting arrangement—for the better."

For nonprofits, raises are not out of the question | - NJ.com

For nonprofits, raises are not out of the question | - NJ.com: "Despite dwindling donations, three out of four nonprofits offered small pay increases 'where appropriate,' according to a salary study conducted by Professionals for NonProfits, a Manhattan-based staffing agency.

Organizations also paid more for new hires in two key areas. Salaries rose on average by 10 percent for fundraising positions, and by 7 percent for high-level finance jobs, the study found."

Children's Hospital celebrates its benefactors | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/17/2009

Children's Hospital celebrates its benefactors | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/17/2009: "Hospital chief executive officer Steven Altschuler said Children's had about another billion dollars worth of needs and likely will start another campaign next year. While demand for care at Children's is increasing, he said, the hospital is being cautious with spending. 'Obviously, the economy is still in a very fragile state,' he said.

Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, said he was hearing from members that 'this is probably the most difficult fund-raising environment they've experienced in their careers and these are 30- and 40-year veterans.'

The Giving USA Foundation, he said, found that total giving dropped from $314 billion in 2007 to $307 billion in 2008."

UK charities struggle with Iceland losses - Forbes.com

UK charities struggle with Iceland losses - Forbes.com: "Naomi House is just one of scores of charities across Britain that lost a combined total of 120 million pounds ($200 million) held in Icelandic banks, according to Audit Office estimates.

The setback means scaling back plans for its new, 9.5 million pound ($16 million) residential hospice for teenagers and young adults, still a construction site a few hundred yards up the hill from the main house."

Performance under pressure | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal

Performance under pressure | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal: "Today, there's some evidence (at least on a national level) that the recession is beginning to diminish. Yet, there also is a consensus among Louisville arts leaders that contributed income — which, along with ticket sales, provides the physical lifeblood of any organization — tends to lag behind other indicators of economic recovery."

Nonprofits find ways to survive recession - BizTimes

Nonprofits find ways to survive recession - BizTimes: "espite the setbacks nonprofits have faced during the recession, most organizations have managed to stay true to their mission, Clausen said.

“They understand the importance of fulfilling the organizations’ mission, and so in order to do that most organizations are forced to do more with less, which has forced people in the organization to step up and accept new responsibilities,” he"

Penn charitable giving down, but tops target | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/04/2009

Penn charitable giving down, but tops target | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/04/2009: "In keeping with national trends, giving to the University of Pennsylvania was down over fiscal 2008's record-breaking year, but officials were planning for that and were upbeat that the school nonetheless exceeded its target.

Penn took in $440 million for the 2008-09 year ending June 30, down $36 million or 7.5 percent from the year before but still its second-highest year ever, said John Zeller, Penn's vice president for development and alumni relations."

Catholic officials: tough times boost fundraising -- chicagotribune.com

Catholic officials: tough times boost fundraising -- chicagotribune.com: "Many factors, including diocese size and location, the ways appeals are presented and the strength of parishioner support can affect church fundraising, but Roman Catholic leaders believe the tough economy is helping their annual fund drives this year as hard times hit people closer to home. Fundraising or the size of gifts is up in Cincinnati and some other cities."

The NonProfit Times - Donor Scales Back Major Gift To University

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Two and a half years after announcing the largest gift in school history, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) will have to settle for less than a third of the donation.

Citing the economic downturn, life insurance mogul Barry Kaye informed FAU officials on Monday that he would be unable to fulfill the $16-million pledge he made in January 2007, and instead will make a $5-million gift. The university renamed its College of Business for Barry and Carol Kaye after the $16-million pledge, which also was to establish an endowment to support academic programs, faculty and students."

BBC NEWS | Business | Hit or miss for charities in recession?

BBC NEWS | Business | Hit or miss for charities in recession?: "The latest figures from the UK Cards Association suggests the public's appetite for giving to charities has not diminished during the downturn."

Charitable giving goes layaway route | ajc.com

Charitable giving goes layaway route | ajc.com: "But in these financially unfabulous times, organizers are bending a bit. For the first time, fashionistas can buy tickets — $500 for general admission or up to $10,000 for 10 VIP patron billets — on an installment plan.

That’s right. Atlanta society has embraced layaway."

Saving Nonprofits In A Bear Market - Forbes.com

Saving Nonprofits In A Bear Market - Forbes.com: "Where is the federal government in all this? Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $50 million has been approved to help nonprofit organizations address the needs of disadvantaged and hard-to-reach populations suffering economic hardships.

This 'Strengthening Communities Fund' has been established to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations--both secular and faith-based--to address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities,"

Unemployed volunteer at food banks, museums, nonprofits | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Unemployed volunteer at food banks, museums, nonprofits | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press: "For a growing number of the state's nearly 700,000 unemployed residents, working for free is better than not working at all."

Economic downturn fails to dampen philanthropy - Telegraph

Economic downturn fails to dampen philanthropy - Telegraph: "A survey by Barclays Wealth of 500 wealthy individuals in the UK and US revealed that around 75pc had not reduced their contributions to charity, while more than one in four had increased their giving in the last 18 months.

Now that governments are overburdened with debt, the rich felt it more important than ever that wealthy individuals did their bit for charity, the report said."

Virginia Business - News: The disappearing donor

Virginia Business - News: The disappearing donor: "According to the Association of Fundraising Professionals, only 46 percent of charities raised more money in 2008 than in 2007, a new low in the survey’s eight-year history. Usually that number is around 60 percent. Forty percent of organizations surveyed reported raising less money in 2008 than the previous year. The remaining 14 percent of respondents raised the same amount as in 2007. “Fundraising decreases were seen across the board, regardless of issue, size or geography,” the association reports."

Jamie Inman: People tighten belts, loosen purse strings | GreenvilleOnline.com | The Greenville News

Jamie Inman: People tighten belts, loosen purse strings | GreenvilleOnline.com | The Greenville News: "Our results confirm a survey completed in January by the Chronicle of Philanthropy that reported that more than 52 percent of people who donated in 2008, would donate the same as they did in 2008 and only 17.5 percent said they would give less. Thirty percent were uncertain. What this means to all of us, is that most people continue to be caring and altruistic even when times are tough."

Charitable giving takes it on the chin | delawareonline | The News Journal

Charitable giving takes it on the chin | delawareonline | The News Journal: "It would be swell if charitable giving were completely altruistic. Development directors of non-profit organizations everywhere would see their coffers swell from the good will and cold hard cash. Grant writing would become a thing of the past freeing up a lot of time for more of the mission at hand. But that's not exactly human nature."