Leslie Walker - On a Laptop Mission for Kids - washingtonpost.com

Leslie Walker - On a Laptop Mission for Kids - washingtonpost.com: "On a Laptop Mission for Kids A Buy One, Give One Campaign Seeks to Send Tech Abroad By Leslie Walker Special to The Washington Post Sunday, November 18, 2007; Page F06
For two weeks this month, Americans are being invited to join a global marathon -- the uphill effort to take 21st-century computing to poor children around the world.
The invitation comes from One Laptop Per Child, a nonprofit group founded in 2005 by academics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab. The MIT gang is trying to jump-start unexpectedly slow laptop computer sales abroad by appealing to charitable impulses at home."

Lewis earns Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fund Raising | ASU News

Lewis earns Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fund Raising | ASU News: "The ASU Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management is pleased to announce that Senior Professional-in-Residence, Patricia Lewis, has been honored with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University’s Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fund Raising, the Center’s most prestigious award, at a ceremony Nov. 4th in Indianapolis. Robert Pierpont, an independent fund raising consultant and Ed Schumacher, founder and president of Third Sector Consulting, were also named honorees."

The Greatest Givers

The Greatest Givers: "Many of this year's top U.S. philanthropists are keeping their money close to home

>> Whittling down a lifetime of earnings—a prospect most of us would like to avoid—is the goal of many of the billionaires and multimillionaires in BusinessWeek's (MHP ) annual ranking of Most Generous Givers. If their megagifts to causes ranging from cancer research to civil rights to the prevention of meth addiction are any indication, they're making good progress. Sixteen of the 50 U.S. philanthropists on our list gave north of $100 million this year, nine donated $200 million or more, and one towered above them all with $723 million in gifts."

Salt Lake Tribune - Odd donations: Aquariums for Utah's homeless

Salt Lake Tribune - Odd donations: Aquariums for Utah's homeless: "Odd donations: Aquariums for Utah's homeless Charities want usuable donations -- not your rock collection By Kirsten Stewart ]
The Salt Lake Tribune Article Last Updated: 11/16/2007 02:51:31 PM MST Posted: 2:35 PM-
So the sweater is moth-bitten, and the canned peas are nearing their expiration date.
Surely someone can put them to good use. Why not brighten someone else's life, while clearing yours of clutter?
It's easy to rationalize off-loading your junk onto charities, especially during the holidays.
But at the risk of appearing ungrateful, Utah charities ask this season that you keep the moldy food, bullets and rock collections to yourself. They just have to pay to get rid of them, wasting precious dollars that could be used to feed, clothe and comfort the needy."

Smithsonian Project Loses Oil Sponsor - washingtonpost.com

Smithsonian Project Loses Oil Sponsor - washingtonpost.com: "The American Petroleum Institute yesterday rescinded its offer to give the Smithsonian $5 million for a major exhibit hall and Web site on the world's oceans, ending a controversy destined for the institution's Board of Regents meeting on Monday. The decision is a setback for Cristi¿n Samper, the acting secretary of the Smithsonian, who has said the ocean exhibition is 'very close to my heart.' Samper approved the contribution in his current role and helped develop the Ocean Hall when he was director of the National Museum of Natural History."

Canadians' generosity has transcended riches

Canadians' generosity has transcended riches: "'Canadians contribute with the resources they have and that includes money and talent and energy,' says Michael Hall, vice-president of research at Imagine Canada, a national charity that conducts research on the non-profit sector, and author of the study. Mr. Hall says the history of Canadian philanthropy is full of examples of ordinary people making small donations and inspiring others to do the same. For example, a $1,000 donation in 1944 by secretary Alice MacKay, who was interested in helping homeless women, was the beginning of the Vancouver Foundation, a community foundation that today distributes $40-million to projects in British Columbia."

Why nonprofits?

Why nonprofits?: "Long hours, mediocre pay, frustrating challenges: No one said working for social service agencies was easy. But many of the people working to help Austin's needy say they couldn't imagine doing anything else with their lives."

News-Leader.com | Jeanne Duffey

News-Leader.com | Jeanne Duffey: "If you work for one of the couple hundred nonprofits in the community that depend on funding for their programs, you're probably aware of the Springfield-Greene County Library's Funding Information Center. Located near the reference desk at the Library Center, the Funding Information Center is the place to go when you have a question similar to this one: 'Where can I find information about foundations that fund programs to help children with health problems in Missouri?"

Lansing State Journal: The gift of giving: Nonprofits hope goodwill trumps bad economy

Lansing State Journal: The gift of giving: Nonprofits hope goodwill trumps bad economy: "An electrical engineer going into his second year working for Spartan Chassis Inc. in Charlotte, Manly said he benefited from some of the community programs that were available when he was younger. Now, the 30-year-old, who grew up in Detroit, is returning the favor by donating to the local United Way campaign."

Fundraising fatigue: Schools tap new ways to get money

Fundraising fatigue: Schools tap new ways to get money: "Want to buy some cookie dough? How about wrapping paper? Interested in a magazine subscription? A growing number of parents are saying no, even to their own kids, tired of the incessant stream of order forms, catalogs and discount coupon books coming home in backpacks from school. Their freezers are crammed with cookie dough from last year's sale, their spare drawers filled with wrapping paper and their mailboxes overflowing with magazines. Parents are burned out, and as a result some cash-strapped schools are changing their fundraising ways."

The Spectrum - www.thespectrum.com -

The Spectrum - www.thespectrum.com -: "Philanthropy is described as voluntary giving for the public good. If ever there is a place on earth where that phenomena thrives, it is here in Dixie. Everywhere we turn, there is evidence of time, talent and treasure shared in the name of community goodwill - from the arts to education to services for domestic violence and certainly in health and hospital services. For 26 years, the Jubilee of Trees has inspired charitable giving to advance extraordinary health care at our non-profit hospital - Dixie Regional Medical Center. What you see when you attend is the largest showcase of custom designed Christmas Trees, wreaths and décor between the Wasatch Front and Las Vegas."

Where are all the charitable bequests? | csmonitor.com

Where are all the charitable bequests? | csmonitor.com:

"Only 8 percent of Americans have named a charity in their wills, according to a survey released earlier this year from Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy. That's in spite of the fact that Americans are a generous lot: Two out of every 3 have given to charity in recent years, according to the same survey.

Charitable bequests are also becoming more rare. From 1998 to 2006, the estimated yearly number of people who left money to charity has dropped from 17,587 to 9,522, according to Internal Revenue Service data. Over that period, fewer estates became subject to federal tax as the threshold for taxable estates rose from $625,000 in 1998 to $2 million in 2006."

Charities get a generous return from 'freemiums' | csmonitor.com

Charities get a generous return from 'freemiums' | csmonitor.com: "These gifts, known as front-end premiums or 'freemiums,' get mixed reviews from fundraising experts and the public alike. While freemiums typically bring in more money than they cost, the feelings of guilt and cynicism they can inspire may hurt nonprofits in the long run. '[Charities] wouldn't use this strategy unless it worked and brought in a good return on their investment,' says Tom Pollack, director of the National Center for Charitable Statistics."

AsianWeek » Playing Catch-up: Philanthropy and the API Community

AsianWeek » Playing Catch-up: Philanthropy and the API Community: "One of the more damaging assumptions that stems from the “model minority” myth is that Asian Americans don’t need anyone’s help — they’re too busy quietly succeeding. Perhaps this is contributing to the stagnant rate of philanthropic giving to the AAPI community. According to a recent report by Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, only 0.4 percent of foundation dollars have gone to AAPI communities, although AAPIs now make up 4.5 percent of the country’s population. Giving to AAPIs has increased by just 0.2 percent during the past two decades. Funding towards the AAPI community is not keeping up with the growing population, according to Dr. Albert Yee, program director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “A lot of not-for-profit organizations work on very lean budgets,” Yee said. “It’s much more difficult for them to carry out their mission, which is to help people.”"

Technology a blessing and curse in feeding needy

Technology a blessing and curse in feeding needy: "FAIRFIELD — Technology has been a blessing and a curse for area nonprofit agencies who receive donated food that is later distributed to the needy. While new technology has enabled Shared Harvest Foodbank in Faifield to better track food from wholesalers, the advancement has created less amounts to distribute."

ARTICLE: We're giving less to local charities (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)

ARTICLE: We're giving less to local charities (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com): "Charitable giving took a tumble locally last year, dropping nearly 20 percent for a sampling of nonprofit organizations, says a new study from The Norfolk Foundation. Contributions fell from $170.1 million in 2005 to $137.7 million in 2006, the report said. But that total still exceeds the 2004 results, the foundation's top executive said, and preliminary reports indicate a bounceback for 2007. 'There seems to be general optimism that, in fact, funding will show some increases,' said Angelica Light, the foundation's president."

Faster grants set for charities -- baltimoresun.com

Faster grants set for charities -- baltimoresun.com: "A major local foundation is launching a grants program that aims to quickly give up to $100,000 apiece to nonprofits across Maryland. The $2.3 billion Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the country's biggest private foundations, will announce the new Maryland Small Grants Program at an event today. Nonprofit advocates are calling it an unusual and welcome twist on grant-making because it simplifies the application process and reduces the wait for a response."

County nonprofits can benefit from wealth transfer - Ann Arbor Business Review - MLive.com

County nonprofits can benefit from wealth transfer - Ann Arbor Business Review - MLive.com: "A new study about the county's wealth and its potential impact for nonprofits as the Baby Boomer generation ages gives hope to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation for increased endowments. Washtenaw County residents will pass $5.25 billion onto their heirs from 2005 to 2015, according to the study commissioned by community foundations in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. That number of local dollars changing hands grows to $41 billion through 2055, showing the scope of the potential for nonprofits to capture some of the transition."

Holocaust Museum honors Houston couple, raises $600,000 at luncheon | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Holocaust Museum honors Houston couple, raises $600,000 at luncheon | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "With Sue and Lester Smith accepting the Guardian of the Human Spirit Award, Holocaust Museum Houston raised record luncheon funds last week at the Westin Galleria Hotel. Proceeds topped $600,000 at the benefit,"

The Enquirer - Zoo touts economic impact

The Enquirer - Zoo touts economic impact: "Four months before voters will decide on a levy, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden on Thursday released an economic-impact study showing that it pumped almost $125 million into the economy during 2006. That's almost as much as the area's 18 fine-arts organizations combined (in 2005) and about 3½ times more than the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, according to previous studies by the same group."

Volunteers erect zoo playground in one day | ajc.com

Volunteers erect zoo playground in one day | ajc.com: "More than 300 volunteers from Home Depot, Zoo Atlanta and the Grant Park community showed up at Zoo Atlanta on Thursday for a one-day playground miracle. It is part of a $25 million program by Home Depot and KaBoom, a national nonprofit, to build 1,000 community playgrounds in 1,000 days across the United States."

Back-to-School Philanthropy Goes Chic - November 16, 2007 - The New York Sun

Back-to-School Philanthropy Goes Chic - November 16, 2007 - The New York Sun: "The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the nonprofit Learning Leaders, which trains and places volunteers in New York City public schools. With 14,000 volunteers working in 960 schools, the program is a hub for parents' engagement in their childrens' education."

Bradenton.com | 11/16/2007 | Gas prices sap Manatee nonprofits

Bradenton.com | 11/16/2007 | Gas prices sap Manatee nonprofits: "MANATEE -- Soaring gas prices that hit $3.20 a gallon locally Thursday are taking a toll on local nonprofits."

Stanford delivers $1.76M to St. Jude from golf tourney - Memphis Business Journal:

Stanford delivers $1.76M to St. Jude from golf tourney - Memphis Business Journal:: "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received a $1.76 million check Thursday from the inaugural Stanford St. Jude Championship."

The Most Elite Club in the World

The Most Elite Club in the World: "t's one of the most exclusive clubs anywhere, which is why you've probably never heard of it. Members come from 68 of the wealthiest families in 22 countries. Many are connected to business dynasties around the world. The point of the club: to give away money so that it has the greatest long-term impact on pressing global issues. 'Most philanthropists, even experienced ones, say that it's harder to give money away effectively than it is to make it,' says Beth Cohen, director of the Global Philanthropists Circle (GPC)."

The Morning News: News : Rogers Proposal To Hire Athletics Fundraiser Rare For School Districts

The Morning News: News : Rogers Proposal To Hire Athletics Fundraiser Rare For School Districts:
"'Obviously, we have seen this in colleges and universities for years. The trend of having a fundraiser for high schools is growing more and more. I'd say it is still uncommon,' said Michael Nilsen, public affairs director of the Association of Fundraising Professionals."

The NonProfit Times -Economist: Change Favors The Prepared Mind

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management:
"Raymond, senior managing director for research, evaluation, and strategic planning at Changing Our World Inc., a consulting firm working with nonprofits and private and corporate philanthropists, spoke about change and its implications at the recent conference of the New Jersey chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The session, 'Leading the Nonprofit World of 2015,' revolved around a new spin on an old adage: Change -- rather than chance -- favors the prepared mind."

Responsibility Pays - Forbes.com

Responsibility Pays - Forbes.com: "Ultimately, in exercising corporate social responsibility (CSR), these and other companies will reap the financial reward even though it may be costing them now. Sandra Taylor, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility at Starbucks, said spending money to grow the business and social responsibility go hand in hand for the global coffee house chain. “Corporate social responsibility guides our strategic approach to everyday business. We strive to produce social, environmental and economic benefits for our communities and company stakeholders,” Taylor said. “As a result, when we budget for programs and resources that are vital to the growth of our business, we’re--in effect--also budgeting for CSR.”"

Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Philanthropy Day honors those who give

You can read additional stories on National Philanthropy Day on the AFP National Philanthropy Blog


Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL.: "

The press packet I received last week from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) said that Tuesday an estimated 50,000 people gathered in 135 cities across the country to honor those who give so freely of themselves, their time and their riches to benefit others. And, of course, chief among those who got together was a group who had lunch together at the University Center Club yesterday for Tallahassee's version. When you total up all the dollars and time given, the numbers are staggering"

Argus Leader Media - News-Avera gift might be SDSU record

Argus Leader Media - News: "Avera's board of directors today is to approve a multimillion dollar donation to the university that might be the largest in the school's history. Avera officials declined to say the donation amount or comment publicly on the project itself until today's announcement. But the gift and resulting partnership will move forward the $48 million planned construction of a health sciences building and the renovation of Shepard Hall, said David Chicoine, SDSU's president."