Elks, Eagles, Moose taking different steps to woo, keep members - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Elks, Eagles, Moose taking different steps to woo, keep members - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Known for mysterious initiation rituals and names seemingly plucked from a menagerie, fraternal organizations are reinventing themselves as 'family friendly' service organizations in hopes of staving off extinction by attracting younger members to replace those being lost to infirmity and death."

Giving circles mix fun, fundraising - USATODAY.com

We have some related material on this topic on our AFP Questions and FAQ Blog
http://afprc23.blogspot.com/search?q=NPGivingCircles


Giving circles mix fun, fundraising - USATODAY.com: "Giving money is fun, and raising it is fun,' said Susie Elbing, a founding member.

Such informal charitable groups, known as giving circles, are rapidly spreading as a new form of philanthropy across the USA."

Turner's Community involvement taken a step beyond (comment on this)

Turner's Community involvement taken a step beyond (comment on this): "What researchers found is a set of foundations with an uncommon but highly successful approach to giving, researcher Mikael Karlstrom said, resulting in significant, sustainable change in communities around the country. The ongoing study, titled 'Embedded Funders and Community Change,' explores foundations that concentrate their resources in one limited geographic area and become deeply involved in those communities."

STLtoday - News - Washington

STLtoday - News - Washington: "Difficulties in starting any new charitable campaign. 'Even with a figure as iconic as Martin Luther King, you're still a new charity chasing money for a new cause, as opposed to a more established charity name people are familiar with,' says Michael Nilsen, chief spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va."

Calif. Creates Cabinet Post to Promote Volunteerism - Philanthropy.com

Calif. Creates Cabinet Post to Promote Volunteerism - Philanthropy.com: "California is creating a cabinet-level post to oversee programs for volunteers, reports The New York Times.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to expand and elevate the role of the executive director of California Volunteers, the state’s commission for volunteerism. As a cabinet secretary, the volunteerism leader will be involved in planning the state’s response to natural disasters and coordinating volunteer efforts to provide relief."

Non-profits fear shrinking donations

Non-profits fear shrinking donations: "Local non-profit organizations expect individual giving to decrease more than 5 percent this year due to strains on the economy. Corporate giving is expected to shrink as well.

Some charitable groups say they've already experienced a hit in donations from corporations and individuals.

'The last time (about five years ago) there was a downturn, the individual giving went down 3 to 4 percent. The corporation giving leveled,' said Patrick McWhortor, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits president and chief executive officer."

Poor Give More to Charity - National Business News - Portfolio.com

Poor Give More to Charity - National Business News - Portfolio.com: "Charitable giving is an American tradition. Surveys consistently find that between 65 and 85 percent of U.S. families make charitable donations each year, and we give away more than twice as much per capita as the citizens of even the most generous European nations. According to the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study, the average American family that gave to charity in 2002 donated $1,917. And contrary to what some might assume, this giving does not all—or even mostly—support houses of worship. The Giving U.S.A. Foundation reports that only about a third of individual gifts go toward religious causes; the rest are earmarked for secular concerns like education and health."

Grants can have a dark side, too : Local News : Ventura County Star

Grants can have a dark side, too : Local News : Ventura County Star: "Her career may be a sign of how vital grants have become. But it's not the only tipoff: Classes in grant-writing are the most popular offerings in a nonprofit management center operated by the Ventura County Community Foundation. They top accounting, board leadership and new ways to use technology."

Next Gen Giving: Charity and Social Networks

Next Gen Giving: Charity and Social Networks: "Want to lend me a few bucks?!?

You'll feel better if you do. You'll meet lots of new friends. You won't really risk a thing. And my life will be forever changed - for the better.

That's the embedded promise of what's various social lending, online giving and Web-based micro-finance. This new tech trend combines the online power of social networking with inherent human instincts of cooperation and generousity to create the charitable Web."

HeraldNet: Stillaguamish will increase charitable giving

HeraldNet: Stillaguamish will increase charitable giving: "The tribe hands out about $300,000 each year to nonprofit groups, said Stillaguamish Tribal Executive Eddie Goodridge.

'We hope to get that number up to $500,000,' he said.

Stillaguamish Tribal Chairman Shawn Yanity handles the casino's charitable donations. He said information on the tribes' recent mitigation costs was not immediately available."

Charities see little from marketers' pitches

Charities see little from marketers' pitches: "Even the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va., which has 30,000 members, takes a critical view of percentage-based fund raising.

'Anytime you see a firm taking 92 percent of the money, it raises a ton of red flags,' said Michael Nilsen, the association's director of public affairs.

The practice gives all nonprofits a black eye and erodes public trust, he says.

'In the end they are hurting not just their own reputation but the entire sector,' Nilsen said."

Organisers stunned as Bed Race is threatened - Knaresborough Today

Organisers stunned as Bed Race is threatened - Knaresborough Today: "Organisers stunned as Bed Race is threatened

View Gallery
By Staff Copy
By Maggie Gell and Sheila Loffill
TWO major events in the Knaresborough calendar could be cancelled this year.

The shock announcement from organisers of both the Great Knaresborough Bed Race and the 10km race in the King James’s School Fun Run means both events are both under threat of cancellation, due to newly-introduced Government legislation.

The news has stunned organisers of the events, each of which attract hundreds of competitors annually from across the district."

WIStv.com Columbia, SC: Non-Profits Tap the Experience of Retired Execs

WIStv.com Columbia, SC: Non-Profits Tap the Experience of Retired Execs: "Doucette now spends 50 to 60 hours a month as an adviser with the Executive Service Corps of Southern California. For nearly two years, Doucette worked with an organization that serves the homeless and at-risk students. The board of directors was so dysfunctional that the group was unable to adequately carry out its mission. He helped the board purge some members and recruit others. 'Many managers in the nonprofit sector have wonderful social-services skills, but lack the business skills that most for-profit managers possess,' he says."

ABC reveals identities of 'Oprah's Big Give' reality show contestants - Reality TV World - News, information, episode summaries, message boards, chat

ABC reveals identities of 'Oprah's Big Give' reality show contestants - Reality TV World - News, information, episode summaries, message boards, chat and games for unscripted television programs: "Each one-hour Oprah's Big Give episode takes place in a different U.S. city -- including Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, New York and Chicago -- where the contestants are met by a 'mystery challenge' that will test how well they can use their cash, time and imagination to help others."

Oglethorpe University urges volunteer work at nonprofits | ajc.com

Oglethorpe University urges volunteer work at nonprofits | ajc.com: "'Life in the bubble is great and all,' said freshman Sylvia Johnson, 18, 'but it's great to get out and meet new people.'

The Center for Civic Engagement manages the university's efforts to incorporate volunteer work into a student's college experience by organizing excursions to Atlanta-area non-profits. Freshman are now required to earn four credits of civic work.

'One of our goals is to teach students ways to give back and to appreciate what they have,' said the center's assistant director, Heather Staniszewski."

The Jewish Week News

The Jewish Week News: "That’s the new direction of much philanthropy today. Anonymous giving — sort of.
There were more truly anonymous major gifts to American philanthropies last year than ever, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Unnamed American donors gave at least 87 gifts of $1 million or more, and 23 were over $10 million.
The shift is being felt throughout American philanthropy as well as at its highest reaches, according to the article.
Is it true also in the Jewish community?
“I don’t know if Jews are more recognition hungry,” says Jeffrey Solomon, president of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, which in addition to giving about $17 million to Jewish and Canadian causes this year also advises other donors, but “it certainly seems that way.”
While no one has done a formal study, observers of Jewish philanthropy say that things are moving toward more anonymity."

CollegiateTimes.com - University donor privacy questioned

CollegiateTimes.com - University donor privacy questioned: "The House General Laws Committee passed a bill last Tuesday that would permit donors to public colleges and universities to remain anonymous if they wish to do so.

House Bill 407, sponsored by Sen. Edward Houck (R-Spotsylvania) and Delegate Glenn Oder (R-Newport News), passed the committee on an 18-3 vote.

The measure, which came at the request of the University of Virginia, would grant Virginia's colleges and universities an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act to withhold a large amount of personal information about donors."

Social impact club advises Phila. nonprofits - News

Social impact club advises Phila. nonprofits - News: "Wharton senior Lisa Jiang wanted to take her business education outside of Huntsman Hall and into Philadelphia.

Jiang and four other classmates founded the Social Impact Consulting Group, an organization that offers free consulting services to local non-profit organizations, which include conducting cost analyses and coming up with marketing strategies.

Given the level of need in the Philadelphia community 'we can do so much on a local level,' Jiang said."

The Wealth Report - WSJ.com : 'Queen of Mean' Gives, Paris Loses

The Wealth Report - WSJ.com : 'Queen of Mean' Gives, Paris Loses: "Slate yesterday came out with its list of America’s 60 top charitable donors. The results might surprise you: Atop the list is Leona Helmsley, better known as the “Queen of Mean.” The late Ms. Helmsley famously believed taxes were only for little people, but apparently she also believed that big people give to charity."

Judge Rules Fisk Cannot Sell Priceless Art Collection for Any Reason

Judge Rules Fisk Cannot Sell Priceless Art Collection for Any Reason: "in a major setback for Fisk University, a Tennessee judge has barred the school from selling any or all of its priceless 101 piece Stieglitz Collection of art to raise money to support the financially troubled school."

Finding fundraising success - mlive.com

Finding fundraising success - mlive.com: "Despite difficult times for Michigan's economy, some major Tri-City nonprofit groups say they continue to fare well with fundraising and their ability to provide services.

Both the YMCA in Bay City and the United Way of Bay and Midland counties finished 2007 with successful capital campaigns."

Salt Lake Tribune - Cops, firefighters stage civil war on ice for charity

Salt Lake Tribune - Cops, firefighters stage civil war on ice for charity: "Police and firefighters along the Wasatch Front battled for a good cause recently in this year's Guns and Hoses hockey game at the E Center.
The annual charitable event, now in its sixth year, raises funds for people in need. While members of both teams are united in that purpose, that unity ends on the ice. Each side wants to win."

Thought Leader » Shelagh Gastrow » Thoughts on philanthropy in South Africa

Thought Leader » Shelagh Gastrow » Thoughts on philanthropy in South Africa: "n South Africa, the term “philanthropy” has a history and does not necessarily find favour with the majority of people. This history goes back to the missionaries of the 19th century who were philanthropic on their terms — they looked after “the poor natives”, saved their souls and pushed the borders of the empire. The paternalistic attitudes of the day still resonate in South Africa. However, missionary philanthropy developed further towards providing health and educational facilities for local populations. Some of the best historic schools in South Africa emerged from this missionary philanthropic movement. The education provided to black pupils by these schools until the advent of apartheid was some of the best available."

The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - All charitable organizations need codes of ethics

The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - All charitable organizations need codes of ethics: "All charitable organizations need codes of ethics
BY FRED J. CROOP

Charitable organizations in our country are as varied as the diverse population. They offer a social safety net for some and hope for others in innumerable ways. Needy families receive shelter, food, health care and life’s other vital necessities."

United Way to expect results for giving cash

United Way to expect results for giving cash: "Aiming to attack social problems in new and more useful ways, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan is moving toward a June deadline for redefining the way it hands out money to nonprofit service agencies.

For many years, the United Way, which raises money through its annual fall payroll campaign and other ways, has supported about 130 nonprofit agencies based on their perceived needs."

Career series seeks to prep near-grads. - News

Career series seeks to prep near-grads. - News: "Boston University students involved in community service and nonprofit work looked for ways to make their passions pay off last night at a career exploration discussion.

'Explore a Career in the Nonprofit Sector,' part of a series of annual BU career discussion nights, offered students a chance to speak with successful alumni in the industry in the College of Arts and Sciences."

Most don't realize nonprofits' economic impact

Most don't realize nonprofits' economic impact: "A new report, 'Partners in Prosperity: The Maine Nonprofit Sector Impact,' authored by the Maine Association of Nonprofits in partnership with the Maine Community Foundation and the Unity Foundation, details the economic, community and social impacts of Maine's nonprofit sector.

The report reveals that nonprofits contribute $7 billion annually, or 15 percent of the state's gross product, in wages paid, supplies purchased and professional services contracted. That's the equivalent of the manufacturing and construction industries, combined."

The State | 02/06/2008 | Souper Bowl of Caring might break record this year

The State | 02/06/2008 | Souper Bowl of Caring might break record this year: "The Columbia-born mission against hunger resumed its march across the country this past weekend.

And as early totals begin to flood in from this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring, event organizers are hoping for another record-breaking year."

The Canadian Jewish News - Human rights museum gets $1-million donation

The Canadian Jewish News - Human rights museum gets $1-million donation: "HudBay Minerals Inc has contributed $1 million in honour of its 80th anniversary to the Canadian Museum For Human Rights.

A jubilant Gail Asper, the national chair of the museum who is spearheading its fundraising efforts, said, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of HudBay… We hope this gift will help inspire other donors to join the campaign.”"

Sorenson leaves fortune to charity - News

Sorenson leaves fortune to charity - News: "When James LeVoy Sorenson died from cancer at the age of 86 last month, his family said that the late inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist's assets would be donated to charity.

However, Peggy Hayes, a spokesperson at the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, declined to give any more specific details about how Sorenson's fortune will be donated, which Forbes magazine estimated to be worth about $4 billion."