CU luring young donors : CU News : Boulder Daily Camera

CU luring young donors : CU News : Boulder Daily Camera: "Yet universities across the country are increasing their fundraising efforts among their most recent graduates, who may have been traditionally overlooked because of their student loan bills and modest-paying, entry-level jobs.

Now, alumni groups, including CU's, say that they are working to plant the idea of philanthropy in their students before they even graduate."

Videos have become key weapon for groups to illuminate causes | ScrippsNews

Videos have become key weapon for groups to illuminate causes | ScrippsNews: "he visceral reaction that moving images can provoke is a reason why videos have become a key weapon of nonprofit and activist groups to illuminate causes.

And those videos can reach a much wider audience now because of the Internet."

abc7chicago.com: Throw a potting party 3/06/08

abc7chicago.com: Throw a potting party 3/06/08: "Try your hand at carry-out gardening. It's term that's been coined to describe the hands-on Potting Parties and Flower Power Parties at the Chicagoland Flower & Garden Show, which starts tomorrow in Rosemont."

Can a Film Change The World? - TIME

Can a Film Change The World? - TIME: ". In a TIME poll of 1,002 registered voters, about 30% of respondents said a movie had changed their mind about an issue. Fewer than 20% said a movie had persuaded them to donate money to a charity or inspired them to volunteer for a cause. And only 10% said a movie had caused them to vote differently."

Huntington animal shelter competes for $1M -- Newsday.com

Huntington animal shelter competes for $1M -- Newsday.com: "A Web site for animal lovers feels the same way and is conducting an online voting competition to help one lucky animal shelter win a $1 million dollar 'extreme' makeover. And a shelter from Huntington is near the top of the pack right now.

Beyond the money given to the grand prize winner, www.zootoo.com, will provide funding for 19 other animal shelter across the country to make architectural improvements to their properties. The facilities that get the most votes will be judged on their physical needs, and also on their programs that benefit the community, to determine the million-dollar winner."

£5m puts Tolkien manuscripts on display - Crawley Observer

£5m puts Tolkien manuscripts on display - Crawley Observer: "£5m puts Tolkien manuscripts on display

A rare collection of books and artefacts is to go on public display for the first time after a £5m donation to the famous Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
Original manuscripts from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit as well as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein will be among a number of national treasures put on display in a new exhibition hall."

Nonprofits face looming leadership role troubles - Inside Bay Area

Nonprofits face looming leadership role troubles - Inside Bay Area: "Nonprofit organizations face an unprecedented challenge in recruiting and retaining the next generation of leaders, according to a sobering report released this week by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services in San Francisco."

GuideStar - News - Articles - Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make with Our Boards

Material on Board Fundraising From Guidestar's Newsletter.

GuideStar - News - Articles - Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make with Our Boards: "Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make with Our Boards

Too often nonprofit board members shy away from fundraising. When the subject comes up, many trustees suddenly become invisible or silent. Yet it is our responsibility to set up board members in active, satisfying roles that can support the fundraising process. But we frequently make mistakes that hurt, rather than help, our cause.

Why are trustees so nervous about fundraising? And how do we go wrong when we approach them about helping in fundraising? Here are five common mistakes that cause board members to back off when they should be pitching in."

Donovan's Donor Diary

Donovan's Donor Diary: "Raising Money in Tough Times
The three toughest periods for fund raising in the last century and in the first part of the new century were the great depression, the 70’s oil embargo and September 11, 2001. I wasn’t around for the depression, but I do remember the last two. Is it time to panic? I think not. Here are 5 Tips on how to ride this slump out."

Not all viewers are charitable about Oprah's philanthropy show -- chicagotribune.com

Not all viewers are charitable about Oprah's philanthropy show -- chicagotribune.com: "Now comes 'Oprah's Big Give,' a reality TV show that debuted last Sunday on ABC. Think of 'The Apprentice' with better hair and less avarice. Even within Oprahdom, there are misgivings about this giving show, if posts on the show's message board can be believed.

The great majority of comments were congratulatory or pleas for help. But some questioned making a contest of helping others and the sincerity of corporate or other donors anticipating an on-air plug."

Business

Business: "Nonprofits attract more than $900 million worth of state funds, which in turn reclaims federal taxes and private investments.

“The nonprofit sector in Colorado is larger than banking, transportation, agriculture and utilities,” said Anschutz Family Foundation executive director Jeff Pryor Tuesday in the “Building Bridges for Fremont County” Nonprofit Workshop.

“Nonprofits represent 1 out of every 18 jobs or 5.6 percent of the workforce, which totals $13.1 billion in revenues,” he said"

The Journal Record - Article

The Journal Record - Article: "The charitable giving in Oklahoma by the world’s largest retailer included both cash and in-kind donations to local causes and organizations, according to an annual report released by the company based in Bentonville, Ark."

True graces behind Greek philanthropy - The Daily of the University of Washington

True graces behind Greek philanthropy - The Daily of the University of Washington: "Outside the Greek community, philanthropy has a pretty clear meaning. But once you step inside a fraternity or sorority, that meaning changes and grows intensely in importance.

Non-Greeks often question the actual amount of community service fraternities and sororities do, claiming they’re all talk and no action.

However, follow-through is impressive, and the statistics back them up. Every year, the fraternities and sororities at the UW donate more than 70,000 hours and $300,000 to local and national charities and service organizations."

Charitable giving necessary -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Charitable giving necessary -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: "Experts indicate that America has entered or is about to enter an economic recession. It is predicted that Florida will feel the brunt of this recession to a greater extent than other states. For us, that means we will soon be inundated with families and individuals seeking our assistance. How can we help them all tomorrow, when we already have significant waiting lists for care today? At the same time, we find ourselves in a tax revolt which threatens to reduce the very government funds that we rely upon to serve those who have no recourse but to turn to us in their time of greatest need."

They pledged millions to charity

They pledged millions to charity: "Great fortunes are being made in Asia, and those fortunes are increasingly earmarked for philanthropy. Hong Kong's Li Ka-shing has pledged to leave one-third of his $32 billion fortune to charity.

Anil Agarwal has committed $1 billion toward creating a new university in India. Yang Huiyan, China's richest person, and her father, Yeung Kwok Keung, donated $32 million to charities last year, making them the country's biggest givers.

Chicago Maroon | Fundraising hits new high mark

Chicago Maroon | Fundraising hits new high mark: "The University of Chicago ranked 12th in fundraising through charitable contributions last year, according to a recent report by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE)."

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "White House Report Maps Faith-Based Programs

By Mark Hrywna
In its final year in power, the Bush administration has begun the process of writing its version of history, outlining the efforts of its often controversial Faith-Based and Community Initiative (FBCI) in a newly-released report.

“The Quiet Revolution -- The President’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative: A Seven-Year Progress Report,” is the first comprehensive self-analysis of the faith-based initiative, previously told in “a culmination of individual stories and compartmentalized reports.”"

Donations to U. up, but not alum participation - News

Donations to U. up, but not alum participation - News: "Universities around the country are richer than ever, but the money is not necessarily coming out of alumni's pockets.

Contributions to colleges have reached $29.75 billion in 2007 - the highest ever - but the amount of that contribution that comes from alumni has decreased by 1.5 percent, according to the Voluntary Support of Education survey conducted by the Council for Aid to Education, a non-profit organization that researches policy in higher education."

Colleges guard soaring endowments - The Boston Globe

Colleges guard soaring endowments - The Boston Globe: "The pattern of deep-pocketed universities regularly raising tuition while amassing fast-growing fortunes has drawn unusual scrutiny from government leaders and higher education advocates over the past few months. They say elite colleges are hoarding wealth that could help open their doors to more poor and working-class families.

In Massachusetts, 13 institutions boast endowments of more than $500 million. The Boston area's eight wealthiest schools hold a combined fortune approaching $50 billion."

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."