Economic crisis hitting political fundraising, too - McClatchy D.C. Bureau - Kentucky.com

Economic crisis hitting political fundraising, too - McClatchy D.C. Bureau - Kentucky.com: "The current recession is wrapping its tightfisted hands around its latest victim: political fundraising."

Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity, dies - Nation - The State

Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity, dies - Nation - The State: "TLANTA -- Millard Fuller, the millionaire entrepreneur who gave it all away to help found the Christian house-building charity Habitat for Humanity, died Tuesday. He was 74."

Charities feeling pinch of economic crisis - Philanthropy column - Cleveland.com

Charities feeling pinch of economic crisis - Philanthropy column - Cleveland.com: "ore than 90 percent of Ohio charitable foundations report that their assets have declined, and 60 percent expect to give less money than they did last year.

The gloomy figures, from a January survey of the state's 3,000 foundations, were released Monday at a gathering hosted by the Cleveland Foundation and the Ohio Grantmakers Forum."

Charitable giving still a priority in spiraling economy (OneNewsNow.com)

Charitable giving still a priority in spiraling economy (OneNewsNow.com): "A new study finds that Christians in America don't plan to cut their giving to faith-based groups, despite the sluggish economy.



According to the Wilson Research Strategies survey, 58 percent of Americans said they are cutting back on items such as entertainment and short-term savings. Also, the survey found that 43 percent said they had either reduced or stopped giving to charity."

NewsMaker - Technology Benchmarking Report shows charities slow to embrace the social web

NewsMaker - Technology Benchmarking Report shows charities slow to embrace the social web: "A new technology benchmarking report has found that Australia’s charities and nonprofit organisations are missing out on opportunities presented by the social web and buying software that does not meet their needs.

Those that embrace the digital future are experiencing gains in productivity but some still face major challenges, according to the Connecting Up Australia (CUA) ‘Are We There yet?’ Report. The report on the technology capacity of Australia’s charities and nonprofit groups was based on an extensive survey of over 930 organisations nationwide."

Communication key to recession fundraising | Philanthropy Journal

Communication key to recession fundraising | Philanthropy Journal: "This is the time to invest an even greater amount of time, energy and resources in continuing to cultivate relationships with donors and prospective donors,' says Robbe Healey, senior member of Farr Healey Consulting in West Chester, Pa., and chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va.

That focus on donors should be part of a larger effort that integrates philanthropy into an organization's business plan, connecting giving to the specific programs it supports and to their outcomes, Healey says.

More Big Donations Were Bequests in 2008 - Chronicle.com

More Big Donations Were Bequests in 2008 - Chronicle.com: "More than half of the donations from America’s top 10 philanthropists last year came in the form of bequests, The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 50 survey has determined."

The NonProfit Times - "Attorneys General Focusing On Fiduciary Responsibilities

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Attorneys General Focusing On Fiduciary Responsibilities

By Michele Donohue

While long-established charities are seeing donations drop and more are shuttering their doors because of a tough U.S. economy, according to Terry Knowles, assistant director of the New Hampshire Department of Justice Charitable Trusts Unit, her office is seeing an increase in filings for nonprofit status."

Syracuse University campaign rakes in $110 million in first year

Syracuse University campaign rakes in $110 million in first year: "Despite a struggling economy, Syracuse University raised $110 million in the first year of the public portion of its five-year $1 billion fundraising campaign."

Seeking Grant Money Today: How To Plan Out This Year's Grant Seeking...

Seeking Grant Money Today: How To Plan Out This Year's Grant Seeking...: "Then do some research. Call your nearest United Way and ask them if they have a report on grants giving trends in the region for the past year. You could also ask the librarian at your public library's reference desk for the most recent philanthropy, nonprofit, donations, etc. studies. You do not need to find the giving trends for organizations who do similar work as yours', only. Looking at the overall granting trend for your geographic region will be informative on a high level so that you can see the general giving trend (up, down, or the same). Local and national professional nonprofit affiliations, such as The Foundation Center, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Association of Fundraising Professionals, etc. often conduct their own studies for both national trends, but also trends in specific regions of the United States."

onPhilanthropy: Articles: In Tough Times, It's Time to Step Up

onPhilanthropy: Articles: In Tough Times, It's Time to Step Up: "n Tough Times, It's Time to Step Up
Friday, January 30, 2009
By: Susan Carey Dempsey

When Ted Turner made an historic announcement of a billion dollar pledge to the United Nations a decade ago, he wished out loud that lists of most generous donors would become as competitive as lists of the World's Richest."

Credit Crisis Is Leaving Charities Low on Cash - NYTimes.com

Credit Crisis Is Leaving Charities Low on Cash - NYTimes.com: "While nonprofits are working feverishly to accommodate increased demand, they are facing severe financial constraints that are threatening their ability to go on, much less expand their services,” said Diana Aviv, president and chief executive of Independent Sector, a nonprofit trade association.

Almost three-quarters of nonprofits in the United States receive some type of government financing, according to new research by the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago, and about half of those count on that aid for at least half of their budgets."

Charity Village®NewsFundraising fundamentals for the economic downturn

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "Fundraising fundamentals for the economic downturn
Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf By Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf
January 26, 2009

Last Thursday, the Bank of Canada predicted a steep, short-term recession for the country ending sometime early next year; this despite economists at Canada's major financial institutions predicting a more protracted, difficult decline. Maclean's magazine published an article predicting that 250,000 Canadians could lose their jobs 2009. And Canada's voluntary sector is waiting with baited breath to hear what, if any, kind of economic stimulus package it will receive when the new budget is announced this week. Times are indeed tough.

So how is a fundraiser to stay optimistic on the job with such negative press, and a collectively depressed North American community that seems positioned to tighten its purse strings? Some leading fundraising experts urge calm."

WFP - Davos 09 - Hunger on the Agenda | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - the UN food aid agency

WFP - Davos 09 - Hunger on the Agenda | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - the UN food aid agency: "TNT has made a longstanding commitment to helping WFP to fight hunger. Our partnership has been going on for six years. Since 2002, TNT has contributed more than 52 million euros to WFP in 'in-kind' and cash contributions, including more than 10 million euros raised directly by TNT's employees in support of school feeding in countries like Cambodia, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Malawi and The Gambia. TNT also provides warehouses, aircraft and vehicles to support our emergency operations. It trains logistics staff around the world, and sponsors the annual 'Walk the World' fundraising event."

TODAY'S TECH CONFAB

TODAY'S TECH CONFAB: "So here’s the fashionable association techies from the CIO roundtable: American Chemical Society’s John Sullivan and Association of Fundraising Professionals Prabhash Shrestha. (Society for Human Resource Management’s Heidi Byerly spoke as well, but must be off fixing a bug.) They agreed a good CIO can put modesty aside and toot your department’s horn about projects; otherwise, departments forget what you’ve done and feel like IT is ignoring them. One clever suggestion from Heidi: An end-of-the-year survey asking staff to rate all your IT projects"

news: Nonprofit projects face funding crunch

news: Nonprofit projects face funding crunch: "A diversified strategy like the children's museum's is a key to success, but all potential sources are feeling the pinch, said Michael Nilsen, senior director of public affairs for the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va.

'It's the most challenging environment most people have seen in their lifetimes,' he said."

Foundation Center - Press Release - Joan E. Spero Joins the Foundation Center as Visiting Fellow

Foundation Center - Press Release - Joan E. Spero Joins the Foundation Center as Visiting Fellow: "Family Foundations Prioritize Giving for the Economically Disadvantaged, New Foundation Center Report Finds

New York, NY — January 29, 2009. Giving by America's family foundations reached over $18 billion in 2007, a 13 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Foundation Center's new report, Key Facts on Family Foundations (2009 Edition). Among a subset of the largest family foundations, 30 percent of their giving provided a specific benefit for the economically disadvantaged.

'Family foundations provide much-needed resources in the best of times,' said Steven Lawrence, the Center's senior director of research. 'The current economic environment will make that support even more critical, especially for those in greatest need.'"

When Donors Can't Keep Their Pledges - WSJ.com

When Donors Can't Keep Their Pledges - WSJ.com: "As wealthy donors watch their portfolios shrink, a number of philanthropists are finding they may not be able to fulfill a multi-year pledge or continue annual contributions to charities they support.

'We are seeing individuals and families reconsidering amounts they are able to give on both an annual or regular basis,' says Robert Seaberg, a managing director at Citi Global Wealth Management, a unit of Citigroup Inc."

SOI-Tax Stats-Taxpayers with Top 400 Adjusted Gross Income

SOI-Tax Stats-Taxpayers with Top 400 Adjusted Gross Income: "ndividual Income Tax Data of Taxpayers with the Top 400 Adjusted Gross Income

This release contains four tables which contain information from the Top 400 Individual Income Tax Returns for each of Tax Years 1992 through 2006. Table 1 contains frequencies, money amounts, and average dollar amounts for the major income, deduction, and tax credits reported as part of the Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return). Table 2 shows ranges of marginal tax rate for the various statutory rates (including the alternative minimum tax rates) that were in effect for Tax Years 1992 through 2006 while Table 3 shows the range of average tax rates up to 35 percent and over, computed as total income tax divided by adjusted gross income."

Senator Encourages Foundations to 'Step Up and Help' Charities - Philanthropy.com

Senator Encourages Foundations to 'Step Up and Help' Charities - Philanthropy.com: "As Independent Sector and other nonprofit associations in Washington push Congress to help cash-strapped charities, at least one key member of the Senate is resisting the move.

In a statement to the news media, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said that charities should seek support from foundations and other donors before asking for financial aid from the government."

GuideStar - News - Articles - Half a Million Nonprofits Could Lose Their Tax Exemptions

GuideStar - News - Articles - Half a Million Nonprofits Could Lose Their Tax Exemptions: "Half a Million Nonprofits Could Lose Their Tax Exemptions

Did you know that in May 2010, half a million nonprofits could find themselves stripped of their exempt status? The IRS estimates that that's the number of smaller organizations that have failed to file a Form 990-N."

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "$100 Million In New Grants Target Economic Crisis

Some 50 institutional donors have announced more than $100 million in grants and program-related investments (PRIs) in response to the nation’s economic downturn, according to the Foundation Center in New York City."

Mother and daughter aim to aid Mombasa Project - News, frontpage - Argus.ie

Mother and daughter aim to aid Mombasa Project - News, frontpage - Argus.ie: "A north Louth mother and daughter are bound for Africa next month when they will take part in the inspirational Mombasa Project.

Pauline Caffrey, Ravensdale, will be joined by her 16-year-old daughter Christine, a St Vincent's student, on the charity mission to Kenya where they will work with orphaned and abandoned children."

AmeriCorps Alumni Share Inaugural Memories on New Blog - Philanthropy.com

AmeriCorps Alumni Share Inaugural Memories on New Blog - Philanthropy.com: "AmeriCorps Alumni Share Inaugural Memories on New Blog

AmeriCorps alumni who marched in last week’s Inaugural parade are sharing memories, photos, and videos on a new blog, A Lifetime of Service."

The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Articles

The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Articles: "How Charities Cope With a Troubled Economy

The financial crisis embroiling the United States has many charities worried about how to manage their finances, raise money, and keep up with growing demand for services.

To help readers navigate the challenges, The Chronicle has compiled recent stories, live discussions, and statistics about how charities deal with turbulent times."

Madoff: SEC defends its role - Jan. 27, 2009

Madoff: SEC defends its role - Jan. 27, 2009: "ATLANTA (CNN) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission's director of enforcement told a Senate committee Tuesday that the agency lacks the resources to pursue all the leads and tips about possible fraud that come to it."

Wis. police chief agrees to be stunned for charity

Wis. police chief agrees to be stunned for charity: "COMBINED LOCKS, Wis. - A Wisconsin police chief has agreed to let his officers shock him with an electronic stun gun to raise money for the Special Olympics."

Private Schools Feel the Pinch Amid Recession - WSJ.com

Private Schools Feel the Pinch Amid Recession - WSJ.com: "Trinity Episcopal School survived Hurricane Ike last fall. But then another storm hit -- the economy.

The Galveston, Texas, school, where tuition is between $5,000 and $8,000 a year, has seen its enrollment drop 12%, says David Dearman, the head of the school. Many parents of its students were among the 3,000 workers laid off by the area's largest employer, the University of Texas Medical Branch. At the end of 2008, the sc"

Coachella Valley nonprofits hit hard by recession | MyDesert.com | The Desert Sun

Coachella Valley nonprofits hit hard by recession | MyDesert.com | The Desert Sun: "It's a perfect storm for Coachella Valley nonprofits: donations are down, government funding has been decimated and the need for social services is skyrocketing."

Fidelity gift fund grants lower in '08 - The Boston Globe

Fidelity gift fund grants lower in '08 - The Boston Globe: "The Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund said its donors recommended grants that totaled $1.08 billion in 2008, down from grants that surpassed $1.17 billion the previous year."