Obama Creates Effort to Help Religious Groups Fight Poverty - Philanthropy.com

Obama Creates Effort to Help Religious Groups Fight Poverty - Philanthropy.com: "President Barack Obama today created a federal effort to help religious groups and grass-root charities fight social ills."

Fundraising in a Bad Economy | TechSoup Blog

Thanks to TechSoup for this Coverage

Fundraising in a Bad Economy | TechSoup Blog: "Fundraising in a Bad Economy
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 1:03pm — Robert Weiner

The Association of Fundraising Professionals has posted A Survival Kit for Fundraising in a Bad Economy, which includes links to dozens of articles."

IndyStar.com | Thou Shalt | The Indianapolis Star

IndyStar.com | Thou Shalt | The Indianapolis Star: "People in the philanthropic world tell me that, for folks with substantial wealth and a desire to bless worthwhile charities with a portion of it, giving away money isn't as simple an act as you might think it is."

CNS STORY: Catholic colleges adjust fundraising efforts to fit economic climate

CNS STORY: Catholic colleges adjust fundraising efforts to fit economic climate: "The economy is bad, everyone is tightening their belts and the natural instinct is to say, 'Wait until everyone's financial situation gets stronger before asking for money,'' said Charles J. Dougherty, president of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. 'But we're on our way to having our best fundraising year ever. We just had to change the way we do our fundraising.'"

Habitat founder: a legacy of giving - Opinion - MassLive.com

Habitat founder: a legacy of giving - Opinion - MassLive.com: "Millard Fuller never became a household name, but the organization he built is instantly recognized across the globe as a model for creative philanthropy.

Fuller, who founded Americus, Ga.-based Habitat for Humanity in 1976 and ran it for three decades with his wife, Linda, died Tuesday at the age of 74, prompting former President Jimmy Carter, a Habitat volunteer, to call him 'one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known.'"

Arts survey shows economy hurting nonprofits

Arts survey shows economy hurting nonprofits: "The arts, like most business sectors, are feeling the effects of the current economic downturn. The N.H. State Council on the Arts recently did a survey to get a better take on how the state's art businesses are being affected and how they're handling any change."

TED 2009: Bill Gates on philanthropy | The Editors’ Desk | STLtoday

TED 2009: Bill Gates on philanthropy | The Editors’ Desk | STLtoday: "Bill Gates gave the opening session of the TED conference today a peek at his new life as a full-time philanthropist, focusing on two of his top priorities: global health and education."

List of Madoff clients runs in thousands - Feb. 5, 2009

List of Madoff clients runs in thousands - Feb. 5, 2009: "The densely typed list includes multinational banks, unions, charitable foundations, Madoff's attorney, Madoff's relatives and, possibly, celebrities."

Florida's ACLU affiliate in Miami to cut staff nearly 20 percent - South Florida - MiamiHerald.com

Florida's ACLU affiliate in Miami to cut staff nearly 20 percent - South Florida - MiamiHerald.com: "Tim Seiler, director of the Fund Raising School at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, said there is no evidence yet that charitable giving has declined nationally, but he added it may be that changes in giving have yet to be measured.

''We don't have any real national data. . . . It's too soon for us to be able to say what's going on and happening nationally,'' Seiler said. He added: ``We certainly have heard anecdotes about organizations experiencing a decline.''"

Shaky economy casts doubt on giving - Campus News

Shaky economy casts doubt on giving - Campus News: "Posted in the basement, known as the student call center, is a sign with the heading 'Fundraising in an Uncertain Economic Climate.'

'Many alumni, parents and friends have expressed concern about how the current global financial crisis is affecting Brown,' the sign warns, before giving more detailed advice to callers."

nfpSynergy - nfpSynergy - our latest editorial

nfpSynergy - nfpSynergy - our latest editorial: "Stairway to survival

Joe Saxton's ten steps to surviving the current recession and coming out the other side...

Let’s face it, these are hard times for any fundraising organisation. The gloomy economic situation is bad enough in itself, but the perception of hard times is probably worse. There are plenty of people out there who have not been affected by the credit crunch or the jobs market or the recession one bit."

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > Seven Reasons for Fundraisers to be Optimistic in 2009

AFP > Resource Center | Fundraising news > Seven Reasons for Fundraisers to be Optimistic in 2009: "Seven Reasons for Fundraisers to be Optimistic in 2009

By Gail Perry, CFRE

(Feb. 2, 2009) AFP member, experienced fundraiser, speaker and author, Gail Perry, CFRE, shares with eWire readers her thoughts on how to keep going productively in these bad economic times. She believes that without a positive outlook we cannot go forward to make the world a better place. Below is her “positive thinking” list for ’09."

February 2009-1. Does your organization have jargon breath?

From Mal Warwick

February 2009: "1. Does your organization have jargon breath?

By Tom Ahern

“At risk?” “Accessible?” “Services?” I hear what you’re saying. I just can't see what you’re saying. And that’s the problem with jargon.

In fact, just about everything is wrong with jargon once it leaves your office."

PhilanTopic: Brother, Can You Spare a Grant?

PhilanTopic: Brother, Can You Spare a Grant?: "Brother, Can You Spare a Grant?

(Tracy Kaufman is an occasional contributor to PhilanTopic. In August, she asked the question, What's so great about an MBA?)

In the late 1920s, unprecedented rates of job and income growth in the United States prompted Herbert Hoover to boast, 'We shall soon with the help of God be within sight of the day when poverty will be banished from the nation.' A few years later, with the country mired in an economic depression, Hoover was repudiated by the voters, losing his bid for reelection to Franklin Roosevelt by a huge margin."

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."