Bill Gates spreads philanthropy in the UAE - The National

Bill Gates spreads philanthropy in the UAE - The National: ill Gates said he planned to have meetings with donors and other philanthropists while in the Emirates, hoping to "get the wealthy to give".

Special Report: PPP National Conference on Philanthropic Planning Follow-up | Michael Rosen Says…

Special Report: PPP National Conference on Philanthropic Planning Follow-up | Michael Rosen Says…: Special Report: PPP National Conference on Philanthropic Planning Follow-up

The 2012 Partnership for Philanthropic Planning’s National Conference on Philanthropic Planning has come and gone. I thought it was a terrific conference in New Orleans because of the efforts of staff and the volunteers.

massnonprofit.org ::

massnonprofit.org ::: Nonprofit Leaders Say Mission Focus, Data Are Key to Funding

October 4, 2012 — Focusing intently on one's mission and then developing quantitative assessments of outcomes related to that mission will be key to obtaining financing in a volatile funding environment, particularly among human services agencies, nonprofit leaders said at a panel convened in Boston yesterday.

Nonprofit executives attend Stanford Management Institute

Nonprofit executives attend Stanford Management Institute: Solvang Theaterfest was one of 10 area nonprofit organizations whose executives attended a recent two-day leadership conference at the Stanford Nonprofit Management Institute, with financial support from the Santa Barbara Foundation.

Fellowships help students document Michigan's philanthropic history | MLive.com

Fellowships help students document Michigan's philanthropic history | MLive.com: ALLENDALE, MI -- An effort by Grand Valley State University to document the history of Michigan’s philanthropic community is getting a boost, thanks to three new student fellowships.

Fellowships help students document Michigan's philanthropic history | MLive.com

Fellowships help students document Michigan's philanthropic history | MLive.com: ALLENDALE, MI -- An effort by Grand Valley State University to document the history of Michigan’s philanthropic community is getting a boost, thanks to three new student fellowships.

The Employee’s Perspective: An Insider Look at Workplace Giving

The Employee’s Perspective: An Insider Look at Workplace Giving: The Employee’s Perspective: An Insider Look at Workplace Giving

Are changing generations at the workplace leading to a shift between checkbook philanthropy and volunteerism?

Millennial Fundraisers | Social Citizens

Millennial Fundraisers | Social Citizens: Andrew Watt is the president and CEO of AFP - the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Andrew's worked in the social sector - professionally and as a volunteer - all his life. His driving focus has been on constructing a platform for change, educating the public, influencing change in public policy, and, above all, building a dynamic environment in which the social sector can thrive.

All knowledge and experience is dynamic: it’s a pity that can’t always be said of the way we apply it. All professions need to draw on the experience of every one working in their field if they are to remain strong and vibrant. A constant influx of new ideas and perspectives building on the existing body of knowledge ensures that we expand our reach and impact.

Philanthropy beat: And now, it's a race to pack up leftovers | StarTribune.com

Philanthropy beat: And now, it's a race to pack up leftovers | StarTribune.com: The day after seamlessly pulling off the Twin Cities Marathon, which attracted about 9,000 runners from across the globe, the folks at the nonprofit that organizes the event were continuing the race.

This time, though, it was a sprint to organize the leftover marathon supplies in their St. Paul warehouse while the rented forklift is still there to do the heavy lifting.

Foundation Center - Press Release - "Reporting Commitment" Opens Up Grants Data

Foundation Center - Press Release - "Reporting Commitment" Opens Up Grants Data: Reporting Commitment" Opens Up Grants Data
Fifteen of the U.S.'s Largest Foundations Partner With the Foundation Center, Encourage Others to Join Effort for Philanthropic Transparency

New York, NY — October 9, 2012. A group of the largest U.S. foundations have formally committed to release their grant information in a consistent, open, and frequent manner, in an effort to more effectively address the issues facing our communities and our world. To date, 15 foundations have partnered with the Foundation Center and agreed to open up their grantmaking data in this initiative known as the "Reporting Commitment."

Stamps $33 Million, Alpert $6 Million Mark Rise in Giving - Businessweek

Stamps $33 Million, Alpert $6 Million Mark Rise in Giving - Businessweek: Nonprofits can expect to see more giving from wealthy donors, according to the 2012 Bank of America “Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy,” published last week.

About 24 percent of the 700 donors surveyed will increase their giving in the next three to five years. About 52.4 percent said their giving will remain at current levels, and 9.4 percent say they’ll give less.

SIMMONS: Give venture philanthropy a good look - Washington Times

SIMMONS: Give venture philanthropy a good look - Washington Times: Those of you paying close attention to the race for the White House probably have noticed the two concurrent themes on center stage. One is government-driven solutions; the other encompasses market-based solutions.

There’s not much discussion about the third way, through the philanthropic efforts of the private sector, which includes venture philanthropy.

How Well Do You Know Your Planned Giving Prospects? - Press - AFP

How Well Do You Know Your Planned Giving Prospects? - Press - AFP: How Well Do You Know Your Planned Giving Prospects?

One in five planned giving donors had never made any gift at all to the recipient charity before making a planned gift, according to a new study by The Stelter Company, which reveals a variety of interesting data about planned giving donors and how charities can begin the planned giving process.

Philanthropy's "Innovation Pile Up" | Impatient Optimists

Philanthropy's "Innovation Pile Up" | Impatient Optimists: Welcome to my new blog series on Impatient Optimists, where I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the Gates Foundation and philanthropy. Every six weeks I’ll be posting a new blog discussing a pressing issue at the foundation or addressing some of the challenges and opportunities facing the philanthropic community. More than anything else, this is a space for a conversation. So please submit your questions, share your feedback, and let me know if there are any topics you would like to hear about. For my first post, I want to discuss a challenge at the foundation that’s been on my mind lately. It’s called the “innovation pile up”. Let me explain.

Analysis: Impact measurement - How do you test your strength?

Analysis: Impact measurement - How do you test your strength?: Measuring effectiveness is a growing priority for charities, but questions abound. David Ainsworth looks at the methodologies and Andy Hillier talks to charities that have put them into practice

In recent years, there has been a sea change in impact measurement by charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Less than a decade ago it was little-used and ill-defined, but now it has greater importance.

Opinion: The Corcoran’s Board Has Lost the Public's Faith - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Opinion: The Corcoran’s Board Has Lost the Public's Faith - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Opinion: The Corcoran’s Board Has Lost the Public’s Faith

October 8, 2012, 11:50 am

An opinion piece in the Washington Post suggests that it might be time for the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College, an important Washington cultural institution, to consider firing all of its board members.

In Eastern Europe, homegrown giving and volunteerism is taking root | JTA - Jewish & Israel News

In Eastern Europe, homegrown giving and volunteerism is taking root | JTA - Jewish & Israel News: he raising of substantial funds locally is a sign of something that was almost unthinkable just a few years ago in former Soviet bloc countries. For years, the Jewish communities there subsisted on Western help for welfare and community building. But as these communities grow up, they are becoming increasingly self-reliant -- something that’s evident both in the growing culture of local volunteerism and homegrown philanthropy.

“Over the past few years, we see more volunteering by young Jews and more donations, which are aspects of the same trend of giving,” said Matvey Chlenov, deputy director of the Russian Jewish Congress.

Watchdog Plans Review of Charity Fundraising Appeals - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Watchdog Plans Review of Charity Fundraising Appeals - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A prominent charity watchdog is stepping up its efforts to protect donors from fundraising appeals that include misleading or false statements.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance said this week it will begin to review direct-mail solicitations, commercials, and telemarketing scripts from randomly selected charities beginning in January. The group will also review materials from nonprofits that have been the subject of complaints to its local chapters or that have been singled out in media reports.

Watching the Charity Watchdogs: Vignettes from the NAASCO Annual Meeting - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Watching the Charity Watchdogs: Vignettes from the NAASCO Annual Meeting - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.:Regardless of which candidate wins on November 6th and no matter what Congress and the President decide to do or not do regarding sequestration, the unresolved question of how to bolster nonprofit accountability through sector self-regulation and governmental oversight will persist. Neither party has a bead on the issue. In fact, neither party nor their bevy of candidates for office seems to have anything to utter on the topic.

Whatever conversation there is on this topic occurs in meetings of the state charity officers located in attorney generals offices. These are the government officials for whom charity accountability is their bread and butter. The one-day public session of the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) on October 1st didn’t include much commentary from the state charity officials themselves, who were relatively close-mouthed about their work (for fear of getting into specifics about ongoing investigations). But the various presentations and Q&As revealed much about the current debates in nonprofit accountability—and some issues that should be debated thoroughly in the sector. What follows is a series of vignettes documenting what we heard at the NASCO gathering.

Steven Culbertson: Young People Who Serve Have Right to be Heard This Election

Steven Culbertson: Young People Who Serve Have Right to be Heard This Election: We need youth ASAP this election! That's my way of saying that we not only need youth to be engaged as soon as possible, but also that we need youth Awareness, Service, Advocacy, and Philanthropy. To really address big issues, we need youth to employ all four strategies: public education and awareness raising, direct volunteering and service, advocacy and policy change, and philanthropy. When combined, these strategies will lead to lasting community change.

Audi Motorsport Blog: A closer look at The Arc Audi Racing Program with Don Istook

Audi Motorsport Blog: A closer look at The Arc Audi Racing Program with Don Istook: The team have been supporting The Arc, a national organisation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Running under the entry name of The Arc Audi Racing Program, the team employs crew members with disabilities to show what they are capable of, and to be part of a professional racing team. The Arc also sends a group of members to the race meetings to introduce them to the team and its crew.

Kevin Riordan: Musicians will gather in Cherry Hill for charity performance - Philly.com

Kevin Riordan: Musicians will gather in Cherry Hill for charity performance - Philly.com: nd starting Friday, his Jacobs Music store in Cherry Hill will host a three-day, outdoor "perform-athon" featuring 70 professionals, semiprofessionals, and students playing for charity.

Holocaust charity refuses donation funded by sale of Nazi memorabilia

Holocaust charity refuses donation funded by sale of Nazi memorabilia: A UK charity set up to protect the memory of the Holocaust has refused a donation from an auction house after it sold Nazi memorabilia.

National Conference on Philanthropic Planning | Nonprofit Community

National Conference on Philanthropic Planning | Nonprofit Community: This year’s conference features a number of our Wiley nonprofit authors participating in a variety of sessions, panels, and author signings over the course of three days.

Sessions/Panels

Several Wiley authors will be speaking at the conference this year. Brian Sagrestano will be speaking about the need for philanthropic planning as a result of changing generational cohorts and Julie Walker is leading a session of how to make your board effective members of the fundraising team. Robert Wahlers takes part in a panel on building your career in philanthropy. Be sure to check them out!

Why Nonprofits Should Invest More in Advertising - Dan Pallotta - Harvard Business Review

Why Nonprofits Should Invest More in Advertising - Dan Pallotta - Harvard Business Review: otal annual U.S. marketing expenditures for all purposes are estimated to be about $730 billion. A rough estimate of annual nonprofit sector marketing spending puts it at $7.6 billion. Take away nonprofit universities, museums, and other quasi-businesses, and a liberal estimate of annual health and human service nonprofit marketing spending is $1.9 billion — one dollar for charity, $384 for something else. In 2005 Save the Children (one of the larger charity advertisers) spent about $6.4 million on advertising. The Walt Disney Company — or Entertain the Children — spent about $2.4 billion — 359 times more — about the equivalent of the difference in height between the Sears Tower and a 4 year-old child. It's a testament to the dearth of advertising in the sector that the I.R.S. Form 990 doesn't even have a specific line item for reporting it.

Former President Clinton gets $2 bln in pledges to tackle world's woes | Reuters

Former President Clinton gets $2 bln in pledges to tackle world's woes | Reuters: With its theme of "Designing for Impact" and an emphasis on improving the lives of women and girls in the developing world, heads of states, business leaders and humanitarians at the eighth annual Clinton Global Initiative made 150 new pledges valued at about $2 billion to tackle some of the world's woes.

Edgar Allan Poe House to Get Lifeline From Train Museum - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Edgar Allan Poe House to Get Lifeline From Train Museum - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Edgar Allan Poe House to Get Lifeline From Train Museum

October 4, 2012, 10:43 am

Baltimore’s Edgar Allan Poe House, threatened with closure by municipal budget cuts, will get a lifeline via a city-funded plan to enlist another local cultural institution to help promote the literary landmark, The Baltimore Sun writes.

The city’s Board of Estimates approved a proposal Wednesday to pay the B&O Railroad Museum $180,000 to put the Poe House on th

NY appeals court: Philanthropist Vilar can be freed on bail pending appeal of conviction - The Washington Post

NY appeals court: Philanthropist Vilar can be freed on bail pending appeal of conviction - The Washington Post: NEW YORK — An opera-loving philanthropist convicted of a multimillion-dollar fraud will soon be freed from prison on bail after a federal appeals court signaled on Tuesday he might be succeeding in proving his case deserves a second look.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a one-page order requiring Alberto Vilar and a co-defendant, Gary Alan Tanaka, be released before it issues its opinion on the legality of their convictions.

The AFP Blog: Enhancing Inclusion in Philanthropy

The AFP Blog: Enhancing Inclusion in Philanthropy: One of the most exciting projects AFP has ever undertaken regarding inclusion is a new three year program just launching in Ontario that is designed to increase giving among a number of ethno-cultural and immigrant groups, First Nations/M�tis/Inuit peoples, women, youth, individuals with disabilities, Francophone-Ontarians and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered populations.

Sources of Attitudes on Nonprofit Compensation: A Conversation with Paul Light - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Sources of Attitudes on Nonprofit Compensation: A Conversation with Paul Light - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Editors’ note: NPQ contributing editor Jon Pratt sat down with NYU’s Dr. Paul Light to talk about social attitudes about compensation in public service jobs. In his usual integrative style, Light provides an excellent overview of the frameworks Americans use when they think about executive pay. This follows a string of articles and commentaries on concepts of nonprofit compensation by Lester Salamon, Tom Pollack, and Rick Cohen, which continue to provide strategic guidance in the area. Light is the Paulette Goddard Professor at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University and an online columnist for the Washington Post. He is also author of, most recently, Driving Social Change: How to Solve the World’s Toughest Problems (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011).