Reductionism in the So-Called Science of Giving? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Reductionism in the So-Called Science of Giving? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: As we are in the end-of-year period when people traditionally think about making charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations and causes, we recognize that there are almost as many reasons to give as there are donors. But what donors give to and what they should expect to see from their gift has been a fairly hot topic, particularly with the growing emphasis on outcomes in the sector. As one article in NPQ has reported, there have been many studies and much investment in looking at what donors want. With no firm conclusions to be had, there are nonetheless legions of advocates who are wed to the idea that even if metrics are not what donors want as deciders in their giving, they should be. Now, in a blog on the New York Times website, Tina Rosenberg writes about a researcher from Oxford University, Toby Ord, who suggests that donors should give to those organizations that are the most effective in having an impact on the most significant issues (by the way, if you read this blog posting, do open up the comments section, as there have been some very interesting and intelligent responses posted there from around the world).

IRS Gives Additional Time to Small, Automatically Revoked Tax-Exempt Organizations Affected by Hurricane Sandy | Planned Giving Design Center

IRS Gives Additional Time to Small, Automatically Revoked Tax-Exempt Organizations Affected by Hurricane Sandy | Planned Giving Design Center: As part of the administration’s efforts to bring all available resources to bear to support state and local partners impacted by Hurricane Sandy, the IRS is postponing the filing date until Feb. 1, 2013, for some small tax-exempt organizations affected by Hurricane Sandy to take advantage of transitional relief when applying for reinstatement of their exempt status.

Good Data Help Ensure Collaboration Success

massnonprofit.org ::: The potential benefits are obvious: better service to clients through program synergy, lower overhead costs via economies of scale, increased scope of service, or simply letting someone else do something that they’re better at. However, there are complexities at every turn, and critical decisions need to be made in every phase of the process.

This is why using data to help shape the collaboration process is so important.

Catholic Charities has new way to take services to poor, needy | Fort Worth | News from ...

Catholic Charities has new way to take services to poor, needy | Fort Worth | News from ...: Catholic Charities now provides more than three dozen services, including utility bill assistance, financial counseling, English and parenting classes, and help for refugees. The agency, with a $19.1 million annual budget, served 124,096 people last year, compared to about 50,000 people nine years ago.

The agency's efforts got a big boost Monday when it unveiled its newest tool -- a shiny, new customized bus dubbed the "mobile unit" -- that will be used to expand service such as financial counseling and English classes far outside the city or as an outreach to the homeless living in shadows along city streets.

Leadership Lessons From Nonprofit Mergers And Closings | Fast Company

Leadership Lessons From Nonprofit Mergers And Closings | Fast Company: Financial challenges facing nonprofits are driving organizational mergers and closings. Because the role of the nonprofit board is to ensure that the organization’s assets are used for designated purposes, the board must be thoughtful in deciding if and when a nonprofit is no longer viable, and then exploring options for the future. There are valuable leadership lessons to be learned from boards that have undertaken the serious responsibility of merging or closing a nonprofit.

Grateful patient philanthropy and the doctor-patient relationship

Some additional Grateful Patient material 

Grateful patient philanthropy and the doctor-patient relationship: Grateful patient philanthropy and the doctor-patient relationship

December 10, 2012 in Other

Physicians associated with "patient philanthropy" – financial donations from grateful patients to a medical institution – are concerned with how these contributions might affect their own behavior and attitudes, and how they might impact the doctor-patient relationship. A new study by Scott Wright, MD and Joseph A. Carrese, MD, MPH of Johns Hopkins University, and colleagues, explores this topic. The paper considers the perspectives of internal medicine physicians working in an academic medical center who have had experiences with these situations. Their findings appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer.

IAEE Plans Co-Location With ASAE Annual Meeting: Associations Now

IAEE Plans Co-Location With ASAE Annual Meeting: Associations Now: With all the recent talk about co-location of meetings, it only makes sense that ASAE would jump on board, right?

That’s why the association is co-locating with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ Midyear Meeting during the 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Atlanta. The events overlap on Monday, August 5, and Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

Philanthropy study funded by $5 million grant

Philanthropy study funded by $5 million grant: How do you study philanthropy? Through philanthropy, apparently.

UW-Madison and two other colleges are sharing a $5 million grant to explore the motives behind philanthropy and what strategies can be developed to get the most dollars.

The Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) is a collaboration among UW-Madison, the University of Chicago and Georgia State. The $5 million grant is from the John Templeton Foundation.

Ten Tips for Staying Sane While Fundraising This Holiday Season

Ten Tips for Staying Sane While Fundraising This Holiday Season: Ten Tips for Staying Sane While Fundraising This Holiday Season

December 2012

Reprinted from Benevon

Dreading the holidays? You are not alone. Rather than falling prey to the slippery slope of holiday overwhelm and busy-work, follow these top 10 tips for mastering the season while developing long-term relationships with your donors.

Donor Intent Decision Appealed - TheNonProfitTimes

Donor Intent Decision Appealed - TheNonProfitTimes: Donor Intent Decision Appealed - 12/06/2012

A dispute regarding the development of a suburban Maryland farm will continue as the family behind the original lawsuit has filed an appeal.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Rubin sided with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in granting summary judgment, saying that the sale of the 138-acre Belward Farm for $5 million was an arm’s length real estate transaction rather than a gift. A formal trial was scheduled to begin Nov. 13 but both parties filed for summary judgment in September.

Ed Norton's Crowdrise Brings Fundraising (And Fun) To The Masses | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

Ed Norton's Crowdrise Brings Fundraising (And Fun) To The Masses | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: Ed Norton’s Crowdrise Brings Fundraising (And Fun) To The Masses

Written by: Rachael Chong

The serial philanthropist’s project is helping people raise tons of money for their causes, while keeping the attitude light and funny.

Nonprofit theaters' fiscal mood improving, national survey shows - latimes.com

Nonprofit theaters' fiscal mood improving, national survey shows - latimes.com: America's nonprofit theaters are feeling a bit better about their finances these days, according to a recent survey conducted by the sector's main national service organization, Theatre Communications Group.

But the actors, directors and designers who work in those theaters shouldn't bank on a trickle-down effect boosting their standard of living.

Post-Sandy Donor Fatigue Worries N.Y. Charities - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Post-Sandy Donor Fatigue Worries N.Y. Charities - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: he rush of donations to aid victims of Superstorm Sandy is straining giving to other New York City-area nonprofit groups, writes The Wall Street Journal.

Better communications seen as critical for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina

Better communications seen as critical for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina: Nonprofits believe government, the media and the general public do not understand the distinct values that make the social sector indispensable to society, and nonprofits also believe they need to communicate more effectively about their role and impact, says the report by the Listening Post Project of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies.

#GivingTuesday Drew 103 Mass. Nonprofits to Start Yearend Drive

massnonprofit.org ::: November 30, 2012 — One hundred three Massachusetts nonprofits joined #GivingTuesday, a one-day campaign held this week to celebrate and encourage charitable activities and support nonprofit organizations, and likely benefited from as much as a 53% increase in online donations on that day.

New Rules for Catholic Charities May Hinder Charity Collaboration - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

New Rules for Catholic Charities May Hinder Charity Collaboration - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The Vatican has issued new guidelines for Catholic charities, and the rules may have a significant impact on Catholic charities’ ability to collaborate with non-Catholic groups. A new apostolic letter, issued December 1 on the Vatican web site, is titled “De Caritate ministranda,” or, “On the service of charity.” The rules seek to assure that Church-affiliated charitable organizations and charitable works are also compatible with Catholic teaching. The National Catholic Reporter summarizes the edict from Pope Benedict XVI:

Obituary: David Oliver Relin, Co-Wrote 'Three Cups of Tea' - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Obituary: David Oliver Relin, Co-Wrote 'Three Cups of Tea' - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Obituary: David Oliver Relin, Co-Wrote ‘Three Cups of Tea’

December 4, 2012, 10:15 am

David Oliver Relin, who co-authored the controversial memoir Three Cups of Tea with philanthropist Greg Mortenson, has committed suicide, according to The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

The Risks of Limiting Charitable Deductions - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

The Risks of Limiting Charitable Deductions - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: In his Urban Institute blog, The Government We Deserve, the Tax Policy Center’s Gene Steuerle looks to the past to auger the future of charitable deductions. He suggests that rather than eliminate charitable deductions altogether to increase much needed revenue, government should consider other options. He cites a 2003 GAO study which details what happened when tax deductions on donated cars were curtailed: claims for donated vehicles dropped. This was dramatically illustrated as only a graph could.

TripAdvisor Combines Philanthropy And Marketing By Letting Reviewers Give A Free $25 Kiva Microloan | TechCrunch

TripAdvisor Combines Philanthropy And Marketing By Letting Reviewers Give A Free $25 Kiva Microloan | TechCrunch: TripAdvisor is demonstrating what Shah calls a “a very big trend”. Rather than writing one big check, companies and high net worth individuals can greater leverage their contribution by putting in the hands of others. In March 2012, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman put up $1 million to let other people try Kiva. He drove 47,840 new signups to Kiva, and since then, those people have lent an addition $417,000 of their own money.

Google launches effort to spur innovation in nonprofit sector, granting $23M to 7 nonprofits - The Washington Post

Google launches effort to spur innovation in nonprofit sector, granting $23M to 7 nonprofits - The Washington Post: WASHINGTON — Google is announcing $23 million in grants to spur innovation among charities and increase education for girls and minority students in science and technology.

Seven nonprofits will win the first Google Global Impact Awards on Tuesday.

Albany Herald | 'Georgia Gives Day' features nonprofits

Albany Herald | 'Georgia Gives Day' features nonprofits: ALBANY, Ga. -- For most people, life without nonprofit agencies would be difficult at best, according to Karen Beavor, president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. To raise money and awareness for the more than 1,300 nonprofit agencies registered with the GCN, the first-ever Georgia Gives Day will be held Thursday.

Do the Math: Abolishing the Charitable Deduction Would Cost Charities Billions - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Do the Math: Abolishing the Charitable Deduction Would Cost Charities Billions - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: While economists have long studied the impact of the deduction, they have not reached a clear consensus on how much it matters. A new study, however, along with recently released IRS data make it quite clear that America’s charitable organizations could be hurt greatly if donors lost all or part of the charitable income-tax deduction as lawmakers seek ways to avert the looming “financial cliff.”

The new study of the wealthy and their philanthropy, released last month by Bank of America, asked affluent people (mostly with incomes of $200,000 or more and net assets of at least $1-million) how they might alter their giving if deductions were eliminated.

#GoodSpotting Returns! | Case Foundation

#GoodSpotting Returns! | Case Foundation: This time of the year it’s easy for us all to get swept up in the swirl of holiday shopping, parties, and gifts. But as we saw most recently with the incredible success of #GivingTuesday – it truly is the “most wonderful time of the year,” when the spirit of generosity surrounds us. Every holiday season (and year round) at the Case Foundation, we celebrate the incredible acts of good, large and small, that take place every day in cities and towns all over the world, thanks to amazing individuals and organizations. This holiday season, we hope you’ll join us in sharing the spirit of generosity, community, and service as we go #GoodSpotting! All you have to do is remember these three simple instructions: Spot Good. Share Good. Do Good!

Arts used as tool to improve graduation rate � Philanthropy North Carolina

Arts used as tool to improve graduation rate � Philanthropy North Carolina: CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ninety-six percent of students enrolled in the National Center for Arts & Technology at Pittsburgh’s Manchester Bidwell Corporation graduate from high school, and 89 percent go on to higher education.

Based on the Pittsburgh model, the Arts & Science Council in Charlotte has teamed with Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to launch Studio 345, a free after-school program that aims to improve the graduation rate in the county by incorporating the arts in a studio setting into all subjects in the curriculum.

Hurricane Sandy Donations — 15 Percent of What? - NYTimes.com

Hurricane Sandy Donations — 15 Percent of What? - NYTimes.com: That the practice has found some of its most aggressive expression in the aftermath of natural disasters is surely obvious to anyone who has observed the second and third chapters of Hurricane Sandy, as businesses have gone about the yoked work of advancing their interests while igniting charitable impulses, occasionally to unseemly, or at the very least, utterly confounding, effect

"Giving Tuesday' gets mixed results - Welcome to the W.C.H. Record-Herald - Washington Court House, OH

"Giving Tuesday' gets mixed results - Welcome to the W.C.H. Record-Herald - Washington Court House, OH: More than 2,500 organizations partnered this holiday season to encourage charitable giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, a new "Giving Tuesday" holiday to follow the enthusiastic consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Although some organizations reported boosts as large as 56 percent over the same Tuesday last year, several local charities did not see gains and some are seeking additional help from local donors.

Renew The Heart & Soul of your Non-Profit for a Chance To Win $10,000 | Beth’s Blog

Renew The Heart & Soul of your Non-Profit for a Chance To Win $10,000 | Beth’s Blog: Re-inspire your sense of mission by participating in the Heart & Soul grant

The CTK Foundation has just launched the 2012/2013 Heart & Soul Grants, with over $55,000 to assist nonprofits like yours in accomplishing your mission.

But, more important than the money is the process for applying, which is unlike any other grant program!
How do you apply for these grants?

All you have to do is submit a 4-8 line poem expressing the heart of your mission at www.communitytech.net (orgs must be US-based 501 c3s).

Youth Volunteerism: 3 Ways Millennials Are Changing Philanthropy

Youth Volunteerism: 3 Ways Millennials Are Changing Philanthropy: As a millennial who cares deeply about making the world a better place, I’ve been thinking about the ways my generation’s approach to philanthropy differs from older generations. This view has been largely informed by serving on the board of directors for Spark, a non-profit network of young professionals dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, and to training the next generation of philanthropists.

Charities Would Lose $10-Billion Under Tax Cap, White House Says - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Would Lose $10-Billion Under Tax Cap, White House Says - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Charities Would Lose $10-Billion Under Tax Cap, White House Says

December 3, 2012, 9:25 am

By Doug Donovan

President Obama won’ t support an annual limit on deductions, including those for charitable giving, as the White House issued an estimate that such a break would cost charities at least $10-billion a year.

That will come as a relief to nonprofit leaders who say such limits are essentially the same as ending charitable deductions.

#GivingTuesday Sparks Big Spike in Donations - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

#GivingTuesday Sparks Big Spike in Donations - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The amount of online donations processed by Blackbaud, a processor of online gifts, shot up 53 percent to $10-million on Tuesday, compared with the same day last year.

Network for Good, another processor of online gifts, also reported a spike. The total number of donations more than doubled, to 113 percent, on #GivingTuesday versus the Tuesday after Thanksgiving 2011. The amount collected Tuesday was also 55 percent more than the amount of donations collected on Monday.