Finding Hope in a Cause | Achieve Guidance Blog

Finding Hope in a Cause | Achieve Guidance Blog: Five years ago I joined with a few others to start Achieve. During the formation process, I looked into obtaining “key man” insurance, which provides financial relief to a company if something unexpected happens to one of its key leaders.

As with any life insurance policy, I had to pass a physical exam and submit to a battery of blood tests. A week after the exam, my insurance agent called to discuss an “odd reading” from one of the tests that pointed to an anomaly in my liver function. He then told me it could have been caused by me having a drink or two the night before. When I assured him I hadn’t, we agreed it was a fluke.

Watchdog Admits It Costs Money To Raise Money | The NonProfit Times

Watchdog Admits It Costs Money To Raise Money | The NonProfit Times: Watchdog Admits It Costs Money To Raise Money
By The NonProfit Times - August 6, 2013

“You’re here to accomplish a goal, and all sorts of expenses make that happen.” Those were the words of Art Taylor, president of Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (WGA). “There is a preoccupation in the public domain about these ratios. We’ve always tried to point out that there are a variety of things donors should be concerned about. An organization’s financials are just one part.”

DETROIT: Diaper charity helps struggling Detroit families | Health | The Sun Herald

DETROIT: Diaper charity helps struggling Detroit families | Health | The Sun Herald: For many low-income families, the struggle to afford diapers — both for children and adults — can be stressful and often humiliating, says Marybeth Levine, founder of the Detroit Area Diaper Bank, which supplies more than 50 Metro Detroit assistance groups with donated diapers.

NCVO and Charity Commission to draw up guidelines on executive pay

NCVO and Charity Commission to draw up guidelines on executive pay: The proposal by Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the NCVO, follows media criticism of senior pay in the big aid charities

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Charity Commission have agreed to draw up joint guidelines to help charity trustees to decide on pay levels for senior staff.

Lessons From Lance Armstrong Fallout With Livestrong - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Lessons From Lance Armstrong Fallout With Livestrong - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Livestrong, founded by now disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, has faced its founder’s doping scandal with a candid approach to the media, unlike some other charities whose celebrity founders have received negative publicity, writes The Washington Post.

Let's not be pious about do-gooders' handsome salaries | Catherine Bennett | Comment is free | The Observer

Let's not be pious about do-gooders' handsome salaries | Catherine Bennett | Comment is free | The Observer: Let's not be pious about do-gooders' handsome salaries

Donors may feel uneasy that charity bosses earn a lot. But well-meaning volunteers simply couldn't do the job

Reviving Detroit: 4 Arenas Where Nonprofits Can Act to Design a New Future - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Reviving Detroit: 4 Arenas Where Nonprofits Can Act to Design a New Future - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: nstead of addressing what might be involved in Detroit’s potential protection under Chapter 9, we’d like to raise issues for nonprofits and foundations concerned about Detroit and other cities like it. Although Detroit’s large foundation community, led by the likes of the Kresge Foundation, the Skillman Foundation, the McGregor Foundation, and the Hudson-Webber Foundation, has been actively engaged and putting big dollars into Detroit initiatives, traction and results have been hard to come by. Many longstanding Detroit nonprofits have not fared well in recent years, some with organizational finances following Detroit’s trajectory. Where do foundations and nonprofits go from here? How can they participate in and help shape the necessary fixes for the Motor City?

Boston Foundation to Give $10M to Nonprofits Over Four Years

massnonprofit.org :::

July 23, 2013 — Reflecting its community developer role, the Boston Foundation last week announced that over the next four years it will grant $10 million to nonprofits located along the Fairmount Corridor, a nine-mile stretch of neighborhoods along the MBTA’s Fairmount rail line, to support housing, jobs, and cultural organizations.

How To Talk About Fundraising Costs | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits

How To Talk About Fundraising Costs | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits: ike it or not, far too many folks judge a charity by its cost of fundraising and ‘overhead’.

From regulators to the media, from charity watchdogs to far too many nonprofit boards — and even some fundraisers themselves — the false metric of ‘cost of fundraising’ has created a big mess of misunderstanding.

Fortunately, the industry is waking up and finally seems motivated to deal with the issue.

Firings At 92nd Street Y Include CEO | The NonProfit Times

Firings At 92nd Street Y Include CEO | The NonProfit Times: our employees are out at the 92nd Street Y – including Executive Director Sol Adler – after an internal investigation revealed an alleged kickback scheme as well as an undisclosed personal relationship by its longtime chief executive.

The organization is not affiliated with the YMCA but rather the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA). It’s a member of the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America and an agency of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation.

Charities Struggle to Fill Teams for Returning N.Y. Marathon - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Struggle to Fill Teams for Returning N.Y. Marathon - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofit groups that use the New York City Marathon to raise money are finding themselves critically short of runners as the October event approaches, in part because of last year’s Hurricane Sandy-related cancellation of the race, according to The Wall Street Journal.

University of Colorado reports record $258.8 million in private donations in past fiscal year

University of Colorado reports record $258.8 million in private donations in past fiscal year: BOULDER, Colorado — The University of Colorado says it raised a record $258.8 million during the past fiscal year, which is up 13 percent from the previous record set a year ago.

Presidents point the light on volunteerism - The Washington Post

Presidents point the light on volunteerism - The Washington Post: There are many causes that can unify even the deepest philosophical and political divides. Last week, at the White House, it was the spirit of community service. President Obama, former President George H. W. Bush and their families held a ceremony to award a couple from Iowa with the 5,000th Daily Points of Light Award for their efforts to combat world hunger.

Nantucket nonprofits try to make the most in short fundraising season | CapeCodOnline.com

Nantucket nonprofits try to make the most in short fundraising season | CapeCodOnline.com: For Nantucket's small army of nonprofit organizations, the annual fundraising season is short, the competition is intense, and the ability to stand out from the crowd is increasingly difficult.

There are now more than 100 nonprofit organizations based on Nantucket or actively fundraising on the island. The list of important institutions with worthy missions is long, and when summer arrives, their fundraising efforts kick into high gear.

What can schools sell instead of candy? Trash bags - Houston Chronicle

What can schools sell instead of candy? Trash bags - Houston Chronicle: Some schools have done away with catalog sales altogether, instead asking parents to make direct donations. Alison Oleson, former president of the Sleepy Hollow PTA in Falls Church, Va., said with both parents working in so many families, people just don't have time "to go out and get their kids to sell things. And schools can't get the volunteers to sit there and sort the wrapping paper and candy when it comes in."

Another reason to drop catalog sales is that schools only keep a portion of what they sell — 42 percent on average, according to the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers. A letter to Sleepy Hollow parents explaining the switch noted that "the exciting part of this fundraising program is that 100 percent of your donation goes to support PTA programs (not 50 percent, as before) and it is tax deductible!"

Growing Southern Minnesota’s philanthropic resources - Le Sueur MN: Opinion

Growing Southern Minnesota’s philanthropic resources - Le Sueur MN: Opinion: Local philanthropy is nothing new. In fact, it has always been a key factor in building a quality of life in our communities.

That is because people like to donate to the places and causes that they feel strongly about. Here at Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we are passionate about local philanthropy. We are proud that 100 percent of SMIF’s board and staff are also donors to our Foundation, demonstrating their support for our mission.

An Interview with Jean Case on the 2013 Millennial Impact Report - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

An Interview with Jean Case on the 2013 Millennial Impact Report - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The Case Foundation just released their 2013 Millennial Impact Report. I had the chance to speak with Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation, and she discussed the encouraging data this report reveals on the Millennial Generation. In a media world that often portrays millennials in a negative light as “technology obsessed” and uninterested in face-time, it was uplifting to speak with Jean and hear how millennials are becoming increasingly more connected to nonprofits and giving, as well as the great potential the nonprofit sector has to tap into this age group.



Aine Creedon: Hi, Jean! It’s nice to meet you over the phone.

Great Daffodil Appeal raises record �7m

Great Daffodil Appeal raises record �7m: Marie Curie’s flagship fundraising event, Great Daffodil Appeal, raised a record �7m with more than half of the fundraised total coming from donations in collection boxes and buckets.

Why Rural Philanthropy Must Mean More than Money - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Why Rural Philanthropy Must Mean More than Money - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: n rural communities and small towns, philanthropy can take stands, create coalitions, and break down racial barriers that other institutions avoid. Philanthropy plays the role of professor, listener, pulse reader, dream interpreter, and community organizer.

Pro Bono Is a Two-Way Street - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Pro Bono Is a Two-Way Street - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Nonprofit managers who have experience working with pro bono consultants are likely to agree with these four principles for a successful engagement identified by Elizabeth Linzer of Catchafire:

Taking a strategic approach, which means attention to the longer-term view and careful prioritization of needs.

Giving Back While at Work: 32 Percent of Workers Volunteer Through Company Programs | TheLedger.com

Giving Back While at Work: 32 Percent of Workers Volunteer Through Company Programs | TheLedger.com: Such corporate generosity — which can vary from financially supporting employees' own initiatives to get involved to coordinating a company-level volunteering day — is increasing, said Jessica Rodell, an assistant professor of management at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

Steve Delfin, president and CEO of America's Charities, a nonprofit representing 115 national charities, agreed.

Alumni engagement scoring vs. predictive modelling | CoolData blog

Alumni engagement scoring vs. predictive modelling | CoolData blog: Alumni engagement scoring has an undeniable appeal. What could be simpler? Just add up how many events an alum has attended, add more points for volunteering, add more points for supporting the Annual Fund, and maybe some points for other factors that seem related to engagement, and there you have your score. If you want to get more sophisticated, you can try weighting each score input, but generally engagement scoring doesn’t involve any advanced statistics and is easily grasped.

Brian M. Carney: Pedaling for a Good Cause—But Why? - WSJ.com

Brian M. Carney: Pedaling for a Good Cause—But Why? - WSJ.com: I recently went on a 60-mile bicycle ride in the middle of the night. The venture resulted not from an existential crisis but from a charity challenge. By now the genre is familiar: A charity that promotes research into cancer or some other disease sponsors an event requiring feats of physical prowess or endurance. People sign up and seek sponsors, who agree to donate to the charity in exchange for—what, exactly?

This was the question I was asking myself as I pedaled, in increasing agony, through Sussex toward sunrise and the English coast.

DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles | The NonProfit Times

DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles | The NonProfit Times: DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles
By Patrick Sullivan - July 11, 2013

The Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) has released its first set of fundraising principles. The principles are effective immediately and cover general principles, use of funds and costs of fundraising, as well as contracts with commercial partners. “The principles really pull together standards and best practices around several areas,” said Xenia “Senny” Boone, DMANF’s general counsel.

Rock 'n' role star; Joe Saxton's 16 tips for survival in the world of work | nfpSynergy

Rock 'n' role star; Joe Saxton's 16 tips for survival in the world of work | nfpSynergy: This is a two-part blog. This first part is all about general nuggets, probably most useful people new to the world of work. The second part is specifically about nuggets for managers.

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center: The IRS has published its Exempt Organizations Update for July 2013.

The Future of Your Nonprofit Organization and MCON13 | Case Foundation

The Future of Your Nonprofit Organization and MCON13 | Case Foundation: I care about Millennials getting involved in causes, but I care more about the state of the organizations that are trying to make a difference in our communities. I worry they are not prepared to engage Millennials who want to be involved and have not adapted to the growing business changes this generation and others are demanding, such as: transparency, real time reporting, digital connectedness, and collaborative leadership.

Lets face it. Today we are dealing with a whole new way to do business and social sector work that is playing an increasingly important role across sectors.

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Congress should scrap the Obama administration’s proposal to overhaul the federal government’s annual charity drive next year with changes that could “devastate” the campaign, a United Way official told lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday.

Federal employees donated $258-million in 2012 to nearly 25,000 charities through the Combined Federal Campaign’s 160 local drives, which are managed mostly by local United Ways.

Micro-mentoring in practice: why the “micro”? |

Micro-mentoring in practice: why the “micro”? |: In other words, nearly three quarters of charities struggle to access the support they need, and yet only a third want support from outside the charity sector. The reasons are to do with how people look at their problems. If a task can be broken down and clearly articulated, many skills are transferable across sectors. It’s only when a project is taken as a complete item that you are stuck needing help and advice only from someone else doing the same job as you but with more experience.

Donor-Acquisition Strategies During Tough Times : FundRaising Success

Donor-Acquisition Strategies During Tough Times : FundRaising Success: At the Association of Fundraising Professionals'Opens in a new window Fundraising Day in New YorkOpens in a new window last month, Clint O'BrienOpens in a new window, vice president of business development at Care2Opens in a new window, laid out acquisition techniques in today's fundraising landscape in the session, "Acquisition in Tough Times: Finding New Donors Without Breaking the Bank."