Inside the Charity That Inspires James Franco to Don Green Tights

Inside the Charity That Inspires James Franco to Don Green Tights: Everybody knows James Franco is creative, but now he has found a way to make even his philanthropy innovative.

He's donating the proceeds from the three small films he's currently co-producing — Memoria, Killing Animals and Yosemite, all based on his short stories about his experiences growing up in Palo Alto, Calif. — to critically ill children through The Art of Elysium. The charity helps some 40,000 sick youth — like the wheelchair-bound Obregon, Bhyunn and Colon (pictured above) — every year with art, music and film workshops held by volunteers in hospitals all over Los Angeles and New York City. And to make even more of a difference, Franco gave the job of directing the trio of films (two are in postproduction; the third is still in preproduction) to three unknown young directors, perhaps beginning the careers of Hollywood's next generation of cutting-edge auteurs.

Gap years: Voluntourism – who are you helping? - Telegraph

Gap years: Voluntourism – who are you helping? - Telegraph: Gap years: Voluntourism – who are you helping?
If you’re looking for opportunities abroad, check your skills match and you will be helping, rather than hindering, says Rose Dykins

How Philanthropy Can Help Unaccompanied Child Refugees Now - PhilanTopic | PND | Foundation Center

How Philanthropy Can Help Unaccompanied Child Refugees Now - PhilanTopic | PND | Foundation Center: Ten-year-old Lucinda sits alone in a courtroom awaiting her fate. In front of her is a judge who will decide whether she is deported to her native Honduras. At the opposite table sits an experienced attorney advocating for her deportation. Her case will be argued in English, a language she does not speak. No one sits beside her.

NEW YORK: Nexus Global Youth Summit — Millennials Transform Philanthropy | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online

NEW YORK: Nexus Global Youth Summit — Millennials Transform Philanthropy | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online: NEW YORK — More than 500 next-gen inheritors and social entrepreneurs convened July 24-25 at the 4th annual Nexus Global Youth Summit, held at the United Nations. Nexus, the world’s largest network of millennial philanthropists, is led by Co-founders Jonah Wittkamper and Rachel Cohen Gerrol.

8 Ways Nonprofits Can Add Engaging Images to Their Social Media

8 Ways Nonprofits Can Add Engaging Images to Their Social Media: There is no doubt that visual marketing is driving online, and especially social media, content. People are visual animals – what we see helps us process information more quickly than what we read or what we hear. Wishpond found that 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and there is a reason – visuals are processed 60 thousand times faster than text!

The lessons that CRUK learned from nomakeupselfies | Third Sector

The lessons that CRUK learned from nomakeupselfies | Third Sector: Cancer Research UK did not start the social media craze of sharing photos of faces without make-up, but it responded fast and made the most of it, as Susannah Birkwood found out

Suits and all, Booz Allen VPs take on the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' (Video) - Washington Business Journal

Suits and all, Booz Allen VPs take on the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' (Video) - Washington Business Journal

Robin Williams' Suicide: Fundraisers' Role When America Copes With Tragedy : Page 1 of 2 : Target Marketing

Robin Williams' Suicide: Fundraisers' Role When America Copes With Tragedy : Page 1 of 2 : Target Marketing: Fundraisers know tragedies and disasters bring their causes front-of-mind during the grieving process. Charities see a bump in giving, which nonprofit software and services provider Blackbaud says won't sustain an organization unless the fundraisers turn those first-time givers into sustaining donors.

Mixing philanthropy with business: NYC Talent founder’s perfect ensemble � Entrepreneur, Startup, Small Business Articles and Resources

Mixing philanthropy with business: NYC Talent founder’s perfect ensemble � Entrepreneur, Startup, Small Business Articles and Resources: For this edition of Member Spotlight, a series where we showcase entrepreneurs of emerging companies, we chatted with Ashley about what influenced her to go into recruiting and philanthropy.

My mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2011. That’s when I decided to start an advocacy organization called Team Hope to educate the public about the disease.

Lead Trusts – The Final Frontier?! | The Planned Giving Blog

Some data and discussion on Lead Trusts(CLT's) from the Planned Giving Blog



Lead Trusts – The Final Frontier?! | The Planned Giving Blog: Lead Trusts – The Final Frontier?!
I can’t tell you how many times I hear consultants or financial planners talk boldly about charitable lead trusts (“lead trusts” or “CLTs”). In fact, I have heard of consultants telling starry eyed clients how lead trusts are going to play a “big role” in their upcoming campaign. Even going so far as to suggest that you can count on a certain percentage of dollars coming via lead trusts.

New 1023-EZ Form Released: Streamlines Process for Eligible Small Charities to Apply for IRC Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status and Seek Retroactive Reinstatement | Planned Giving Design Center

New 1023-EZ Form Released: Streamlines Process for Eligible Small Charities to Apply for IRC Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status and Seek Retroactive Reinstatement | Planned Giving Design Center: On July 1, 2014, the IRS issued Form 1023-EZ (Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), along with instructions and a detailed Revenue Procedure (Rev. Proc. 2004-40) that sets forth the rules for the use of the form and an Information Release (IR-2004-77). Beginning immediately, certain eligible smaller charities seeking tax exemption under IRC� 501(c)(3) can use the 3-page Form 1023-EZ to see tax exempt tax from the IRS rather than the lengthy and complicated Form 1023, which is a 26-page form that consists of a 12-page “core form” plus eight potentially-applicable schedules and a checklist. The IRS estimates that up to 70% of new charities will be able to use the Form 1023-EZ, and anticipates that the use of Form 1023-EZ for small charities and the existing Form 1023 for larger charities, will enable the IRS to more quickly process all exemption applications. In its news release accompanying the Form 1023-EZ, the IRS indicates that it currently has more than 60,000 exemption applications in its “backlog,” many of which have been pending for nine months or more.

▶ Nikki's Notes (July 30, 2014): Diversity Touches All of Us, Whether Obvious or Not - YouTube

▶ Nikki's Notes (July 30, 2014): Diversity Touches All of Us, Whether Obvious or Not - YouTube

Branding Won’t Stifle City Harvest’s Creativity | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Branding Won’t Stifle City Harvest’s Creativity | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: Branding Won’t Stifle City Harvest’s Creativity
By The NonProfit Times - August 12, 2014

At City Harvest in New York City, “Brand is sacred,” said Vice President of Marketing Heather Wallace. “A strong brand is the foundation for everything at City Harvest. It creates legitimacy.”

Branding comes down to efficiency, said Gary Laermer, chief branding officer for the YMCA New York City. If the branding is off, he said, “Positioning, fundraising and engagement just doesn’t line up. It may be close, but either you’re in the middle or working three times as hard

Independent Sector | 2014 American Express NGen Fellows

Independent Sector | 2014 American Express NGen Fellows: 
Independent Sector is delighted to announce the selection of the 2014 cohort of American Express NGen Fellows. Over the course of the next year, these accomplished and innovative leaders will collaborate with other talented leaders age 40 and under, interact with established mentors, and contribute to Independent Sector's work on nonprofit impact and leadership.

To CFRE or not to CFRE – that is the question � 101fundraising

To CFRE or not to CFRE – that is the question � 101fundraising

Summer's Philanthropy Quandary: To Do #GivingTuesday Or Not?

Summer's Philanthropy Quandary: To Do #GivingTuesday Or Not?: So yeah it’s August. And that means nonprofit fundraisers should be looking at the first Tuesday in December?

Maybe. Or maybe not.

Charities Scramble Over In-Demand Fundraisers - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Scramble Over In-Demand Fundraisers - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Shaun Keister had barely settled into his new office at the University of California at Davis when the phone rang.

A recruiter wanted to tell the veteran fundraiser about a new job he’d be just perfect for.

Mr. Keister demurred, telling the headhunter he had just taken over development operations at UC-Davis, arriving from a longtime post at Penn State, about a week earlier.

BNY Mellon Awards Operating Support Grants to Boston-area Nonprofits - WSJ.com

 PRESS RELEASE

BNY Mellon Awards Operating Support Grants to Boston-area Nonprofits - WSJ.com: Through the generosity of The Eugene F. Fay Trust, BNY Mellon has awarded operating support grants to 10 Boston-area nonprofits, providing them with critical funding for capacity-building activities. The Eugene F. Fay Trust Mini-Grants Program provides organizations with $5,000 grants for technical assistance and non-programmatic support aimed at strengthening the overall organization or a particular program.

Record-Setting $650M Donation Paves Way for Psychiatric Research at Broad | News | The Harvard Crimson

Record-Setting $650M Donation Paves Way for Psychiatric Research at Broad | News | The Harvard Crimson: Philanthropist Ted Stanley has pledged to give a record-breaking $650 million to the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to fund psychiatric disorders research, the institute’s Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research announced on Tuesday.

Advancing Human Rights | GrantCraft

Advancing Human Rights | GrantCraft: Advancing Human Rights: Knowledge Tools for Funders was borne out of these questions. The initiative is an ongoing effort to track the evolving state of global human rights funding and to create a set of dynamic, interactive data and research tools to help human rights funders and advocates increase their effectiveness. This work is led by the International Human Rights Funders Group and Foundation Center, in collaboration with Ariadne – European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights and the International Network of Women’s Funds.

The Dartmouth - Greek councils add incentives for philanthropy

The Dartmouth - Greek councils add incentives for philanthropy: The Inter-Fraternity Council, Coed Council and Panhellenic Council will incentivize members’ involvement with philanthropy, summer IFC executive board member for service Peter Gips ’16 said. Several of the new programs will be introduced this fall and spring, he said.

The IFC aims to make service an integral part of the Greek system and a component of Greek life potential members consider during the rush process, Gips said. Planned changes include standardizing the roles of service chairs across different houses, creating an annual Greek service competition and running a “million minutes” campaign, which would challenge the College’s Greek system to complete one million minutes of community service over the course of a year.

Video-Game Giant Puts Veterans Groups Under the Microscope Before Giving - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Video-Game Giant Puts Veterans Groups Under the Microscope Before Giving - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: ut the results of early funding efforts were a mixed bag, so the endowment has turned to an unusually intensive screening process before making grants, one it hopes will spur transparency among charities and more scrutiny from donors.

Philanthropy Must Step Up Action to Help Children Crossing the Border - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Philanthropy Must Step Up Action to Help Children Crossing the Border - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Young people often show up at the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles because they and their parents face horrific choices.

For instance, a 14-year-old client appeared after his father was murdered by gangs in Honduras. His mother was so traumatized from witnessing the murder that she is confined to a psychiatric hospital. Then the thugs tried to force the youngster to join their criminal enterprise and beat him up.

Letter To A CEO: The Surprising View In The Mirror

Letter To A CEO: The Surprising View In The Mirror: I sincerely applaud your decision to commit a greater part of yourself to a favorite charity. And by extension, committing your company, as well. But in your zeal to rush forward, you’re only glimpsing the reflection from one side of the mirror. Turn it around and what do you see?

Your employees.

Often just as passionate and dedicated as you are, eager to lend deeper purpose to their jobs and more meaning to their lives. Hungry for the opportunity to give back at work, alongside their fellow colleagues and you. Yes, you. Many of them want to know you better, and what better way than through improving the world together? They’d relish the chance to get involved in philanthropic work at work, participating in giving campaigns, pitching in at volunteering events, competing with each other at crowdfunding events for the grand prize.

Higher education responds to nonprofit leadership needs

Higher education responds to nonprofit leadership needs: As nonprofits demand more sophistication from their executives, that’s giving rise to another sector: educating nonprofit leaders.

This fall, Grand Valley State University is set to introduce its master of philanthropy and nonprofit leadership program. The program is a response to the need for more nonprofit leaders in the field, which currently employs 10 percent of Kent County’s workforce, according to GVSU.

Melodrama at the Met — The American Magazine

Melodrama at the Met — The American Magazine: But something else is happening at the same time: the very philanthropy that has traditionally funded and enabled artistic innovation and expression is now being attacked, and also shifting from arts funding to medical research. Eric Gibson of the Wall Street Journal reports that more than half the members of New York’s City Council signed a letter to Wal-Mart demanding it stop donating to New York charities. He also reports business leaders such as Bill Gates increasingly criticize donors who chose to fund art over hospitals. The presumption seems to be that such art is an elitist luxury; frivolous and inherently purposeless.

SOI Tax Stats - Individual Income Tax Statistics - ZIP Code Data (SOI)

SOI Tax Stats - Individual Income Tax Statistics - ZIP Code Data (SOI): individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data

ZIP Code data show selected income and tax items classified by State, ZIP Code, and size of adjusted gross income. Data are based on individual income tax returns filed with the IRS and are available for Tax Years 1998, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2012. The data include items, such as:

Number of returns, which approximates the number of households
Number of personal exemptions, which approximates the population
Adjusted gross income
Wages and salaries
Dividends before exclusion
Interest received

Komen Has ‘Moved Past’ Planned Parenthood Flap, Leader Says – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Komen Has ‘Moved Past’ Planned Parenthood Flap, Leader Says – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Judith Salerno, chief executive of Susan G. Komen, says the breast-cancer charity has moved on from the uproar that erupted in early 2012 over its short-lived cancellation of grants to Planned Parenthood, the Associated Press writes.

Is the Death of Corporate Philanthropy Exaggerated? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Is the Death of Corporate Philanthropy Exaggerated? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The end of corporate philanthropy was predicted in a post on the Forbes Leadership Forum. Paul Klein, who heads business and civil sector consulting group Impakt, encourages any corporations who are giving away their hard-earned dollars to charity to stop.

Klein, admittedly, doesn’t go as far as Milton Friedman famously did, saying that the only responsibility of a business was to make a profit, or as Jamie Whyte implied even more stingingly in the Wall Street Journal, “Corporate philanthropy is theft.” However, Klein spares no punches when it comes to charities. He recommends they “can address the loss of 5% of their revenue by reducing costs, improving efficiency.” (Those who argue that charities should spend more on overheads will wince at that uppercut.) The five-percent figure quoted is the corporate contribution to nonprofit income.

Give Millions While You’re Young: a Plea to the Wealthy - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Give Millions While You’re Young: a Plea to the Wealthy - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Wealthy people often wait until middle age or even retirement to begin thinking in earnest about giving. Of course, this is sometimes necessary—it often takes time to earn wealth before one can consider investing it in worthy causes. But age should not be the determining factor, and philanthropy, no matter when one starts, will yield successes and failures that offer lessons for one’s future giving. Effective philanthropy is not an easy undertaking, and postponing one’s engagement can mean postponing effective giving.