Guest Post: The Language of Crowdfunding, Philanthropy and Impact Investing | Social Velocity

Guest Post: The Language of Crowdfunding, Philanthropy and Impact Investing | Social Velocity: One of those non-work related blogs that I read is Popville, which chronicles activities in Washington, DC neighborhoods. This July and last, two local businesses sought financing through crowdfunding platforms, and reached out to Popville readers for support. Both cited the community focus of their enterprises as reasons to financially support their efforts. What ensued in the comment thread of both posts provides a snapshot into how those outside of the philanthropy and impact investing field understand and discuss crowdfunding, charitable giving, and investing with the intention to generate social and financial returns.

#IceBucketChallenge Wisdom From 'Jackass' Steve-O - The Daily Beast

#IceBucketChallenge Wisdom From 'Jackass' Steve-O - The Daily Beast: But when the end result is tens of millions raised, do the shades of vanity or petty grudges truly matter? Not really, according to Andrew Watt, the president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

“Yes, a celebrity is getting favorable coverage out of it—but in doing that, they’re also pushing considerable revenue in the direction of the ALS foundation,” Watt tells The Daily Beast. “And they’re raising awareness of Lou Gehrig’s disease, which is not something people are particularly familiar with.”

Ebola Crisis Raises Profile of Faith Group Samaritan’s Purse – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Ebola Crisis Raises Profile of Faith Group Samaritan’s Purse – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: he Ebola outbreak in West Africa has brought greater attention to Samaritan’s Purse, the well-funded but relatively low-profile Christian relief charity led by Franklin Graham, the Rev. Billy Graham’s son, writes The Washington Post.

Bain Capital Buys 50% Stake in Toms Shoes – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Bain Capital Buys 50% Stake in Toms Shoes – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Private-equity firm Bain Capital has purchased half of Toms Shoes in a move aimed at speeding growth of the social enterprise that pioneered a model of for-profit philanthropy with its giveaway of a pair of shoes to a needy child for each pair sold, Bloomberg and The New York Times write.

Ice-Bucket Torrent Reaches $8.6-Million in a Day and Douses Ex-President – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Ice-Bucket Torrent Reaches $8.6-Million in a Day and Douses Ex-President – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Ice-Bucket Torrent Reaches $8.6-Million in a Day and Douses Ex-President

The flood of “ice-bucket challenge” donations to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease reached a new crest Wednesday as the ALS Association reported taking in $8.6-million over a 24-hour period, Time writes.

Get to know news people � Philanthropy North Carolina

Get to know news people � Philanthropy North Carolina: If you want the news media to cover your nonprofit, you need to work for it.

Just as you likely would not ask for a big gift when contacting a donor for the first time, don’t expect to get a front-page story the first time you contact a reporter.

So cultivate relationships with reporters, editors and news producers at your local news outlets, just as you would with prospective donors.

Anyone Can Be A Philanthropist! | Bissell Centre - Where Hope Finds Help

Anyone Can Be A Philanthropist! | Bissell Centre - Where Hope Finds Help: Most often when the media mention a philanthropist, they are referencing a person or a family of considerable wealth who are using their good fortune to help address social problems. While it is true that a billionaire can have more impact than I can, I believ

Ice Bucket Challenge Still Going Strong: $31.5 Million in Donations to The ALS Association - The ALS Association

Ice Bucket Challenge Still Going Strong: $31.5 Million in Donations to The ALS Association - The ALS Association: Ice Bucket Challenge Still Going Strong: $31.5 Million in Donations to The ALS Association

Washington, D.C. (August 20, 2014) — As of Wednesday, August 20, The ALS Association has received $31.5 million in donations compared to $1.9 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 20). These donations have come from existing donors and 637,527 new donors to The Association.

Mid-Level Donors Getting A Cold Shoulder | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Mid-Level Donors Getting A Cold Shoulder | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: Mid-level donors might live in a strange place in your development department. They’re not serviced with the same automation that your direct mail file is, but they also most likely don’t warrant the personal touch of the major giving department.

“In spite of the fact that they’re producing revenue, they’re neglected,” said Cathy Finney, deputy vice president of strategic services at The Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C. “We’re not paying a lot of attention,” she said.

Low Donor Retention Takes More Than A Board Meeting To Solve | GuideStar Blog

Low Donor Retention Takes More Than A Board Meeting To Solve | GuideStar Blog: How involved is your board in the fight against low donor retention?

Business owners, executives and other for-profit professionals are used to customer renewal rates of 90% or more. That’s why most board members are shocked when they learn that the charity they serve has a low donor retention rate.

Arts groups still struggle to survive - Connecticut Post

Arts groups still struggle to survive - Connecticut Post: he Ailey concert was free, but donations were accepted, and many tied to Neighborhood Studios hoped those in attendance would be generous. "Fundraising is a major issue -- more this year than other years," said Frank Derico, executive director of the 37-year-old organization.

Though charitable giving rebounded both nationally and in Connecticut since the 2008 recession, many small nonprofits are still struggling. That's particularly true of organizations connected to the arts that don't have endowments, such as Neighborhood Studios.

The AFP Blog: The #IceBucketChallenge

The AFP Blog: The #IceBucketChallenge: The #IceBucketChallenge
Chances are, you’ve heard about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. At this point, how could you not?

The challenge involves people getting doused with buckets of ice water on video, posting the video to social media and then nominating others to do the same. If you refuse to take the challenge, then you’re asked to make a donation to the ALS charity of your choice.

Both Sides Make Fiscal Concessions in Metropolitan Opera Labor Deal – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Both Sides Make Fiscal Concessions in Metropolitan Opera Labor Deal – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Metropolitan Opera musicians and singers accepted two pay cuts in the coming year while management agreed to trim millions of dollars in expenses under tentative labor agreements between the company and its two biggest unions, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal report.

Livestrong Donates $50-Million to U. of Texas Medical School – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Livestrong Donates $50-Million to U. of Texas Medical School – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: he Livestrong Foundation announced a 10-year, $50-million gift Tuesday to establish a cancer-care project at the University of Texas’s Dell Medical School, The Texas Tribune reports.

The Livestrong Cancer Institutes will be a collaboration between the Austin-based cancer charity and the medical school, which is set to open in 2016,

Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund Summer Benefit Returns to the Hamptons | Haiti EarthQuake

Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund Summer Benefit Returns to the Hamptons | Haiti EarthQuake: The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund is holding a Summer Benefit on August 22nd in Sagaponack, New York, hosted by the Co-Founders of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and BGC Partners, Howard Lutnick, along with his wife Allison and the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund President, Edie Lutnick. They will welcome guests to a fundraiser on the beach to benefit victims of terrorism, natural disasters and emergencies, as well as over 200 direct

D.C. Judge OKs Corcoran Merger – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

D.C. Judge OKs Corcoran Merger – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: A judge has approved a merger of the Corcoran Gallery of Art with the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University, the Associated Press and the Washington Business Journal report.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Okun’s ruling on Monday will effectively mean the dissolution of one of Washington’s oldest arts institutions, which has an estimated $2-billion in assets.

A well prepared survey can bring great value to a nonprofit | Miratel Solutions

A well prepared survey can bring great value to a nonprofit | Miratel Solutions: Providing you have a reasonably broad sample population of supporters to work with, a survey can provide invaluable information about your next best steps plus it’s not expensive to conduct in the online era

First major study of charity mergers is published

From the UK.



First major study of charity mergers is published: Some 4 per cent of people working in the charity sector were involved in a merger last year, suggests a comprehensive new study of mergers in the sector.

The research, by Eastside Primetimers, aimed to collect data on mergers that occurred in England and Wales between January 2013 and April 2014, where the transferring organisation was a registered charity.

The researchers identified 189 organisations that undertook 90 deals, affecting more than 32,000 employees or 4 per cent of the charity sector workforce.

Philanthropy, entrepreneurship flavor 2014’s 40 - Business Examiner - August 2014 - Tacoma, WA

Philanthropy, entrepreneurship flavor 2014’s 40 - Business Examiner - August 2014 - Tacoma, WA: And perhaps most indicative of the South Sound’s continuing dedication to the betterment of the lives of its residents, this year’s class is peppered with honorees working for nonprofit groups and business incubators, from organizations dedicated to the mentorship of local youth to groups focused on keeping the South Sound’s work force employed. And many honorees who aren’t directly involved sit on various boards and contribute their time to myriad local causes, not just to network, but because of a genuine desire to make their community a better place.

Should Mature Nonprofits Allow Board Micromanagement? | Nonprofit Management

Should Mature Nonprofits Allow Board Micromanagement? | Nonprofit Management: Accepted View of Micromanagement: “…Directors spend more time with the details of the operations instead of planning its short-term and long-term growth strategies. …
(http://linkd.in/1q84pMm)

The Need for a Micromanaging Board
Board micromanagement is an appropriate approach when a nonprofit is in a start-up stage. Financial and human resources are modest, and the volunteer directors must assume some responsibilities normally executed by compensated staff. The chief executive often has managerial responsibilities as well as a list of clients to service. It is not unusual to promote a person who is only familiar with direct service to become the first chief executive of the organization. In turn , this neophyte manager has to depend on board members for managerial counsel and direction. A culture of board dependency is created out of necessity.

College Fund-Raising Rises 5.2 Percent – The Ticker - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education

College Fund-Raising Rises 5.2 Percent – The Ticker - Blogs - The Chronicle of Higher Education: College Fund-Raising Rises 5.2 Percent

Fund-raising in higher education grew by an estimated 5.2 percent in the 2014 fiscal year, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education reported on Tuesday. That was a full percentage point below the 6.2-percent increase that was predict

The Guy Who Kickstarted Potato Salad Wasn’t Just Trolling Us All | TechCrunch

The Guy Who Kickstarted Potato Salad Wasn’t Just Trolling Us All | TechCrunch: It’s come to our attention that PotatoStock is a go. Zack “Danger” Brown, a Columbus, Ohio native, previously confirmed that he will put the proceeds raised from his potato salad Kickstarter to good use, namely founding PotatoStock, a philanthropic music festival featuring “gallons” of potato salad.

Richest Russian Takes Over Title of Country’s Top Donor – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Richest Russian Takes Over Title of Country’s Top Donor – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy:alisher Usmanov, Russia’s wealthiest man, was also its most generous philanthropist in last year, donating $194-million, according to a Bloomberg survey of the country’s 25 richest people and their giving.

Dan Snyder Keeps on Trying to Win Friends Through Philanthropy - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Dan Snyder Keeps on Trying to Win Friends Through Philanthropy - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The life cycle of Daniel Snyder’s Original Americans Foundation is something to behold. His Washington DC National Football League franchise has just released a video of Native Americans explaining how many do not find the racially disparaging name of Snyder’s team to be “objectionable”.

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