Opinion: Is Detroit’s Close Call a Wake-Up Call for Museums? – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Opinion: Is Detroit’s Close Call a Wake-Up Call for Museums? – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "n the wake of the Detroit of Institute of Arts’ escape from being forced to sell works to help pay the city’s creditors, a Wall Street Journal culture writer looks at the risks faced by other art museums whose collections are fully or partly owned by government bodies.

After more than a year of legal wrangling and hundreds of millions of dollars in pledges from foundations, a judge earlier this month approved a plan for Detroit’s bankruptcy reorganization that safeguards the museum’s holdings. The Journal’s Lee Rosenbaum says that “excruciating experience … should be a wake-up call” to other museums with potentially vulnerable collections."



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The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: New Opportunities, New Questions For Nonprofits - The Diane Rehm Show

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: New Opportunities, New Questions For Nonprofits - The Diane Rehm Show: "The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation raises about $130 million a year in its ongoing effort to help people who suffer with the deadly disease, but that amount seems small change in comparison with the $3.3 billion it just received related to an investment it made years ago in small drug development company. For a health-related nonprofit, $3.3 billion is a jaw dropping amount. It gives the foundation the means to explore all kinds of new ways to help patients and to look for a cure, but the projected per patient cost of this drug, $373,000 per year, raises concerns. Please join us to discuss new questions about venture philanthropy."



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How Nonprofit Leadership Prepares for Its Future - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

How Nonprofit Leadership Prepares for Its Future - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: "In the UK as well as the U.S., nonprofit leaders are faced with stresses and the demand to do more with less. Evolving high-functioning leaders in the nonprofit sector has become a focus of professional development programs.

The Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development in London found that nonprofits are the sector least likely to make talent management activities a priority. This, coupled with the fact that the Leading Social skills review found that civil society leaders remain loyal to an organization longer than in other sectors, is concerning in regard to the evolution of charities. Leaders need to ensure their skills and knowledge are passed on."



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Gifts to Donor-Advised Funds Grew 24% in 2013, According to a Study - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Gifts to Donor-Advised Funds Grew 24% in 2013, According to a Study - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "A flood of contributions to donor-advised funds pushed assets of the charitable accounts to a new high of nearly $54-billion in 2013, according to a new report.

But the study also found that those accounts distributed a slightly smaller share of assets to charities last year than in 2012.

Donors poured more than $17-billion into the accounts, an increase of 24 percent, according to the report."



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Deal by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Raises Cash and Some Concern - NYTimes.com

Deal by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Raises Cash and Some Concern - NYTimes.com: "Proponents say it speeds drug development while also providing potential monetary rewards that can pay for even more research.

Continue reading the main story

 But there is some concern that a profit motive could divert the organizations from their primary mission — helping patients — and create a conflict of interest. For instance, the price of the main drug developed through Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s investment is $300,000 a year."



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Nancy Frates: Why my family started the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The rest is history | Talk Video | TED.com

Nancy Frates: Why my family started the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The rest is history | Talk Video | TED.com: "In a brave talk, his mom Nancy Frates tells the story of how the family developed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and took great pleasure in seeing everyone from Justin Timberlake to Bill Gates take part"



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Celebrity Supporters And 16,000 Partners Rally Behind #GivingTuesday - Look to the Stars

Celebrity Supporters And 16,000 Partners Rally Behind #GivingTuesday - Look to the Stars: "The third annual #GivingTuesday will be celebrated on December 2, and celebrities and partners are rallying behind the growing movement of social giving."



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:Mass. Nonprofits Rank Among “Top Places to Work 2014”

massnonprofit news ::: "Mass. Nonprofits Rank Among “Top Places to Work 2014”

November 15, 2014 — Fifteen nonprofits—10 of them focused on the delivery of health services—have been named among the top places to work today in Massachusetts, according to a listing recently published by The Boston Globe.

Nonprofits accounted for 12% of the 125 organizations included in the Top Places to Work 2014 listing."



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Pallotta: Mindset Curbs Ability of Nonprofits to Fulfill Potential

massnonprofit news ::: "November 17, 2014 — Nonprofits have been trained to think about themselves “in a backward way” that is stifling their potential to change the world, Dan Pallotta, an activist who has garnered renown for his efforts to get people to think about nonprofits the way they think about for-profits, told a Boston gathering of human services providers today.
"



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The Strategic Donor Relations Plan... Killing Me Softly | LinkedIn

Great material from Lynne Wester



The Strategic Donor Relations Plan... Killing Me Softly | LinkedIn: "Here's the answer- I can't give you someone's strategic plan. There is no Google keyword search that brings any of them up. I can give you samples of comprehensive plans, calendars of activities and as many other samples as you could ever imagine, if I don't have it posted, heck, I'll go find it for you. But I can't and won't give you a strategic plan I've created or another organization has created. I can teach you how to do a GAP analysis and determine your strategy based on the strategic goals of your leadership. I can show you how to survey your donors, gain feedback and build a program specific to your organization's needs. "



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United States Ranks 9th in the World in Giving to Charity - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

United States Ranks 9th in the World in Giving to Charity - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "The United States climbed into the top 10 on an annual ranking of the countries with the most charitable people but still lags behind smaller and poorer nations like Myanmar, Malta, and Thailand.

The World Giving Index 2014 report released today puts the United States ninth for giving to charity, up from 13th place on the 2013 index."



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How Can Community Colleges Get a Piece of the Billions That Donors Give to Higher Education? - NYTimes.com

How Can Community Colleges Get a Piece of the Billions That Donors Give to Higher Education? - NYTimes.com: "Last year at its annual gala, LaGuardia Community College, arguably the most ethnically diverse college in the country, honored Marilyn Skony Stamm, the chief executive of a global heating and air-conditioning business. A child of the South Side of Chicago who had gone to Northwestern on scholarship, Ms. Stamm maintained a committed interest in education and joined LaGuardia’s foundation board six years ago, proving herself a skilled networker for an institution with minimal capacity for soliciting money."



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Aviv Challenges Sector To Evolve - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Aviv Challenges Sector To Evolve - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Seattle — In a call to action that was sometimes provocative, attendees of the Independent Sector (IS) annual conference here were told that the status quo was not enough. Leaders must take action on structural issues of the sector and their organizations and think about what both will look like and operate 25 years from now.

IS President and CEO Diana Aviv challenged the more than 1,200 executives that “fashioning our future requires retracing the past. I’ll start with a nascent democracy, from which interdependent, mutually beneficial and vital relations sprang.” She called it the virtuous cycle. “Pluralism thrives when we are free to follow our individual passions but also when we recognize our role in the broader social ecosystem,” she said."



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Imagining The Nonprofit Sector in 2024 - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Imagining The Nonprofit Sector in 2024 - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Do no harm. Do more good.” Knowing what is possible and what is “barely achievable” and still going for it is how nonprofit leaders can imagine the future. Those were the words of Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps, during an opening session Sunday of Independent Sector’s annual conference held this year in Seattle."



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The Ice-Bucket Racket - NYTimes.com

The Ice-Bucket Racket - NYTimes.com: "Ever since the ice-bucket challenge swept the Internet this summer, raising more than $115 million for A.L.S. research, a legion of imitators has sprung up to try and cash in themselves. In the approaching holiday season, as fund-raising appeals swell, we can now smash a pie in our faces, snap selfies first thing in the morning or take a photo of ourselves grabbing our crotches, among other tasteful gestures, to express solidarity with various worthy causes. But the failure of these newer gimmicks to enjoy anywhere near the same popularity as the frigid original demonstrates the peculiar and finicky nature of our altruism — a psychological puzzle that both scientists and economists are trying to decipher."



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Nonprofits by the Numbers - Nonprofit Leadership

Nonprofits by the Numbers - Nonprofit Leadership: "This report reveals some interesting data points that we should all know as we consider and plan for our future.   But a reminder:  while these facts and figures are based just on 501(c)(3) organizations, there are things to be learned for other organizations classified under 26 US Code 501, such as (c)(4)s, (c)(5s) and (c)(6)s."



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Embracing Transparency and Failure in the Nonprofit Sector | LinkedIn

Embracing Transparency and Failure in the Nonprofit Sector | LinkedIn: "When is it appropriate to edit your nonprofit? When is it time to cut programs and make changes to your structure, and how do you go about making those changes?

I posed this question a while back, offering some guidance for nonprofits finding themselves in this position while alluding to some experience with the subject.

To offer full transparency, I’d like to share the specifics of my experience."



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Ken Burnett blog - Communication and the English language

From Ken Burnett blog - Communication and the English language: "’m talking about how people in our sector use words to convey meaning.
Or, more precisely, how they don’t. Every day we all use words to communicate what we want to get across, in a range of ways. Our success or failure at it really matters. And mostly, most of us don’t manage to do it very well.

We have a choice when we sit down to write – to write something that might make a difference or to write something that will make no difference at all. We wouldn’t choose the latter deliberately, so our lack of success must be down to carelessness, or ignorance, or a failure to appreciate the importance of it."



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Why’s the for profit world so much better than us at retention? (part 2) - Institute of Fundraising

Why’s the for profit world so much better than us at retention? (part 2) - Institute of Fundraising: "Part two: relationships are made or broken in the moment

Be honest, how do you judge people or brands? Do you do it weeks, months or years after you first encounter them? Or is your judgment formed in the very moment you interact?"



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13 Nonprofit Statistics You Never Knew - Tech Impact Blog - Leaders in Non-Profit Technology

13 Nonprofit Statistics You Never Knew - Tech Impact Blog - Leaders in Non-Profit Technology:



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50 Fascinating Nonprofit Statistics: Fundraising, Marketing and More! | npENGAGE

50 Fascinating Nonprofit Statistics: Fundraising, Marketing and More! | npENGAGE: "Here are 50 fascinating nonprofit statistics you might not have known about."



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One Word is Costing Your Fundraising Effort a Fortune | Michael Rosen Says...

One Word is Costing Your Fundraising Effort a Fortune | Michael Rosen Says...: "If you’re like most nonprofit development professionals, you’re doing it. You’re using one particular word in your fundraising effort that is costing your nonprofit organization a fortune.

I have the research that proves it.

If you talk with prospects about and ask them for a “bequest” commitment, you’re leaving enormous sums of money on the table"



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Lincoln Center to Rename Avery Fisher Hall - NYTimes.com

Lincoln Center to Rename Avery Fisher Hall - NYTimes.com: "Now, as the orchestra prepares for a major renovation expected to cost more than $500 million, the Fisher family has agreed to relinquish the name so the Philharmonic and Lincoln Center can lure a large donor with the promise of rechristening the building."



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Poor customer service at charities 'a key reason for high attrition rates'

Poor customer service at charities 'a key reason for high attrition rates': "Charities need to stop believing that increasing loyalty engagement with donors will reduce attrition rates and instead focus on improving customer service when people contact the charity, according to a new paper from Donor Voice.

The experience and relationship management company has published a paper titled Donor Churn – How to stop it before it starts and why current approaches prevent this from happening."



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Reporting Changed Mission Statement to the IRS

Reporting Changed Mission Statement to the IRS: "Question: What happens if we change our mission statement? Do we have to report it? And what if we change our name?"



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Don’t You Love Me Anymore? The Critical Care of Past Board Members - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Don’t You Love Me Anymore? The Critical Care of Past Board Members - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: "I served on your board for two consecutive three-year terms. I was re-nominated for that second term because I was doing a good job.

I rarely missed a board meeting or a committee meeting. Each year, I gave a gift, steadily increasing it over the years. I volunteered to take on some one-off tasks, based on my profession and my experience.

You gave me a nice book when I stepped down. You said complimentary things at the farewell board meeting. You sent me a nice letter, too. Truly, the farewell activities were kind and gracious.

But then…I never heard from you again."



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Fidelity fund for charitable giving on track to surpass United Way - Business - The Boston Globe

Fidelity fund for charitable giving on track to surpass United Way - Business - The Boston Globe: "idelity Investments, best known for mutual funds and retirement plans, now oversees more in charitable contributions than much better-known philanthrophic organizations such as the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, and it is on the verge of surpassing the United Way.

The Boston financial giant entered the world of philanthropy through a nonprofit it established to manage charitable donations and provide tax shelters for its investors. Last year, the nonprofit, Fidelity Charitable, brought in $3.7 billion from clients, placing it second on The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s rankings of the country’s largest charities, just behind United Way."



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Gates and World Bank Back Tech Aided Access for the Underbanked - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Gates and World Bank Back Tech Aided Access for the Underbanked - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: "Imagine living without a connection to a bank or financial institution. Your check from your employer must be cashed at a check-cashing store, where they charge 5 percent of the check amount. You cannot shop online, do not have access to credit, and are likely terrified of being robbed. If you need to send money to a child living in another state or family member living in your country of origin, you are charged 5-8 percent to send funds to them, and they then pay another 5-8 percent to cash the money order. Luckily, new technology is on the horizon to help millions gain monetary protections and increase credit opportunities, leading to small business expansion and more hope for those trying to climb out of poverty."



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Millennial Meltdown: What Nonprofits Should Learn From The Political Disconnect

Millennial Meltdown: What Nonprofits Should Learn From The Political Disconnect: "In three weeks, the nonprofit world will be promoting a vast non-commercial response to the holiday shopping season that will simultaneously – its planners hope – expand charitable coffers and continue to build a new network for giving that counters the year-end explosion of consumerist buying and selling.

GivingTuesday is the admirable three-year-old collaboration of the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation that now includes more than 10,000 nonprofits in its enthusiastic year-end campaign for social good."



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Coutts Million Dollar Donors Report 2014 press release

Coutts Million Dollar Donors Report 2014 press release: "Large scale philanthropic giving increases by 33% revels Coutts second international million dollar donars report

Report captures almost 2,000 $1m+ donations across seven regions (totaling $26.3bn)
Higher education continues to dominate as main recipient (34% of the total value)"



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