Two of the county's largest nonprofits to merge | Portland Daily Sun

Two of the county's largest nonprofits to merge | Portland Daily Sun: to combine the two nonprofits, beginning Oct. 1. It will start the at least year-long process of bringing the two together, the providers announced Thursday. Both have a combined total of nearly 500 employees, operate tens of millions of dollars in annual budgets and together serve about 24,000 people."

Nonprofits awarded grants for community building | Sun Journal

This week I"m posting from Maine so here are some Maine stories.

Nonprofits awarded grants for community building | Sun Journal: "ELLSWORTH — The Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Grant Program recently awarded $58,054 to 12 nonprofits in Franklin and Somerset counties."

After a Look Back, Where Does Rural Philanthropy Go From Here? - RE:Philanthropy

After a Look Back, Where Does Rural Philanthropy Go From Here? - RE:Philanthropy: "RE:Philanthropy - What Matters Now?
Rick CohenAfter a Look Back, Where Does Rural Philanthropy Go From Here?

By: Rick Cohen In: 2011 Rural Conference| Partnerships and Collaborations| Public Policy| Rural Philanthropy| Social Innovation Fund
28 Jul 2011"

External Accountability in Philanthropy | Tactical Philanthropy

External Accountability in Philanthropy | Tactical Philanthropy: "Deciding to post Grantee Perception Reports from the Center for Effective Philanthropy is one way that foundations are already doing this. It seems to me that another way they could utilize external accountability would be to announce at the beginning of a new program what their metrics for success are and then commit to a schedule of progress reports."

Hollywood's Major Players in Philanthropy and Advocacy Get the Spotlight - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Hollywood's Major Players in Philanthropy and Advocacy Get the Spotlight - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Hollywood’s Major Players in Philanthropy and Advocacy Get the Spotlight

July 29, 2011, 9:35 am

In its annual philanthropy issue, The Hollywood Reporter profiles figures from across the film, television, and music industries who are active as donors and advocates in education, the arts, youth programs, and the environment."

Turning philanthropy on its head | Latest from Alliance

Turning philanthropy on its head | Latest from Alliance: "Our founder, Chet Tchozewski, submitted the blog’s very first installment on Steve Gunderson’s departure from the Council on Foundations. More recently, our former program director, Chris Allan, reflected on his experience at June’s Grantmakers Without Borders conference. Drawing inspiration from each of their blogs, we are struck by how long-divergent tracks of international funding from the US now seem to be drawing closer together."

Where private foundations award education cash - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Where private foundations award education cash - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post: "The analysis, the first comprehensive examination of philanthropy activity in this area, showed that the biggest chunk of the money — 38 percent — went to teacher recruitment, while 22 percent was spent on professional development, 14 percent on teacher preparation and less than 10 percent for everything else."

Marc Benioff, CEO, makes philanthropy a priority

Marc Benioff, CEO, makes philanthropy a priority: "Benioff, a consummate salesman since his days under Larry Ellison at Oracle, traveled to the Rosewood Hotel in Menlo Park to sell not his product but an idea: that his counterpart, a retired entrepreneur who had billions of dollars at his disposal, should make a major donation to UCSF."

Role of philanthropy in rural economy is focus of Kansas City conference | The Republic

Role of philanthropy in rural economy is focus of Kansas City conference | The Republic: "KANSAS CITY, Mo. — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the head of the U.S. Census bureau are among the speakers at a Kansas City conference this week on the role of philanthropy in rural economies."

Jazz impresario building legacy for Newport fests - Forbes.com

Jazz impresario building legacy for Newport fests - Forbes.com: "New York jazz impresario George Wein, who started the festivals more than 50 years ago, took them nonprofit earlier this year to shield them from the financial ups and downs of corporate funding."

Tax and Financial Factors Put Charitable Lead Trusts Back in Favor - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Tax and Financial Factors Put Charitable Lead Trusts Back in Favor - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Tax and Financial Factors Put Charitable Lead Trusts Back in Favor

July 25, 2011, 9:55 am

Charitable lead trusts, which allow wealthy donors to make annual gifts to charity, are also gaining favor as a way to minimize taxes on money left to heirs, The New York Times writes."

Majority of 50 Wealthiest Foundations Pay Their Trustees - Boards - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Majority of 50 Wealthiest Foundations Pay Their Trustees - Boards - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Duke is hardly alone. A Chronicle analysis finds that 38 of the nation’s 50 wealthiest foundations compensate board members, awarding a total of more than $11-million to their trustees, according to the latest available informational tax returns. But in some corners, the practice is drawing scrutiny."

Philanthropic culture key for fundraising | Philanthropy Journal

Philanthropic culture key for fundraising | Philanthropy Journal: "Culture of philanthropy

Fundraising begins with understanding what philanthropy is all about, says Williams, who is principal of The Williams Group, a key adviser to United Way of Central Carolinas on transforming its organizational culture, and director of the Leadership Gift School at the Institute for Philanthropic Leadership, a local effort to strengthen the work of local nonprofit leaders and fundraisers."

Crowds: What Are They Good For?

Crowds: What Are They Good For?: "Crowdsourcing, a term coined by Jeff Howe in Wired Magazine in 2006, is defined as the outsourcing of tasks by way of a general call-out to a large, undefined group of people. There's also crowdfunding, which relies on the power of crowds to fund projects. No matter its iteration, the idea of crowds and the power they potentially hold for nonprofits is gaining much attention these days.

But while leveraging technology and the power of the group seems a good idea on its surface, how effective are crowds in helping organizations reach fundraising goals?"

UNITED WAY: Preserve tax deduction for donations - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT

UNITED WAY: Preserve tax deduction for donations - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT: "The ability of donors to deduct contributions to charity from their taxes is part of the success of America’s charitable tradition. One of United Way Worldwide’s top public policy priorities is to preserve the deduction so we can continue to fund and provide services for families and individuals in need.

The current deep economic recession is already causing reductions in giving to many United Ways and agencies that rely on United Way support. According to the Independent Sector, there has been an overall decline in charitable giving to nonprofit organizations by $25 billion a year. Limitations on charitable giving tax incentives would further reduce charitable contributions."

In for-profit, nonprofit hospital models, differences might be subtle - News - The Times-Tribune

In for-profit, nonprofit hospital models, differences might be subtle - News - The Times-Tribune: "Don't expect many obvious differences between a for-profit hospital and a nonprofit hospital. Any distinctions may be subtle.

For-profit Community Health Systems Inc. will acquire Moses Taylor Hospital on the heels of its Mercy Hospital buy. Community Medical Center will be acquired by nonprofit Geisinger Health System.

Both have pledged to renovate the hospitals, to clamp the flow of red ink and improve the level of care."

In for-profit, nonprofit hospital models, differences might be subtle - News - The Times-Tribune

In for-profit, nonprofit hospital models, differences might be subtle - News - The Times-Tribune: "Don't expect many obvious differences between a for-profit hospital and a nonprofit hospital. Any distinctions may be subtle.

For-profit Community Health Systems Inc. will acquire Moses Taylor Hospital on the heels of its Mercy Hospital buy. Community Medical Center will be acquired by nonprofit Geisinger Health System.

Both have pledged to renovate the hospitals, to clamp the flow of red ink and improve the level of care."

Keep the charitable deduction | HeraldTribune.com

Keep the charitable deduction | HeraldTribune.com: "Some lawmakers have suggested reducing the value of the tax deduction for charitable contributions. We strongly believe that the tax-exempt status of all charitable contributions must be protected. It is an efficient, fair and powerful incentive for citizens to give back to their communities, with a proven return."

Elements of a Donor Acknowledgement Letter

Elements of a Donor Acknowledgement Letter: "Question: What is a donor acknowledgement letter?
Answer: Donors to your nonprofit should receive 1) a warm and fuzzy thank you letter and 2) a receipt for their tax-deductible donation."

Multi-Channel Thank You Letters: The Secret Sauce for Fundraising Success?

Multi-Channel Thank You Letters: The Secret Sauce for Fundraising Success?: "Do you send a thank you letter by mail after receiving a donation online?

Of course, the donor who gives online (and there are more of them all the time), does receive an immediate emailed thank you. That is built into the online giving system, whichever one you use."

Big Businesses Won’t Increase Giving in 2011 - Corporate Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Big Businesses Won’t Increase Giving in 2011 - Corporate Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Charitable giving by the America’s biggest companies will probably be flat in 2011, after a sharp rebound in 2010, according to a Chronicle survey of 180 of businesses.

Cash giving rose by 13 percent, a relief to charities after the recession caused a decline of 7.5 percent by companies in 2009."

[Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data]

A related link is our Hot Topic on Tax Issues (This requires Member login)

[Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data]: "1. Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data for Tax Year 2008 is now available to download from the TaxStats website.

The Statistics of Income Division is currently reviewing the methodology used to produce its annual ZIP code file in order to safeguard the confidentiality of individual taxpayer information. I"

The nonprofit sector’s haircut - Light on Leadership - The Washington Post

The nonprofit sector’s haircut - Light on Leadership - The Washington Post: "Given the court decisions challenging commercial activity, the downturn in giving, and the continued government negligence, nonprofit leaders need to think harder about transformation. They must attack the duplication and overlap through consolidation with their competitors; flatten their bloated hierarchies and confusing management structures; invest in the frontline workforce that is straining under rising case loads; and harvest these savings for basic investments in the information technologies, training and modest compensation increases needed to assure high performance."

For Nonprofits: The Place to Be - Memphis Daily News

For Nonprofits: The Place to Be - Memphis Daily News: "In this column we seek to share information, ideas and suggestions that can help nonprofit organizations and institutions. But we are not alone in our goal of helping to strengthen this important part of our community and our economy. There are many such individuals, organizations and institutions. One of these is the Association of Fundraising Professionals Memphis Chapter – AFP as it’s called.

Thursday, Aug. 4, is the annual AFP conference, and you are invited."

Brooklyn Museum Pins Its Digitized Photos to Historypin's Map - NYTimes.com

Brooklyn Museum Pins Its Digitized Photos to Historypin's Map - NYTimes.com: "When the digital team at the Brooklyn Museum first looked at the New York images included on Historypin, a social sharing site for old images, something seemed to be missing.

“They had nothing in Brooklyn,” said Shelley Bernstein, the museum’s chief of technology."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Next Generation Leaders: What They Want and Need from the Workplace

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Next Generation Leaders: What They Want and Need from the Workplace: "Their attraction to fast-paced environments and their self-confidence allows them to handle multiple tasks without a problem. However, it is important to find a balance regarding workload. Too much of a workload could turn them off, but not enough could reduce their enthusiasm. Also, workplace flexibility is a benefit that Millennials value. We heard comments like, “I usually work eleven hours a day but I am satisfied by the fact that my boss doesn’t demand a strict 9 – 5 schedule.”"

August 7520 Rate Falls to 2.2% | Planned Giving Design Center

August 7520 Rate Falls to 2.2% | Planned Giving Design Center: "For purposes of determining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or a term of years, or a remainder or a reversionary interest, Revenue Ruling 2011-16 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for August 2011 is 2.2%; down 0.2% from the July rate of 2.4% and down 0.6% from the June rate of 2.8%."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Hard Times at Maine Historic Site

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Hard Times at Maine Historic Site: "July 20, 2011; Source: Keep MEcurrent.com | The Willowbrook Village Museum is an historic museum that focuses on rural life in 19th and early 20th-century Maine, but the challenges that the organization is facing reflect a current and very real trend with nonprofits generally and historic sites specifically throughout the state. KeepMecurrent.com reports that because the museum has fallen short of some $120,000 in annual operating costs, it only has cash on hand to operate through October 2012."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | To Fee or Not to Fee? (And Related Questions)

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | To Fee or Not to Fee? (And Related Questions): "Why would tax-exempt organizations, which have some freedom from the strictures of the marketplace, willingly subject themselves to satisfying the market for even a part of their budgets? Not merely to get more money, it turns out; but since market failure is a common rationale for why we need nonprofit organizations and why they are free from paying most taxes, nonprofits have to act wisely in setting fees."

Building a Stronger Regional Safety Net: Philanthropy's Role - Brookings Institution

Building a Stronger Regional Safety Net: Philanthropy's Role - Brookings Institution: "Although federal, state, and local governments are often the primary funders of nonprofits, governments do not often take the lead in creating new organizational capacities or in coordinating capacity across political jurisdictions. In many regions, the local philanthropic community has become aware of these gaps in services for the poor and has sought to assist the nonprofit community in building capacity and expanding activities. Local foundations are experimenting with various strategies to address the growing dispersion of poverty."