Counting on Charity: The Fundamental Issue in the Wounded Warrior Project Inquiry: "The Fundamental Issue in the Wounded Warrior Project Inquiry
The recent letter released by Senator Chuck Grassley in his examination of the Wounded Warrior Project delves into, and seeks additional clarity on, the organization’s accounting practices, in particular those that give rise to its reported 80.6% program expense ratio. As an accountant, I am tempted to delve into the details (Jim Ulvog does so deftly here). However, I will instead focus on what I believe is the fundamental question being asked of the organization."
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Wednesday, May 18, 2016
2016 Charitable Giving Outlook Weakens Amid Market Volatility, Lowered GDP
Press Release from Atlas of Giving
2016 Charitable Giving Outlook Weakens Amid Market Volatility, Lowered GDP: "DALLAS, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Charitable giving will fall well short of the gains experienced in 2015 as wild market swings and economic uncertainty challenge fundraising results for many U.S. charities, according to a new forecast.
In its latest report, the Atlas of Giving estimates that charities nationwide in 2016 are unlikely to get anywhere near the solid 4.6 percent increase in giving recorded in 2015.
Rather, the forecast projects charities will likely see total 2016 charitable giving range from a decline of 0.9 percent to a modest 1.4 percent increase. Nonprofits are already feeling the pain — through the first quarter of 2016, giving has remained flat compared to first quarter 2015."
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2016 Charitable Giving Outlook Weakens Amid Market Volatility, Lowered GDP: "DALLAS, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Charitable giving will fall well short of the gains experienced in 2015 as wild market swings and economic uncertainty challenge fundraising results for many U.S. charities, according to a new forecast.
In its latest report, the Atlas of Giving estimates that charities nationwide in 2016 are unlikely to get anywhere near the solid 4.6 percent increase in giving recorded in 2015.
Rather, the forecast projects charities will likely see total 2016 charitable giving range from a decline of 0.9 percent to a modest 1.4 percent increase. Nonprofits are already feeling the pain — through the first quarter of 2016, giving has remained flat compared to first quarter 2015."
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Sen. Grassley and Senate Judiciary Committee Unpersuaded by Wounded Warrior Answers | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly
The Plan Requires Leaders, Team, Organizational Approach - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times
The Plan Requires Leaders, Team, Organizational Approach - The NonProfit Times: "Looking at the program as a series of steps can make it appear, and be, much less intimidating. Those steps must be taken by both leaders and team members.
During the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Conference, Kerry-Ann Powell of The Harvest Group offered the necessary steps for plan implementation, using as an example the fundraising effort by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation to build a monument to the slain civil rights hero. Powell offered the following steps:"
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During the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Conference, Kerry-Ann Powell of The Harvest Group offered the necessary steps for plan implementation, using as an example the fundraising effort by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation to build a monument to the slain civil rights hero. Powell offered the following steps:"
'via Blog this'
Monday, May 16, 2016
Governance and Accountability: A Different Choice for Nonprofits | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly
Governance and Accountability: A Different Choice for Nonprofits | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Governance is of central concern to nonprofits, yet theories of nonprofit governance are underdeveloped in comparison with corporate governance; and, specifically, it appears that knowledge of governance practices to achieve broadened accountability to multiple and diverse stakeholder groups has lagged. This article aims to expose and question the assumptions and asymmetrical power relations that are often taken for granted in the most normative of the governance theories used by nonprofits. In doing so, I challenge the notion of accountability as a somewhat benign and straightforward governance function, and recast it as a challenging, complex choice."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Runners race up One World Trade for charity | New York Post
Runners race up One World Trade for charity | New York Post: "They took the long way up — for a good cause.
About 1,000 people raced to the top of the World Trade Center on Sunday morning to pay tribute to the first responders who put their lives on the line Sept. 11, 2001."
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About 1,000 people raced to the top of the World Trade Center on Sunday morning to pay tribute to the first responders who put their lives on the line Sept. 11, 2001."
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Friday, May 13, 2016
Are you too proud to be a toilet roll philanthropist? - FT.com
Are you too proud to be a toilet roll philanthropist? - FT.com: "T
Toilet roll seems an unlikely metaphor for effective philanthropy. Yet I’ve heard of a donor who specifically funds loo rolls in London museums and galleries on the simple grounds that this kind of donation is both necessary and tough to fund.
Many donors want to fund the glamorous stuff: front-line programmes, identifiable projects and new buildings being prime examples. To do so, many “restrict” their gifts to those items. The main problem with this approach is that donors generally all want to fund the same things — none of which include loos, core staff or rent."
'via Blog this'
Toilet roll seems an unlikely metaphor for effective philanthropy. Yet I’ve heard of a donor who specifically funds loo rolls in London museums and galleries on the simple grounds that this kind of donation is both necessary and tough to fund.
Many donors want to fund the glamorous stuff: front-line programmes, identifiable projects and new buildings being prime examples. To do so, many “restrict” their gifts to those items. The main problem with this approach is that donors generally all want to fund the same things — none of which include loos, core staff or rent."
'via Blog this'
How impact investing is changing philanthropy - Technical.ly Baltimore
How impact investing is changing philanthropy - Technical.ly Baltimore: "Impact investing can lead to new strategies for entrepreneurs and mission-driven businesses. That means room for new people to receive investment.
“It cannot just be about the elites. It really has to include everyone,” said Case Foundation President Jean Case, echoing a core belief that’s reflected both in the foundation’s work and the message of her husband, AOL cofounder Steve Case. She made the remarks during a panel of foundation presidents at the Mission Investors Exchange conference this week in Baltimore."
'via Blog this'
“It cannot just be about the elites. It really has to include everyone,” said Case Foundation President Jean Case, echoing a core belief that’s reflected both in the foundation’s work and the message of her husband, AOL cofounder Steve Case. She made the remarks during a panel of foundation presidents at the Mission Investors Exchange conference this week in Baltimore."
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Clinton Foundation takes steps to be rated by charity watchdog | GantNews.com
Clinton Foundation takes steps to be rated by charity watchdog | GantNews.com: "The Clinton Foundation’s critics may soon have less ammunition to suggest the organization lacks transparency.
The charity has taken initial steps toward regaining a rating by Charity Navigator, a major charity watchdog that assesses over 8,000 organizations on a scale of zero to four stars.
The Clinton Foundation, headed by former President Bill Clinton, indicated on May 10 that it is interested in receiving a rating and is looking into whether it can provide the needed financial information, CNNMoney has learned."
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The charity has taken initial steps toward regaining a rating by Charity Navigator, a major charity watchdog that assesses over 8,000 organizations on a scale of zero to four stars.
The Clinton Foundation, headed by former President Bill Clinton, indicated on May 10 that it is interested in receiving a rating and is looking into whether it can provide the needed financial information, CNNMoney has learned."
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San Francisco to host new urban innovation lab
San Francisco to host new urban innovation lab: "With access to a variety public, private, academic and nonprofit entities — two of the world's largest and most influential digital companies, Twitter and Uber, are located across the street from the new Superpublic space — Hirshberg and the team behind the project saw "there was an opportunity to do serious work ... across government agencies.""
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Thursday, May 12, 2016
How Many Foundations Require Matching Funds, and Why?
How Many Foundations Require Matching Funds, and Why?: "How many foundations require "matching funds" as a contingency for making a grant? What is the philosophy behind matching funds for grants?
When a reader posed this question, I turned to the Foundation Center for answers. It turns out that the Center does not track the number of foundations that require matching funds to receive a grant. But its online database shows more than 2,500 grantmakers that may provide (but do not require) matching/challenge support. "
'via Blog this'
When a reader posed this question, I turned to the Foundation Center for answers. It turns out that the Center does not track the number of foundations that require matching funds to receive a grant. But its online database shows more than 2,500 grantmakers that may provide (but do not require) matching/challenge support. "
'via Blog this'
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Corporate Branding of National Parks: The Disturbing Link between Philanthropy and Privatization | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly
Entrepreneurial Nonprofits: Van Gogh Museum’s Ambitious Consulting Program | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly
Entrepreneurial Nonprofits: Van Gogh Museum’s Ambitious Consulting Program | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly: "In every part of the world, elite museums are feeling the pinch. No matter how revered their collections or how august their history, no institution of fine art is without its challenges when it comes to the day-to-day costs associated with managing a major collection. But some museums are apparently more entrepreneurial at finding sources of funds than others. Faced with reduced government subsidies and increased taxes on commercial enterprises like gift shops, the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands has recently announced it will begin offering its professional services to private collectors, corporations, and other fine art institutions."
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'via Blog this'
GuideStar Introduces Program Metrics Section for Nonprofit Profiles | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly
GuideStar Introduces Program Metrics Section for Nonprofit Profiles | Non Profit News For Nonprofit Organizations | Nonprofit Quarterly: "GuideStar, the nonprofit repository of information on 2.4 million U.S. nonprofits visited by 7 million people annually, is adding a new way for organizations to report quantifiable data in support of their program achievements. GuideStar Platinum was developed as a way for nonprofits to provide non-financial data to demonstrate effectiveness, thereby addressing the pitfalls of the “overhead myth,” which gauges an organization’s worthiness of support by measuring its effectiveness in terms of its expenditures on program services versus management and fundraising."
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
Overlooked in the Wounded Warrior Project scandal: families who rely on its handouts
Overlooked in the Wounded Warrior Project scandal: families who rely on its handouts: "As Wounded Warrior Project battles allegations its former executives violated public trust, they face the real fear that donations will start to dry up.
Tracy Keil worries that will leave her family with more than $50,000 a month in healthcare expenses."
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Tracy Keil worries that will leave her family with more than $50,000 a month in healthcare expenses."
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The AFP Blog: Coming Together for the Profession, the Community
The AFP Blog: Coming Together for the Profession, the Community: "The AFP Edmonton & Area Chapter, along with AFP Canada leaders, have provided a list of services of services and resources for AFP members and others affected by the fires. I’m pleased to pass the information they collected along—you can find the list here."
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'via Blog this'
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
13 Steps To Building Rapport With For-Profit Partners - The NonProfit Times
13 Steps To Building Rapport With For-Profit Partners - The NonProfit Times"Enlisting the cooperation of businesses to start a cause marketing campaign is a lot like fundraising in general: building rapport with the targeted company is essential even before the partnership begins.
A cause marketing arrangement, or commercial co-venture, is more than just a business partnership. Both the nonprofit and the for-profit hope to gain from the relationship, in both dollars raised and image heightened. A nonprofit that hopes to swoop in, use a corporate sponsor to make fast cash and then run off into the sunset is a nonprofit that will almost certainly fall flat. Trust and mutual respect are extremely important."
'via Blog this'
A cause marketing arrangement, or commercial co-venture, is more than just a business partnership. Both the nonprofit and the for-profit hope to gain from the relationship, in both dollars raised and image heightened. A nonprofit that hopes to swoop in, use a corporate sponsor to make fast cash and then run off into the sunset is a nonprofit that will almost certainly fall flat. Trust and mutual respect are extremely important."
'via Blog this'
ICYMI: Last One Picked - Millennials Fear Being Left Out - The NonProfit Times
ICYMI: Last One Picked - Millennials Fear Being Left Out - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "ou’re in the process of organizing a fundraising event. Do you have your venue and entertainment booked? Check. Is your fundraising team hard at work engaging donors and driving up attendance? Check. Are you taking advantage of FOMO?
FOMO, or “fear of missing out,” is a colloquialism among Millennials, according to author Darian Rodriguez-Heyman and KC Fox, senior marketing manager at Eventbrite. It might also be used as a means of driving youth toward your next event, the duo said during a session at the recent Association of Fundraising Professionals’ international conference in Boston."
'via Blog this'
FOMO, or “fear of missing out,” is a colloquialism among Millennials, according to author Darian Rodriguez-Heyman and KC Fox, senior marketing manager at Eventbrite. It might also be used as a means of driving youth toward your next event, the duo said during a session at the recent Association of Fundraising Professionals’ international conference in Boston."
'via Blog this'
9 Elements of Necessary Infrastructure Development - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times
9 Elements of Necessary Infrastructure Development - The NonProfit Times "Plenty of hard work goes into planning a fundraising campaign, but the hard work doesn’t stop with the idea or the planning. It is necessary to stay on top of things all along the way.
Speaking at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Conference, Kerry-Ann Powell of The Harvest Group discussed parts of the work that went into making the effort by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation a success in its fundraising project to build a monument to the slain civil rights leader."
'via Blog this'
Speaking at the Association of Fundraising Professionals International Fundraising Conference, Kerry-Ann Powell of The Harvest Group discussed parts of the work that went into making the effort by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation a success in its fundraising project to build a monument to the slain civil rights leader."
'via Blog this'
5 Ways We Can Do Philanthropy Better
5 Ways We Can Do Philanthropy Better: "One of the biggest fallacies of philanthropy is the expectation that money will solve everything and that more money equals greater results. Trillions of dollars are spent globally on social and environmental issues, and very few problems have been solved. Why is that?"
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'via Blog this'
One Lesson from the #iGiveLocal “Give Local America” Fiasco | Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
One Lesson from the #iGiveLocal “Give Local America” Fiasco | Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog: "Instead, this post is about lessons learned for communications pros. And there will be many that come out of this.
One big obvious one is that you need the ability to redirect quickly all the traffic your campaigns have generated elsewhere when your primary page or even your whole site goes down.
Many — probably most? — of the thousands of nonprofits participating in Give Local campaigns across America were sending donors directly to donation pages on Kimbia’s platform. When the platform failed, they had no easy way to send the traffic elsewhere."
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One big obvious one is that you need the ability to redirect quickly all the traffic your campaigns have generated elsewhere when your primary page or even your whole site goes down.
Many — probably most? — of the thousands of nonprofits participating in Give Local campaigns across America were sending donors directly to donation pages on Kimbia’s platform. When the platform failed, they had no easy way to send the traffic elsewhere."
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Why Can’t the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector Scale Generosity? #givedaylessons | Beth’s Blog
Why Can’t the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector Scale Generosity? #givedaylessons | Beth’s Blog: "Experiencing a cascading technology failure in real time for just one community is painful enough. But it was heart wrenching to watch, in real time, community after community experience this fiasco. Instead of scaling community giving and philanthropy and empowering their local nonprofits to use crowd funding, Give Local America Day amplified frustration, panic, hopelessness, and anger. "
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Monday, May 09, 2016
Dave Matthews Band: 25 years of music — and charitable giving - Roanoke Times: Virginia
Dave Matthews Band: 25 years of music — and charitable giving - Roanoke Times: Virginia: "Tinsley, Beauford and the late Moore grew up in the same Charlottesville neighborhood. Beauford and Moore were accomplished jazz musicians when Matthews approached them, and Tinsley had learned violin through classical music.
Lessard was playing both jazz and classical music on the bass.
They got together, recorded some demos, started getting regular gigs and soon became a popular regional draw.
The band began putting money into the community shortly after it became a regular on the summer tour circuit in the U.S. and internationally. After signing a recording contract with RCA Records, the band completed its big-label debut, “Under the Table and Dreaming,” in 1994, kicking off its first international tour with a concert in Charlottesville."
'via Blog this'
Lessard was playing both jazz and classical music on the bass.
They got together, recorded some demos, started getting regular gigs and soon became a popular regional draw.
The band began putting money into the community shortly after it became a regular on the summer tour circuit in the U.S. and internationally. After signing a recording contract with RCA Records, the band completed its big-label debut, “Under the Table and Dreaming,” in 1994, kicking off its first international tour with a concert in Charlottesville."
'via Blog this'
Charity organizers struggle in crowded field of events | TribLIVE
Charity organizers struggle in crowded field of events | TribLIVE: "After a two-year hiatus, Best Buddies Pennsylvania and supporters decided to resuscitate their 5K fundraiser last fall.
They knew the competition was steep.
Like places nationwide, greater Pittsburgh has observed an inundation of charity walks packing the calendar most weekends from late spring through early fall."
'via Blog this'
They knew the competition was steep.
Like places nationwide, greater Pittsburgh has observed an inundation of charity walks packing the calendar most weekends from late spring through early fall."
'via Blog this'
'Star Wars' Charity Event Forced to Change Theme After Lucasfilm Cease-and-Desist Order - NonProfit PRO
'Star Wars' Charity Event Forced to Change Theme After Lucasfilm Cease-and-Desist Order - NonProfit PRO: "Hard to see, the Dark Side is—especially when you can’t use your lightsaber to light the way.
Newmindspace, a Toronto-based nonprofit, has rebranded its popular charity lightsaber battles as the “Cats in Space Tour” after it received a cease-and-desist letter from Lucasfilm’s lawyers for using trademarked terms, the Toronto Star reported."
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Newmindspace, a Toronto-based nonprofit, has rebranded its popular charity lightsaber battles as the “Cats in Space Tour” after it received a cease-and-desist letter from Lucasfilm’s lawyers for using trademarked terms, the Toronto Star reported."
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