Wednesday, December 22, 2004

La Crosse Tribune - Opinion

See related story
New fed rule could limit ORC president's salary

La Crosse Tribune - Opinion: "Our view: Profiting from the low pay of disabled workers
By Tribune editorial staff
The president of La Crosse's ORC industries, the object of a controversy about how much nonprofit executives are paid, cautions about limiting such salaries to $207,000 a year.

She doesn't think any top-flight executive would work for such low pay.

But it is astounding that she seems to have no idea about what caused the controversy to begin with.

At issue now is a proposed federal rule change that would limit nonprofit salaries at community rehabilitation program agencies that do work for the government."

.:: Welcome To The Jewish Ledger ::.

.:: Welcome To The Jewish Ledger ::.: "Teen philanthropy programs sprout in Connecticut
By Tracy Sullivan

Dec 24, 2004 - B'nai Tzedek is the teen philanthropy program that began in 1997 in Western Massachusetts and is sponsored by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Western Massachusetts. A teen, along with both foundations, contributes money to establish a B'nai Tzedek Fund. Each year, B'nai Tzedek Funds holders can donate a percentage of the balance of their fund to a Jewish organization of their choosing"

Light and lively: Charity's logo illuminates building

Light and lively: Charity's logo illuminates building: "Light and lively: Charity's logo illuminates building

By JOSHUA L. WEINSTEIN, Portland Press Herald Writer"

The Record Delta Online

The Record Delta Online: "Ross explains $750,000 vote at ethics hearing
BY LAWRENCE MESSINA/ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLESTON � Former state Sen. Mike Ross told a hearing examiner Tuesday he benefited no more than the 500 other members of a Harrison County country club when he voted to spend $750,000 in state funds to promote a golf tournament there.

�Mike Ross didn�t benefit. West Virginia benefited,� the Randolph County Democrat said.

But a lawyer for the state Ethics Commission argued the three-term lawmaker stands out at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport."

my.accenture.com -- Today's Headlines

my.accenture.com -- Today's Headlines: "CPA and Business-Consulting Firm Expands Not-for-Profit Services
Source: St. Charles County Business Record
Publication date: 2004-12-21


Brown Smith Wallace L.L.C., a full-service CPA and business- consulting firm, recently expanded its offerings within its not-for- profit arena.
BSW, with office locations in St. Charles, St. Louis and Chicago, works with several different industries to provide financial and consulting services for both businesses and individuals. BSW was already providing audit and tax preparation services for its not- for-profit clients, but the expansion will "

Jindal seeks clarity on Blanco order

Jindal seeks clarity on Blanco order: "Jindal seeks clarity on Blanco order
Religious nonprofits hurt by ban, he says
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
By Jan Moller
Capital bureau
BATON ROUGE -- Congressman-elect Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, has asked Gov. Kathleen Blanco's administration for written clarification on whether a recent executive order that bans discrimination in state government will endanger state-financed services run by religious groups.
A three-page letter from Jindal to Blanco, his rival in the 2003 governor's race, says the executive order 'may have the effect of overturning a hard- fought bipartisan precedent that has been established and reaffirmed over the course of nearly half a century.' "

Opinion: NAACP audit raises suspicion

Opinion: NAACP audit raises suspicion: "NAACP audit raises suspicion
A Times Editorial
Published December 22, 2004
On its face, the Internal Revenue Service's decision to audit the NAACP over allegations of overly partisan activities may seem fair enough. After all, the organization's leaders didn't make much of an effort to conceal their strong disapproval of President Bush and his policies.
Under the law, organizations with a 501 (c) 3 tax exemption are barred from 'from participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office,' according to the IRS's Web site. Such groups may criticize specific policies, but tax-exempt groups cannot favor one political candidate over another - a line many nonprofit organizations cross far too often."

KTLA.com | LA's WB | Television Los Angeles | State Wants Money Back From Nonprofit

KTLA.com | LA's WB | Television Los Angeles | State Wants Money Back From Nonprofit: "State Wants Money Back From Nonprofit

L.A. group is told to repay $150,000 as officials' oversight of grants is questioned.

By Dan Morain
Times Staff Writer
December 22, 2004
SACRAMENTO � Four years after securing $2.2 million from the state to buy land for a soccer complex, a nonprofit Los Angeles group is being asked to return money that went to the executive director's sons, and California officials' monitoring of taxpayer funds is being questioned."

WCFCourier.com | Film Captures the History of Giving in Waverly

WCFCourier.com | The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier Online!: "Film captures history of giving in Waverly
By GLORIA ALEFF, Courier Correspondent
WAVERLY --- The spirit of giving transcends Christmas among people who care about their community. But the holiday season is an appropriate time of year to premiere a film devoted to philanthropy.

'Waverly --- A Legacy of Giving' will open at the Palace Theatre on Thursday and will continue through the end of December. Admission is free. The 20-minute film captures the history of giving by those who love the city.

'I have a passion for the town,' the film's producer Jim Infelt, a Waverly native, said."

KYW NewsRadio 1060 - Education Report Kids Giving

An article about Youth and Philanthropy

KYW NewsRadio 1060 - Education Report: "Kids Giving

by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman
It�s holiday time, and kids eagerly await their presents. Many of them would be surprised to hear the old adage that it�s better to give than to receive.
To help them learn about the rewards of giving, youth philanthropy programs are growing throughout the country.
The Northland Foundation has been working for years to improve the lives of young people. And joining with Minnesota Power, it started 'Kids Plus.' Its board includes 14 young people, grades 8-12, who give grants to schools and organizations serving youths.
Youthonboard.org encourages non-profits to bring young people on their boards. "

DenverPost.com - BUSINESS Gap to Donate Employees

DenverPost.com - BUSINESS: "Gap to donate employees
In Colorado and elsewhere, they'll be paid and divide their time between training and volunteer activities."

Chicago Tribune | Pritzker feud may be near a settlement

Chicago Tribune | Pritzker feud may be near a settlement: "Pritzker feud may be near a settlement

By Kathy Bergen and Susan Chandler
Tribune staff reporters
Published December 22, 2004

In the first sign of thawing in a two-year legal battle, members of the Pritzker family are working toward a settlement with the two youngest grandchildren of patriarch A.N. Pritzker, who were virtually cut out of the $15 billion family fortune."

Putting money in local coffers Southwest Washington charities are seeing a dramatic increase in donations

Putting money in local coffers Southwest Washington charities are seeing a dramatic increase in donations: "Putting money in local coffers Southwest Washington charities are seeing a dramatic increase in donations
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
FOSTER CHURCH
VANCOUVER -- It's giving time, and giving in Southwest Washington is bigger than ever. "

AOL News - African American Giving Comes of Age

AOL News - African American Giving Comes of Age: "African American Giving Comes of Age
It isn't new. But new wealth, education, and strategy create more impact

By Lauren Gard, BusinessWeek
When New York financier Alphonse Fletcher pledged $50 million to educational reform and fellowships on the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision in May, he was just putting a face to the facts: A new kind of African American philanthropy is on the rise."

blackenterprise.com

blackenterprise.com: "Funders Explain Giving
Source: Albuquerque Journal
Publication date: 2004-12-19
Arrival time: 2004-12-21


When donating to a charity, corporations look for stability in the organization, clarity of its role, vitality of its program, identity of its existing partnerships and whether the contribution will have a meaningful impact.
'We really want to make sure we are funding programs -- not just parties,' says Lydia T. Ashanin.
She is community and media relations manager for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico and also active in the Albuquerque Funders Group, a loosely knit collaboration representing a dozen or so people in the business world who coordinate charitable giving for their companies.
While corporations want to help the nonprofits, she said, economic conditions sometimes limit the amount of money available.
'We want to say yes, but sometimes we can't,' Ashanin said. 'How we get the nonprofits to understand the challenges we face is one of the goals of the Funders Group. Some nonprofits are very skilled, but others could use a little tutoring and support on how to do community outreach.'
To help this concept along, the Funders Group will explain charitable giving from the corporate perspective at the Jan. 13 luncheon meeting of the Association of Fundraising Professionals at the Sheraton Uptown. "

MediaDailyNews 12-22-04

MediaDailyNews 12-22-04: "Report: Visits To Charity Sites Down This Year
By Ross Fadner
Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 22, 2004


Charity and humanitarian sites are not receiving much love this holiday season, according to new data from traffic monitor Hitwise.
For the week ending Dec. 18, 2004, the number of visits to charity and humanitarian sites dropped 6 percent compared to the week before Christmas last year, Hitwise says. Similarly, monthly traffic to charitable sites fell 15 percent this November versus November 2003. "

National Post This isn't Charity

National Post: "This isn't charity

Steve Coffin
National Post
December 22, 2004
NORTH VANCOUVER - I was surprised when my seven-year-old daughter returned from her North Vancouver school recently and told me what she had learned that day: 'The Home Depot song.' Then, wearing a Home Depot shirt she had inadvertently picked up from a parent volunteer at school, my daughter proceeded to march around our kitchen singing: Who are we? Home Depot! What do we do? We build playgrounds!
What the song also conveyed, although not in its lyrics, was that Home Depot does more than build playgrounds; it builds its brand by using school children."

The Cincinnati Post NKU Charity Effort reaches $255, 998

The Cincinnati Post: "NKU charity effort reaches $255,998
Post staff report

A unique project in which Northern Kentucky University students decide which charities receive money from a foundation has topped the quarter-million dollar mark.
Since fall 2000, NKU students have directed $255,998 to 179 charitable programs run by 130 non-profit agencies in Greater Cincinnati.
Most funds are donated by the Mayerson Foundation of Cincinnati. Students also raise money on their own and the foundation matches it"

Salesforce.com Employees Finish Year of Community Service With Around-The-Clock Holiday Volunteer Effort

Salesforce.com Employees Finish Year of Community Service With Around-The-Clock Holiday Volunteer Effort: "Press ReleaseSource: Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com Employees Finish Year of Community Service With Around-The-Clock Holiday Volunteer Effort
Wednesday December 22, 8:30 am ET
Thousands Served around the World by Dedicated Volunteers
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 22, 2004--Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM - News) and the salesforce.com/foundation, the leaders in integrating philanthropy and business, completed a year of community service with a spirited holiday volunteer drive. Salesforce.com employees have given more than 750 hours to community service activities in December, the equivalent of a full-time volunteer serving 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the entire month. "

baltimoresun.com - Judge rejects guilty plea in CAN-SPAM case

baltimoresun.com - Judge rejects guilty plea in CAN-SPAM case: "Judge rejects guilty plea in CAN-SPAM case
Theft of e-mail addresses may not be crime, he says
From Wire Reports
Originally published December 22, 2004
NEW YORK - A federal judge refused yesterday to accept a guilty plea from a former America Online software engineer accused of stealing 92 million e-mail addresses and selling them to spammers.
Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, said he was not convinced that Jason Smathers, 24, had committed a crime under new federal CAN-SPAM legislation that took effect this year. "

The Australian: Overwhelming charity [December 22, 2004]

The Australian: Overwhelming charity [December 22, 2004]: "Overwhelming charity
Peter Shadbolt
December 22, 2004
THE phenomenon is well known in church circles - the one-day-a-week parishioners - people who piously attend to their conscience on Sunday before rolling up their sleeves to get down to the hard-nosed business of mammon for the rest of the week.

Come Christmas Day and the pious parishioners are embraced by an ever growing band of one-day-a-year wonders who unite to show the world they truly care by rolling up their sleeves to help feed those less fortunate a festive lunch"

Proposed changes to Charities Bill | POLITICS | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

Proposed changes to Charities Bill | POLITICS | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz: "Proposed changes to Charities Bill


Dec 22, 2004

The government is proposing significant changes to the Charities Bill in an effort to address concerns from community groups around New Zealand.
More than 700 submissions were received in response to the original bill, which was designed to set up the Charities Commission and regulate the sector"

FT.com / World / UK - Private schools urged to spend charity tax breaks on poorer pupils

FT.com / World / UK - Private schools urged to spend charity tax breaks on poorer pupils: "World / UKPrint article | Email article



Private schools urged to spend charity tax breaks on poorer pupils
By Miranda Green and Nicholas Timmins
Published: December 22 2004 02:00 | Last updated: December 22 2004 02:00

Private schools should spend the �100m a year they receive in charitable tax breaks to educate pupils from poorer backgrounds, a minister said yesterday.

However, the Independent Schools Council insisted that a third of pupils in charitable schools were already given some help with fees amounting to three times the sum received in tax breaks."

Who are the nation's 'cheapstates'? Try the blue ones. | csmonitor.com

Who are the nation's 'cheapstates'? Try the blue ones. | csmonitor.com: "Who are the nation's 'cheapstates'? Try the blue ones.

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

At this time of the year, charities of every shape and size are hunting for the most generous donors. To find them, the Catalogue for Philanthropy has a counterintuitive suggestion: Look in the nation's poorest states. That's because the Catalogue's Generosity Index for 2004 shows that giving as a percentage of income is highest in states where folks have the least to give. Mississippi - the nation's poorest in terms of average household income - ranks No. 1 in generosity, followed by Arkansas, Oklahoma, and"

Daily News Tribune - Local News Coverage

Daily News Tribune - Local News Coverage: "WARPed view: Waltham program brings students into fold of civic involvement
By Christopher Moore / Tribune Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
WALTHAM -- Through a course that combines academics with community service, six Waltham High School students are hoping to change the way we see our community -- and along the way, they may just change the way we see teenagers as well.

The Waltham Action Research Project is a six-student pilot class designed to teach academic concepts through hands-on community improvement projects, culminating in a series of grants given out by the students themselves totaling $7,500. "

US deficit hits charity budgets - World - www.smh.com.au

Some International Coverage of US Charity News

US deficit hits charity budgets - World - www.smh.com.au: "US deficit hits charity budgets
December 23, 2004


In one of the first signs of the effects of the ever-tightening US federal budget, the Bush Administration has in the past two months cut its contributions to food aid programs.
With the budget deficit growing and President George Bush promising to reduce spending, the Administration has told representatives of several charities that it was unable to honour some promises.
The cutbacks, estimated by some charities at up to $US100million ($131million), come at a time when the number of hungry in the world is rising for the first time in years."

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

MP slams Cabinet Office's email destruction - ZDNet UK News

MP slams Cabinet Office's email destruction - ZDNet UK News: "MP slams Cabinet Office's email destruction


Dan Ilett
ZDNet UK
December 21, 2004, 16:55 GMT


Tell us your opinion

Anti-spam lobbyist Derek Wyatt MP is angry that the Cabinet Office is deleting millions of emails just days before the Freedom of Information Act comes into force





The chairman of the All Party Internet Group has slammed the Cabinet Office for deleting millions of emails from its systems days before they would have been available to the public.
MP Derek Wyatt, who is currently leading a parliamentary charge to ban spam, said on Tuesday he would be disappointed if the government had resorted to clearing inboxes as a way of avoiding embarrassment from the Freedom of Information Act (FoI"

Charitable giving becoming a trend

Charitable giving becoming a trend: "Charitable giving becoming a trend
By Wang Ying (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-22 01:02
The simple act of charity has become a new impetus to push forward social development in China, social science experts said yesterday in Beijing at the Second China Philanthropy Forum.
Charitable giving has become a trend of the times and will contribute more to the country's development, especially due to rapid economic development in recent years, participants said. "

Indiana Nonprofits: Affiliations, Collaborations & Competition

Indiana Nonprofits: Affiliations, Collaborations & Competition: "Nonprofit Survey Series:
Report #5
INDIANA NONPROFITS:
AFFILIATIONS, COLLABORATIONS & COMPETITION
November 2004
Kirsten A. Gr�nbjerg, Project Director
Curtis Child, Research Associate
Indiana University
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Center on Philanthropy "

BostonHerald.com - the Edge: What gives? Small charities struggle despite upturn in economy

BostonHerald.com - the Edge: What gives? Small charities struggle despite upturn in economy: "What gives? Small charities struggle despite upturn in economy
By Christopher Cox
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Even Santa Claus needs a Santa Claus.

While the kids were playing at the Eastern Service Workers Association holiday party, volunteers quietly put gifts in the hands of their parents, who then took them out the back door of a Dorchester church.

This way, more than 100 children will have a present to open on Christmas morning.

``It's a bitter pill to swallow if you can't give your kids toys,'' said Elisabeth Stevens, one of the founders of the private, mutual-benefit association in Roxbury. ``We put toys in the hands of parents. "

semissourian.com: Article

semissourian.com: Article: "Stanley - Charitable remainder unitrusts

'Tis more blessed to give than receive. Especially when charitable remainder unitrusts are involved.
Properly set up and administered, a charitable unitrust makes benefactors the beneficiaries - of reduced tax bills, periodic income, and perhaps even improved cash flow - while still allowing them to leave a legacy of at least 10 percent to the charities of their choice.
Under the most common unitrust scenario, donors irrevocably transfer assets out of their estates and into a trust created by an attorney. In doing so, they stipulate that what's left in the trust at a specified time in the future becomes the property of designated charitable organizations. Prior to that, however, the donors can arrange to have the trust make periodic payments (at least annually) to themselves or other named beneficiaries"

The Advocate - Teens teach lesson of giving to children

The Advocate - Teens teach lesson of giving to children: "Teens teach lesson of giving to children
By Ryan Jockers
Staff Writer
December 21, 2004
NORWALK -- Each year after Christmas when stores offer big sales, high school students Caitlin and Erinn McGrath buy a cache of gifts -- 'candles, frames, anything Christmas-y,' Caitlin said."

DenverPost.com - BUSINESS

DenverPost.com - BUSINESS: "Nonprofits get a cut of sales as Qwest �affinity partners�
By Robert Barba
Denver Post Staff Writer
Qwest has launched a program in which nonprofit groups can raise money for their organizations by selling Qwest telecommunication services. "

Rules change would weaken do-not-call list

Rules change would weaken do-not-call list: "Rules change would weaken do-not-call list
By Dana Dratch � Bankrate.com

If you sign up for the Do Not Call registry, you probably think you've put a stop to telemarketing calls. Not necessarily.
Businesses can still phone if you are one of their customers, whether you're on the list or not. (The government's definition of a customer is anyone who has made a purchase or done business with a company in the last 18 months or made an application or inquiry within three months.)And your phone could be ringing a little more often in the near future."

MarketingSherpa.com : Practical News & Case Studies on Internet Advertising, Marketing & PR

MarketingSherpa.com : Practical News & Case Studies on Internet Advertising, Marketing & PR: "How Web Site Eyeball Studies Work & What You Can Learn From Them

Web analytics -- even the best of them -- lack a key ingredient in tracking visitors' behavior:
Say you have 100,000 visitors in a day, and your analytics program tells you that 3% clicked on a specific link. You're still faced with a question: Given that people won't click on something they don�t see, what percentage of those 100,000 visitors even saw that link?
Is the link failing because 80% of visitors saw it but only 3% clicked? Or, is the link in an under-performing spot of your page where only 6% of visitors' eyeballs registered its existence but 50% of those viewers clicked?"

E-Mail: Consumers Click Less, Convert More

E-Mail: Consumers Click Less, Convert More: "E-Mail: Consumers Click Less, Convert More
� � � ClickZ News
By Rob McGann | December 21, 2004

Both overall conversion rates and orders generated per e-mails delivered improved for e-mail marketers this year over 2003. There was a slight decline in open and click-through rates, according to DoubleClick's latest e-mail trend report.
'The top-line summary is we're seeing the continued evolution of e-mail, with improvement in deliverability across the board, based on better list hygiene practices,' said Kevin Mabley, DoubleClick's senior director of strategic services. 'It's a sign of how clean and well-kept customer lists are.' "

AMNews: Dec. 27, 2004. Scrushy on trial: He's sure he'll win ... American Medical News

AMNews: Dec. 27, 2004. Scrushy on trial: He's sure he'll win ... American Medical News: "The Scrushy name
For Scrushy, the trial is literally about saving his good name. Thanks to generous charitable and corporate giving, it's all over Birmingham, from the Vestavia Hills Richard M. Scrushy Library to the Jefferson State Community College Richard M. Scrushy Campus. He said regaining a good reputation at home could be difficult, but, of course, he believes it will be done.
'I don't know where you go to get your name back after you've been so brutally attacked by so many people,' he said '[But] we believe that people just as quickly as they attack you, they will forgive. Once the truth comes out, I think they can very quickly turn the other way.
'I think there will be a lot of sympathy. People will say that's horrible and that could happen to me.'"

Charitable giving: Making your generosity pay - Dec. 20, 2004

Charitable giving: Making your generosity pay - Dec. 20, 2004: "Making your generosity pay

Giving is up, but public confidence in charities is down. How to ensure your money is used wisely?
December 20, 2004: 5:32 PM EST
By Penelope Wang, MONEY Magazine
NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - For Michael and Martha Hogan, giving to charity is not just a tradition -- it's a passion. The St. Louis couple, both 51, donate regularly to some two dozen nonprofits, ranging from major groups like the United Way and the National Kidney Foundation to the lesser-known Small World Adoption Foundation, which helped them adopt the youngest of their four children.
'The charities that get most of our time and money are the ones we're familiar with and where we see the most need,' says Michael, an executive at a scientific-research company. But, he adds, 'I'm a total sucker when someone asks me for a small amount.' "

7Online.com: Charity Check

7Online.com: Charity Check: "Charity Check
By Eyewitness News' Bill Ritter
(New York -WABC, December 20, 2004) � We have a real 'T'is-the-Season' story for you. At what age do you start teaching kids about the importance of giving? Of charity? Of doing good things? In tonight's extra, a unique program now in New York that believes you're never too young to start learning. "

Times Online - Britain

Times Online - Britain: "Private schools get tax boost
By Alexandra Frean, Social Affairs Correspondent, and Tony Halpin, Education Editor

PRIVATE schools and hospitals will today escape the crackdown they had feared on their �100 million tax breaks when ministers publish the long-awaited Charity Bill.
The Bill will stop short of automatically stripping elite schools such as Eton and Harrow of their charitable status or of demanding that they throw their doors open to the wider public, The Times understands.

Independent hospitals such as the Nuffield group will also continue to enjoy their tax benefits at the discretion of the Charity Commission. Many fee-paying schools had feared that the first major reform of charity law for 400 years might be used to please Labour activists opposed to their elite status, particularly with a general election so near. "

Baseball's Mind Game (washingtonpost.com)

Baseball's Mind Game (washingtonpost.com): "Another observer has been watching baseball's dealings with Washington from afar, without the funhouse mirror effect. Ralph Nader fired off a pair of letters on Friday, one to Cropp urging her not to buckle under to criticism and to stand firm against baseball, and another to Selig and his fellow pirates, calling them out as the real villains in this affair.
'What was your answer to the council? No concessions on sharing cost overruns. No concessions on the compensatory payment by the District to the team if the stadium is not completed on time. And no charitable fund commitment beyond devoting 'net proceeds' from one exhibition game. That is simply offensive. No paltry concessions from you in exchange for a $584 million publicly funded stadium project? No longer surprised by your level of avarice, we must express amazement at your unrelenting arrogance.' "

Linking Companies and Communities

Linking Companies and Communities: "Linking Companies and Communities
That's what corporate philanthropy does, says expert Cari Parsons, who cites IBM, Novartis, and GE for leading the way

The Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) is a national forum of CEOs and chairmen that promotes corporate philanthropy, corporate reputations, and the natural alignment of corporate giving with business objectives. CECP member companies contributed 45% of the $13.5 billion in U.S. corporate gifts reported in 2003. BusinessWeek's Jessi Hempel recently asked CECP Director Cari Parsons to weigh in on what smart companies should consider when designing their corporate contributions programs. Edited excerpts of their e-mail exchange follow: "

TheWMURChannel.com - News - Sadie Zyla, 91, Gives Back To Favorite Charity

TheWMURChannel.com - News - Sadie Zyla, 91, Gives Back To Favorite Charity: "Sadie Zyla, 91, Gives Back To Favorite Charity
Salvation Army Fed Her During Great Depression
POSTED: 12:03 am EST December 21, 2004
UPDATED: 12:11 am EST December 21, 2004
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Christmas shoppers at Vista foods on McGregor Monday may have caught sight of the true spirit of Christmas.
Tucked inside the front door of the store was a Salvation Army bell ringer unlike any other: Sadie Zyla, 91, who collected donations for her favorite charity"

Charities might not get much of gifts

Charities might not get much of gifts: "Charities might not get much of gifts
Fund-raisers take half of donations collected in this state
By CANDACE HECKMAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
A little more than half the $368 million that state residents donated to charity last year did not go to charitable causes but instead went into the pockets of commercial fund-raisers who solicited the money.
Nevertheless, the amount of money raised in Washington by commercial fund-raisers and handed over to charities has increased dramatically over 10 years ago, when less than a third of the donations raised went to charity, Secretary of State Sam Reed said."

Lexington Herald-Leader | 12/21/2004 | Area's non-profits could face a gap in giving

Lexington Herald-Leader | 12/21/2004 | Area's non-profits could face a gap in giving: "Posted on Tue, Dec. 21, 2004
W.T. YOUNG
Area's non-profits could face a gap in giving

LEXINGTON HAS LOST 2 KEY PHILANTHROPISTS

By Sarah Vos
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

W.T. Young's name adorns a library at the University of Kentucky, a student center at Transylvania University and a scholarship program that provides full tuition for more than 70 Transy students a year."

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Private schools confident about charity bill

EducationGuardian.co.uk | Schools special reports | Private schools confident about charity bill

Conservative Party - Press release

Conservative Party - Press release: "PRESS RELEASE

Conservatives welcome publication of Charities Bill

Following the publication today of the Charities Bill, Conservatives welcomed the fact that independent schools and private hospitals will be allowed to keep their charitable status. Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Jacqui Lait, said:"

Domestic Policy news : Charities Bill published

Domestic Policy news : Charities Bill published: "Charities Bill published
Tuesday, 21 Dec 2004 12:27 New regulations on collectionsSend Us FeedbackEmail this to a friendPrinter friendly versionOpinion Formers' ViewsAFC - Association For Charities
Futurebuilders England
Private schools will not automatically lose their charitable status under new Government proposals contained in the Charities Bill.


The Government stress the bill is designed to provide a �modern, sustainable framework� for charitable organisations and make administration more efficient. "

Telemarketers Required to �Scrub� Their Call Lists Every 31 Days Beginning January 1, 2005

Telemarketers Required to �Scrub� Their Call Lists Every 31 Days Beginning January 1, 2005: "Telemarketers Required to �Scrub� Their Call Lists Every 31 Days Beginning January 1, 2005
Beginning January 1, 2005, the Federal Trade Commission�s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) will require telemarketers to access the National Do Not Call Registry and purge newly-registered numbers from their call lists every 31 days. The TSR currently requires telemarketers to �scrub� their lists quarterly; the FTC amended the Rule to reflect this change in March 2004.
Monthly updates for telemarketers will be available at https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov at no cost. Telemarketers are required annually to renew their subscriptions to the National Do Not Call Registry at a fee of $40 per area code, with a maximum fee of $11,000 for any entity accessing 280 area codes or more. Entities may access the first five area codes of data for free. The Do Not Call Web site for telemarketers will inform them when their subscription account numbers (SANs) expire and give them renewal instructions. "

Monday, December 20, 2004

Scotsman.com News - Top Stories - Tom Hunter vows to match Band Aid penny for penny

Scotsman.com News - Top Stories - Tom Hunter vows to match Band Aid penny for penny: "Tom Hunter vows to match Band Aid penny for penny

SHARON WARD


TOM Hunter, the multi-millionaire Scottish entrepreneur and philanthropist, has pledged to match every penny raised by Band Aid 20�s Do They Know It�s Christmas? single, up to a maximum of �7 million.

During a meeting in London yesterday with Sir Bob Geldolf, Mr Hunter agreed to support the campaign.

It is the single biggest donation that Band Aid has received in its 20-year history. Sir Bob said that to say he was delighted would be 'the understatement of 2004'. "

Connect For Kids - Kids and Learning: At Home, School and Beyond

Article re Youth In Philanthropy
Connect For Kids - Kids and Learning: At Home, School and Beyond: "Harvesting Pennies, Sowing Change
by Daniel de Zeeuw


December 20, 2004
As a high school senior I am well aware that my voice can be seen as more of an annoyance than a product for change. But I am also aware of those few people who believe a youth voice is one of the most important elements of a hopeful future. Everyone who works at Common Cents believes this to be true. This is why I continue to volunteer on Common Cents� SCAF Council. What began three years ago as a community service requirement for graduation has turned into one of the best uses of my time, my effort and my voice"

PlaNetwork Journal -> Network-Centric Thinking: The Internet's Challenge to Ego-Centric Institutions

PlaNetwork Journal -> Network-Centric Thinking: The Internet's Challenge to Ego-Centric Institutions: "Network-Centric Thinking: The Internet's Challenge to Ego-Centric Institutions
Jed Miller and Rob Stuart

When advocacy groups embrace digital democracy, the reverberations shake the whole organization.
The tools of digital democracy enable us to become activists with a new flexibility and independence. Email lists, online petitions, meet-ups and blogs have altered citizens' expectations for how advocacy groups should engage their members. MoveOn.org and the Howard Dean campaign have pioneered new models for democratic, flexible, 'network-centric' approaches, but many organizations stick resolutely to traditional 'ego-centric' methods. There's a simmering tension between ego-centric thinking and network-centric thinking � the tension between the institutional power that emanates from an organization and the transactional power that inheres in its members' myriad interactions. "

SouthFlorida.com | CELEBRITY NEWS

Article about Celebrity Giving
SouthFlorida.com | CELEBRITY NEWS: "Cruise donates a hundred $50 bills to charity jar in ice cream store

World Entertainment News Network
Posted December 20 2004
Tom Cruise stunned staff at a Virginia ice cream store, by donating $5,000 to a local charity appeal.

The actor stopped off at the parlor in Lexington, where he is filming War Of The Worlds with director Steven Spielberg.

After spotting a collection jar for local girl Ashley Flint, 11, who was recently hurt in a go-karting accident, Cruise took out his wallet and stuffed 100 $50 notes into it."

Charity's Ouster Puts Retailer in Bull's-Eye (washingtonpost.com)

Charity's Ouster Puts Retailer in Bull's-Eye (washingtonpost.com): "Charity's Ouster Puts Retailer in Bull's-Eye
Salvation Army Ban Spurs Target Boycott
By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 20, 2004; Page B02
For decades, Salvation Army volunteers, ringing bells as they stand beside bright red kettles, have been a holiday fixture outside stores nationwide. This year, Target stores have banned them, and religious groups representing millions of evangelical Christians are calling for a boycott to protest the decision.
Target said it is trying to be fair to other charities by ending the exception from Target's non-solicitation policy given to the Salvation Army"

Telemarketers shift strategies in �Do not call� regime

Telemarketers shift strategies in �Do not call� regime: "Telemarketers shift strategies in �Do not call� regime

Posted online: Monday, December 20, 2004 at 0000 hours IST

WASHINGTON: The telemarketer vision of the national do-not-call list�s aftermath was apocalyptic: millions out of work and billions in lost sales rippling through the economy.


More than a year after the free government service for blocking telemarketing calls went into effect, the result is not as bleak as industry officials had predicted. "

Scandals chill gift giving / Corporations rein in urge to hand out presents this year

Scandals chill gift giving / Corporations rein in urge to hand out presents this year: "Scandals chill gift giving
Corporations rein in urge to hand out presents this year
Katherine Reynolds Lewis, Newhouse News
Sunday, December 19, 2004

After the recent corporate ethics scandals, more companies are curbing holiday gifts for business purposes, either by setting spending limits, encouraging charitable donations or banning presents outright. "

Tax-exempt form for charities gets new look: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tax-exempt form for charities gets new look: South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Tax-exempt form for charities gets new look

By Ivette M. Yee
Staff Writer
Posted December 19 2004

Every year, about 90,000 charitable organizations apply for tax-exempt status. And that doesn't include the number of aspiring charities that give up because of the lengthy application process.

But the Internal Revenue Service has released a revised application that government officials say will streamline the process and also help crack down on potentially abusive charities."

BocaNews.com

BocaNews.com: "
Money can�t buy you...
Want to be happy, lose the Hummer

Published Sunday, December 19, 2004 at 1:00 am
by Paige Stein


Technically defined �affluenza� is a dysfunctional relationship with money/wealth, or the pursuit of it, but for Boca resident Risa Garcia the Hummer is the embodiment of the term.
�Every time I see someone driving a Hummer, I can�t help but think that this is exactly what�s wrong with our society � the fact that someone would think they need to drive a $100,000 paramilitary all-terrain vehicle on the streets of Boca � no matter how much money they have � just boggles my mind,� said Garcia.
�Of course, every time I see a man driving a Hummer, I also think something else, but that�s not really printable in a family newspaper,� she added jokingly.
While the word �affluenza� may lend itself to a certain type of mordant humor � the disorder and its consequences, both for the individual and society � are very real, many experts say. In fact, many argue that �affluenza� is crippling us as a society and severely affecting the quality of our lives as individuals. "

SHOCK: Shock to Host Celebrity Poker Tournament for Charity

SHOCK: Shock to Host Celebrity Poker Tournament for Charity

FTC serves up fully baked spam recipe | Tech News on ZDNet

FTC serves up fully baked spam recipe | Tech News on ZDNet

my.accenture.com -- Today's Headlines

my.accenture.com -- Today's Headlines: "Charities Worry That New Federal Tax Law Will Be Roadblock to Car Donations
Source: The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri)
Publication date: 2004-12-19


Dec. 19--Old cars helped save LeOtis Brooks' life.
Brooks oversees the sale of used cars donated to the Salvation Army. The money raised helps support the organization's drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
'It gave me a fresh start,' said Brooks, who completed a rehabilitation program for alcohol about two years ago and has been reunited with family members.
But as of Jan. 1, a new tax law will tighten how much people can deduct for vehicle donations. And while people can still donate cars and get deductions in 2005, many charities are worried about losing money next year. The National Kidney Foundation fears that some people will return to selling old cars and "

Tax exempt, not exempt from the IRS - 2004-12-20 - Washington Business Journal

Tax exempt, not exempt from the IRS - 2004-12-20 - Washington Business Journal: "Tax exempt, not exempt from the IRS
Steve Davolt
A looming crackdown by the Internal Revenue Service should have tax lawyers and nonprofit organizations cozying up to each other in the new year to keep the nonprofits from running afoul of new guidelines.

The IRS division dealing with tax-exempt organizations issued its 2005 implementation guidelines Nov. 4, and the underlying theme was overwhelmingly enforcement as the agency seeks to stem abuses that 'exploit the benefits of tax-exempt status for personal gain.' "

We either gamble or we don't

We either gamble or we don't: "We either gamble or we don't



Wyoming can't be opposed to gambling and at the same time ignore its presence.

For years, state leaders have adopted a stance that gambling is morally wrong, and that it's wrong for the state to support it. At the same time, games such as electronic bingo and poker tournaments have flourished with little or no regulation.

The state should either have gambling -- along with regulatory oversight and taxes -- or it shouldn't.

A legitimate argument can be made for either perspective.
Games of chance are booming in popularity. Life itself is a game of chance, so it should come as no surprise that our recreational pursuits reflect that uncertainty. The state loses money by not regulating and taxing the gambling that goes on here. It also loses money when residents go out of state to play the lottery or to try "

Report forecasts tough times for nonprofits - 2004-12-20 - Business First of Buffalo

Report forecasts tough times for nonprofits - 2004-12-20 - Business First of Buffalo: "Report forecasts tough times for nonprofits
Tracey Drury
Business First
The nonprofit community faces difficult times ahead, and some agencies may find themselves fighting for survival.

So say community leaders, who released the results Dec. 16 of the third annual Report Card on Charitable Giving in Erie County, sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County.
At first glance, the report shows 2003 was a strong year overall for philanthropy in the county, with an 11-percent jump in direct contributions to nonprofits to a six-year peak of $174.5 million. "

MSNBC - End-of-year largesse has Maryland nonprofits smiling

MSNBC - End-of-year largesse has Maryland nonprofits smiling: "End-of-year largesse has Maryland nonprofits smilingBy Rachel Sams
Baltimore Business Journal
Updated: 7:00 p.m. ET Dec. 19, 2004It's December, so Kelly Sheridan must be opening checks.

Democrat & Chronicle:

Democrat & Chronicle:: "The Sigl model

Al Sigl Center has taken streamlining steps that offer an example.

(December 20, 2004) � In a competitive world, collaborative models are hard to come by. The private sector tends to provide them, as corporations seek to increase profits. The public sector lags far behind, held back by tradition, politicians' reluctance to step boldly and the greater willingness to raise taxes than to challenge the status quo.
The nonprofits are fertile ground for models. And Rochester's Al Sigl Center has stepped up."

mcall.com - Nonprofit linked to Fumo missed IRS reporting date

mcall.com - Nonprofit linked to Fumo missed IRS reporting date: "Nonprofit linked to Fumo missed IRS reporting date

PHILADELPHIA | A nonprofit group connected to state Sen. Vincent Fumo has missed the IRS deadline for reporting its 2003 finances.

Federal investigators have been probing Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods since last spring, when The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Peco Energy Co. had donated $17 million to the South Philadelphia charity in secret deals Fumo struck with the utility."

In The Name Of Aiding Others - from TBO.com

In The Name Of Aiding Others - from TBO.com: "In The Name Of Aiding Others
By SHERRI ACKERMAN sackerman@tampatrib.com
Published: Dec 20, 2004

TAMPA - Less than three years after leading the former United Cerebral Palsy of Tampa Bay through a name change, Karen Ryals found herself in an unenviable position.
The name, AdvanceAbility Solutions, sounded more like a software company than a social service provider. The agency had to reinvent itself again.
``No one knew what we did,'' said Ryals, the chief executive officer.
Across town, Metropolitan Ministries Inc. enjoyed more than 30 years of name recognition. "

Daily News Transcript - Opinion & Letters to the Editor

Daily News Transcript - Opinion & Letters to the Editor: "Editorial: Donors beware
Monday, December 20, 2004
Telemarketing is big business, and so is charity. According to Attorney General Tom Reilly, generous and caring Massachusetts residents donated $201,937,274 trough 566 charitable telemarketing campaigns in 2003.

Those generous people may be alarmed to learn that, on average, only 29 cents out of every dollar actually made it to the charitable organization for which it was intended, and in some cases, less than a dime was eventually used for charity. "

Estate planning pitfalls - 2004-12-20 - Orlando Business Journal

Estate planning pitfalls - 2004-12-20 - Orlando Business Journal: "Estate planning pitfalls
Thinking ahead helps business owners and professionals avoid problems
Jill Krueger
Staff Writer
Scott Carroll, a Casselberry business owner in his mid-30s, is somewhat unusual. Unlike many businesspeople who don't give estate planning any thought, he recently began thinking about what would happen to his assets and family in the event of his death. After all, he has a wife, a 4-year-old daughter and another baby on the way. "

Yahoo! Finance Special Edition - A Guide for Giving

Yahoo! Finance Special Edition - A Guide for Giving: "Yahoo! Finance Special Edition





The Top Givers
Provided by BusinessWeek Online
The year's No. 1 givers were Bill and Melinda Gates, who made history by giving their estimated $3 billion Microsoft Corp. dividend to their foundation. Warren Buffett was also in the billion-dollar-club. Others on our list contributed mega-gifts in the hundred-million range. More.

Most Efficient CharitiesProvided by Forbes.com
Ranked by charitable commitment -- how much of total expenses went for the charitable purpose, excluding management, overhead and fundraising. Average is 84%"

The Globe and Mail: Tax changes will spur bigger donations, charities say

The Globe and Mail: Tax changes will spur bigger donations, charities say: "A group of charitable organizations is pushing the federal government to change tax rules in order to encourage wealthy Canadians to make more big donations to private foundations.
'There is a higher level of trust in private foundations among affluent Canadians,' said Malcolm Burrows of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners which represents 1,250 fundraising executives.
The issue relates largely to donations of publicly traded securities, which have become a popular way for many individuals to make donations. Under current tax rules, stock donations to public foundations, such as local community endowments, receive a greater tax break than similar gifts to private foundations"

Gold coins are glittering mystery for Salvation Army

Gold coins are glittering mystery for Salvation Army: "Gold coins are glittering mystery for Salvation Army
December 20, 2004
BY JAN DENNIS Advertisement



PEORIA -- The Salvation Army has mined gold from its red holiday kettles for nearly a quarter century, anonymous gifts of gold coins that have tapped a rich vein of urban legend.
Agency officials say it's a mystery. They don't know why the gold coins -- some worth hundreds of dollars -- end up in bell ringers' kettles each year, they say, but they have their theories."

KRT Wire | 12/20/2004 | U.K. contrast shows pitiful state of arts funding in U.S.

KRT Wire | 12/20/2004 | U.K. contrast shows pitiful state of arts funding in U.S.: "U.K. contrast shows pitiful state of arts funding in U.S.

BY DOMINIC P. PAPATOLA

Knight Ridder Newspapers


(KRT) - The London Guardian reported last week that cultural folk in England were 'devastated' over budget news regarding the British government's commitment to arts funding. According to the newest budget figures, Arts Council England - the rough equivalent of the National Endowment for the Arts on this side of the pond - will have its budget frozen from 2005 through 2008"

Some givers offer more than trinkets - The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA

Some givers offer more than trinkets - The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA: "Some givers offer more than trinkets
By Susan Palmer
The Register-Guard




The rent check.
The utility bill.
The car insurance payment.
Boring household finance details - they don't sound like the top items on anybody's holiday gift list.
But more area families are telling charities that they want their gifts to have a lasting effect, something beyond the one-day joy of presents under a tree or a festive holiday meal.
Few groups are tracking the numbers, but every year a few more phone calls trickle in to places such as St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, Catholic Community Services and the Energy Share program at the Eugene Water & Electric Board. "

Charitable giving: Stocks are down, land is up - 2004-12-20 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Charitable giving: Stocks are down, land is up - 2004-12-20 - Atlanta Business Chronicle: "Charitable giving: Stocks are down, land is up
Nonprofit donations reflect changes in economy
Tom Barry
Contributing writer
Conservation easements, art, cars, patents, retirement plans. Even the occasional racehorse and mobile home park. Donations to nonprofit organizations today extend well beyond the traditional cash and stock gifts. "

Boston.com / A&E / Media / Job security? It's in the bag

Boston.com / A&E / Media / Job security? It's in the bag: " recent study by the Postal Service reported that mail emanating from households now accounts for only 22 percent of the overall volume, and that because of the popularity of e-mail, Americans are increasingly relying on the Postal Service only as a vehicle to deliver their bills, taxes, and charitable giving."

Guilford fund-raiser has seen sea change - 2004-12-20 - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area

Guilford fund-raiser has seen sea change - 2004-12-20 - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area: "Guilford fund-raiser has seen sea change
Todd Cohen
The Business Journal Serving the Greater Triad Area
In 1968, when he hired Charlie Patterson for his first fund-raising job, the president of Meredith College in Raleigh told him he could take graduate classes at nearby N.C. State University.

'What he failed to tell me was that development work is a 24/7 job,' Patterson said. 'Needless to say, I never got across the street.' "

Diversity aids workplace giving

Diversity aids workplace giving: "Diversity aids workplace giving
Monday, December 20, 2004
By ERIN MURPHY SANDERS
Tom Van Essen of Hopewell Borough is a longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood of Mercer County.
Alicia Byzek of Fairless Hills, Pa., gives to the Kisses for Kyle Foundation.
Linda Tyler of Ringoes prefers to diversify her giving and includes an international, national and local organization. "

New York Daily News - City News - Charities see more $ 'neath tree

New York Daily News - City News - Charities see more $ 'neath tree: "Charities see more $ 'neath tree


The good times are returning for many New York charities, with donations increasing after three tough years.
Many major nonprofits in the city will see donations rise more than 10% over last year, Crain's New York Business reports.
'It's going to be a good year,' fund-raising consultant Robert Kissane told Crain's. 'We're finally back with philanthropy to pre-9/11 numbers.'"

WI Rapids Daily Tribune - Be proud of local philanthropy

WI Rapids Daily Tribune - Be proud of local philanthropy: "Be proud of local philanthropy

Rapids area shows you don't have to be wealthy to make community rich
The Community Progress Initiative was launched in April, just eight months ago, with the objective of creating a stronger community.

Through this effort it has been gratifying to see hundreds of residents come together to identify community assets and opportunities across a broad spectrum of areas. It is apparent that assets are widespread and opportunities abound, and in today's column I'd like to discuss an asset that we all should be particularly proud of: community philanthropy.

Webster's Dictionary defines philanthropy as: goodwill to fellow men, especially active effort to promote human welfare. We are fortunate to have a community that is rich in philanthropy, literally serving as a cornerstone for community welfare, development and improvement."

Marin Independent Journal - Lifestyles

Marin Independent Journal - Lifestyles: "Lorraine Carlson, board president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in San Francisco, praises Pike for 'removing obstacles between people and their good intentions.' He pioneered so-called donor-advised funds, which she says have 'changed the face of philanthropy.' "