Friday, July 27, 2007

opinion

opinion: "Unknown to most people, though, is that the distribution centers have become mini-philanthropies.

I learned all this from Paul Ashe, a longtime friend who runs Luke House, the near east side Madison program that provides free lunches and dinners to folks who need a little help in their lives."

LA Daily News - United Way on new path

LA Daily News - United Way on new path: "United Way on new path
$13 million in funding to be announced for homeless, education, poverty groups
BY RICK ORLOV, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 07/26/2007 09:37:47 PM PDT

In a bid to strengthen services and revitalize its image, the United Way of Greater Los Angeles is set to announce about $13 million in funding today to groups around the region, including a range of new programs.

Nearly 140 agencies will receive grants from the area's largest charitable group, down from 188 as the United Way seeks to hone its focus and boost the effectiveness of its grants.

The plan will give dozens of agencies funds for the first time even as the United Way separates from others that have received support for years."

Cake, but No Presents, Please - New York Times

Cake, but No Presents, Please - New York Times: "But the only gift in sight was a little red Matchbox hook and ladder rig. All the bounty from Gavin’s birthday — $240 in checks and cash collected in a red box next to a plastic fire helmet — went to the Cranford Fire Department."

Welcome To The Hanover Herald-Progress-Lawyer E.G. Allen donates $2.6 million to alma mater

Welcome To The Hanover Herald-Progress: "Allen recently donated $2.6 million to Randolph-Macon for the purpose of establishing scholarships, funding the college's athletic program, and creating a college athletic endowment."

A Charity Finds Itself in Dire Need - washingtonpost.com

A Charity Finds Itself in Dire Need - washingtonpost.com: "A Charity Finds Itself in Dire Need
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries' Efforts to Get Help From County Misfire

By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 26, 2007; Page VA16

One year ago, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, a nonprofit group that helps the poor in a broad swath of the western end of the county, seemed to be on solid footing.

With a budget of more than $700,000, it was helping thousands of needy families get out of financial crises, get back on their feet and avoid homelessness."

SunJournal.com - Art students meet, thank patron, 97

SunJournal.com - Art students meet, thank patron, 97: "Two years ago, Pearl Starbird, who turns 98 in September, gave away $715,000 to establish a scholarship to support students in the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris and the Lake Region High School in Naples who want to study music or art, but needed a little financial help to get there.

On Thursday, she saw the results of her generosity when a dozen or so scholarship recipients joined her for a reception and showed her how grateful they were."

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Survivor bikini auctioned for charity - Boston.com

Survivor bikini auctioned for charity - Boston.com: "Survivor bikini auctioned for charity

July 25, 2007

BARRE, Vt. --A former contestant on the reality television show Survivor is selling her bikini on eBay for a good cause.
Stacy Kimball, 27, who grew up in Moretown and lasted 36 days and came in sixth place on last season's Survivor Fiji, will donate the proceeds from the yellow bikini she wore on the show to the American Diabetes Association."

Bloomberg.com: Muse

Bloomberg.com: Muse: "July 26 (Bloomberg) -- Andrew Plepler and a few of his friends started a nonprofit group 11 years ago to mentor underprivileged high-school students in Washington. As president of the Bank of America Foundation, he's now helping out on a bigger scale."

Foundations find benefits in facing up to failures - International Herald Tribune

Foundations find benefits in facing up to failures - International Herald Tribune: "Foundations find benefits in facing up to failures
By Stephanie Strom
Published: July 26, 2007

Among the reports on a coffee table in the Carnegie Corporation's reception area is one on the foundation's efforts to help Zimbabwe overhaul its Constitution and government.

It gets straight to the point: 'This is the anatomy of a grant that failed.'

Just a few years ago, it would have been astonishing for a foundation, particularly one as traditional as Carnegie, to publicize a failure. Thursday, though, many of the nation's largest foundations regard disclosing and analyzing their failures as bordering on a moral obligation."

Portland charity ends Katrina relief efforts - OregonLive.com: Breaking News Updates

Portland charity ends Katrina relief efforts - OregonLive.com: Breaking News Updates: "Portland charity ends Katrina relief efforts
Posted by The Oregonian July 25, 2007 22:35PM
Categories: Breaking News

Catholic Charities has ended Portland's longest-running large-scale program to support Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees, leaving at least 100 transplants still in need of assistance nearly two years after the hurricanes struck.

The move brings to a close the area-wide effort to aid hurricane evacuees who came to Portland for jobs, school and housing. At one point, the city and Multnomah county operated a welcome center at the old Washington-Monroe High School in Southeast Portland with the support of the Red Cross and other agencies."

onPhilanthropy: Articles: A Vision of Sustainable Enterprise

onPhilanthropy: Articles: A Vision of Sustainable Enterprise: "A Vision of Sustainable Enterprise
By: Susan Carey Dempsey, 7/25/07

When the Council on Foundations honored the Seva Foundation with one of its new Critical Impact Awards earlier this month, it shone the spotlight on an organization that was breaking ground on social entrepreneurship 25 years ago. Seva was cited for “revolutionizing the ability of community based eye care programs to restore eyesight for poor people affected by cataract blindness” through its work in helping to create Aurolab, the manufacturing division of Aravind Eye Hospital, in Mandurai, India"

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

onPhilanthropy: Articles: Measuring Return On Investment - Part II: Wachovia Foundation Strives for Education Equality with Teach For America

onPhilanthropy: Articles: Measuring Return On Investment - Part II: Wachovia Foundation Strives for Education Equality with Teach For America: "Measuring Return On Investment - Part II:
Wachovia Foundation Strives for Education Equality with Teach For America
By DeShele Dorsey, 7/25/07

As noted in a previous article in onPhilanthropy, the depth of the relationship between a corporation and its nonprofit partner is one way to measure the success of a funder’s investment in a charitable cause. To this end, the Wachovia Corporation’s multi-tiered relationship with Teach For America provides an excellent case study for the ways in which a true partnership can involve more than financial support"

Jim Henson - Center for Puppetry Arts - New York Times

Jim Henson - Center for Puppetry Arts - New York Times: "ATLANTA, July 24 — Time’s fun when you’re having flies, Kermit the Frog once said. And how time has flown: Kermit, or more precisely one of the many puppets that have played Kermit, will be retired to Atlanta on Wednesday, part of a major gift being made by the Jim Henson Foundation."

Mary Ellen Slayter - How They Made the Nonprofit Jump - washingtonpost.com

Mary Ellen Slayter - How They Made the Nonprofit Jump - washingtonpost.com: "How They Made the Nonprofit Jump

By Mary Ellen Slayter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 22, 2007; Page K01

One of the most common questions that readers ask is how they can get a job with a nonprofit group. Recent grads and career changers all seem to find the process befuddling. So I posed that question to nonprofit workers themselves. Their strategies were as varied as the work they do. Perhaps their stories can inspire your own nonprofit job search:"

Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Opinion-Pig kissing is good for kids

Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Opinion: "Kiss-n-Squeal fundraiser isn't about the pig who gets smooched, it's about the kids.

'We're out their to help kids connect and grow with their community,' she said.

The pig is just the engine YouthZone hopes will drive them to their goal of raising $80,000 for the program, which offers mentoring, counseling, outreach programs and education for the area's youth and their families.


The benefits that YouthZone provides for so many in this community are priceless."

MaineToday.com | Maine Marketing: Muggle Mania

MaineToday.com | Maine Marketing: Muggle Mania: "Muggle Mania

It was a “once-in-a-lifetime event for Muggles…” according to the Forecaster, which posed as the Daily Prophet for first ever Mugglefest.

Last Friday Portland celebrated the release of the final Harry Potter book with a 12 hour event filled with marketing opportunities for non-profit and for-profit Maine organizations."

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

NFL charities under attack -- chicagotribune.com

NFL charities under attack -- chicagotribune.com: "NFL charities under attack

Ex-players say not enough earmarked for ailing comrades

By Greg Johnson | Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times
July 24, 2007

Every year, professional football donates tens of millions of dollars to community organizations, charitable groups and other non-profits. But Internal Revenue Service filings show that only a tiny percentage of that funding is earmarked for charities that can specifically help former NFL players who have fallen on hard times."

Group studies value of service - Roanoke.com

Group studies value of service - Roanoke.com: "Group studies value of service
The agency wants to learn how much nonprofit groups add to Roanoke's economy.

Matt Chittum

When city leaders toughened application requirements for nonprofit groups seeking city grants last year, they did it without input from the nonprofits themselves.

The groups objected that some of the requirements were onerous for smaller organizations in particular, and won some concessions.

But to them, the message was clear: Too many people don't understand or respect the value of nonprofit organizations.

Now the Nonprofit Resource Center of Western Virginia is out to prove the value of nonprofits in actual dollars and cents -- and win the respect they feel they deserve."

Monday, July 23, 2007

Harvard University's Hauser Center/NFF Survey: Key Funders Urge That Nonprofit Grant Process Be Simplified

Press Release

Harvard University's Hauser Center/NFF Survey: Key Funders Urge That Nonprofit Grant Process Be Simplified: "Harvard University's Hauser Center/NFF Survey: Key Funders Urge That Nonprofit Grant Process Be Simplified

Nonprofit Finance Fund and Harvard University's Hauser Center for Nonprofit
Organizations Issue Survey Findings From Major 2007 Conference

NEW YORK, July 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nine out of 10 of a group
of leading institutions that fund nonprofits want to streamline the grant application and reporting processes, according to the findings of a recent survey released today by Harvard University's Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations and the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF)."

The Second Age Of Philanthropy (from Sunday Herald)

The Second Age Of Philanthropy (from Sunday Herald): "THEY CAME, they conquered and then they gave it all away. Eight-figure generosity used to be a rare thing indeed, but 21st century capitalism is breeding a new species of billionaire, and their cash could soon be coming to a community near you.

Leading the charge for a whole new generation of wealthy philanthropists, Sir Tom Hunter raised the charity bar last week with the announcement that he intends to redirect over £1bn of his personal fortune into deserving projects worldwide. Already marked as one of the UK's most benevolent donors, his latest pledge to pour funds into a vast array of initiatives from Scotland to Africa has propelled him into the benefactor big league, placing him on a par with such legendary donors as Carnegie, Rockefeller and Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates.

'With great wealth comes great responsibility. There is more great wealth in fewer hands than ever before in history, and you've got to take care of these things if wealth creation is still going to be seen as a positive force by the rest of the population,' said Sir Tom, the day after a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showed the gap between the rich and poor in Britain was at its starkest in 40 years."

Article's Detail Page-Chase hopes to pack more punch with gifts that people will notice

Article's Detail Page: "Shouting its support
Chase hopes to pack more punch with gifts that people will notice
Sat. July 21 - 2007
Chris O’Malley - comalley@ibj.com
IBJ staff

Not-for-profits that banked on consistent support from the banker down the street can no longer count on a tip of the top hat, thanks to ever-larger mergers among institutions that have changed the dynamic of their charitable giving.

Hundreds of charitable organizations around Indiana that grew accustomed to gifts from Bank One’s foundation now find the odds of getting some cash more akin to picking the winning lottery ticket. The upside: a bigger prize if they win.

Lansing State Journal: Deborah Harper: Here are steps to become a professional fundraiser

Lansing State Journal: Deborah Harper: Here are steps to become a professional fundraiser: "Deborah Harper: Here are steps to become a professional fundraiser
ON BUSINESS

Michigan's slow economy has many nonprofit organizations turning to professional fundraisers to help raise money as the availability of private, state and federal funds declines.

For those looking in that direction, it is good to be acquainted with how professional fundraising, which falls under the oversight of the attorney general's office, is structured."

Charlotte Observer | 07/22/2007 | Site enables anyone to use small loans to change lives a world away

Charlotte Observer | 07/22/2007 | Site enables anyone to use small loans to change lives a world away: "Site enables anyone to use small loans to change lives a world away
MEGHA SATYANARAYANA
meghas@charlotteobserver.com


A shoe saleswoman in Mexico. A cement seller and a soft drink vendor in Azerbaijan. A Kenyan woman in need of a cow. These four people needed loans their local banks could not provide, so 23- year-old Will Nathan became their lender through Kiva.org.

All while sitting on his couch in Charlotte.

Nathan is at the forefront of an emerging form of grassroots philanthropy that makes everyday people microfinancers. Working through the Kiva.org Web site, they make small loans to entrepreneurs who are trying to dig out of poverty in third world countries.

The Columbus Dispatch : Colleges' nest eggs grow

The Columbus Dispatch : Colleges' nest eggs grow: "The state does not track the size of these 'quasi-endowments' directly, but a similar gauge of universities' financial health shows that Ohio's 13 largest public schools had $2.8 billion in combined 'expendable net assets' as of June 2006."

The Daily Californian-West Berkeley Activists Presented With $300,000 in Grant Money

The Daily Californian: "West Berkeley Activists Presented With $300,000 in Grant Money
BY Bobby Carroll
Contributing Writer
Monday, July 23, 2007
Victor Diaz.


A Bay Area philanthropy group announced Friday the awarding of a $300,000 grant to various West Berkeley community activists as part of a five-year partnership to promote civic unity and engagement.

The San Francisco Foundation appointed the latest eight Koshland Community Fellows, who will distribute an average of $60,000 per year through 2012 to various community organizations."

The State | 07/23/2007 | Benedict fundraiser used to tough circumstances

The State | 07/23/2007 | Benedict fundraiser used to tough circumstances: "Benedict College has hired a veteran institutional fundraiser to revive the historically black institution’s anemic private donations and deliver the message that the college is emerging from its multi-year financial crisis."