Friday, November 05, 2010

A Growing Number Americans Don't Give to Charity, Poll Finds - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

A Growing Number Americans Don't Give to Charity, Poll Finds - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "More and more Americans have stopped donating to charities because of the bad economy, and many do not feel any personal responsibility to be involved with efforts to make the world a better place, a new survey has found.

The percentage of people who said they are not making any charitable donations doubled to 12 percent this year, up from 6 percent in 2009, according to an online survey by Harris Interactive of 2,620 adults conducted in September."

Help Is On The Way | The AFP GLBT Community Blog

Help Is On The Way | The AFP GLBT Community Blog

The Gift Acceptance Policy: What Is It, and Why Does Your Organization Need It?

Some related material is collected on our FAQ Blog

http://afprc23.blogspot.com/search/label/NPGiftAcceptancePolicies



The Gift Acceptance Policy: What Is It, and Why Does Your Organization Need It?: "November 2010

Adopting, implementing, and monitoring sound governance policies to accomplish an organization's mission continue to be at the forefront of issues of concern to the nonprofit community. Even implementing the most basic policies encourages operational and managerial efficiency.

By now, most organizations have completed the inaugural filing cycle of the new Form 990 and are familiar with the 'Governance, Management and Disclosure' section, which addresses the existence—or lack thereof—of policies, including conflicts of interest, whistleblower, document retention and destruction, joint ventures, review of the 990, and executive compensation."

I Got Dumped: The Dark Side of Volunteer/Staff Relationships

I Got Dumped: The Dark Side of Volunteer/Staff Relationships: "2010


*

I Got Dumped: The Dark Side of Volunteer/Staff Relationships

November 2010

Reprinted from Contributions Magazine

I feel the need to do a follow-up to my article about volunteer management, 'The Day We First Met.' In that article, I compared volunteer management to dating. I focused on the get-butterflies-in-your-tummy phase of courtship, the proposal phase, and ultimately, the marriage. But from the responses I got from volunteer managers, there is clearly a need to address the darker side. You know—after the period of bliss has passed. How do you handle these precious relationships when things go south or you begin to feel, well (gasp), married? Or even worse, you get dumped?"

When Nonprofits Invest In The Stock Market - Forbes.com

When Nonprofits Invest In The Stock Market - Forbes.com: "Recognizing that nonprofits are perpetually struggling just to stay afloat, some of the donors I've worked with over the years have found that by supporting nonprofits' growth and development, rather than targeting funds for specific programs, they can invest not only in an organization's current work, but also in its ability to adapt and sustain itself into the future. Indeed, these 'capacity building' grants are often the only funds an organization receives that it can access specifically for planning and infrastructure-building purposes. Without these funds, organizations either forsake these critical activities altogether or use precious general operating funds, thus depleting funds needed for crucial programming."

The Pendulum - Philanthropy encouraged, needed among students

The Pendulum - Philanthropy encouraged, needed among students: "A weekday walk through Moseley Center is interrupted by students at tables asking for money in exchange for cupcakes, bracelets or even just a 'thank you.' A weekend morning job is disrupted by the sight of dozens of students packaging meals for the underprivileged. Or an entire 24-hour span in spent in Alumni Gym, celebrating the lives of children.

All of these are examples of philanthropy at Elon University, or the giving of money and material goods, according to Mary Morrison, director of the Kernoodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement. Philanthropy is one of the practices the university is committed to fostering in its students as part of the Elon Commitment."

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Americans’ Faith in Nonprofits Is Strong, Survey Finds - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Americans’ Faith in Nonprofits Is Strong, Survey Finds - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Americans’ Faith in Nonprofits Is Strong, Survey Finds

By Debra E. Blum

Seven in ten Americans trust nonprofit organizations more than they trust the government or businesses to solve society’s problems, according to a new poll. But nearly nine out of ten Americans say that nonprofit groups face financial problems of their own and that getting sufficient money is one of the biggest concerns for charities."

Fraternity ‘struts their stuff’ for YouthAIDS | The Daily Illini

Fraternity ‘struts their stuff’ for YouthAIDS | The Daily Illini: "For those of us with younger brothers, dressing them up may have been one of the most memorable parts of sibling bonding growing-up. For the girls at 13 sororities at the University of Illinois, these childhood memories were revived Tuesday when they got to dress and accessorize the freshmen members of Sigma Phi Epsilon."

Newman's Own hits $300M charity milestone - USATODAY.com

Newman's Own hits $300M charity milestone - USATODAY.com: "The company gives all after-tax profits to charity, and on Wednesday it announced it has surpassed $300 million in donations since its founding in 1982. 'My dad felt like he was so lucky,' says daughter Clea Newman Soderlund, who hosted a celebration in New York with her mother, Joanne Woodward. 'He felt that when you are given so much, you should reach out and help others that haven't been so lucky.'"

The College as a Philanthropy. Yes, a Philanthropy. - Commentary - The Chronicle of Higher Education

The College as a Philanthropy. Yes, a Philanthropy. - Commentary - The Chronicle of Higher Education: "After spending most of my adult life in private higher education, I've concluded that most of our students are unprepared for college. They may be academically ready and emotionally mature, but they don't understand what a college is or what its motives and mission are. Because they don't understand those things, they are often unprepared to meet our expectations. Worse, they are unprepared to receive the gifts we are waiting, and hoping, to give them."

Loan fund helps small nonprofits in metro Atlanta �| ajc.com

Loan fund helps small nonprofits in metro Atlanta �| ajc.com: "Few lenders were willing to work with smaller nonprofits, Goldenburg said.

Then he heard about a new loan program at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

The foundation recently launched the program to help small and midsize nonprofits in a 23-county area that were dealing with short-term cash crunches.

The Nonprofit Loan Fund will help small and midsize nonprofits with annual operating budgets up to $3 million maintain their operations and possibly participate in growth opportunities as they wait for pledged public or private grants or government contracts to come through."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Law Said to Favor Religious Schools

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Law Said to Favor Religious Schools: "Now, this week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about a state law that allows residents to receive tax credits for donations to intermediary nonprofits, which in turn, award scholarships that allow parents to send their children to private schools. At issue isn't whether public money can be applied to private education. Instead, it appears most School Tuition Organizations (STOs) that receive the donations primarily hand out scholarships to religious schools. Opponents say the law violates the Constitution because it allows the state to effectively funnel money to religious schools via a type of front organization."

A philanthropy for the rest of us | Crosscut.com

A philanthropy for the rest of us | Crosscut.com: "Fighting global poverty is often thought to be a possibility only for large philanthropic foundations or well-to-do billionaires. A middle-class Seattle couple has turned that idea on its head.

The inspiration for Eugene Cho came several years ago during a trip to Myanmar when he visited Karen villagers who had built a makeshift school in the jungle. He asked how they were able to sustain the school’s teachers, and the villagers told him $40 a year per teacher. But many of the teachers moved to higher-paying jobs in Thailand because the Karens were unable to pay that sum."

Five Ways for Nonprofits to Scare Away Donors | Fast Company

Five Ways for Nonprofits to Scare Away Donors | Fast Company: "Five Ways for Nonprofits to Scare Away Donors
BY FC Expert Blogger Alice KorngoldWed Nov 3, 2010
This blog is written by a member of our expert blogging community and expresses that expert's views alone.

Hopefully, many of you do or will contribute generously to causes that you care about, and even step up to join nonprofit boards and help to fundraise. Fundraising is an exciting and very concrete way to build support for a mission that you are really passionate about."

Gender pay gap is smaller in the third sector, says research - Third Sector

Gender pay gap is smaller in the third sector, says research - Third Sector: "Women make up more than two-thirds of the third sector workforce and suffer from less of a gender pay gap than they do in the private and public sectors, according to a briefing paper published by the Third Sector Research Centre this week.

The paper, Women's Leadership, Employment and Participation in the Third Sector and Social Enterprises, says women account for 67 per cent of third sector employees, compared with 64 per cent in the public sector and 40 per cent in the private sector."

WHRV and WHRO set fundraising record - dailypress.com

WHRV and WHRO set fundraising record - dailypress.com: "Despite the sputtering local economy, a fall fund drive for Hampton Roads' public radio stations surged ahead, officials reported.

The two-week fundraising effort for Norfolk-based WHRV-FM (89.5) and WHRO-FM (90.3) netted $581,000, the most ever collected in a single drive."

WHRV and WHRO set fundraising record - dailypress.com

WHRV and WHRO set fundraising record - dailypress.com: "Despite the sputtering local economy, a fall fund drive for Hampton Roads' public radio stations surged ahead, officials reported.

The two-week fundraising effort for Norfolk-based WHRV-FM (89.5) and WHRO-FM (90.3) netted $581,000, the most ever collected in a single drive."

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

'Giving circle' pools money for CU's education school - Boulder Daily Camera

'Giving circle' pools money for CU's education school - Boulder Daily Camera: "Teacher Barb Quinlan gave $1,000 this year to the University of Colorado. By the time her donation reached the education school, it had snowballed to $30,000.

Quinlan is a member of a 30-woman 'giving circle' that's pooling money for the CU School of Education.

The group started last year with 18 women. They met over tea, agreed the education school needed more money, and each pitched in $1,000 a year to fund projects. They call themselves 'WISE,' which stands for Women Investing in the School of Education."

Consider Crowdsourcing as an Alternative Fundraising Technique : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

Consider Crowdsourcing as an Alternative Fundraising Technique : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: "At risk of stating the obvious, your organization can only achieve its objectives with the support — financial and otherwise — of its supporters. You ask them, and they respond to the need. That's the way it's worked ever since the first nonprofits started fundraising. But what if you were to ask them to help shape your organization's strategy as well? What if you opened up a debate on how to spend their donations?"

Bank contest puts good causes in competition | The Columbus Dispatch

Bank contest puts good causes in competition | The Columbus Dispatch: "'Looking at it in a purely positive light, you could say if their business platform can help someone in need, that's worth celebrating,' Doug Kridler, president and CEO of the Columbus Foundation, said of the bank's campaign.

'Is it the best model to identify mostly worthy causes? Maybe not,' said Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals. 'But in the end, it's very much a net positive. The point of raising awareness is a key one.'

The point also is to win customers."

Charities Made Minimal Changes to Employee Benefits in 2009 - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Made Minimal Changes to Employee Benefits in 2009 - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Even under the duress of the bad economy last year, nonprofit organizations in New York and Washington, two metropolitan areas with big numbers of charities, did not make significant changes in the benefits they offered employees, according to a new report. A minority, though, did make reductions in health benefits, contributions to retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development."

Monday, November 01, 2010

STATE OF THE SECTOR - Association Bisnow - Washington

STATE OF THE SECTOR - Association Bisnow - Washington: "We joined the Nonprofit Roundtable for a roundtable (what did you expect?) about the state of the sector. Local non-profit leaders gave their take."

Winning the Hearts and Minds of Donors | onPhilanthropy

Winning the Hearts and Minds of Donors | onPhilanthropy: "From Russ Reid consultants, the Heart of the Donor Survey report looks at key motivators for the top givers, especially the boomers and seniors who populate those ranks. Does your nonprofit explain its mission well, describe how it gets results, and account carefully for its expenditures on overhead?"

Nonprofits receive more than $100k from golf tournament | TahoeDailyTribune.com

Nonprofits receive more than $100k from golf tournament | TahoeDailyTribune.com: "SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Numerous South Tahoe non-profit organizations will celebrate the 2010 holidays early, receiving $102,377 in contributions from LIVESTRONG through its association with the American Century Championship and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

Representatives of 19 area organizations will receive checks at the November LTVA board of directors meeting. As a result of the 2010 golf tournament, a grand total of $102,377 has been distributed to local organizations."

Indiana University and O.P. Jindal Global University of India announce institutional collaboration: IU News Room: Indiana University

Indiana University and O.P. Jindal Global University of India announce institutional collaboration: IU News Room: Indiana University: "The collaboration will establish, maintain and enhance interaction between JGU and three of IU's professional schools: the Maurer School of Law, the Kelley School of Business, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, along with the IU Center on Philanthropy."

CharityVillage� Research: Surveying the legacy landscape: Why we’re doing it and why we need you

CharityVillage� Research: Surveying the legacy landscape: Why we’re doing it and why we need you: "Surveying the legacy landscape: Why we’re doing it and why we need you
By Natasha van Bentum, CFRE
November 1, 2010


What do senior fundraisers in Madrid, Winnipeg, Wyoming, Geneva, Singapore, Manchester, Calgary, Dublin and Hamburg have in common?

Fundraisers, gift planners, and bequest specialists all want to know more about legacy fundraising. And the interesting thing is, the more successful their organizations are at attracting bequests, the more they want to know.

But why? The answer is straightforward and simple: there is a relative lack of information in this area, data from the perspective of day-to-day, frontline practitioners that can be put to work here and now."

Emerging Leaders program helps Brown County United Way's mission | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press Gazette

Emerging Leaders program helps Brown County United Way's mission | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press Gazette: "The organization's Emerging Leaders Society is a committee of young professionals that actively donate their time, talents and money to enrich the Brown County community."

PHOTOS: Nearly Naked Mile run at FGCU raises money for charity � Naples Daily News

PHOTOS: Nearly Naked Mile run at FGCU raises money for charity � Naples Daily News: "Students came wearing clothes they no longer wanted and then striped them off, creating an entire table’s worth of clothes in a pile at least two feet high that will be donated to Goodwill. When the clothes started coming off, the students made rapid and surprising transformations. Big and buff jocks scrapped jerseys in favor of bodacious bikini tops, fluffy pink bunny ears, and cut-off jean shorts while a trio of girls painted on rippling abs beneath their neon exercise tops."

India's growing wealth boosts charitable giving

India's growing wealth boosts charitable giving: "Now the Malkanis are among a growing number of successful Indian entrepreneurs blazing another trail: charitable giving.

'Earlier, if an Indian traveled, it was so rare that 25 people would see them off at the airport, garland them with flowers and print their picture in the newspaper,' said Anjal Malkani, whose husband helped her family start the business. 'That has completely changed in India, and we've been so blessed in our lives to benefit. We wanted to give back.'"

Editorial: Make charities more efficient - FederalTimes.com

Editorial: Make charities more efficient - FederalTimes.com: "Federal employees and military personnel are a generous community — last year, they pledged more than $282 million to charities as part of the Combined Federal Campaign, a new record.

But too much of that money is being wasted in printing, labor and other overhead costs, and the Office of Personnel Management, which manages the CFC, needs to fix that."

University Asks for 5-Year Plans | The Harvard Crimson

University Asks for 5-Year Plans | The Harvard Crimson: "We were going to build very rapidly and on a larger scale, so when you have fewer resources and less access to debt, then you have to be more scrutinous,” Faust said. “What we’ve been focusing now is what we can get accomplished.”

Lapp said the University will encourage schools to fund projects through philanthropy wherever possible and appropriate."

Recession Driving Changes in Corporate Philanthropy - US News and World Report

Recession Driving Changes in Corporate Philanthropy - US News and World Report: "Not long ago, corporate philanthropy didn't involve much more than writing a check to United Way or the local opera. Nowadays that's changing. Blame corporate shareholders for tightening the purse strings, or credit Barack Obama and an entire generation raised on public service. All are forcing companies to get creative, to focus on making more of a difference while spending less cash."

Substantial LDS Church donation will bring smiles to African kids | The Salt Lake Tribune

Substantial LDS Church donation will bring smiles to African kids | The Salt Lake Tribune: "The LDS Church has given $927,400 to Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity.

Though the Utah-based faith has been a longtime supporter of the organization, this is the church’s largest gift to it so far."

Is Charitable Eating Overstretching Local Chefs and Diners? - Dallas Restaurants and Dining - City of Ate

Is Charitable Eating Overstretching Local Chefs and Diners? - Dallas Restaurants and Dining - City of Ate: "Dallas is awash in edible philanthropy. Local eaters have opportunities almost every week to plunk down $150 or more for hors d'oeuvres from the city's leading chefs, some of whom say their time and budgets are being overstretched by charitable culinary events.

'It's definitely reached a threshold,' says John Tesar, a consultant for DRG Concepts who's also on the Longest Table's line-up. 'I don't want to prevent anyone from having a party, but there needs to be some thought on how many more of these we can create.'"

Watchdog: Education foundations not doing enough - BusinessWeek

Watchdog: Education foundations not doing enough - BusinessWeek: "The study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy said that only 11 percent of American foundations devoted at least half their grants to programs that benefit vulnerable students. It looked at 672 foundations that gave at least $1 million to educational causes from 2006 to 2008.

It said only 2 percent met the watchdog group's other main criteria for philanthropic success: spending 25 percent of its grants toward advocating for long-term change, through community building, advocacy and civil engagement."

Stretched nonprofits hope for safety in numbers | The Salt Lake Tribune

Stretched nonprofits hope for safety in numbers | The Salt Lake Tribune: "They started with 18 members — and their office was in the trunk of a car. But the founders of the fledgling Utah Nonprofits Association felt they had an important goal: uniting a diverse community of organizations to create a more powerful and effective nonprofit sector.

Twenty years later, the association now includes 600 member organizations and, in a time of great economic challenges, has a mission its founders believe is more important than ever."

Giving until guilt goes away

Giving until guilt goes away: "It took me some time to catch up to the fact that, if seriously considered, the whole subject of giving called for the most invasive and uncomfortable of self-examinations. On top of it, talking about giving in the first place seems to run counter to our most fundamental instincts and to the implicit logic of self-effacement that distinguishes pure acts of giving - the kind that require no recognition or accolades, no rewards and no accruing of social capital - from their mongrel and self-interested counterparts."