Thursday, March 31, 2011

'Quakebook': Bloggers Respond to Japan Disaster With Twitter-Sourced Charity Book - Scene Asia - WSJ

'Quakebook': Bloggers Respond to Japan Disaster With Twitter-Sourced Charity Book - Scene Asia - WSJ: "“2:46 Quakebook,” a Twitter-sourced collection of personal accounts of the quake and its aftermath that will soon be available for purchase here, is one group’s response to the disaster initiated by the local blogging community that aims to raise money for relief efforts (the title refers to the time at which the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11). All proceeds will go to the Japanese Red Cross."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Nonprofit Leaders Respond to the Budget Crunch

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Nonprofit Leaders Respond to the Budget Crunch: "The Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal and the Nonprofit Quarterly cosponsored a panel discussion on “Crunch Time for Nonprofits” yesterday and learned the expected and the unexpected from the four panelists (and Hudson’s Bill Schambra): The crunch on nonprofits is real and massive, the solutions require both short term and long run, and not much will happen without nonprofits rising to the challenge, speaking out, and calling for the kind of changes. But what kinds of actions should nonprofits call for?"

Giving to disaster relief is as easy as your nearest ATM | StarTribune.com

Giving to disaster relief is as easy as your nearest ATM | StarTribune.com: "Wells Fargo customers logging into ATM machines this month found a new option on their screens. Next to the box that says 'Deposit Cash' is one saying 'Donate to Charity.'

Donate they did. In just 10 days, the ubiquitous ATM machines collected more than $1 million for Japan relief efforts by the American Red Cross. The experiment marks the first time ATM machines have been used nationwide -- by any bank -- to raise money for a charity, say national banking officials."

Dick Vitale seeks to turn Richmond joke into charity | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Dick Vitale seeks to turn Richmond joke into charity | Richmond Times-Dispatch: "mond.

The colorful ESPN basketball analyst not only is happy to eat crow for criticizing Virginia Commonwealth University's inclusion in the NCAA tournament — he wants to make money for cancer research with the banner that Venture Richmond created to poke fun at him."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Ready for Another "Giving" Pledge?

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Ready for Another "Giving" Pledge?: "March 30, 2011; Source: FastCompany | First there was the 'The Giving Pledge,' which commits the richest Americans to give away the majority of their wealth to charity. Now comes the 'Palindrome Pledge.' Like that better-known pledge, it too is a promise by successful people – but not necessarily billionaires – to give. And instead of money Fast Company says the pledge is a commitment by signers – 100 executives from technology, venture capital, hospitality, and other industries – to spend at least a year serving on the boards on nonprofits that need their skills."

To collaborate or compete? | New Philanthropy Capital's Blog

To collaborate or compete? | New Philanthropy Capital's Blog: "To collaborate or compete?
Posted on February 8, 2011 by Belinda Vernon

Whether to collaborate or compete is a difficult question for many charities. Greater competition for funding is driving charities to compete more with each other and with private organisations, but positive outcomes often require collaboration amongst organisations, not competition. So is there a danger that greater competition will drive charities apart and destroy the collaborative working that is so important to achieving positive outcomes for individuals?"

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: A Small Foundation Leads by Example with an Open and Transparent Midterm Review

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: A Small Foundation Leads by Example with an Open and Transparent Midterm Review: "I’m either a philanthropy and social change geek who really likes reading good publications, or I’m a bit of a workaholic. Perhaps it’s a little of both!

In any case, I spent some time on my back deck this past weekend reading a new report from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation titled Helping People and Places Move Out of Poverty: Progress and Learning 2010. What a refreshing and thoughtful document!"

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: How Can the Practice of Evaluating Philanthropy Improve?

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: How Can the Practice of Evaluating Philanthropy Improve?: "When it comes to philanthropic giving, people want to see results. They want to know that their contributions are making a difference and helping to “move the needle” on larger issues.

Does the current practice of evaluating philanthropy show that our gifts are delivering? Is quality of life improving? And how can the practice of evaluation evolve to better answer such questions?

Steve Mayer, of the Effective Communities Project, takes on these issues in his Responsive Philanthropy article “Wanted: Better Evaluation Practices for Philanthropy”."

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Final Chapter for Book Store That Underwrote School Projects

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Final Chapter for Book Store That Underwrote School Projects: "March 28, 2011; Source: Austin American-Statesman | As we've seen over and over again, good intentions are no substitute for cash in these troubled economic times. As a result, Tab Barker is closing the book today in Austin on a venture he started in 2003 to sell used books online to raise money to pay for schools and supplies in Nicaragua."

April 7520 Rate Unchanged at 3.0% | Planned Giving Design Center

April 7520 Rate Unchanged at 3.0% | Planned Giving Design Center: "For purposes of determining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or a term of years, or a remainder or a reversionary interest, Revenue Ruling 2011-10 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for April 2011 is 3.0%; unchanged from the March rate and up 0.2% from the February rate of 2.8%."

NEW LEADER ON BOARD - Association Bisnow - Washington

NEW LEADER ON BOARD - Association Bisnow - Washington: "American Associations Day is finally here, and ASAE will be celebrating today and tomorrow with a legislative fly-in. (Unlike other holiday fly-ins, this one does not involve reindeer or your mother-"

World’s Richest Man Opens His Soumaya Museum In Mexico City - Kerry A. Dolan - Shades of Green - Forbes

World’s Richest Man Opens His Soumaya Museum In Mexico City - Kerry A. Dolan - Shades of Green - Forbes: "Carlos Slim has taken heat for his lack of philanthropy (compared to the size of his $74 billion fortune) and his unwillingness to sign on to the Giving Pledge, a movement by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett that encourages the wealthy to give half their riches to charity. The Soumaya Museum is worth just a fraction of Slim’s stake in Latin American wireless phone company America Movil, but it is nonetheless a positive step on Slim’s philanthropic path."

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Policy Update: AFP Urges Senate Committee to Support Tax Incentives for Giving - Press - AFP

Policy Update: AFP Urges Senate Committee to Support Tax Incentives for Giving - Press - AFP: "Policy Update: AFP Urges Senate Committee to Support Tax Incentives for Giving

(March 29, 2011) Tomorrow, March 30, 2011, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing titled 'How Do Complexity, Uncertainty and Other Factors Impact Responses to Tax Incentives' to determine whether tax incentives actually work, or whether they reward behavior that would have occurred anyway."

Monday, March 28, 2011

Heart and Soul 2011 - Submission Gallery | Community Techknowledge

Heart and Soul 2011 - Submission Gallery | Community Techknowledge: "Looking for inspiration for your poem?

Take a look at the gallery below. These poems were submited for the 2009 Heart and Soul grant award."