Saturday, May 05, 2012

Nonprofit Curmudgeon: How to keep your job and your sanity in the nonprofit sector.

Nonprofit Curmudgeon: How to keep your job and your sanity in the nonprofit sector.: How to keep your job and your sanity in the nonprofit sector.
Why should I confine my advice to young people who come in search of it? Well, because the most appropriate recipient is someone who has asked for it.

- Sent using Google Toolbar

Friday, May 04, 2012

Nonprofit association getting its start - chicagotribune.com

Nonprofit association getting its start - chicagotribune.com: In West Virginia, nonprofit jobs outnumber coal jobs, according to one nonprofit official. The state has more than 8,000 nonprofit groups, 1,400 in the Charleston area alone.

And a newly organized association hopes to unify the voice from those organizations.

Colleges hit up graduating seniors for donations - The Washington Post

Colleges hit up graduating seniors for donations - The Washington Post: As Shenandoah University’s chief fundraisers try to grow their donor pool this year, they are targeting a not-so-wealthy population for the first time: students who are about to graduate.

It’s not an easy pitch. The private university in Winchester, Va., charges more than $35,000 a year for tuition and other expenses, and more than 85 percent of a recent graduating class had student loan debt. But like most universities, Shenandoah relies on donations. It wants to train soon-to-be-alumni to give generously.

Philanthropy Students Give $100,000 to Seven Local Nonprofits

Philanthropy Students Give $100,000 to Seven Local Nonprofits: May 3, 2012 — Students in a new philanthropy course in the University of Virginia's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy awarded $100,000 in grants to seven Charlottesville-area nonprofits Tuesday at a luncheon in the Great Hall of Garrett Hall.

Aussies: generous in life, not so in death - ABC Adelaide - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Aussies: generous in life, not so in death - ABC Adelaide - Australian Broadcasting Corporation: A recent study has revealed Australians match western counterparts when it comes to charitable giving in the course of life with 70 per cent giving regularly but lag behind dramatically when it comes to leaving bequests to charity.

Employee Engagement and Workplace Giving: Trends and Opportunities | America's Charities

You can find a variety of additional articles we've collected on Payroll and Workplace Giving here
http://afprc7.blogspot.com/search/label/NPWorkplaceGiving

Employee Engagement and Workplace Giving: Trends and Opportunities | America's Charities: Employee Engagement and Workplace Giving: Trends and Opportunities

Jack Palance, a Beach Metaphor and the Secret of Nonprofit Success - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

Jack Palance, a Beach Metaphor and the Secret of Nonprofit Success - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?
 [holds up one finger] This.

Mitch: Your finger?

Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don’t mean s***.

Mitch: But, what is the “one thing?”

Curly: That’s what you have to find out.

More than ever, nonprofits need to do what Mitch did and take Curly’s advice.

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked at six nonprofits. None of them were clear on what their one thing was. They were tossed on the waves like beach balls. What we need in the nonprofit world are more lighthouses. Even if your nonprofit is far from the ocean, I bet you’ve seen one of these lighthouses. Pick one or two nonprofits you admire. They’re most likely straddling some dangerous strait and directing their light on saving and protecting lives, easing suffering or delivering people from ignorance. They’re focused on one thing and they do it well. Damn the rest.

Seattle Foundation and Local Philanthropists Increase GiveBIG "Stretch Pool" by $300,000 - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

Seattle Foundation and Local Philanthropists Increase GiveBIG "Stretch Pool" by $300,000 - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee: SEATTLE, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the stunning results of GiveBIG, The Seattle Foundation, local businesses and philanthropists have added $300,000 more to the "stretch pool" that will leverage the $7.4 million in gifts made yesterday through the online giving campaign.

During this 24-hour online event held on May 2, people made nearly 38,000 donations to more than 1,200 local nonprofits profiled on www.seattlefoundation.org. The Seattle Foundation promises to "stretch" these gifts further, making a prorated "stretch" or match of every contribution using a pool of $500,000 provided by corporate sponsors, individual contributors and the Foundation. Today's announcement brings the "stretch pool" to $800,000, allowing for a larger proportional match than would have otherwise been possible.

Children's Hospital exec stays focused on kids, not money

Children's Hospital exec stays focused on kids, not money: To what extent does the hospital rely on philanthropic donations, and what’s that money used for?

Philanthropic donations are very, very important for the three big missions of Children’s Hospital: clinical care, education, and discovery or research. From a clinical care standpoint, philanthropy supports many in a suite of services that children need -- for example, palliative care … which is unreimbursed or very modestly reimbursed … In terms of education, philanthropy has had a major impact on the hospital’s ability to create and provide educational programs for many of the staff here and many staff people at hospitals in the region who don’t have pediatric expertise.

Suiting up for a Dress for Success fundraiser

Suiting up for a Dress for Success fundraiser: Kimberly Allen, executive director of Dress for Success, said about 30 percent of the women who work with the group find jobs. Many live within 30 miles of the nonprofit's Congress Street shop, which the organization is opening a second shop in Bangor in July.

Fundraiser mugged on his way to World Office Chair Racing Championship | Third Sector

Fundraiser mugged on his way to World Office Chair Racing Championship | Third Sector: A man who was hitchhiking to Germany with an office chair to raise funds for Help for Heroes has been hospitalised after being mugged.

Rob Dawson-Goodey was taken to hospital last night after being attacked at a service station in Amiens, nothern France.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Komen breast-cancer charity fights to keep support - NorthJersey.com

Komen breast-cancer charity fights to keep support - NorthJersey.com: But critics say the drop-off in donations shows how hard it’s going to be for the organization to redeem its image and win back the support of the thousands who abandoned it.

“Any non-profit has just one incredibly valuable asset: trust,” said Andrew Watt, chief executive of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va. “Once you destroy that trust, it takes a lot longer to restore it.”

Is Overhead a Good Yardstick for Nonprofits? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

Is Overhead a Good Yardstick for Nonprofits? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: Outspoken and direct, Jack Shakely, the president emeritus of the California Community Foundation, says in no uncertain terms that administrative costs—the measurement people most often use to determine a nonprofit organization’s worth—is a poor means of evaluation. In this LA Times editorial, Shakely writes that it doesn’t help that charity raters with their “top 20 lists” propagate this notion, as do nonprofits that perpetuate it by brandishing their administrative overhead costs on their websites or promotional material. For nonprofits trying to create social change or to solve large problems in society, why would a simple number—the percentage of an organization’s budget dedicated to administrative costs—determine how effective it is?

Four Ways to Make Your Grant Appendix Shine

Four Ways to Make Your Grant Appendix Shine: Four Ways to Make Your Grant Appendix Shine

Document illuminated by overhead lightMay 2012

Whether you're an established organization familiar with the grant process or you are a new nonprofit venturing into the state or federal grant writing realm for the first time, chances are you're overwhelmed by the amount of information requested by the funder—and the herculean efforts it can take to gather everything by the deadline. Narratives and budgets are critical elements, but just as crucial in importance—and sometimes overlooked—is your proposal's appendix. "How in the world can I gather all of this information in such a short period of time?" you may ask. "What happens if I’m not able to obtain all the necessary components before the deadline?" There's one simple answer: your grant will not be selected for review, and all the sweat equity and sleepless nights you and your staff have invested in the project will be for naught. Following are four "Do's and Don'ts"—some basic, helpful tips to ensure your application is in A form—elements that will make or break your proposal.

- spring2action

- spring2action: Alexandria – you are a city full of ACTion Heroes! Your incredible generosity overwhelmed us. Thank you to everyone who gave on May 2 and supported the nonprofits that make Alexandria amazing. Want to be an ACTion Hero all year round? Join ACTion Alexandria, Alexandria’s online platform for community change.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Getty Trust to Cut Museum Jobs - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Getty Trust to Cut Museum Jobs - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Getty Trust to Cut Museum Jobs

May 2, 2012, 10:27 am

The J. Paul Getty Trust, the world’s wealthiest cultural organization, announced Monday that it is eliminating 34 of the 394 positions in its museum division to free up millions of dollars a year for art acquisitions, the Los Angeles Times writes.

- spring2action

- spring2action: What if we all gave on one day?

TODAY, our community is coming together for 24 hours of unprecedented giving. Spring2ACTion is one extraordinary day to support the nonprofit organizations that make Alexandria amazing. This is YOUR chance to make a real impact – every donation you make gives your favorite organization a chance to win matching grants and prizes.

Park Foundation Takes Body Slam of an Op-ed over Opposition to Natural Gas Drilling - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

Park Foundation Takes Body Slam of an Op-ed over Opposition to Natural Gas Drilling - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: This op-ed from two members of the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) rips the Ithaca-based Park Foundation for its activism against natural gas development in New York State. The authors had previously met with the Foundation, looking for support on what they refer to as the Coalition’s work on “best practices in natural gas development.”

AP Exclusive: ‘Three Cups’ author says lawsuit’s dismissal confirms faith in justice system - The Washington Post

Other Three Cups of Tea articles

AP Exclusive: ‘Three Cups’ author says lawsuit’s dismissal confirms faith in justice system - The Washington Post: HELENA, Mont. — “Three Cups of Tea” author Greg Mortenson says the dismissal of a civil lawsuit that accused him of fabricating book passages to make money for himself and his charity confirms his faith in the U.S. justice system.

Mortenson told The Associated Press in an email Monday that he has been overwhelmed at times dealing with the lawsuit, a Montana investigation into the Central Asia Institute and surgery to repair a small hole in his heart.

GiveBIG online push Wednesday to boost nonprofits | Local News | The Seattle Times

GiveBIG online push Wednesday to boost nonprofits | Local News | The Seattle Times: Seattle's success in technology and philanthropy will converge in 24 hours of giving back through The Seattle Foundation's second annual online GiveBIG event scheduled for Wednesday.

The event helps more than 1,400 local nonprofits raise money and awareness through online donations.

Creating a Culture of Data-Driven Philanthropy

Creating a Culture of Data-Driven Philanthropy: How do we as a nonprofit sector decide which nonprofits are doing a good job and which aren’t, and how do we communicate that to current and potential supporters? Watch dog groups often rely on spending and growth data for their analysis, but as Anjali Deshmukh asks, “If an organization could prove to you that they could eradicate homelessness, would you care as much about what they spent on salaries and staplers?” This guest post and Anjali’s organization, Nonprofit Finance Fund, may have you re-thinking what the term “bottom line” means for your nonprofit, and therefore how you communicate your effectiveness to your supporters. ~ Kivi

Paving the Way for Philanthropic and Public Policy Partnerships - RE:Philanthropy

Paving the Way for Philanthropic and Public Policy Partnerships - RE:Philanthropy: Paving the Way for Philanthropic and Public Policy Partnerships

By: Rick Cohen In: 2012 Annual Conference| Community Revitalization| Partnerships and Collaborations| Philanthropy
30 Apr 2012

This year’s Paul Ylvisaker Public Policy Award winner, Linda Reed, president and CEO of the Montana Community Foundation, delivered a formal talk on the relationship of rural philanthropy and public policy. Given that Reed was talking about Montana, where there are only three communities with populations above 50,000, almost anything she might have addressed could be given a rural cast. But everything she talked about could have just as easily been a model or perhaps a prescription for any philanthropic leader or institution interested in addressing public policy issues.

The Seattle Foundation | GiveBIG 2012

The Seattle Foundation | GiveBIG 2012: GiveBIG 2012

Grow your gift! Donations made through The Seattle Foundation's website TODAY, May 2
between midnight and midnight (Pacific Time) will be stretched thanks to $500,000 in support
for GiveBIG from The Seattle Foundation and GiveBIG sponsors.

Philanthropy's New Normal by Bunkie Righter of GuideStar | Community Techknowledge

From the CTK blog

Philanthropy's New Normal by Bunkie Righter of GuideStar | Community Techknowledge: Kony 2012 hits the airwaves, and millions are drawn to it. To do what, I wonder? Share it, talk about it, love it - or hate it, to be sure - but to change the situation? And what is it they would do? Is it clear? Is it right? Is Invisible Children the vehicle to do it? How do we know? I have been fascinated watching the saga, and keep wondering: what will be the outcome? And will it be the outcome intended by the nonprofit Invisible Children? How will we know?

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

How to stop donors asking about your administration costs | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

How to stop donors asking about your administration costs | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: How to stop donors asking about your administration costs

Charities need to stop talking about their administration costs and focus on telling donors where their money goes

Sergey Brin offers $1 million to charity -- if tech titans match | Tech Culture - CNET News

Sergey Brin offers $1 million to charity -- if tech titans match | Tech Culture - CNET News: Sergey Brin offers $1 million to charity -- if tech titans match

The Google co-founder and his wife will donate the money to the Tipping Point Community if the nonprofit serving the poor of Northern California gets matching funds from other techies.

28 College Leaders Pledge 5 Percent of Earnings to Fight Poverty - Leadership & Governance - The Chronicle of Higher Education

28 College Leaders Pledge 5 Percent of Earnings to Fight Poverty - Leadership & Governance - The Chronicle of Higher Education: Today, 28 current and former college leaders will publicly come forward as charter members of the Presidents' Pledge Against Global Poverty. (The site is scheduled to go live at 8 a.m.) In so doing, they commit to join Reverend Svennungsen by donating 5 percent of their total compensation this year to charities that fight global poverty.

The list includes presidents from liberal-arts colleges, religiously affiliated institutions, and a few research universities.

Chinese philanthropy and a child's death in Philadelphia

Chinese philanthropy and a child's death in Philadelphia: Chinese philanthropy and a child's death in Philadelphia

In the morning, Richard Gelles, dean of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice, spent an hour on WHYY's Radio Times talking about child abuse in Philadelphia. In the afternoon, he talked to me about Chinese philanthropy for a story now planned for Friday's Inquirer. The two topics are connected -- one the story of a long-established institution and the other the possibility of creating a new institution.

Lawsuit against 'Three Cups of Tea' author dismissed – USATODAY.com

Lawsuit against 'Three Cups of Tea' author dismissed – USATODAY.com: Books Home
Best-Selling Books
Book Reviews
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Lawsuit against 'Three Cups of Tea' author dismissed
By Matt Volz, Associated Press
Updated 15h 29m ago



HELENA, Mont. – A federal judge on Monday dismissed claims of fraud and racketeering against "Three Cups of Tea" author Greg Mortenson as imprecise, flimsy and speculative.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Mama Hope uses humor to change the West's view of Africa - CSMonitor.com

Mama Hope uses humor to change the West's view of Africa - CSMonitor.com: Mama Hope uses humor to change the West's view of Africa

Nonprofit Mama Hope has released three videos that employ humor to create new perceptions of Africa and to show that it is full of capable people with the potential to support themselves. The aim is to create a new conversation about the continent and humanize the people who live there

Donating appreciated stock can double tax benefits - CBS News

Donating appreciated stock can double tax benefits - CBS News: For example, let's say you plan to donate $20,000 to a charitable organization. You also own shares of stock or a mutual fund that you bought for $10,000 last April and today it is worth $20,000. If you sold the $20,000 stock instead of donating it, you would pay capital gains tax on the $10,000 gain in value. The tax rate for long-term capital gains is 15 percent. Instead, if you donated the shares, you would not realize the gain. The tax savings for donating rather than selling the stock would be $1,500 (10,000 x 15%).

Administrative costs: The worst way to judge a charity - latimes.com

Administrative costs: The worst way to judge a charity - latimes.com: Op-Ed
The worst way to judge a charity
Although low administrative costs could indicate prudence and sound judgment at a charity, but it could just as easily indicate inadequate staffing, insufficient salaries or, shall we say, fudging.

Hospital’s Analytics Found Donors Large And Small - TheNonProfitTimes

Hospital’s Analytics Found Donors Large And Small - TheNonProfitTimes: Database and direct marketers have long used analytical methods such as the Recency Frequency Monetary Value (RFM) model and logistical regression in order to identify trends and effectiveness in their efforts. But what would happen if an organization took tried and true analytics and applied them to new areas?

Two higher-ups at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), in New York City -- Director of Direct Response Kim Walker and Campaign Strategic Research Director Kate Chamberlin -- spoke during a panel called “New Horizons in Analytics” at the Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation’s 2012 Washington Nonprofit Conference. They highlighted some of the hospital’s projects in taking “analytics principles and technology and applying them in new areas.”

Surviving in the triangle: Up to 200 of Trenton's homeless walk between 3 agencies daily | NJ.com

Surviving in the triangle: Up to 200 of Trenton's homeless walk between 3 agencies daily | NJ.com: For many of the city’s homeless, every day takes the same, familiar routine: 3.1 miles of walking to the Rescue Mission for a bed overnight, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen for hot meals and the Salvation Army for shelter during the day.

Philanthropy gets in the ring - Education - AEI

Philanthropy gets in the ring - Education - AEI: The big shift
Clearly evident is a growing emphasis on three things: advocacy, research, and efforts to upend structural constraints. Although, historically, most foundation giving has focused on programs and practices (e.g., professional development or a new reading program), new efforts have taken to heart the lesson of leverage. A thicket of new advocacy groups now exists to mobilize parents, organize champions of charter schooling or merit pay, and challenge the more traditional powers (like teacher unions and school board associations). Research, most notably the Gates foundation’s $400 million Measures of Effective Teaching project, has started to refine, justify, and build a comfort level with dramatic changes in established policies. Pioneering efforts to upend tenure, remove barriers to charter schooling, or build out data systems create proof points that can reassure skeptical policy makers and offer replicable models.

Running for charity motivates hundreds - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Running for charity motivates hundreds - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: For a few thousand runners, though, the motivation to complete 26.2 miles will be something outside of themselves.

The marathon will raise more than $2 million for charity this year, with 43 groups signed up to raise money through race teams.

"It's really exciting," marathon charity director Adriane Deithorn said. "People are really trying to jump into our program."

Philadelphia Orchestra Tunes Up for Its Future - WSJ.com

Philadelphia Orchestra Tunes Up for Its Future - WSJ.com: Some orchestras have experimented with different business models. Mr. Rosen cited the St. Paul (Minn.) Chamber Orchestra, which saw subscription rates surge after it lowered ticket prices for certain performances several years ago. Others are trying flashy programming: the Detroit orchestra will perform with bad-boy rocker Kid Rock in May.

"They need to do something to engage the next generation of patrons," said Ted Lenthe, of West Chester, Pa., a regular subscriber to the Philadelphia Orchestra since 1978. He spoke as he was waiting for the start of a Thursday evening concert, when the orchestra performed Brahms, Webern and Schumann under the direction of guest conductor Simon Rattle. The house was nearly full that night, but Mr. Lenthe has generally noticed more empty seats over the past decade or so.

Valley digs deep - Wilkes-Barre, news, sports, obituaries, and classifieds for Luzerne County and Scranton | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton PA - www.timesleader.com

Valley digs deep - Wilkes-Barre, news, sports, obituaries, and classifieds for Luzerne County and Scranton | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton PA - www.timesleader.com: The recession caused a multitude of problems for nonprofits and organizations that serve the community.

And just as things were starting to head in the right direction, the flood of 2011 hit Northeastern Pennsylvania, destroying businesses and homes and putting an even greater strain on agencies that offer assistance.

The Greater Wilkes-Barre Association for the Blind is just one example.

Times change wills, yet many Americans don't have one – USATODAY.com

Times change wills, yet many Americans don't have one – USATODAY.com: Almost three-quarters (71%) of adults under the age of 34 do not have a will, says a new survey by the online legal service Rocket Lawyer. And even 41% of aging Baby Boomers do not have one.

Exempt Organizations Educational Tools

Exempt Organizations Educational Tools: Articles:


From the IRS

Exempt Organizations Educational Tools

Exempt Organizations Educational Tools: Exempt Organizations Educational Tools

Organizations, practitioners and others can use these prepared educational materials in newsletters, websites, etc., to communicate the compliance requirements that apply to tax-exempt organizations.

Articles:

Articles:
Tax-Exempt Entities Must File with the IRS
Tax-Exempt Organizations Should Avoid Political Campaign Intervention
Employment Tax Issues Important to All Tax-Exempt Entities
Tax-Exempt Nonprofts Must Meet Inspection and Disclosure Requirements
Divulge All Suspected Tax Exempt Status Abuses to the IRS
Contact the IRS if Your Organization is Going Out of Business