Friday, July 06, 2012

Jewish charities break 'taboo' by calling for donations in wills (From Times Series)

Jewish charities break 'taboo' by calling for donations in wills (From Times Series): Almost 40 Jewish charities are breaking the “taboo” by asking people to remember charities in their wills.

Campaigners for Jewish Legacy spent this morning speaking to passersby in Temple Fortune, Stanmore, Edgware, Golders Green and Borehamwood to drum up support for the scheme.

Marc Chardon and Hal Williams: The Imperfect Storm: Nonprofits Need to Ride for Their Brand (Series Post 4)

Marc Chardon and Hal Williams: The Imperfect Storm: Nonprofits Need to Ride for Their Brand (Series Post 4): In this post, we'll explore the importance of nonprofit branding.

Shift #3: Nonprofits need to ride for their brand.

Another major change in this imperfect storm is from the many to the one. Although many foundations and other funds have emphasized the importance of groups working together in partnerships, networks, and collaborative ventures, the emerging philanthropic focus is on which groups deliver the best results. The best get the money, the investment in their programs to improve human lives and conditions. We see foundations and individual donors alike shifting from sprinkling support among many groups to figuring out which ones are achieving the greatest impact. Then, fund

You Aren’t Paying Your Development Staff Enough

You Aren’t Paying Your Development Staff Enough: The point of this article is to tell you that fundraising is a skill. It’s learned. It’s hard. And your non-profit needs it, maybe more than you think.

Oxfam will net �100k if Federer triumphs at Wimbledon - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Oxfam will net �100k if Federer triumphs at Wimbledon - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: If Andy Murray and Roger Federer both make it through to the Wimbledon final, Oxfam may find itself at odds with the rest of the nation on Sunday - the charity stands to make more than �100,000 if the Swiss player wins.

Oxfordshire man Nicholas Newlife died in 2009, leaving his estate, including a series of betting slips, to the charity. That included a �1,520 wager at 66/1 on Federer to win Wimbledon seven times before 2020, which could net the charity �101,840.

Business and foundations need more involvement in development policy, says IDS - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Business and foundations need more involvement in development policy, says IDS - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits:The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) argues that corporations as well as foundations need a place at the table as the world looks to set out a new development framework post-Millennium Development Goals.

In a briefing paper released yesterday, on the first day of the UN Development Cooperation Forum being held in New York, the Institute says that businesses in particular – which in 2010 made $514.3bn in direct investment to developing countries, according to the report – need to engage in improving the governance of the countries they operate in.

Wealthy Women Engage in 'Roll-Up-Your-Sleeves' Philanthropy to Support Women, Girls | PND | Foundation Center

Wealthy Women Engage in 'Roll-Up-Your-Sleeves' Philanthropy to Support Women, Girls | PND | Foundation Center: Wealthy Women Engage in 'Roll-Up-Your-Sleeves' Philanthropy to Support Women, Girls

Over the past decade, wealthy women from around the globe have not only become more involved in philanthropy, they have also boosted their support of causes run by and for women, the New York Times reports.

July 7520 Unchanged at 1.2% | Planned Giving Design Center

July 7520 Unchanged at 1.2% | 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 2012-20 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for July 2012 is 1.2%; unchanged from the June rate of 1.2% and down 0.4% from the May rate of 1.6%. The July rate is the lowest ever published.

Crisis? There is no crisis! | Erik van Dorp | 101fundraising

Crisis? There is no crisis! | Erik van Dorp | 101fundraising: In the majority of interviews, the current economic situation was debunked as an excuse for non-performance. Even if the market is getting a bit rough, there is plenty of opportunity for growth, was their main message.

The question is: Where is the money? And how to get it?

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Facing $600K in cuts, Philadelphia-area high school seeks to raise funds through eBay listing

Facing $600K in cuts, Philadelphia-area high school seeks to raise funds through eBay listing: LANGHORNE, Pa. — Forget magazine drives and candy sales. A cash-strapped high school near Philadelphia hopes to raise money by auctioning itself on eBay.

The starting bid of just under $600,000 for The Learning Center in Langhorne, Pa., is designed to offset steep budget cuts. A tongue-in-cheek listing describes the alternative school for at-risk teens as "pre-owned" and "slightly used."

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Group Mounts Legal Challenge to Barnes Art Move, Citing Misleading Status - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Group Mounts Legal Challenge to Barnes Art Move, Citing Misleading Status - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Activists who unsuccessfully fought the relocation of the Barnes Foundation art collection to a downtown museum in Philadelphia are seeking to reopen their legal case, citing a blog post in which a former foundation leader said the group was not close to broke when it sought the move, the Associated Press reports.

Are Canadian Nonprofits Too Political? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Are Canadian Nonprofits Too Political? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Ottawa Citizen columnist Dan Gardner has a message for Canadian nonprofits that probably increases the pulse – favorably ��– of U.S. nonprofit activists such as Tim Delaney and his colleagues at the national Council of Nonprofits and Robert Egger at CForward. Gardner responds to the Harper government’s criticism of charitable involvement in political issues (a charge Harper’s cabinet officers have frequently aimed at environmental nonprofits) by agreeing that here is a problem with charities in politics: “They don’t do it nearly enough.”

A Baltimore Theater Ponders: To Grow or Not to Grow - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

A Baltimore Theater Ponders: To Grow or Not to Grow - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Over the next few years the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company expects to double its budget and production schedule and move into a new permanent home. In the view of the company’s administrative team, these goals are more achievable now that the company not only has a ten-year track record producing a successful outdoor summer theater festival, but that the city itself has a growing theater scene that is being welcomed by residents and planners alike.

UMass sets records for fundraising in fiscal year 2012 | masslive.com

UMass sets records for fundraising in fiscal year 2012 | masslive.com: AMHERST — The University of Masachusetts has reversed an ugly six-year trend in record-breaking fashion.

UMass announced its fundraising numbers from the 2012 fiscal year on Monday, reporting that the school took in $3.2 million in gifts, including $1.7 million in monetary gifts, a record amount of actual cash

Number of women trustees at the largest UK charities rises - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Number of women trustees at the largest UK charities rises - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Charity 100 Index boards include increasing numbers of women, but they are falling short in other areas of diversity, according to the Trustee Leadership of the Largest 100 Charities survey published this month.

The survey, which is in its third year, is a biennial look into the make-up of trustee boards on the Charity 100 Index, which tracks income levels of the largest 100 charities in the UK.

Monday, July 02, 2012

Lisa M. Dietlin: Making a Difference: The World of Giving Coming up on Independence Day

Lisa M. Dietlin: Making a Difference: The World of Giving Coming up on Independence Day: When you think about it you might realize that giving to charity in the U.S. -- dollars, time, ideas -- actually started on July 4th when the Founding Fathers declared our "independence" from Great Britain! How did this event kick-off what we now call the "philanthropic sector?" Well, by declaring our independence from Great Britain the colonists realized there would be no monarchy, state religion or system to provide the funds and resources required to build and operate schools, orphanages, workhouses, hospitals, libraries, churches, and more. The colonists had to come together to be charitable! So, in essence, we've been a country of making a difference since day one!

Louise Harrison honors the Beatles, and her brother George through nonprofit group | Education | Bradenton Herald

Louise Harrison honors the Beatles, and her brother George through nonprofit group | Education | Bradenton Herald: Harrison, 82, has created Help Keep Music Alive, a nonprofit organization that pairs adoration of the Beatles with a respect for how the arts contribute to education.

Fundraisers: Tap HENRY, the Moderately Affluent Donor - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Fundraisers: Tap HENRY, the Moderately Affluent Donor - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: A HENRY is a “higher earning, not rich yet” household with an income of $100,000 to $249,999, solidly ranking in the affluent middle class. Media and marketing expert Layton Han says that HENRY had disappeared due to the recession around 2008, but he’s “back now, and he’s got some cash to spare.”

Charities 'need to show businesses the benefits of payroll giving'

Charities 'need to show businesses the benefits of payroll giving': Home �
News �
Charities 'need to show businesses the benefits of payroll giving'

Charities 'need to show businesses the benefits of payroll giving'

By Jenna Pudelek, Third Sector Online, 2 July 2012
Andrew Watt

Andrew Watt
Andrew Watt from the US Association of Fundraising Professionals says it's an important part of making philanthropy seem normal to people


Charities must make a "comprehensive effort to reach out to the business community" about the benefits of payroll giving, according to Andrew Watt, the chief executive of the US-based Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Zuckerman plays 100 holes for charity in blazing heat at Secession Golf Club | islandpacket.com

Zuckerman plays 100 holes for charity in blazing heat at Secession Golf Club | islandpacket.com: The Savannah-based golf writer played 100 holes of golf to raise money to research and fight lymphatic malformations, a rare condition where cysts form, usually in the neck region, making eating, breathing and swallowing difficult.

Zuckerman, 51, had hoped to play 108 holes -- six complete rounds -- but, late in the game, decided he'd stick to the 100.

Nonprofits Outspent For-Profits On Prospecting - TheNonProfitTimes

Nonprofits Outspent For-Profits On Prospecting - TheNonProfitTimes: Commercial and nonprofit marketers collectively will spend about $168.5 billion on direct marketing efforts in 2012. That’s slightly more than half of all ad expenditures in the United States.

However, the average response rate for direct mail, the most popular direct marketing channel, is down almost one full percentage point from 10 years ago, according to the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Response Rate 2012 Report.