AFP Blog: Recent News of Note

This blog contains assorted news and commentary on the fundraising profession and philanthropy gathered by the AFP Fundraising Resource Center. Other Sites of Interest Section Disclaimer: AFP provides the following listing of hyperlinks to other Internet pages as a privilege to the user. AFP does not necessarily endorse, support or attest to the accuracy of information posted on those Internet pages. Some links may require registration to view and/or may only be available for a limited time.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Courier News Online - Miles for Matheny cofounder 'Lu' Huggins to receive philanthropy award

Courier News Online - Miles for Matheny cofounder 'Lu' Huggins to receive philanthropy award: "Miles for Matheny cofounder 'Lu' Huggins to receive philanthropy award

Lucile 'Lu' Huggins of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards will be the recipient of an Outstanding Philanthropist Award at the third annual Association of Fundraising Professionals-New Jersey Chapter Awards Dinner April 24 at Crystal Plaza in Livingston, presented by the AFP.

Eight awards, celebrating 'excellence in philanthropy,' will be presented at the dinner.

Huggins, a trustee emeritus of the Matheny Medical and Educational Center here, is one of two award recipients in the Outstanding Philanthropist category for organizations with budgets more than $1 million.

Active at Matheny since the 1970s, Huggins has been a volunteer, trustee (for more than 20 years), generous annual donor and a significant supporter of two major capital campaigns."

Juggling for 26.2 miles -- it 'joggles' the mind - The Boston Globe

Juggling for 26.2 miles -- it 'joggles' the mind - The Boston Globe: "Juggling for 26.2 miles -- it 'joggles' the mind

By Peter DeMarco, Globe Correspondent | April 12, 2006

Michal Kapral is the better runner. Pushing his 20-month-old daughter, Annika, in a stroller, he ran the Toronto marathon in 2 hours 49 minutes. With no baby in tow, his personal best is 2:32.

Zach Warren is the better juggler. Bowling pins, knives, and torches are all child's play to him. He can juggle while riding a unicycle; he can juggle while blindfolded."

Pantagraph.com - News-Lawmakers promote charity through taxes

Pantagraph.com - News: "Lawmakers promote charity through taxes

By Chris Lusvardi
chris.lusvardi@lee.net
Advertisement
SPRINGFIELD - As the April 17 deadline to file taxes approaches, lawmakers say many people don't take advantage of a simple way to donate money to charity.

Through a series of check-offs on the state income tax form, taxpayers can designate the amount of money they want to give to any of 17 designated charities. All of the money raised goes directly to the organizations, said Geraldine Conrad, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Revenue"

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Gateses pledge $1 million to United Way | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

Gateses pledge $1 million to United Way | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA: "Gateses pledge $1 million to United
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged up to $1 million for a matching donation plan aimed at raising an additional $3 million to $4 million for food banks, shelters and health care access programs, United Way of Pierce County announced Monday."

Rich are giving hand over fist (CHINA)

Rich are giving hand over fist: "Rich are giving hand over fist
By Wang Zhenghua (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-04-11 05:51

The rich in China are often derided for a perceived lack of social responsibility but two separate reports to be published soon show that the wealthy are more willing than ever to open their wallets for the needy.

According to the 2006 Hurun Report's Chinese Philanthropists List, compiled by Briton Rupert Hoogewerf and set to be released today, the total amount donated by the top 50 Chinese in the year ending March was 3.75 billion yuan (US$462 million)."

Journal Inquirer - State/Region - 04/11/2006 - Nonprofits say they're caught in fiscal squeeze

Journal Inquirer - State/Region - 04/11/2006 - Nonprofits say they're caught in fiscal squeeze: "On paper, Connecticut's extensive network of private, nonprofit social service groups appears headed for a modest, 2 percent increase in state funding next fiscal year.

But a controversial funding cap aimed at administrative costs, and an ever-widening wage gap between public and private social workers, has nonprofits fearful their struggling industry is about to take another fiscal hit.
"

Red Cross to Announce Disaster Response Changes

Red Cross to Announce Disaster Response Changes: "Red Cross to Announce Disaster Response Changes

By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 11, 2006; Page A06

By all rights, Red Cross volunteer Tom Stark should be happy with the charity. An experienced Red Cross disaster volunteer, Stark set up a relief operation in St. Tammany Parish, north of New Orleans, the day after Hurricane Katrina tore through the area.

With more than 600 volunteers, Stark and his crew dished out 100,000 meals and snacks a day and housed 5,500 people in 20 shelters.

Mission accomplished?"

The Multiple Sclerosis Society is celebrating its best ever Super Cities Walk/run for MS.

BCNG Portals Page: "

BLAISE VAN MALSEN The News Bulletin
G
By Catherine Litt
The news Bulletin
Apr 11 2006

The Multiple Sclerosis Society is celebrating its best ever Super Cities Walk/run for MS.
Sunday’s event drew a record number of teams to Maffeo Sutton Park – and a record number of dollars to MS research and services.
“We’re thrilled,” said Nathalie Cooke, coordinator of special events for the society’s central Island chapter.
Thirty-four teams participated in the walk, raising a record $67,000 – a figure that’s expected to top $70,000 once all pledges are in.
The increase comes as somewhat of a surprise to the organization. Like most charities, it began 2006 in the fundraising shadow of world relief efforts for tsunami and hurricane victims.
“The word that was going around most of the non-profits is this isn’t going to be the best year, that there’s going to be fallout from all of the other things,” said Cooke."

Washington Square News - Training for a life in nonprofiteering

Washington Square News - Training for a life in nonprofiteering: "Training for a life in nonprofiteering

By Ashlee Spinoso
Staff Writer

April 11, 2006
NYU’s Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising has launched a new preprofessional summer program for undergraduates who want to pursue careers in these fields.

The program, created for juniors and seniors studying liberal arts and sciences, is part of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and currently offers certificate programs and intensive summer programs. It will begin to offer Master’s of Science degrees in fund raising this fall."

Billy Graham wins public service award - News

Billy Graham wins public service award - News: "The Rev. Billy Graham said he was initially reluctant to accept the George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service because he thought the award should go to someone active in government or philanthropy."

Two views on philanthropy, from two who know it well

Two views on philanthropy, from two who know it well: "Two views on philanthropy, from two who know it well
John and Sage Cowles spent a year studying philanthropy at the Humphrey Institute.
Robert Franklin, Star Tribune

Last update: April 10, 2006 – 10:33 PM
Printer friendly E-mail this storyE-mail this story
Local

He's a rich guy who favors the estate tax, a former chief executive who says 'CEO compensation has gotten crazy' and a former foundation leader who would force all private foundations to go out of business in 25 or 30 years."

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Elton clears closet for charity

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Elton clears closet for charity: "Elton clears closet for charity
Sir Elton John
Sir Elton John is known for his flamboyant wardrobe
Sir Elton John is clearing out his wardrobe as he sells off more than 10,000 items of his and partner David Furnish's clothing for charity.

The collection is on sale for five days at a New York shop, Elton's Closet.

Prices start from $15 (£8.50) for a T-shirt to $5,000 (£2,900) for a full-length cashmere coat.

The sale has become an annual event, with money going towards the Elton John Aids Foundation, which has raised more than $90m (£51.5m)"

Boston Business Journal: Boston museums scoring big in capital campaigns - 2006-04-10

Boston Business Journal: Boston museums scoring big in capital campaigns - 2006-04-10: "Boston museums scoring big in capital campaigns
Boston Business Journal - April 7, 2006
by Naomi R. Kooker
Journal Staff

*
The four-piece jazz ensemble strikes up as Boston Children's Museum president and CEO Lou Casagrande coos over a baby. Business and nonprofit leaders chat amiably.

There's cause for celebration. On Wednesday, the waterfront museum announced it raised more than 80 percent of its $45 million expansion and renovations costs, the largest campaign in the museum's 93-year history.

The part"

Monday, April 10, 2006

WSFA TV Montgomery, AL - Television Show Helps Alabama Zoo's Attendance, Donations Swell

WSFA TV Montgomery, AL - Television Show Helps Alabama Zoo's Attendance, Donations Swell: "The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo is living up to the title of its Animal Planet television show, 'The Little Zoo That Could.'
The nonprofit zoo has broken attendance records and seen a deluge of donations as the hit show tracks the zoo's struggle to reopen following its 2004 evacuation as Hurricane Ivan approached.

On March 22nd, the zoo had its best day in 16 years with 491 paying guests. Two days later, it the record with 692 visitors."

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Nonprofits can get tips on mission strategy, teamwork from military, for-profits

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Nonprofits can get tips on mission strategy, teamwork from military, for-profits:
snip snip>>

"in the nonprofit world, there is a greater emphasis on collaboration because how these organizations identify their mission is different. In a for-profit business, the mission is to sell this product and service in order to make a financial profit. In a nonprofit organization, the mission is something less easy to quantify. It is change in people or society. So, your competitor is identified as that person or group that makes it more difficult to achieve that change. However, your competitor could be something beyond a person or an organization. It could be a perception or a cultural practice that makes it more difficult to achieve the change you desire."

cbs2chicago.com - Wisconsin Wire-Program to teach nonprofit board members their roles

cbs2chicago.com - Wisconsin Wire: "A new initiative will help the thousands of people learn how to serve on boards of nonprofit organizations.

The program through the Nonprofit Management Fund will help people learn how to serve on boards, said Patricia Wyzbinski, adviser to group, which is a consortium of private funders from throughout the area.

``If you agree to serve on a board, it's a very serious job, and you need to learn how to do that job,'' she said.

There are an estimated 35,000 to 45,000 people in the area who serve as directors on boards for nonprofits. These volunteers oversee charitable and taxpayer money worth hundreds of millions of dollars and services for many people.

The program, BoardStar, will be a program of the management fund and operate initially with a $150,000 budget from several local foundations."

The Business Journal of Phoenix: On another note, Preston McMurry, founder of the McMurry Family of Cos., recently won the Philanthropist of the Year

The Business Journal of Phoenix: Amtrak chooses McMurry for magazine relaunch - 2003-01-27: "On another note, Preston McMurry, founder of the McMurry Family of Cos., recently won the Philanthropist of the Year award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He focuses on children and domestic violence with his 'Theresa's Fund,' named after his former wife who was abused as a child. McMurry employees and vendors also contribute, and every five years the fund gives away $5 million."

The Enquirer - Noe generous, but with whose money?

The Enquirer - Noe generous, but with whose money?: "Noe generous, but with whose money?
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOLEDO - Charities that received donations from a coin dealer at the center of Ohio's investment scandal are worried they might have to return the money.

Indicted coin dealer Tom Noe was a giant on the Toledo-area charity circuit, giving frequently to organizations that help cancer patients, Catholic school and church causes as well as Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo.

A youth soccer field - built with the help of Noe's $50,000 donation - even bears his name."

Buffalo News - Catholic Charities Appeal enters 'overtime'

Buffalo News - Catholic Charities Appeal enters 'overtime': "Catholic Charities Appeal enters 'overtime'

'Drive that never fails' falls more than $764,000 short of $10.9 million goal

By ANTHONY CARDINALE
News Staff Reporter
4/10/2006
The Catholic Charities Appeal reached 93 percent of its $10.9 million goal Sunday night, falling short by $764,739.

The last time the appeal didn't reach its goal by Palm Sunday was in 1995, when it took an extra four days to do so.

'The appeal has become known as the drive that never fails,' Bishop Edward U. Kmiec told volunteers who had gathered at the Catholic Charities offices for the tally. 'We hope you recognize that we have not failed. We are just in overtime. The appeal will succeed, because there are a lot of people who depend on us.'"

Worcester Telegram & Gazette News-"Teeter-totter fundraiser at WPI to aid children

Worcester Telegram & Gazette News: "Teeter-totter fundraiser at WPI to aid children

By Kerry A. Sullivan SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

WORCESTER— For five consecutive days, Lambda Chi Alpha brothers and Alpha Gamma Delta sisters at Worcester Polytechnic Institute will brave the elements on a giant teeter-totter in the college quadrangle to help children with juvenile diabetes.

At noon yesterday, one Lambda Chi Alpha brother and one Alpha Gamma Delta sister climbed aboard the large yellow, green and red wooden teeter-totter built five years ago for the fraternity and sorority’s annual Teeter-Totter-A-Thon philanthropy event. Every half-hour, 24 hours a day through Wednesday, a different fraternity brother and sorority sister pair will take a turn on the teeter-totter to raise awareness and money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, nationally sponsored by the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation. Approximately 60 young men and 70 young women will take shifts. "

Philanthropist Vilar to face trial on Oct 3- The Economic Times

Philanthropist Vilar to face trial on Oct 3- The Economic Times: "Philanthropist Vilar to face trial on Oct 3

REUTERS[ SATURDAY, APRIL 08, 2006 09:00:04 AM]
NEW YORK: An October 3 trial date was set on Friday for former high-flying philanthropist and technology stocks investor Alberto Vilar and his co-defendant Gary Tanaka, who are accused of defrauding investors of millions of dollars.

Vilar, 65, and Tanaka, 62, co-founders of Amerindo Investors Inc, are accused of spending clients' funds for personal and business use.

US District Judge Kenneth Karas set the trial date during a hearing at federal court in Manhattan.
"

Want to be philanthropist? Click here.

Want to be philanthropist? Click here.: "Want to be philanthropist? Click here.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Sunday, April 09, 2006

Suzy French knew her students could be better readers if they had new books they could borrow and take home. The teacher at Sugar Grove Elementary School in Houston wanted 100 books filled with stories and illustrations that would appeal to the special-education students in her class. She knew the students' families couldn't afford them.

Now, if you know anything about Texas' system for supplying books to schools, then you know that process can take years. You might also know that it would be the teacher who would be most likely to pay for special readers that weren't on the school's required textbook list. French turned to the Internet and requested the books from DonorsChoose at www.donors choose.org. Three weeks later, the books were delivered to her classroom. Several anonymous small donors, and some well-known ones, read French's proposal online and contributed $762.66 for the books."

Winston-Salem Journal | Long Term: Leaving gifts to favorite causes helps many

Winston-Salem Journal | Long Term: Leaving gifts to favorite causes
Print Story | Email Story | News Tip?

One of the encouraging trends in our society today is that more and more people are considering charitable gifts in their financial and estate planning.

As we plan where our assets will go at our death, it makes sense that we provide for the very causes to which we have contributed during our lifetime.

Interestingly, however, although roughly 70 percent of Americans give to charities during their lifetime, less than 6 percent give to charities at their death."

- toledoblade.com -"Prize can't guarantee happiness

- toledoblade.com -: "Prize can't guarantee happiness
Sudden wealth is good for most lottery winners, but not all

( PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE )
Zoom | Photo Reprints

By RYAN E. SMITH
BLADE STAFF WRITER

For some people, winning the big jackpot can turn out to be a big mistake.

William 'Bud' Post III called it the 'lottery of death.'

The Pennsylvania man, who died in January at 66, hit a $16.2 million lottery jackpot in 1988. After that, his sixth wife left him, a woman sued for a third of the winnings, he failed at business ventures with siblings, and spent time in jail for firing a gun over a bill collector's head."

Nonprofit work isn't about pay

Nonprofit work isn't about pay: "Nonprofit work isn't about pay

Saturday, April 8, 2006 10:50 PM EDT

Amaris Elliott-Engel / The Citizen

AUBURN - Six months into her job caring for adult consumers with multiple diagnoses of severe to profound mental retardation, autism, epilepsy and other conditions, Jenn St. Mire-Zammett knew she had found her calling.

“I may only be 30 years old, but I'm a lifer here,” St. Mire-Zammett says.

St. Mire-Zammett, of Auburn, has an intense job as the day habilitation coordinator for a program at the nonprofit Seneca-Cayuga ARC. St. Mire-Zammett's program helps its high-needs consumers work on productive outcomes for a number of skill sets. All the participants either live with relatives or are in a certified house providing 24/7 care.

Part of her commitment to spend the rest of her life in this field is the desire to provide continuity with the consumers."

SDSUniverse | Campaign Update

SDSUniverse | Campaign Update: "Every gift to San Diego State University makes it a better university. Gifts directly benefit the program, department, college, faculty or student identified as the beneficiary of a gift. Each gift leverages other gifts through the leadership example they set by demonstrating a level of support for SDSU that inspires others to do the same.

Recognizing the transformational potential of increased philanthropy, SDSU has increased its investment in University Development. Central to this decision was the establishment of gift fees, which the university began assessing in October 2005 on donations and other funds deposited with The Campanile Foundation, the university's philanthropic arm."

Lawmakers turn to IT for grant accountability

Lawmakers turn to IT for grant accountability: "Lawmakers turn to IT for grant accountability
Bill proposes a database to provide transparency in the grant-making process

— Matthew Weigelt
BY Matthew Weigelt
Published on Apr. 10, 2006

Several House leaders want to create a public database to track federal grants and help curb any questionable practices surrounding the federal grant process. Although many agencies already make such information available, some experts familiar with the grant-making process say a consolidated Web site could improve accountability.

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-Va.) introduced legislation March 30 that would require agencies to post specific information about every federal grant award. The bill would require the Office of Management and Budget to work with the General Services Administration and other agencies to ensure that the information is publicly available on a central Web site within 30 days of a grant being awarded."

File taxes, check; give to charity, check

File taxes, check; give to charity, check: "File taxes, check; give to charity, check
A growing number of causes receive donations through tax form checkoff boxes.
Monday, April 10, 2006
By Sara Smith
Contributing writer

Next Monday's state income tax deadline won't just help fill up New York's treasury. It will also produce about $1.7 million for a growing list of charities with checkoff boxes on the state's tax form.

This year, as usual, the Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund will be the big winner. Last year it brought in $549,153 about a third of all the checkoff contributions and it is leading the list again this year. The money is distributed, in the form of grants, among medical institutions and other public and private organizations throughout New York."

NWAnews.com ::American Cancer Society Inc. : Plan now to take a bite out of 2006 tax bill

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source: "As many Americans engage in writing big checks for their 2005 tax bills, it may be time to look for ways to avoid the same pain again next April.

One strategy that may substantially reduce income taxes — eliminating the need to write the Internal Revenue Service a bonus check on April 15, 2007, or increasing the amount of the refund — is charitable gift planning."

SOI Tax Stats - SOI Bulletin: Winter 2005-2006

SOI Tax Stats - SOI Bulletin: Winter 2005-2006: "SOI Tax Stats - SOI Bulletin: Winter 2005-2006

Return to Tax Stats home page

Select the entire publication (in PDF) or one of the studies below"