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.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

HometownAnnapolis.com, Top Stories - Event hopes to attract under-50 crowd with fashion

HometownAnnapolis.com, Top Stories - Event hopes to attract under-50 crowd with fashion:
snip snip>>>
"but despite her savvy outlook on life, Mrs. Almalel's under-50 friends balk at joining her at events for Hospice of the Chesapeake, fearing stifling soirees stuffed with snooty seniors. Undaunted, the financial advisor at Merrill Lynch joined forces with friend Sherri Meredith and formed Hospice Hundred, a group of young philanthropists-in-training."

Volunteering in community is wise investment of time | IndyStar.com

Volunteering in community is wise investment of time | IndyStar.com: "my view: Ellen K. Annala
Volunteering in community is wise investment of time
Drive to College Avenue and 62nd Street and you can't miss United Way's gigantic thank-you to volunteers. On a banner stretching across the busy intersection, we're saying thanks to everyone who gives the gift of time to make our community better.

The banner is a new tradition we started last year to commemorate National Volunteer Week. It's observed annually in April. If you're a volunteer and your schedule won't take you that way, we extend our thanks to you in this My View."

Online NewsHour: An Analysis of the Return of Student Activism -- April 21, 2006

Online NewsHour: An Analysis of the Return of Student Activism -- April 21, 2006: "A report on a new wave of student activism brought about by September 11th, the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

ANNE TAYLOR FLEMING, NewsHour Essayist: I was struck by the pictures of college kids on spring break, not the ones doing the time-honored bacchanalian thing on the beaches of Florida, but rather the kids who had forsaken that rite and gone instead to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to help rebuild that battered region.

Swinging hammers, cleaning out moldy shacks, they seemed to me a bright spot in a complicated world, an indication, perhaps, that narcissism was finally giving way to a little activism.

I've got '60s kid nostalgia, no question, a hearkening back to when my peers and I were lit up with help-change-the-world fervor, a sense that we could and should matter, protesting war, advocating women's rights or civil rights."

Arts contributors may get big return

Arts contributors may get big return: "Arts contributors may get big return
by Steve Garmhausen

Agnes Gund has spent much of the past five decades buying modern art by the likes of Jasper Johns and Mark Rothko. But she has also given scores of works away to the Museum of Modern Art.

'It could be because I feel guilty about having so much more than most people,' says MoMA's president emerita, who has contributed some 250 pieces to the museum. 'If I can have it, others should be able to enjoy it.'"

San Luis Obispo Tribune | 04/25/2006 | Drawing lines between board and staff duties

San Luis Obispo Tribune | 04/25/2006 | Drawing lines between board and staff duties: "Nonprofit Strategies
Drawing lines between board and staff duties
By Dave Edwards
The Tribune

One of the most difficult aspects of running a nonprofit organization is balancing the respective roles of the board and staff.

Having a strong board and staff are essential for success, but making sure each does what it’s supposed to do is the challenge. When those lines are blurred, dysfunction can ensue."

Former U.S. senator praises Colby, stresses need for philanthropy

Former U.S. senator praises Colby, stresses need for philanthropy: "WATERVILLE -- At a time when the U.S. is the most powerful nation in the world economically but our standing in the world is lower than it has ever been, it is critically important that we learn about people whose circumstances are different than ours.

That was a message former U.S. Sen. George J. Mitchell touted Monday night as part of 'Burst the Bubble, Build a Bridge,' a weeklong program designed by Colby College students to help strengthen ties between Colby and the community."

Monday, April 24, 2006

Blogger was offline for a portion of Monday

A quick note to say that Blogger was offline for most of today Monday April 24. This was a systemwide outage and thus our posting's were not available untill late in the day. Thanks for your patience and for the moment everything seems to have returned to normal.
Here is some explanation including information about a brief scheduled outage later today.
Monday, April 24, 2006

Blogger.com will be down on April 24 2006 from 4 pm PDT to 4:45 pm PDT due to planned maintenance. We’re sorry about the one-two unplanned/planned outage punch today, but we need to do some database maintenance. You will still be able to view your blogs during the outage. Be assured that when Blogger.com comes back, it will be shinier and happier than ever.

Posted by Pete at 11:32 PDT

All publishing is broken right now. We’re working on fixing it.

Update, 10:15AM: We have Blog*Spot publishing working again. External publishing coming soon.

Update, 10:41AM: External publishing is working again as well. Plus users, we haven't forgotten about you.

Update, 10:50AM: Everything sorted out now and working fine. Expect possible transient slownesses as we shore up some of the quick fixes that we had to make.

Courier News Online - Corporate support for arts flagging

Courier News Online - Corporate support for arts flagging: "Corporate support for arts flagging

By PEGGY McGLONE
The Associated Press

With state cuts looming, report shows four-year decline in private donations.

NEWARK -- With the state broke, New Jersey's top culture official has said it's time for the private sector to pony up more money for museums, theaters and symphonies.

But if recent patterns are any indication, don't bet on business stepping up.

New Jersey may be home to some of the biggest and best-known companies in the world, some of whom have seen a profit bonanza during the past three years. But an examination of funding trends shows overall corporate support for the arts has flat-lined."

21 teen volunteers honored

21 teen volunteers honored: "aylor was one of 21 teenage philanthropists honored yesterday at the fourth annual Gold Acorn awards ceremony at The Grand in New Albany.

The awards, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana and the Youth Philanthropy Councils of Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties, recognize young people for their commitment to volunteer work."

Nonprofits Face Obstacles to Accessing Investment Capital

Nonprofits Face Obstacles to Accessing Investment Capital: "Nonprofits Face Obstacles to Accessing Investment Capital
Newswise - Nonprofits are facing pressing needs for investment capital but report widespread obstacles to accessing that capital, according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins University's Nonprofit Listening Post Project.

'We have long been accustomed to thinking of nonprofits as labor-intensive institutions. But their need for investment capital to finance technology, facilities, and program development has grown massively in recent years. Unfortunately, however, we know very little about the challenges nonprofits face in generating this investment capital,' said Lester Salamon, director of the Center for Civil Society Studies at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, which oversees the Listening Post Project"

Nonprofits team up for Spanish class | Hendersonville Times-News

Nonprofits team up for Spanish class | Hendersonville Times-News: "Nonprofits team up for Spanish class
Special to the Times-News

Two area nonprofits, Vocational Solutions of Henderson County and CYB Services and Cultural Connection, recently teamed up for a six-week 'Spanish in the Workplace' training program at Vocational Solutions. "

News-Sentinel | 04/24/2006 | Board members – not bored members

News-Sentinel | 04/24/2006 | Board members – not bored members: "Speaker calls on boards at nonprofits to get involved in the action.
By Jennifer L. Boen
jboen@news-sentinel.com
Hechinger: Board members have vital roles to play

Many nonprofit board members join because they believe in the organization’s mission. But that passion to further the mission can get lost during long meetings full of committee reports, financial discussions and votes.

“Ninety percent of board members said they were there to make a difference in the organization,” said Deborah Hechinger, president and CEO of BoardSource, a Washington, D.C.-based organization.

“Boards often see themselves as passive stewards,” said Hechinger, the keynote speaker at a special event for nonprofit leaders May 2 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center. The event is sponsored by the Foellinger Foundation. BoardSource’s aim is to increase the effectiveness of nonprofits by strengthening their boards – a goal it worked toward by conducting a survey in 2004 of 8,000 U.S. nonprofits."

News-Sentinel | 04/24/2006 | SPCA director Mike Lynch has found his calling working for nonprofits.

News-Sentinel | 04/24/2006 | SPCA director Mike Lynch has found his calling working for nonprofits.: "SPCA director Mike Lynch has found his calling working for nonprofits.
By Andrew Welfle
awelfle@news-sentinel.com

By Steve Linsenmayer of The News-Sentinel
Mike Lynch plays with one of his charges in one of the cat rooms at the Hanna Street facility.

Sitting at his desk, Mike Lynch pets two cats lying on a pile of papers.

Their names are Caesar and Go-Go, he said, the latter named after a character from “Kill Bill: Volume I.”

“Because she’s a tease,” Lynch explained of the name. “She’ll love you, then she’ll bite.”

As is evident, Lynch loves animals. He became the director of the Allen County chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at 4914 S. Hanna St. in February."

The Chronicle, 4/24/2006: Getting Money for Capital Needs Is Tough Struggle for Many Charities, Study Finds

The Chronicle, 4/24/2006: Getting Money for Capital Needs Is Tough Struggle for Many Charities, Study Finds: "Getting Money for Capital Needs Is Tough Struggle for Many Charities, Study Finds

By Harvy Lipman

Nonprofit groups are having a difficult time coming up with the investment capital they need, according to a new study by the Johns Hopkins University.

Charities face trouble not only raising funds for traditional capital expenses, like buildings and computer equipment, but also for costs associated with program development and strategic planning, such as the hiring of consultants or additional staff, the study found.

The survey was conducted by the Center for Civil Society Studies at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies. It gathered data from 291 organizations that focus on children and family services, community and economic development, elderly housing and services, as well as museums, and theaters."

MILTON FRIEDMAN'S PRAGMATIC AND INCREMENTAL LIBERTARIANISM

MILTON FRIEDMAN'S PRAGMATIC AND INCREMENTAL LIBERTARIANISM: "According to Friedman, if a corporation makes a donation to charity, it is actually the managers who are making donations of assets that belong to the shareholders. They would be spending others' money unless those shareholders express their desire to make such a donation. He explains that managers should not substitute their judgment for the judgment of the shareholders. Friedman maintains that another reason against managers spending funds for social causes is that insofar as those actions increase consumer prices, he is effectively spending customers' money. Similarly, when such actions lower the wages of employees, he is disbursing their money."

News - Area groups losing their chiefs - sacbee.com

News - Area groups losing their chiefs - sacbee.com: "Area groups losing their chiefs
Top posts at nonprofits are being left vacant as retirement takes a toll.
By Todd Milbourn -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 24, 2006
Story appeared in Metro section, Page B1
Just about every month, another high-profile Sacramento-area nonprofit loses its chief executive, it seems.

Since January, the leaders of Loaves & Fishes, the Nonprofit Resource Center, the Greater Sacramento Urban League and Sacramento Food Bank Services all have said they are planning to retire.

A recent national study suggests the nonprofit sector - 90,000 organizations strong in California - is on the verge of a major turnover."

globeandmail.com : Rich are still getting richer, though pace is slowing down

globeandmail.com : Rich are still getting richer, though pace is slowing down: "Rich are still getting richer, though pace is slowing down

BEPPI CROSARIOL

The executive-pay locomotive appears to be losing steam, but don't reach for your hanky just yet.

Compensation growth for chief executive officers of major companies slowed last year, though raises for top brass still compared handsomely with those of the average working stiff.

The Corporate Library, a pro-investor research group, reports that CEOs of more than 500 major U.S.-listed companies received a median total pay increase of 11.3 per cent in 2005, far below the torrid 30.2-per-cent rate reported the previous year."

Article: Money - O.C. nonprofits asking donors for over $1 billion

Article: Money - O.C. nonprofits asking donors for over $1 billion: "O.C. nonprofits asking donors for over $1 billion
That's how much nonprofit organizations are asking for construction projects in Orange County. Donor fatigue may be setting in.

Scotsman.com Living - People - Philanthropy...so, what's in it for me?

Scotsman.com Living - People - Philanthropy...so, what's in it for me?: "IMAGINE that you're walking along the street, when a strangely familiar-looking man with a toothy grin approaches you, shaking a donation box. 'Hey, would you like to give some money to Children Who Need Things?' he asks, in best Estuary English. 'No thanks,' you reply, hurrying past. But he follows you. 'Oh go on, these children really need Things,' he wheedles. 'Not interested,' you mutter and walk a bit faster. But he persists. 'OK, OK. Forget the needy kids. We're also selling raffle tickets and if you buy enough of them, you've got a good chance of winning a brand new car.' Hmm, you think, I could do with a car. As your step falters, the man smiles even more and puts a friendly arm around you. 'Take 20 tickets and I can make sure you win. Take a few more and, between you and me, that car could well turn out to be a Rolls-Royce.' 'I'll take 30,' you say, pulling out your wallet. And that, my friend, is how you become a philanthropist.

At least, that's how you become a philanthropist in Tony Blair's Britain."

courant.com | Gifts, Not From Grads

courant.com | Gifts, Not From Grads: "Non-graduates such as Gilman play an important role in the fundraising efforts of many colleges and universities. Last year, non-alumni gave $5 billion to U.S. schools, according to a study by the Council for Aid to Education, a New York-based nonprofit group. Only alumni and foundations, the traditional sources of donations, contributed more."

Using A Digital Touch To Track The Assets Of The Ultrarich - Yahoo! News

Using A Digital Touch To Track The Assets Of The Ultrarich - Yahoo! News: "The very rich are different from you and me,' said novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. They, in fact, have a tougher time keeping track of their money and investments.

This means a business opportunity for some savvy entrepreneurs. And it explains why Private Client Resources, a private company in Wilton, Conn., helps multimillionaires consolidate and track multifarious investments.

Private banking or managing the assets of the very rich isn't new. But the story's in how PCR does it."

If you are on the Rich List, think about giving it away now - Home - Times Online

If you are on the Rich List, think about giving it away now - Home - Times Online: "If you are on the Rich List, think about giving it away now
Sir Tom Hunter, who led last week’s £311m takeover of Wyevale Garden Centres, urges Rich Listers to embrace philanthropy
IF you are reading this and you are on today’s Sunday Times Rich List, you are probably one of the wealth creators contributing to the growth of our economy. Fantastic.

Many of you will have fulfilled your material goals: the houses, the cars, the boat and maybe even a plane — whatever turns you on."

The Columbus Dispatch -At some businesses, ’tis still better to give

The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State: "At some businesses, ’tis still better to give
Monday, April 24, 2006
ANN FISHER

The vastness of the corporations that make up the framework of American society can be overwhelming, but big things still do come in small packages.

A little still does mean a l"

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "Through the volunteers' eyes: What volunteers want nonprofits to know about effectively involving them
Louise Chatterton LuchukApril 24, 2006
By Louise Chatterton Luchuk

This week's cover story is the second installment in a five-part series that offers nonprofit organizations a glimpse into their world from another perspective. The series also includes the perspective of funders, the media, consultants, and donors, and what they want the nonprofit sector to know.

Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.
--Karl Menninger

Happy National Volunteer Week! This week, events will be held across Canada to celebrate the contributions of countless volunteers. In the midst of the festivities, let's pause for a quieter, more reflective way to recognize our volunteers...by listening to them as they share their thoughts and ideas. In this cover story, three volunteers talk about what makes them feel supported by the different organizations they serve. By taking the time to listen to their accounts, we value the volunteer voice and gain ideas about effectively involving volunteers."

Keeping Up With Kiva: Profile of Jessica Flannery - Interviews

Firms make giving a priority - Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal:

Firms make giving a priority - Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal:: "Firms make giving a priority
Different companies tackle charitable
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal - April 21, 2006
by Ellen P. Gabler
Staff Writer

Doing business usually means more than just getting the job done. Companies are frequently seen as community members that can, and should, give back.

Giving back means different things for different businesses. Some see their role as job generators while others donate frequently to local charities or offer up employees as volunteers in the community."

Friday, April 21, 2006

An Unethical Arrangement for a Lawmaker's Wife

An Unethical Arrangement for a Lawmaker's Wife: "An Unethical Arrangement for a Lawmaker's Wife

Wednesday, April 19, 2006; Page A16

In the April 16 Sunday Politics column, 'Donations for a Congressman, Profits for His Wife,' Thomas B. Edsall and Zachary A. Goldfarb reported that Julie Doolittle, wife of Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.), had formed a fundraising company whose clients include her husband's campaign committee and his leadership PAC. Mr. Doolittle's spokesman said the company's 'compensation is based entirely upon performance in that it receives a percentage of what it is directly involved in raising.' He said the arrangement was 'consistent' with that of other fundraisers, that 'having family members paid for such work is both legal and ethical' and that it meets with the approval of the House ethics committee as long as 'compensation is consistent with the market rate.'"

ARTICLE: Local arts groups say they’ll miss Ford’s help (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com)

ARTICLE: Local arts groups say they’ll miss Ford’s help (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com): "Local arts groups say they’ll miss Ford’s help

By TERESA ANNAS, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 21, 2006

Through the years, the Ford Motor Company Fund has given local cultural groups modest donations that arts managers say would be missed if the Norfolk Assembly Plant closes in 2008 .

“At a time when we are working to build corporate support, to lose even one company’s support is a disappointment,” said Tom Costello, director of development and marketing for the Virginia Opera."

Kansas City Jewish Chronicle-"J-LEAD aims to stimulate young Jewish philantrhopy

AFP also has a Blog specifically for Youth in Philanthropy stories

Kansas City Jewish Chronicle: "J-LEAD aims to stimulate young Jewish philantrhopy
By: Barbara Bayer, Staff Writer April 21, 2006

J-LEAD, which stands for Jewish Leadership Education Action and Development, was created one year ago as a program of the Jewish Community Foundation. And it's already having an impact on the Jewish community. Earlier this month it awarded seven grants totaling $35,500. (See box, 6)
Lauren Hoopes, JCF's executive director, explained that JCF had been hoping to start a giving circle - a pooled fund through which members make grants together - for a year or two before J-LEAD was conceived."

Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper-"Towey appointed as president of St. Vincent College

Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper - News and Features: "Towey appointed as president of St. Vincent College
current article

James Towey, 49, has been named the 16th president of St. Vincent College, effective July 1, according to an announcement April 18 by Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, chancellor, and J. Christopher Donahue, board chairman.

Towey, who has served since 2002 as assistant to the president of the United States and director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, becomes head of St. Vincent, a 160-year-old Benedictine Catholic college in Latrobe."