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, December 27, 2006

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Solicitors take big cut for fundraising

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Solicitors take big cut for fundraising: "a telemarketer representing your favorite charity or local fire department calls this week for an end-of-the-year donation, consider mailing a check directly instead of giving over the phone.

That’s because telemarketing companies kept as much as 40 percent of donations to some fire departments and rescue squads in Western North Carolina this year.

They took an even greater chunk of money from state residents meant for a wide range of groups, according to an annual report by the North Carolina secretary of state’s office."

Area Nonprofits Are Hiring - washingtonpost.com

Area Nonprofits Are Hiring - washingtonpost.com: "Area Nonprofits Are Hiring

Monday, December 25, 2006; Page D02

Washington ranks first in the country in the percentage of its workforce employed by charities and other nonprofit organizations. A new report by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies shows that the District is mirroring a nationwide trend of employment in the nonprofit sector growing faster than the overall job market.

'The trend is the product of changing demographics that is fueling labor growth in service related jobs,' said Lester M. Salamon, co-author of the report.'"

Giving Surges At Year's End; Charities Seek Steady Flow - washingtonpost.com

Giving Surges At Year's End; Charities Seek Steady Flow - washingtonpost.com: "Giving Surges At Year's End; Charities Seek Steady Flow
Regular Installments Pushed

By Michele M. Melendez
Religion News Service
Saturday, December 23, 2006; Page B09

Donating to charity at Christmastime is a tradition for countless Americans.

Some rush to beat the deadline for tax deductions. Some don't think of making contributions until seasonal reminders arrive in the mail. Others simply feel more charitable during the holidays or have waited to see how much they can afford to give."

Wealth and philanthropy: who gives (and why) - The Boston Globe

Wealth and philanthropy: who gives (and why) - The Boston Globe: "Wealth and philanthropy: who gives (and why)

By Brian Moynihan | December 25, 2006

SOME HAVE CHARGED New Englanders with giving less to charity than people in other regions. Others say secular donors give less than the faithful. Yet such assertions are less informative than this statistic: Two-thirds of all philanthropic gifts made by U S households come from the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans. Their giving patterns deserve more attention if charities are to improve their effectiveness and fund-raising appeals."

Goodwill under the microscope : World: News: News24

Goodwill under the microscope : World: News: News24: "Of course we do not want to demystify the season of gift-giving because we all like to pretend the act is absolutely sincere and not self-interested.'

'Competitive altruism' is the phrase used by Willer and his partner Pat Barclay of Cornell University for this strategic one-upmanship of beneficence.

The juxtaposition of these terms may seem riddled with contradiction, but Willer disagrees."

FT.com / World / UK - You may have poor idea of what is a good cause

FT.com / World / UK - You may have poor idea of what is a good cause: "You may have poor idea of what is a good cause

By Scheherazade Daneshkhu

Published: December 22 2006 23:23 | Last updated: December 22 2006 23:23

The next time you chuck a few coins in a collecting tin shaken under your nose, consider whether the money really is going to the poor.

Charity is thought of as giving to the needy and those in distress. But many charities benefit the rich more than the poor and only a small amount of charitable giving is redistributive, says a paper published this year by the Centre for Civil Society at the London School of Economics."

Outlook Promising for Christmas Philanthropy, says Giving Institute :: PNNOnline ::

Outlook Promising for Christmas Philanthropy, says Giving Institute :: PNNOnline ::: "As the economy goes, so goes philanthropy, and 2006 should be a good year for charities as they send out their annual end-of-year appeals, according to experts at the Giving Institute, consultants to nonprofits.

'Giving closely follows the economy, and indicators including the stock market should bode well for those groups that plan their big donation pushes at this time of year,' said Giving Institute Chair, George C. Ruotolo Jr., CFRE.

While there have been no empirical studies showing that donations are highest in the fourth quarter, the Institute, parent organization of Giving USA Foundation™, notes that many charities use the holidays - and their associated feelings of good cheer - to reach out to potential donors."

Charity work pays off in good feelings | Chicago Tribune

Charity work pays off in good feelings | Chicago Tribune: "Charity work pays off in good feelings
Small companies find donations, especially to children, rewarding

By Ann Meyer
Special to the Tribune
Published December 25, 2006

Thanks to Chicago-area small businesses, many children in need will be getting gifts for Christmas--and all year long.

As a national sponsor of the Toys for Tots program, Vernon Hills-based toymaker Learning Resources donated more than $120,000 in toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program for underprivileged children this month.

The company promoted a 'buy once, give twice' offer on its Web site, pledging to donate a second toy to Toys for Tots for every one purchased online by a customer for the charity. It also matched employees' donations."

Questions for Peter Singer - New York Times

Questions for Peter Singer - New York Times: "Peter Singer is the Ira W. DeCamp professor of bioethics at the Center for Human Values at Princeton University. He is the author of many books, including most recently “The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter.” Mr. Singer recently answered readers' questions about the ethics of billionaire spending and philanthropy."

Viet Nam News

Viet Nam News: "Charity work is in full swing as locals get into the holiday spirit. Anh Thu explores the efforts made this year by the young and old, rich and poor to help their fellow man.

If you ask any child living in city shelters and open houses whether they believe in Santa Claus, the answer is invariably a smile and a 'Why not?'

As in previous years, this Christmas promises to be a joyous occasion for many Vietnamese, particularly disadvantaged children, who typically receive greater attention during the season."

Bay Area wealthy are less giving / Study finds affluent of L.A. donate nearly twice as much

Bay Area wealthy are less giving / Study finds affluent of L.A. donate nearly twice as much: "Los Angelenos are the most generous people in California when it comes to giving to charities.

Affluent people in the Southern California metropolis gave almost twice as much as their counterparts in the Bay Area and other parts of the state in 2004, according to a new report.

Ringing in the nude charity calendars - U.S. Business - MSNBC.com

Ringing in the nude charity calendars - U.S. Business - MSNBC.com: "The Humane Society in the city of Jefferson, about 50 miles west of Milwaukee, is one of many nonprofit organizations from Australia to Wisconsin selling tastefully nude 2007 calendars, although one philanthropy expert says the practice is, er, overexposed.

A group of women ranging in age from mid 50s to early 70s in Yorkshire, England, pioneered the idea in 2000 when they sold a calendar of discreet nude photographs of themselves to raise money for cancer research. The women, whose story inspired the 2003 movie “Calendar Girls,” raised $2.55 million through sales of 800,000 calendars as well as book and film royalties."

Friday, December 22, 2006

Steven Pearlstein - In Praise of the Corporate Heart - washingtonpost.com

Steven Pearlstein - In Praise of the Corporate Heart - washingtonpost.com: "In Praise of the Corporate Heart

By Steven Pearlstein
Friday, December 22, 2006; Page D01

The Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman, who died this year, famously argued that businesses ought to stick to making money and leave it to shareholders to decide, individually, whether and how company profits should be distributed to charitable causes.

Let us give thanks this holiday season that the world did not follow Friedman's advice. It is not just that having corporations involved in philanthropy increases the amount of money given to worthy causes. It is also that companies can bring unique resources and expertise to these challenges and tap into the enthusiasm and creativity of their employees."

Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/22/2006 | 'Gross Clinic' to stay in city

Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/22/2006 | 'Gross Clinic' to stay in city: "Gross Clinic' to stay in city
By Stephan Salisbury
Inquirer Culture Writer
Three people at yesterday's announcement who played roles in keeping the painting here: Hugh Long, CEO for Wachovia's MidAtlantic Banking Group; Anne d'Harnoncourt, (center), director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Rebecca Rimel, president and CEO of the Pew Charitable Trust.
Michael Bryant / Inquirer
Three people at yesterday's announcement who played roles in keeping the painting here: Hugh Long, CEO for Wachovia's MidAtlantic Banking Group; Anne d'Harnoncourt, (center), director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Rebecca Rimel, president and CEO of the Pew Charitable Trust.

Capping as wild a fund-raising ride as this city has ever seen, Mayor Street gleefully announced yesterday that Thomas Eakins' The Gross Clinic had been purchased by local institutions and would remain in Philadelphia."

Beer slab donation not enough to make poverty history

Beer slab donation not enough to make poverty history: "Beer slab donation not enough to make poverty history

Compared to money spent on Christmas, Caritas Australia chief Jack de Groot says that Australians can do a lot better to alleviate poverty than the $43 average donation - the price of a slab of beer - to development agencies in 2005."

Father and daughter lend a hand in New Orleans

Father and daughter lend a hand in New Orleans: "Anyone who knows Rick Prose knows that he is a man of indefatigable energy, sharp wit, and good, albeit warped, humor. Prose is the heart, soul, and brains of BRCTV, its station manager, and is active in various other civic organizations. In addition to these endeavors, he also runs, with his wife Barbara, Harborfields Cottages, Finest Kind Wooden Boats and has started his own video production company. Encountering Prose one expects an upbeat, sometimes manic, but usually entertaining exchange. So I was taken aback when I saw Prose two days after his return from New Orleans with a look akin to grief in his eyes and a stated inability to talk about the experience just yet."

A Resolution for the New Year

A Resolution for the New Year: "A Resolution for the New Year
There is a lot of evidence to support the unfortunate fact that many people do not trust nonprofits to use their donations wisely.

A recent survey of wealthy individuals again confirms this sad fact. The new WealthSurvey, conducted by the New York City-based Luxury Institute in association with Charles Maclean, donor advocate and founder of PhilanthropyNow, reveals that one of the primary reasons affluent individuals do not contribute to certain nonprofits is that they distrust those organizations.

Some 56 percent of those surveyed mentioned this issue with only 35 percent saying that they believe that nonprofits would use their donations wisely."

Marin Independent Journal - Bay Model nonprofit calling it quits

Marin Independent Journal - Bay Model nonprofit calling it quits: "The Bay Model Association, a nonprofit that for 17 years has provided environmental education programs for Bay Area students, is calling it quits due to a lack of funding.

The association, which will halt operations officially on Dec. 31, also provides staff and funding for the Bay Model bookstore and gift shop. Its demise will not affect normal operations of the Bay Model, a vast expanse of water in the Sausalito museum replicating the San Francisco Bay."

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Business

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Business: "Pickens plans to launch charity

Billionaire to donate $135 million to kick off foundation

11:11 PM CST on Thursday, December 21, 2006

By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News

Dallas billionaire Boone Pickens will announce today a donation of $135 million to establish a foundation in his name.

The 78-year-old investor, famous in financial circles for correctly predicting oil prices, has become a major philanthropist during the past few years."

Hong Kongers' largesse

Hong Kongers' largesse: "Hong Kongers' largesse
(Shanghai Star)
Updated: 2006-12-22 10:51

Hong Kong - When Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan announced he would leave half his fortune to his charity for helping young people, the news created barely a ripple in his home city.

The kungfu star named this year in Forbes magazine's list of 10 most generous celebrities - took his cue from US billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who have pledged large legacies to charity.

Chan's estimated wealth of US$128 million hardly puts him in the billionaire league, but his largesse is typical in Hong Kong."

Bloomberg.com: Muse

Bloomberg.com: Muse: "iki Barber Jokes About Miro, Goads Bidders in Charitable Work

By Mary Romano

Dec. 22 (Bloomberg) -- While his football days are drawing to a close, Tiki Barber has carved out an active role in philanthropy.

The 31-year-old New York Giants running back, who plans to retire from the National Football League at the end of this season, puts a lot of his time and celebrity into charity events. In the past four weeks he has hosted a ceremony honoring leaders in New York City tourism, presented a humanitarian award to his friend, Richard Mina, chief executive officer of Foot Locker's U.S. division, and helped auction art to benefit Save the Children."

MPR: Is donor fatigue hitting Minnesota charities?

MPR: Is donor fatigue hitting Minnesota charities?: "Is donor fatigue hitting Minnesota charities?
by Toni Randolph, Minnesota Public Radio
December 22, 2006

A year after Americans responded with unprecedented giving to help people devastated by Hurricane Katrina, some of Minnesota's best known charitable organizations say giving is off.

St. Paul, Minn. — The Greater Twin Cities United Way says it is $1.5 million short of its goal this year. If the current pace continues, this will be the first time in four years that the United Way misses its goal. United Way President Lauren Segal says the shortfall in 2001 was a direct result of the terror attacks.

Now, she sees something else."

Congress opens door for philanthropy - Independent Tribune - Concord and Kannapolis

Congress opens door for philanthropy - Independent Tribune - Concord and Kannapolis: "Congress opens door for philanthropy

By Josh McCann
jmccann@independenttribune.com
Friday, December 22, 2006

Older Americans have a new opportunity to share the wealth of their retirement savings with charity.

While that trial run is limited, philanthropic leaders are hopeful Congress will expand it in the future. The Pension Protection Act of 2006, enacted in August, included a provision long sought by philanthropic organizations. The law allows holders of Individual Retirement Accounts who are at least 70 and a half years old to make direct charitable transfers of up to $100,000 per year."

Thursday, December 21, 2006

During the Holiday Season posting will be limited.

AFP ( The Association of Fundraising Professionals) will close at 3 pm on Dec 22nd and reopen on the 27th.
We will then close at 3pm on the 29th and re-open January 2nd. During this time our postings to the blogs will be limited.
We look forward to serving you with our normal level of postings on January 2nd.

Have a great Holiday. We look forward to your continued feedback and thanks for your continued support.

CEO succession planning

CEO succession planning: "Despite acknowledging the importance CEO succession, new research amongst U.S. organisations has found that a remarkable proportion have failed to put succession plans in place, an oversight that is symptomatic of a more widespread failures in talent management and leadership development.

Around half the boards of public, private and nonprofit corporations consider their efforts around CEO succession to be less-than effective and a similar proportion admit they have no succession plan in place."

Boomer phenom even hits charities

Boomer phenom even hits charities: "Boomer phenom even hits charities
Wanting to know where money is spent seen as generational trend by expert
Peter Wilson, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, December 21, 2006

An overwhelming 72 per cent of baby boomers in B.C. want to know exactly where their charitable dollars are going before they hand over their cash, according an Ipsos Reid survey for BMO Harris private banking released Wednesday.

That's only slightly below the national average of 74 per cent -- heavily skewed by an 86-per-cent response rate in Quebec.

However, just five per cent of British Columbians surveyed said that the recent federal elimination of capital gains tax on publicly traded stocks had encouraged them to give more."

onPhilanthropy: Philanthropy and Civil Society: The Clash of Currents

onPhilanthropy: Philanthropy and Civil Society: The Clash of Currents: "Philanthropy and Civil Society: The Clash of Currents
By: Susan Raymond, Ph.D., 12/21/06

There is an irony emerging in philanthropy, and it will grow enormously as wealth changes hands in the coming generational shift in America. It is an irony that is good neither for public policy nor for civil society.

In our nation there are two expressions of public will. The first is at the ballot box. There is, of course, an indirect path from the expression via voting to the ultimate embodiment of public will in public policy. One makes the assumption that a vote for an individual will be expressed in the policies that are enacted. But, as all participants in democracy know, that link can be less a hoop of steel than a fine silken thread. Whether or not public will leads to publicly willed public policy is often hard to tell."

Business Review: Nonprofits tweak strategies for year-end donations

Business Review: Nonprofits tweak strategies for year-end donations: "Nonprofits tweak strategies for year-end donations

Thursday, December 21, 2006

BY MARY LOWE
mlowe@mbizreview.com

Nonprofits are making a last-minute, end-of-the-year push for contributions in the wake of a deepening need for services and a falloff in donations.
By tapping new media, intensifying the use of public service announcements and highlighting community outreach projects, Oakland County nonprofits are seeking to increase their donor bases and demonstrate value to individual and corporate donors.

It's not that giving has stopped, said Laura Covintree, individual giving officer for Lighthouse of Pontiac, which provides emergency assistance and transitional housing for homeless women and children, and low-cost housing for low- and moderate-income families. But companies are opting to host fund-raisers and food drives in lieu of writing a check."

The Right Kind of Giving (News) Suzanne Lindgren

The Right Kind of Giving (News) Suzanne Lindgren: "he Right Kind of Giving
New findings illuminate the connection between generosity, faith, and politics
—By Suzanne Lindgren, Utne.com
December 21, 2006 Issue

As people on all sides of the political spectrum scramble to make their end-of-year donations, liberals may be inspired to give more than ever this year -- in an effort to clear their good name. The progressive reputation for compassion is tarnished in the new book, Who Really Cares: America's Charity Divide: Who Gives, Who Doesn't, and Why It Matters, in which Arthur C. Brooks mines the data to conclude that religious affiliation plays a big part in how much we give. Of course, since religion and political conservatism often go hand in hand, liberals are left looking a little tight-fisted, writes Ben Gose for the Chronicle of Philanthropy."

Kaleidoscope Winter 2006

AFP has a new e-newsletter.

Kaleidoscope Winter 2006: "It takes special effort to examine the differences that exist among us. There are untapped partnerships that can enrich our lives, and there are differences that still wrongly divide us. That is why the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is releasing Kaleidoscope, a quarterly diversity e-newsletter designed to bring to light the differences and similarities of human experience that we so often overlook. As its name implies, Kaleidoscope aims to inspire a vision of inclusiveness and harmony that can be achieved when true differences are respected and false perceptions are forgotten."