Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Board's Give Or Get More Expensive Now

More than half of nonprofits now require board members to make an annual contribution, with a major share of large ones setting a minimum of $5,000.

That finding, in the new edition of National Board Governance Survey for Not-for-Profit Organizations conducted by the accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP, comes against a backdrop of more and more nonprofits reshaping board of directors practices and policies to fit the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Just as more public companies expect their directors own stock, nonprofits expect an investment as well."

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Charity draws fire for paying generals - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times

Charity draws fire for paying generals - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times: "Retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks was paid $100,000 — out of donations made to wounded veterans — for allowing his name to be used on fundraising appeals by a charity that has come under increasing scrutiny for the way it handles its money.

Lawmakers questioned the ethics of the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation not only for using donors’ money to pay Franks, but for failing to disclose to potential donors who received the mail solicitations that Franks was paid for his endorsement."

Vindy.com News – Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana Ohio - Training promotes diversity on boards

Vindy.com News – Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana Ohio - Training promotes diversity on boards: "Volunteer Services Agency, in partnership with leaders from the business and nonprofit community, is offering Project Blueprint, a training program designed to promote diversity on nonprofit boards and committees in the Mahoning Valley."

Should a charity’s fundraiser get commission on donations? - Today's Paper > Local News | Bakersfield.com - Kern County news, events, shopping & searc

Should a charity’s fundraiser get commission on donations? - events, shopping & search: "Clark also gets a hefty cut — 10 or 20 percent of the donation, depending on whether he did all or just most of the work. He made $408,767 over the last two years. In 2005-06, his income was 6 percent of the money the mission pulled in from the public.

That commission structure is unusual in fundraising. In fact, the Association of Fundraising Professionals calls it unethical."

Friday, January 18, 2008

$25 Million Begins Google's Charity - washingtonpost.com

More Coverage of Google's Charity. This time from Washington Post.

$25 Million Begins Google's Charity - washingtonpost.com: "riday, January 18, 2008; Page D02

Google yesterday laid out its plan for philanthropy and announced $25 million in grants aimed at addressing climate change as well as poverty and health issues in developing countries.

The initial grants begin to fulfill a pledge made four years ago by Google's founders to devote about 1 percent of the company's equity and annual profit to humanitarian causes. Google.org, the philanthropic arm formed in 2006, expects to give away as much as $175 million over the next few years."

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Leesburg Today - The Journal of Loudoun County - Loudoun Red Cross Executive Ready To Turn Local Chapter Around

Leesburg Today - The Journal of Loudoun County - Loudoun Red Cross Executive Ready To Turn Local Chapter Around: "'I received a knock on my door,' she said. 'It was the Red Cross. They said they were just checking on everybody. It was such a comforting feeling. Whenever I think of the Red Cross I think of the symbol I saw that morning. I thought, 'wow-this is the kind of thing I want to do next.' Being the one to make sure that happens in our community is important to me.'

To Birkenstock, 32, it became the next step in her career. Birkenstock accepted a position with Loudoun County's Red Cross in November.

Prior to her position with the New York City Fire Department, Birkenstock led development efforts at the International Association of Fire Chiefs in Fairfax for three years. She also worked as an executive with the Boy Scouts of American in Washington, DC and Indianapolis, IN, her hometown.

Though she has English and Russian double major bachelors degrees from DePauw University, she believes her experience studying at Georgetown University's Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate Program will assist her most in her newest endeavors-to get the Loudoun Red Cross chapter's expenses and revenues in line and set some realistic goals for the new year."

Google starts living up to a pledge - International Herald Tribune

Google starts living up to a pledge - International Herald Tribune: "Google said Thursday that it had come up with a plan that began to fulfill the pledge it made to investors when it went public nearly four years ago to reserve 1 percent of its profit and equity to 'make the world a better place.'

The philanthropy the company has set up - Google.org, or DotOrg as Googlers call it - will spend as much as $175 million"

Doctor's $1 million gift gets name on Scripps site

Doctor's $1 million gift gets name on Scripps site: "The Scripps Research Institute will name the foyer of one of its three taxpayer-financed lab buildings for Ivax founder Dr. Phil Frost, after the Miami physician-entrepreneur and his wife pledged $1 million to support research.

The Frost name will appear in the entry of Scripps' drug discovery building, one of three structures now rising quickly in Jupiter's Abacoa development."

Monday, January 14, 2008

Nonprofit Employees Boost Their Retirement Savings - Alpha Consumer (usnews.com)

Nonprofit Employees Boost Their Retirement Savings - Alpha Consumer (usnews.com): "t's a question that often comes up when I get together with friends who work for nonprofits: Do they sacrifice money for their idealism? Most nonprofits are dedicated to improving the world in some way, but many people who work for them say they could earn more if they defected to the for-profit world. So how much, if anything, are they sacrificing for their career choice?

A new study from Fidelity Investments answers part of that question: At least in the ways they save for retirement, nonprofit workers seem a bit more conservative than their for-profit counterparts—but may have less money to work with. 'They tend to put away, in terms of deferral rates, a little bit more than corporate employees. However, their average balance is less than on the corporate side,' says John Begley, executive vice president of Fidelity Investments."

Traverse City Record-Eagle - Giving where it counts: Survey studies women philanthropists

Traverse City Record-Eagle - Giving where it counts: Survey studies women philanthropists: "Giving where it counts: Survey studies women philanthropists

BY CYMBRE FOSTER
Special to the Record-Eagle

Philanthropists are often thought of as wealthy men who donate large sums of money.

But philanthropy can mean much more, especially to the ever-increasing number of women who are donating their time and money to charitable causes.

The Falconer Group, a family wealth advisory firm in Traverse City, recently released the results of a national survey focusing on the philanthropy of Baby Boomer women born between 1945 and 1960 and Gen X women born between 1961 and 1980."

William Barron Hilton Tops The Chronicle's Philanthropy 50 List of the Most-Generous Donors of 2007 - Philanthropy.com

From the Chronicle-Top 50 Donors

William Barron Hilton Tops The Chronicle's Philanthropy 50 List of the Most-Generous Donors of 2007 - Philanthropy.com: "William Barron Hilton Tops The Chronicle's Philanthropy 50 List of the Most-Generous Donors of 2007

By Maria Di Mento and Nicole Lewis

Twenty donors made gifts of $100-million or more last year, just shy of a record of 21 such gifts in 2006, according to The Chronicle’s annual ranking of the 50 most-generous Americans."

Friday, January 11, 2008

www.kansascity.com | 01/10/2008 | AS I SEE IT: Increase homegrown leadership for nonprofits

www.kansascity.com | 01/10/2008 | AS I SEE IT: Increase homegrown leadership for nonprofits: "Bartle’s solution? A rigorous, college-based program to train and certify future nonprofit sector leaders, connect them to jobs at organizations in need of talent, and help launch meaningful careers of public service."

Editorial: Defining roles, responsibilities | Hutchinson Leader

Editorial: Defining roles, responsibilities | Hutchinson Leader: "The focus will be Policy Governance, a registered and trademarked term that defines a set of concepts and principles by which a governing board carries out its activities. The person credited with creating it is John Carver, who has written more than 200 articles and six books on the subject, including “Boards that Make a Difference” and “Reinventing Your Board.”"

SunHerald.com : Bayer Corporation Renames Its U.S. Foundation, Refocuses Charitable Giving Areas

SunHerald.com : Bayer Corporation Renames Its U.S. Foundation, Refocuses Charitable Giving Areas: "PITTSBURGH, Jan. 10 --
Bayer Corporation announced today it has changed the name of its corporate philanthropic arm to Bayer USA Foundation (from Bayer Foundation) and, under the new name, refocused one of the Foundation's four strategic giving areas, while maintaining the other three."

The NonProfit Times - One Third Of Donors Skip Giving In Some Years

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "One Third Of Donors Skip Giving In Some Years

Roughly six in 10 U.S. households contribute to charity routinely, according new findings from the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study (COPPS) at Indiana University.

The ongoing survey asked the same 8,000 families about their charitable gifts made in 2000, 2002 and 2004. While the total percentage of households that gave was similar in all three years (67 to 69 percent), it was not always the same households. The study found that a fairly large proportion of all U.S. households -- nearly one third -- shift between donating and not donating."

'06 charitable grants exceed $400 million in Colorado : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News

'06 charitable grants exceed $400 million in Colorado : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News: "Charitable grants from Colorado-based groups topped $400 million in 2006, a gain of more than 50 percent from a giving study conducted two years earlier.

Foundations and organizations such as United Way donated more than $412 million to nonprofits throughout the state, up from $272 million the last time grants were measured in 2004, according to the Colorado Association of Funders."

DailyProgress.com | Santa Fund collects record $129,090.71

DailyProgress.com | Santa Fund collects record $129,090.71: "Charlottesville-area residents and businesses were more generous than ever during the holiday season.

Donors contributed a record-breaking amount to the Santa Fund,"

Is Direct Mail Dead? - Philanthropy.com

Via The Chronicle
Is Direct Mail Dead? - Philanthropy.com: "January 11, 2008
Is Direct Mail Dead?

A new report on the fund-raising performance of nonprofit groups shows that charities are not earning as much money through direct-mail appeals as they have in years past.

And news of that report — by the Boston consulting company Target Analysis Group — has prompted many writers to urge nonprofit groups to take steps to adapt to changing trends."

Hampden couple's $1.5M to bolster innovators at UM

Hampden couple's $1.5M to bolster innovators at UM: "ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine marked a significant milestone in its capital campaign Thursday with a $1.5 million gift from a well-known Hampden couple."

Thursday, January 10, 2008

newsobserver.com | Universities consider naming rights

newsobserver.com | Universities consider naming rights: "But for the right amount of money, they might bend the rules from here on out.

So in addition to old-school philanthropy, many are taking a close look at the kind of deals that have made corporate naming rights a staple of professional sports.

No one is about to slap the name of a bottled water company across the Old Well at UNC-Chapel Hill. But local universities are seeing the kind of money typically offered for 'termed contracts' at arenas and stadiums. Many would like a piece of that pie."

Quad-Cities Online

Quad-Cities Online: "Students at Augustana College in Rock Island are eagerly anticipating this coming Saturday, Jan. 12, and their fifth annual Augustana College Dance Marathon.

Dance Marathon is the largest philanthropic event on the Augustana College campus. Students have raised over $43,000 in the past four years to benefit University of Iowa Children's Hospital through Children's Miracle Network. This year, students involved with Dance Marathon are hoping to raise more than $20,000 for this pediatric center of excellence."

The Ithaca Journal - www.theithacajournal.com - Ithaca, NY

The Ithaca Journal - www.theithacajournal.com - Ithaca, NY: "Culture, museums serve people from all walks of life
Frank Robinson / Guest Column

In his op-ed essay, “Tax breaks may not encourage charitable giving” (Dec. 31), Daniel Grant maintains that the current system of tax deductions for gifts to cultural institutions does not benefit society in general or encourage further gifts, and “imposes the desires of the rich” on those institutions and on society."

PNNOnline

PNNOnline: "As Anonymous Gifts Increase, Pressure to Reveal Donors Grows
Date Thursday, January 10 @ 05:25:51
Topic General Fundraising


Anonymous giving to U.S. charities by major donors is increasing while nonprofits find themselves under increased pressure to disclose benefactors' names, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Last year, there were thirty-seven gifts of at least $5 million by donors who refused to have their names publicly announced, according to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. That figure is up from twenty-seven anonymous gifts in 2006 and thirteen in 2004. Publicity-shy donors say they choose to donate anonymously to give back to their communities while avoiding the headaches of a high public profile, such as pushy fundraisers, jealous relatives with less charitable plans for the money, and even risks to their personal safety and that of their families. Some give without fanfare for religious reasons, regarding anonymous gifts as a more sincere or even higher form of giving."

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Amarillo.com | Opinion: Column - Roger Remling: Charities fighting uphill battle 01/09/08

Amarillo.com | Opinion: Column - Roger Remling: Charities fighting uphill battle 01/09/08: "Certainly our local United Way of Amarillo and Canyon is doing just that. The donors and volunteers should be commended for their efforts this year, as I expect reaching the $5 million mark was not an easy task. Still, the need is great as we can see, when organizations like the Maverick Club cut back on services that have been a part of their legacy for years.

One can certainly see the challenge for non-profits in light of the many forecasts for an economic slowdown. People are less likely to give when there is less financial certainty in their own lives.

Hopefully we won't see a drop in 2008 like charities saw in 2001 when aggregate donations dropped 4 percent across the board."

Change helps nonprofits stay accountable, viable | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

Change helps nonprofits stay accountable, viable | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA: "More significant change is that which has occurred in the nonprofit sector over the past 10 years or so. In my mother’s day, nonprofit board members (and she was one) gathered regularly, often in mid-mornings with coffee and cookies, to discuss the good works their organization was doing and to plan events or other fundraising activities.

Fast-forward to today, and board agendas are filled – or should be – with in-depth financial reports, strategic planning, assuring compliance with growing regulations, and, yes, working on fundraising.

The sheer numbers have something to do with this difference. Talk about change. In 1993 there were 13,002 nonprofits identified by the IRS as tax-exempt. In 2007 there were 24,007. That’s nearly double in just 14 years. In the past year, the Secretary of State’s Office reported recording new nonprofits in Washington at the rate of 13.2 a day."

San Jose Mercury News - Editorial: Gates' philanthropy deserves emulation

San Jose Mercury News - Editorial: Gates' philanthropy deserves emulation: "As Gates moves into Act Two of his career, he's carrying out his philanthropic calling with sweeping goals and steadfast determination. He serves as an inspiration to other individuals - and companies - with business fortunes that could be channeled into saving lives, improving health and education or other good works. Silicon Valley executives (take note, people in Cupertino, Mountain View and Redwood Shores) should follow Gates' example.

Gates' philanthropy already has made a difference on a scale that dwarfs Andrew Carnegie or John D. Rockefeller. The Gates foundation, with $37.6 billion in assets, has donated $14 billion since 2000. Its mission is ramping up even more, after investor Warren E. Buffett in 2006 pledged more than $30 billion of his wealth to the Gates' philanthropy. That means the foundation by 2009 will double its annual giving, to an awe-inspiring $3 billion-plus a year, comparable to last year's revenue for Adobe Systems."

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Direct-Mail Appeals Suffer, New Survey Finds - Philanthropy.com

Direct-Mail Appeals Suffer, New Survey Finds - Philanthropy.com: "Direct-Mail Appeals Suffer, New Survey Finds

By Holly Hall

Charities’ direct-marketing appeals are not raising as much money as they have in years past, and charities are losing more donors and attracting fewer new supporters, according to a new survey.

The quarterly survey, conducted by Target Analysis Group, a Boston consulting company, is based on more than 70 million donations of less than $5,000 apiece made by 39 million donors, mostly in response to the direct-mail solicitations of large nonprofit organizations. The 72 organizations in the survey represent a range of causes, including animal welfare, environmental, health, social service, international relief, and advocacy groups."

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source: "When I come in in the morning, my biggest nightmare since I've been here has been Meals on Wheels,' Sherri Napier, Senior Center director, said.

Napier said Monday that the center runs nine daily routes. Volunteer drivers cover seven of the routes, which range from 10 to 37 meals each to be delivered. Two trucks, driven by employees, deliver about 90 meals a day.

'You've got to get in first thing in the morning and make sure all your volunteers are going to show up, and if they don't, you have to plan and plan and plan because the meals are going to start going out,' Napier said. 'You can't leave hungry people out there.'"

Heifer wins highest architecture honor

Heifer wins highest architecture honor: "Heifer International’s headquarters received the American Institute of Architects’ highest honor Monday for its ecologically minded design as the organization prepares to break ground for an expansion."

Monday, January 07, 2008

Seminary bequeathed $6.1 million, its largest gift - NJ.com

Seminary bequeathed $6.1 million, its largest gift - NJ.com: "BETHLEHEM | The estate of a man whose ancestors were the first Moravian settlers in the region has donated $6.1 million to Moravian Theological Seminary, the seminary announced Friday.

The donation from the late Charles D. Couch marks the largest single gift in the seminary's history and the second major contribution it has received in the past year."