Daily Herald | Day of Giving great way to battle apathy in troubled times

Daily Herald | Day of Giving great way to battle apathy in troubled times: "bring this up now because Giving DuPage, a group the Daily Herald has long helped sponsor, is gearing up for its upcoming 'DuPage Remembers and Gives ... A Day of Volunteerism.'"

email : Webview

From Network for Good

email : Webview: "The Number One Reason Donors Stop Giving

Pop quiz! (Don't panic--you won't be graded on this.) What is the number one reason donors become 'one-time' instead of 'recurring'?

*Jeopardy music begins to play... One-two on the timpani...* And, time's up!"

Here for the first time?

We welcome you to our blogs if you are here for the first time or a regular visitor/subscriber. This week we are posting from Maine.
Please feel free to leave us comments and feedback.

GoErie.com: Nonprofits welcome 'good' stress

GoErie.com: Nonprofits welcome 'good' stress: "Those are the kinds of decisions that nonprofit boards in the Erie area have to face, as they make plans for the money they have received from the Erie Community Foundation, courtesy of the anonymous donor who gave the foundation $100 million to distribute.

We cannot presume to give advice to the 46 agencies, educational institutions, religious groups and other recipients about how to spend this new money. The donor expressed hope that the beneficiaries create endowments for their agencies through the Community Foundation. Endowments can help provide a sense of security that resources will be available as a safety net or to help an agency grow physically or expand its services"

GilroyDispatch.com | Garlic Festival defies slow economy

GilroyDispatch.com | Garlic Festival defies slow economy: "There's no such thing as a recession when it comes to garlic.

The 30th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival took in $1.72 million this year, up from $1.6 million the year before, according to the festival's outgoing president, Ed Struzik.

'It's definitely a pleasant surprise given the economy,' Struzik said Wednesday morning."

KCTCS leads U.S. community college systems in charitable contributions - Business First of Louisville:

KCTCS leads U.S. community college systems in charitable contributions - Business First of Louisville:: "Kentucky Community and Technical College System led all U.S. community college systems in charitable contributions in 2007, with more than $13.6 million.

The survey of 1,023 institutions was released by the Council for Aid to Education, a New York City-based nonprofit that conducts policy research and promotes higher education reform."

Fund-Raising Lessons: Conducting Research on Donors and the Global Changes in Philanthropy - Philanthropy.com

Fund-Raising Lessons: Conducting Research on Donors and the Global Changes in Philanthropy - Philanthropy.com: "Fund raising is becoming a global profession, but it is held to widely
varying standards throughout the world, Andrew Watt, chief program
officer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, tells us in a
lecture today.

Mr. Watt says he has “two, three contacts per week” from fund raisers
interested in working overseas."

AFP of Northern New England

AFP of Northern New England: "The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Northern New England provides ethical expertise and guidance to practitioners of philanthropy through education, training, mentoring, networking and advocacy. We represent fundraising professionals from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont who are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism."

Tony's Donuts are Legendary

Made a quick stop at Tony's today
Tony's Donuts are Legendary: "Credit snowbird John Frye as the inspiration for the latest Three-Minute Maine video, 'Tony's Donuts,' published on downeast.com. Whenever Frye returns to Maine he visits Tony's Donuts in Portland to purchase dozens of molasses doughnuts."

Walking in memory of a friend | coshoctontribune.com | Coshocton Tribune

Walking in memory of a friend | coshoctontribune.com | Coshocton Tribune: "Stevenson, who was born in Columbus, made a special stop in Coshocton on Monday on his current 13,000-mile trek from Seattle to New York to raise awareness for Huntington's Disease to do a memory walk for Coshocton resident Regis Shivers."

Charity alone won't solve hunger crisis

Charity alone won't solve hunger crisis: "The generous people who run Maine's food pantries and soup kitchens say they're seeing far too many new faces these days.

Those faces belong to hungry people. They're families and individuals who, at a time of high energy and food prices, can no longer make ends meet. And while food pantries will hold their doors open to almost anyone who shows up, their ability to fill the growing need for food in Maine is being severely tested."

Maine and Special Events

On Sunday we attended a portion of a the local fire department fundraiser which was a Yard Sale, Silent Auction and Live Auction. These are my daughters in front of one of their fire trucks.

You can read more about Special Events via our FAQ Blog

The NonProfit Times "Points of Light Refunds Continue

From the Nonprofit Times
The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Points of Light Refunds Continue

By Mark Hrywna
Some 1,200 customers are expected to receive refunds or have their travel plans fulfilled by the time the Points of Light Institute completes the process sometime in the next month. Another round of refunds went out last week and the Points of Light Institute hopes to complete it by Labor Day.

The Points of Light Institute closed its eStore early last month to investigate “significant financial and operational irregularities.” Initially, more than 1,000 affected customers were contacted in early July. An independent contractor, who had been handling the business since 2003, was terminated by Points of Light, which also contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Washington, D.C. The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined comment."

E-Quality Matters

E-Quality Matters: "Information, Choice, and our 2008 Grants

We are posting some Maine Philanthropy related stories as I am in Maine this week.
You can also use the tagging to see some historical Maine stories

My pediatrician said a funny thing the other day. I can't remember what new baby strategy we were talking about, but he suggested that if it didn't work immediately, that I should try again in a few days. Immediately, that old adage came to mind: The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again, expecting different results."

Asian Philanthropy Forum: $3 million challenge grant from Vietnamese American philanthropist

The image above is a giant globe called Eartha at theDelorme Map Store in Freeport Maine. which we visited with our kids.

Here is a International Philanthropy story.

Asian Philanthropy Forum: $3 million challenge grant from Vietnamese American philanthropist: "In May, Doan L. Phung, a 68-year old Vietnamese-American philanthropist, gave a keynote speech at the fourth annual Asian Pacific Philanthropy Consortium (APPC) conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. The theme of the conference was 'Diaspora Giving: An Agent of Social Change?' and Mr. Phung spoke about his reasons for giving back to Vietnam. At the end of his speech, Mr. Phung announced a $3 million USD challenge grant to the Vietnamese-American NGO"

'Donor fatigue': Nonprofits forced to work harder for funds

'Donor fatigue': Nonprofits forced to work harder for funds: "PORTSMOUTH — The rising number of nonprofit organizations and decreasing amount of charitable giving has some groups worried about how to maintain the social services they provide.

'I think what we're seeing on a national basis, and it applies locally, is donor fatigue,' said Mike Scarpone, executive director of Rockingham Community Action. 'There are a lot of organizations out there going after charitable dollars ... and with economic times being what they are, people have begun to scale back.'"

Morning in Maine with the Lab.

Thie week I will be posting from Maine.

Online Discussion Next Week: Becoming a Consultant - Philanthropy.com

An interesting upcoming chat from the Chronicle
Online Discussion Next Week: Becoming a Consultant - Philanthropy.com: "Online Discussion Next Week: Becoming a Consultant

Join us on August 12 at noon Eastern time for an online discussion exploring the pros and cons of becoming a consultant to nonprofit organizations."

From the Field » Blog Archive » Volunteers Blossom at the Maine State Museum

From the Field » Blog Archive » Volunteers Blossom at the Maine State Museum: "I don’t know how many times I have heard from our volunteers, “thanks for letting me be here.” I am astonished and humbled whenever I hear that. But these people really mean it. They feel privileged to be a part of this institution. They learn and grow and stretch their abilities in ways they never thought of doing before. They help people enjoy a visit, they make an artifact clean and ready for display, or they put a disorganized collection into order and feel so good as a result."

Fundraising Effectiveness Project - have you done it? - The User's Edge

Fundraising Effectiveness Project - have you done it? - The User's Edge: "Fundraising Effectiveness Project - have you done it?

When I first learned about the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), I thought it was a wonderful idea. For those of you who haven’t heard of the FEP, it is a project organized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals aimed at helping nonprofits assess their current fundraising efforts, identifying areas where they can improve and ultimately increasing their giving level."

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 08/06/2008 | Charities find new ways to ask for your money

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 08/06/2008 | Charities find new ways to ask for your money: "WASHINGTON — U.S. charities, which took in a reported $306 billion last year, hope that new strategies for finding and pressing donors will help them keep up the pace in hard economic times."

A New Eastern Exposure For Fundraisers

A New Eastern Exposure For Fundraisers: "Expatriates from Israel and several Western countries, usually successful businesspeople and high-tech specialists, are moving to places like China, India and Singapore in increasing numbers. In the region, whose total Jewish population numbers about 10,000 (China’s is by far the largest), members of the community are establishing a network of religious and cultural organizations there, and supporting Jewish causes back home, especially in Israel."

New Jersey non-profits: an economic force - Center for Non-Profit Corporations - Helping Hands - NJ.com

New Jersey non-profits: an economic force - Center for Non-Profit Corporations - Helping Hands - NJ.com: "New Jersey's nonprofit organizations touch our daily lives in countless ways: through assisting and caring for our most vulnerable people; promotion of dialogue and public discourse; protection of our natural resources; artistic and cultural enrichment; spiritual and religious fulfillment; education and mentoring of youth and adults; assembly for social change; and many other vital services to people from infancy to senior years."

Many banks maintain level of charitable giving to nonprofits despite sour economy

Many banks maintain level of charitable giving to nonprofits despite sour economy: "n recent months, newspapers awash with stories of suffering banks have caused some to wonder whether nonprofits that benefit from bank donations will feel the burn too."

MPR: Arts organizations adjust to new Bush priorities

MPR: Arts organizations adjust to new Bush priorities: "Arts organizations adjust to new Bush priorities
July 31, 2008

When St. Paul's Bush Foundation announced this week that it would change the way it channeled the $40 million a year it gives away in philanthropic support, the news sent ripples of concern throughout the state's non-profit community."

Dublin students complete charity cycle to Beijing - Ireland, Breaking News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Dublin students complete charity cycle to Beijing - Ireland, Breaking News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk: "Three Dublin students have successfully completed a charity cycle from Ireland to China in time for the Olympic Games."

Nonprofit’s executive is charitable, but no softie - Washington Business Journal:

Nonprofit’s executive is charitable, but no softie - Washington Business Journal:: "When Mary Funke walked into N Street Village nearly five years ago to be the new executive director, she wasn’t coming in to be nice. She was there to make changes."

MinnPost - Stressed art museum seeks St. Paul largesse

MinnPost - Stressed art museum seeks St. Paul largesse: "Memo to St. Paul boosters: If you want to keep the city's only art museum, you'd better get out your wallets.

The Minnesota Museum of American Art is looking at another move, a leadership change and recurring deficits, a triple whammy of organizational stress. Its reserves have dropped 40 percent in four years, from more than $2.9 million in mid-2003 to less than $1.8 million in mid-2007, according to nonprofit tax returns on the Minnesota Attorney General's website."

FOXNews.com - Hollywood Foreign Press Cuts Charitable Donations, Blames Writers Guild - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

FOXNews.com - Hollywood Foreign Press Cuts Charitable Donations, Blames Writers Guild - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment: "Last week the Foreign Press — composed of about 80 members, some of whom aren’t foreign and many of whom aren’t press — gave out its annual donations. In 2007, for example, they gave out $1,125,800.

This year, though, the number was cut to $750,000. The reason? The HFPA says it was because they lost that $6 million fee. In other words, as I predicted, the Golden Globes are blaming the writers for cutting their donations."

Driving blind to raise money for charity centre - Birmingham Post

Driving blind to raise money for charity centre - Birmingham Post: "But the event, which raised £5,000 on Sunday, also sought to raise public awareness about how being blind can leave individuals feeling isolated and vulnerable.

In order to do this, drivers with 20:20 vision were asked to don black-out goggles and to rely only on the instructor’s voice as they drove two laps around RAF Cosford."