Daniel Grant: Charity Auctions That Don't Penalize Artists

Daniel Grant: Charity Auctions That Don't Penalize Artists: "Like the smart woman who marries Mr. Wrong, artists often find their hearts and minds going in different directions when confronted by some great social need calling for a donation. Charity auctions regularly ask artists to contribute a work of art that can be sold to raise money, and certainly there is satisfaction in doing what one can to help a worthy cause. However, as opposed to art collectors who are entitled to deduct on their tax returns the full market value of any object they might donate, the Internal Revenue Service only permits artists to deduct the cost of the materials used in creating their own artwork that they contribute. The sentiment involved in giving is fine, but the drawbacks -- seeing one's artwork picked up for a fraction of its real value, foregoing any tax benefits, the limited likelihood of a donation furthering one's career or even being singularly publicized -- are enormous, leaving them with the choice of being stupid or stingy."

Golf With Clinton, $100,000 Watches Show Galas Scene Brightens - BusinessWeek

Golf With Clinton, $100,000 Watches Show Galas Scene Brightens - BusinessWeek: "Parrish Museum Director Terrie Sultan noticed the improved fundraising climate at the nonprofit’s Spring Fling event in April, a cocktail party that also matched $84,000 raised last year instead of taking a hit.

“I started to feel that there was a lot more philanthropic energy around that event, and we met our goal,” Sultan said in a phone interview. “I saw a lot of enthusiasm I hadn’t seen in a while.”"

Connection Café: There is a silver lining to 2009

Connection Café: There is a silver lining to 2009

Charity reports lack of donations for Gulf oil spill victims | Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota | WTSP.com 10 Connects

Charity reports lack of donations for Gulf oil spill victims | Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota | WTSP.com 10 Connects

'The Turnaround King' shares tips for troubled nonprofits - The Park Record

'The Turnaround King' shares tips for troubled nonprofits - The Park Record: "Representatives from local nonprofit arts organizations filed into Kingsbury Hall Thursday morning to meet the man with the expertise to ease their financial woes.

Michael Kaiser, the president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., has been dubbed 'the Turnaround King' for his work with struggling art organizations."

Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation announces $100,000 donation in fundraising campaign - AnnArbor.com

Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation announces $100,000 donation in fundraising campaign - AnnArbor.com: "While it's unlikely the foundation will meet its goal, it announced a $100,000 donation from the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop today and said it's working on a $50,000 matching grant. In total, the campaign has raised $300,000 and will wrap up July 31.

“I think we have made a great first foray into major gift fundraising for private funding of public education in Ann Arbor,” Executive Director Wendy Correll said, adding AAPSEF usually brings in about $200,000 annually."

massnonprofit.org ::

massnonprofit.org ::: "Database Available to Help Mass. Nonprofits Build Their Capacity

July 20, 2010 — The Massachusetts Nonprofit Database, an online tool that provides comprehensive information that nonprofits can use to build their capacity, the first of its kind in the state, is now available.

A collaboration of The Boston Foundation and the Urban Institute's National Center for Charitable Statistics, the database is available by clicking here."

massnonprofit.org ::

massnonprofit.org ::: "uly 15, 2010 — A number of Massachusetts nonprofits have turned to special license plates for supplemental revenue, but while the tags can generate a steady source of new funds, organizations need to appeal to a broad audience – and be prepared to market hard."

Texas Man Bowls For Five Days Straight — and For Charity - Tonic

Texas Man Bowls For Five Days Straight — and For Charity - Tonic: "According to ESPN, the 24-year-old resident of Plano, Texas, started bowling last week Monday at the Plano Super Bowl and kept at it, for five days and five hours straight, finishing up on Saturday night, his left arm (apparently) still intact. That broke the record by three hours, even though the record still needs to be officially verified by the people at Guinness, who obviously take this record-breaking stuff pretty seriously. In order to meet the Guinness standards of bowling 'within the spirit of the game' the whole time, Shanabrook bowled about five games per hour. He could take a five-minute break every hour, but tended to skip a few hours' worth of breaks so he could take longer breaks to 'go to the bathroom, eat, do interviews and occasionally sleep.'"

College Inc. - Alumni: We've given enough

College Inc. - Alumni: We've given enough: "Alumni: We've given enough

Young alumni of the nation's top universities are not particularly interested in opening their checkbooks for their alma mater, according to a new survey.

Interviews with alumni from the nation's top 100 universities, as defined by the U.S. News & World Report rankings, found that eight in 10 young alumni -- those under 35 -- feel they have already given enough in tuition payments and don't see the need for further donations."

Church Fundraising: Turn Contribution Statements Into More Donations : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

Church Fundraising: Turn Contribution Statements Into More Donations : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: "t's time to send out quarterly contribution statements. You have a decision to make. Will you choose to simply print a line-item record of people's gifts, or will you use it as an opportunity to communicate the impact those contributions are having?"

Celebs to the rescue when rescue donations falter - TV - Wire - TheState.com

Celebs to the rescue when rescue donations falter - TV - Wire - TheState.com: "Stars walked with strays on the runway, trying to find homes for the animals. The well dressed wore doggy couture made from the latest fabrics created by the interior designers called Patterns for Paws, who hoted the show on behalf of a struggling animal rescue, The Amanda Foundation."

Noprofits urge estate tax at '09 levels - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Noprofits urge estate tax at '09 levels - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "'Permanent repeal of the estate tax could result in the loss of $1 trillion in tax revenue over 10 years,' said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector, a Washington-based organization composed of nonprofit groups, foundations and corporate-giving programs."

Philanthropy and the estate tax - CSMonitor.com

Philanthropy and the estate tax - CSMonitor.com: "When President Obama proposed to cap the value of itemized deductions at 28 percent, the philanthropic sector came out foursquare against the idea, claiming that it would decimate charitable contributions. Cutting the tax savings from gifts to charities for high-income taxpayers would raise the after-tax cost of giving and lead people to give less. For taxpayers in the 35 percent top tax bracket, the cost of giving away a dollar would jump 10 percent from 65 cents to 72 cents (ignoring any state tax savings). That would lead to perhaps a 2 percent drop in giving—about $9 billion."

HeraldNet: Philanthropy gets creative

HeraldNet: Philanthropy gets creative: "Philanthropy gets creative
Two recent items from the 'teach a man to fish and you feed him for lifetime' file caught our attention. We raise our morning beverage in a toast to:"

Amarillo.com | Local News: Head of two charities retiring 07/20/10

Amarillo.com | Local News: Head of two charities retiring 07/20/10: "The leader of two Amarillo charitable foundations commanding almost $156.3 million in combined total assets will retire Dec. 31, ending 21 years of service to the nonprofits.

Jim Allison will leave his post as president and CEO of the Amarillo Area Foundation and its supporting organization, the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation."

Ipsos Mori study reveals people underestimate charity of others - Third Sector

Ipsos Mori study reveals people underestimate charity of others - Third Sector: "Only 15 per cent believe more than half of the population donates each month

Members of the public believe other people give less money to charity than they actually do, according to a poll.

The UK Giving 2009 report by the Charities Aid Foundation and the NCVO said 54 per cent donated to charity each month. But a study by Ipsos Mori says only 15 per cent of people believe that more than half of the population donates to charity each month."

IRS Rules on Charitable Gifts by Credit Card | Planned Giving Design Center

IRS Rules on Charitable Gifts by Credit Card | Planned Giving Design Center: "The IRS has replied to an inquiry regarding the tax deductibility of charitable contributions made via credit card. Such contributions are deductible in the year made regardless of when the donor subsequently repays the creditor. Substantiation requirements apply."

VolunteerSpot : An Insider's View on Volunteering - Summer of Service

VolunteerSpot : An Insider's View on Volunteering - Summer of Service: "hanks for joining us for the seventh installment of our Summer of Service! Each Monday in June and July, we're privileged to be featuring a fantastic guest blogger sharing his or her unique and personal perspective on service, volunteering and citizen philanthropy. Today, please welcome Chris Dumas, the founder of NonprofitWebinars.com, a free resource for nonprofit executives and a seasoned leader in online philanthropy. As part of our Summer of Service campaign, we’ve been curious about what makes people tick when it comes to volunteering. Chris brings us a personal view on what causes him to be active within his community and shares some of his favorite volunteering experiences. Thanks Chris!"

Princeton University should contribute more to its home town | NJ.com

Princeton University should contribute more to its home town | NJ.com: "Five years ago, Princeton agreed to a $1.2 million annual voluntary contribution to the borough. It’s time for the university to pull out a little more from its well-stocked basket.

There is a limit to what Princeton can do, of course. The university’s role, first and foremost, is education and research, not solving the state’s property tax problems. It has taken a hit in this recession, too; it’s endowment lost about 23 percent of its value in 2008-09, prompting cuts in its own budget."

The corporate cash keeps rolling in for Baltimore's Artscape - baltimoresun.com

The corporate cash keeps rolling in for Baltimore's Artscape - baltimoresun.com: "In a time of recession, in a city staring down a $121 million budget deficit, you'd think Sicard would be in a tough position. Trying to raise money at a time like this can't be easy, right?

But Sicard says that he's coming off his best year ever. Artscape 2010 has lined up about 30 corporate sponsors, pledging anywhere from $7,500 to $50,000, for a total of $362,000 — about one-third more than the $270,000 raised for 2009."

Nelson Mandela's 46664 Charity gets $74K for World Cup Soccer Ball sold on eBay

Nelson Mandela's 46664 Charity gets $74K for World Cup Soccer Ball sold on eBay: "uly 16, 2010 -- The World Cup 2010 ball was sold today and it brought thousands of dollars to hundreds of people who are supported by Nelson Mandela's charity . The ball, one that was used in the final match between Spain and the Netherlands, had no other particular markings except it was used on during the game that was seen around the world."

Pittsburgh Foundation's Oliphant ponders nonprofit mergers - Pittsburgh Business Times

Pittsburgh Foundation's Oliphant ponders nonprofit mergers - Pittsburgh Business Times

Salaries of Nonprofit CEO's Expected to Rise in 2011 - Jobs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Salaries of Nonprofit CEO's Expected to Rise in 2011 - Jobs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "At nonprofit groups in the New York metropolitan area, more chief executive officers than other senior staff members took pay cuts in the 2010 fiscal year, according to a new survey of compensation trends by the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York. However, austerity wasn’t universal for top leaders, and signs point to bigger paychecks ahead for more of them in 2011."

Why Aren't Fundraisers Asking for Referrals? Coaching Tips for Not-for-Profit Managers

Why Aren't Fundraisers Asking for Referrals? Coaching Tips for Not-for-Profit Managers: "Why Aren't Fundraisers Asking for Referrals? Coaching Tips for Not-for-Profit Managers

July 2010

OK, it's hypercompetitive out there for the gift, grant, and/or sponsorship. Other organizations are probably scrambling for all the state, federal, corporate, and individual donor opportunities that exist on Planet Earth. Even some of the larger not-for-profit organizations that traditionally have relied on name recognition and brand are actively seeking new donors and funders. Acquiring new qualified donors takes longer than ever."

Online Giving Grew Fast This Spring, 2 Studies Find - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Online Giving Grew Fast This Spring, 2 Studies Find - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "The amount of money that donors contributed online during the months of March, April, and May was up 23 percent compared to the same period in 2009, according to the Blackbaud Index of Online Giving."

Opinion: Charitable Challenge Can Be Met With the Right Resources | The Jewish Exponent

Opinion: Charitable Challenge Can Be Met With the Right Resources | The Jewish Exponent: "Donors across America stepped forward in 2009 to avert a potential crisis in the not-for-profit community and exceeded the wildest expectations of many. At the same time, giving was down slightly, and certain critical needs went unfunded due to a shift in donor priorities, as well as the inability of many nonprofits to make a compelling enough case for their cause. Many organizations in Jewish arenas cut back on staffing and programming, and nearly all delayed transformational construction and renovation."

Malls offer nonprofits rent-free space to avoid empty storefronts - KansasCity.com

Malls offer nonprofits rent-free space to avoid empty storefronts - KansasCity.com: "Nonprofits may not have the buying power that large national retailers have, but in many cases they are willing tenants who can help shopping centers fill spaces during recessions.

For the nonprofit, it's a rare chance to get exposure to the thousands of people who shop at centers like Cameron Village each month.

For the shopping center, it's a chance to do something good for a local charity, and it helps avoid one of the biggest no-nos in retail: an empty space."

Future Fund engages young givers | Philanthropy Journal

Future Fund engages young givers | Philanthropy Journal: "GREENSBORO, N.C. -- As a member of the grantmaking committee of the Future Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Dan Koenig, a lawyer at Connors Morgan Sinozich, learned a lot and made valuable contacts that have benefited his work as a member of the board of directors of Seven Homes, a local nonprofit that places children in foster homes and received a $1,000 grant from the Future Fund in 2009."

Kaleidoscope - Summer 2010

Kaleidoscope - Summer 2010: "Why aren’t there more faces that look like mine? It is a question that I have often asked myself when attending any professional association gathering or visiting colleagues outside of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) circle. Though minority populations are a primary beneficiary of many philanthropic dollars, we are not well-represented in the profession. Considering the growing diversity of the donor landscape and increasing globalization, this has often posed both challenges and opportunities for organizations and for fundraising staffs."