The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Is Ben Bernanke the Sector's Newest, and Most Respected, Ally?

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Is Ben Bernanke the Sector's Newest, and Most Respected, Ally?: "But Greenspan’s successor at the helm of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, appears aware and supportive of the role of nonprofits in the U.S. economy and its recovery from the rampaging recession – and he said so recently at a Federal Reserve Bank conference on community development. By keynoting the conference along with Jeffrey Sachs of the Earth Institute, Bernanke sounded like the philosophical opposite of Greenspan and an important voice endorsing the service andpolicy roles of nonprofits. Counting Ben Bernanke as a nonprofit advocate should be headline stuff for the leadership of the nonprofit sector."

Seven-Figure Gift From Detroit Couple Spurs Discussion of African-American Philanthropy | PND | Foundation Center

Seven-Figure Gift From Detroit Couple Spurs Discussion of African-American Philanthropy | PND | Foundation Center: "Seven-Figure Gift From Detroit Couple Spurs Discussion of African-American Philanthropy

A seven-figure gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts from former General Motors group vice president Roy Roberts and his wife, Maureen, has put a spotlight on the relative dearth of high-profile African-American philanthropists, Crain's Detroit Business and the Detroit Free Press report."

Fear And Loathing In The Fundraising Office

Fear And Loathing In The Fundraising Office: "Andrew Watt, FInstF, president and CEO of AFP believes that fundraisers feared talking to boards because of a boards’ unfamiliarity with fundraising in general. “Board members play an important role in fundraising because they are great spokespersons for the charity they serve and they can speak with authority on the impact of the organization,” Watt said via a prepared statement. “However, many board members focus more on the fiscal management and operations aspects of their responsibilities, and it can be challenging for fundraisers to get them involved in raising money.”"

Charity to auction lunch date with Warren Buffett - chicagotribune.com

Charity to auction lunch date with Warren Buffett - chicagotribune.com: "The San Francisco charity GLIDE said on Tuesday it would once again auction off a lunch with the legendary investor to raise funds for its programs, which include meals and healthcare for the poor and homeless. The previous 11 auctions have raised nearly $9 million."

Transparency and Impact: Nonprofit Merit Badges

Transparency and Impact: Nonprofit Merit Badges: "he participants struggled to define 'accountability,' but the discussion seemed to swirl around the concepts of 'transparency' and 'impact.' Naturally, the recent flap over the 60 Minutes expose of Greg Mortensen, author of Three Cups of Tea, sneaked into the discussion, and quite appropriately since the nonprofit that Mortensen founded may have problems with both transparency and impact."

Food Banks: Don’t Bury the Story!

Food Banks: Don’t Bury the Story!: "Food Banks: Don’t Bury the Story!

by Kivi Leroux Miller on May 9, 2011

in Nonprofit Communications,Online Marketing,Reviews,Writing for the Web

I’m in the middle of developing a marketing strategy, including a website revamp, for a local food bank. As part of any strategy process, I like to take a look at what other similar organizations are doing, so I’ve perused the websites of dozens of small food banks across the U.S."

Take Care When Asking Staff and Volunteers to Make a Donation

massnonprofit.org ::: "It’s tempting and convenient to solicit your organization’s staff and volunteers. However, these two critical groups are in very different positions, so they can’t be treated alike in terms of asking for money."

Getting smart about giving - Hindustan Times

Getting smart about giving - Hindustan Times: "Another important dimension of philanthropy today is its increasing professionalisation. Though we still have some way to go in this regard when compared to countries like America, we are making good progress. Bharti Foundation, for instance, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises, is running 242 primary schools and one senior secondary school in rural areas across five states reaching out to over 30,000 under-privileged children. The programme is specifically focused on the girl child."

‘Cautious optimism’ for community foundations | Philanthropy Journal

‘Cautious optimism’ for community foundations | Philanthropy Journal: "While their assets, gifts and grants all grew in 2010 in the wake of the recession, community foundations are walking a fine line between focusing on immediate and long-term needs, a new study says."

Women, Money, and Powerful Giving - Barbara Stanny - Wealth Coach - Forbes

Women, Money, and Powerful Giving - Barbara Stanny - Wealth Coach - Forbes: "I wish more women would do that…talk about giving away money. And I don’t mean to Visa, Starbucks, or Saks. Philanthropy is where the power (and the fun) is. And you don’t have to be a billionaire (or millionaire, for that matter) to participate.

Philanthropy is usually the least thought out, most disorganized part of our financial activities.We know charitable contributions save us taxes."

Philanthropists Bill and Joyce Cummings sign away half their wealth - The Boston Globe

Philanthropists Bill and Joyce Cummings sign away half their wealth - The Boston Globe: "Earlier this month, the Cummingses became the first people in Massachusetts to sign the Giving Pledge, promising to donate at least half of their fortune to charity. The pledge was established last year by Buffett and the Gateses to encourage the super-rich to share their wealth."

Foundations don’t practice what they preach

Foundations don’t practice what they preach: "Philanthropic foundations are like old-fashioned slot machines. They have one arm and are known for their occasional payout.

Although the term “mission-related investing” found its way into the lexicon of philanthropy decades ago, the finance committees of most foundations continue to manage their endowments like investment bankers. Their portfolios give no hint that they are institutions whose purpose is the public benefit. There is a chasm between mission – grantmaking – and investment. The logic of a synergy between the two has yet to take hold."

Ritter Center 'art houses' spring up around Marin again - Marin Independent Journal

Ritter Center 'art houses' spring up around Marin again - Marin Independent Journal: "For the second year, Ritter Center has set up individually decorated 'art houses' around Marin as part of a fundraising effort to help some of the county's most vulnerable homeless residents."

Despite Recession, Global Giving Abounds: The Sixth Annual Index of Global Philanthropy and... -- WASHINGTON, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Despite Recession, Global Giving Abounds: The Sixth Annual Index of Global Philanthropy and... -- WASHINGTON, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --: "WASHINGTON, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Data from the new 2011 Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances, published by Hudson Institute's Center for Global Prosperity (CGP), confirm that for the first full year of the global recession private giving to the developing world has remained remarkably stable.

The 2011 Index will be launched at a May 12th event focusing on the future of global philanthropy."

'Giving Pledge’ Signers Gather for First In-Person Meeting - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

'Giving Pledge’ Signers Gather for First In-Person Meeting - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "May 6, 2011
'Giving Pledge’ Signers Gather for First In-Person Meeting

By Maria Di Mento

The first annual gathering of people who have committed to the Giving Pledge met last night and today at the Miraval Resort, a Tucson resort owned by one of the signers—Steve Case, a philanthropist and a co-founder of America Online, and his wife, Jean."

Michigan man plans 9,300-mile tractor ride for charity | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Michigan man plans 9,300-mile tractor ride for charity | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: "A Michigan man is getting ready for a 9,300-mile tractor ride through 48 states to raise money for charity."

Pottersville train museum on track for summer opening

Pottersville train museum on track for summer opening: "CHESTER -- When Clarke Dunham lost corporate sponsorship in 2008 for his long-running model train exhibit, Railroads on Parade, he was left with years of work, hundreds of detailed model buildings and 2,500 feet of track.

But come July 1, the fruits of his and his crew’s labor are expected to see the light of day, this time in Pottersville."

Growing philanthropy movement bucks consumer-support trend - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Growing philanthropy movement bucks consumer-support trend - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "She is among a growing number of employees in the Pittsburgh region who are influential in their companies' philanthropy, giving time as well as dollars.

This effort stands in contrast to a movement called 'creating shared value,' in which companies do good by helping consumers, rather than giving away shareholders' money for charity."

Ken Burnett - What’s on your wall?

Ken Burnett - What’s on your wall?: "So for many years I’ve advocated that fundraisers should stick up on their walls in large letters a short repertoire of pithy and powerful definitions. Like the definition of sincerity (see below). And the five assumptions of fundraising and the 11 pillars of fundraising wisdom. These last two of course can be found on and downloaded from SOFII. Go there now, please, and stick them on your walls."

Oklahoma’s reputation for charitable giving grows | NewsOK.com

Oklahoma’s reputation for charitable giving grows | NewsOK.com: "In last week’s issue that detailed “America: By the Numbers,” one of the categories was charitable giving. At the top of the list was Oklahoma, whose residents gave on average nearly $1,600 to charity in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available."

Oklahoma’s reputation for charitable giving grows | NewsOK.com

Oklahoma’s reputation for charitable giving grows | NewsOK.com: "In last week’s issue that detailed “America: By the Numbers,” one of the categories was charitable giving. At the top of the list was Oklahoma, whose residents gave on average nearly $1,600 to charity in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available."

The Legacy of the Man Who Named the “Independent Sector” - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

The Legacy of the Man Who Named the “Independent Sector” - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "With the death of Richard Cornuelle last week at the age of 84, America’s “independent sector” has lost one of its most faithful and vigorous champions."

Foundation Center - Press Release - Foundation Funding for U.S. Indigenous Peoples in Decline

Foundation Center - Press Release - Foundation Funding for U.S. Indigenous Peoples in Decline: "Foundation Funding for U.S. Indigenous Peoples in Decline

Minneapolis, MN — May 3, 2011. Over the past decade, U.S. foundation support explicitly benefiting Native Americans declined from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of total foundation giving. According to Foundation Funding for Native American Issues and Peoples, released today by Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) and the Foundation Center, total grant dollars targeting Native Americans dropped 30.8 percent in the latest year, compared to a 12.4 percent overall downturn in foundation giving. Although the number of foundation grants benefiting Native Americans remained far more consistent during much of this period, the number of grants still declined more than 10 percent from 2008 to 2009."

Donor Trends, Motivations and Future of Philanthropy According to Survey : Page 1 of 1 : FundRaising Success

Donor Trends, Motivations and Future of Philanthropy According to Survey : Page 1 of 1 : FundRaising Success: "That's why there are so many studies out there tracking donor activity, giving habits and response channels. Last month, Penelope BurkOpens in a new window, president of Cygnus Applied ResearchOpens in a new window, released the third annual Cygnus Donor Survey, Where Philanthropy is Headed in 2011Opens in a new window."

Schools Find Ayn Rand Can’t Be Shrugged as Donors Build Courses - Bloomberg

Schools Find Ayn Rand Can’t Be Shrugged as Donors Build Courses - Bloomberg: "John Allison, former chairman of bank holding company BB&T Corp. (BBT), admires author Ayn Rand so much that he devised a strategy to spread her laissez-faire principles on U.S. campuses. Allison, working through the BB&T Charitable Foundation, gives schools grants of as much as $2 million if they agree to create a course on capitalism and make Rand’s masterwork, “Atlas Shrugged,” required reading."

Health-Care Fund Raising Recovers, Surveys Show - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Health-Care Fund Raising Recovers, Surveys Show - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Health-Care Fund Raising Recovers, Surveys Show

May 5, 2011, 11:44 am

Two new reports offer glimmers of optimism in fund raising for health-care charities as the economy recovers, according to American Medical News, an arm of the American Medical Association."

Craig Newmark: Google for nonprofits, useful stuff

Craig Newmark: Google for nonprofits, useful stuff: "Hey, folks, the craigconnects team and I recently had the opportunity to talk with the folks over at the Google for Nonprofits program about their latest stuff. Nonprofits should look into this. Here's our interview with Kristen Olsen Cahill, the Product Manager for Google.org"

Ducks break charity food and contributions record for Food for Lane County - Portland Oregon Ducks Football | Examiner.com

Ducks break charity food and contributions record for Food for Lane County - Portland Oregon Ducks Football | Examiner.com:"Attendees were required to 'pay' 3 cans of canned food for entrance into the spring game. In addition, financial donations were accepted throughout the game.

By the time the game had ended, Oregon fans had donated 68,332 pounds of non-perishable food items and $1,248.66 in donations. Oregon's previous record for donations was set in the 2010 spring game, when fans brought in 46,500 pounds of food and $600."

'Three Cups' Controversy Underscores Need for Measurement - World View - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

'Three Cups' Controversy Underscores Need for Measurement - World View - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "The Central Asia Institute, the nonprofit started by Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea, has been criticized for the apparent lack of any evaluation of the work it did and the schools it constructed.

It is unclear how many schools the group built, how many of these buildings are actually used as schools, and whether the schools performed any better than existing schools."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Are Partnerships the New Mergers?

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Are Partnerships the New Mergers?: "So the two agencies have decided to create a “parent holding company” governed by a board of 20 people, ten each from both of the organizations. John Henley, the CEO of Northeast, says, 'The chief benefit [of the measure] is that it will increase the scope and quality of service, and families will have access to both agencies.' No layoffs are planned but some consolidation of offices is planned."