A little book has a big impact on how to run a charity - CSMonitor.com

A little book has a big impact on how to run a charity - CSMonitor.com: While the subject of "Leap of Reason" is "managing to outcomes" – a topic that sounds almost as exciting as "101 uses for duct tape" – the book is, in fact, a bracing call to arms. In an era of tight funding, Morino argues, nonprofits – such as charities and service organizations promoting the public good – need to prove that they are doing what they say they are doing.

Statewide nonprofit association’s goals explained � Local News � The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Statewide nonprofit association’s goals explained � Local News � The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia: LEWISBURG — One of the fastest-growing segments of West Virginia’s economy is the nonprofit sector, which now boasts one out of every 10 jobs in the state — more than twice as many people as the mining industry.

Nonprofits expecting better year - The Washington Post

Nonprofits expecting better year - The Washington Post: According to a canvas of community organizations in the region, nearly half (46 percent) report that their donors have expressed plans to maintain or increase contributions this year, compared with 27 percent last year and only 15 percent in 2009, according to a report released Monday by the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. The group surveyed nonprofits in the District, Northern Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland.

Charity to let county take home saddled with debt

Charity to let county take home saddled with debt: RACINE — Nobody wants the house that Danielle Shakoor grew up in — even for free.

Not LaSalle Bank, which took the house at 1520 Winslow St. in a 2008 foreclosure, then shed it in a sheriff’s sale two years later.

Tax-Exempt Organization Deadline Nears - Forbes

Tax-Exempt Organization Deadline Nears - Forbes: It’s important to remember that loss of tax-exempt status can spell disaster for some organizations: not only does it mean that the organization must file income tax returns and pay tax but perhaps more importantly, it means that donors cannot take tax deductions for contributions. The ability to claim a deduction is often the motivation for individuals to make a charitable donation; without it, many potential donors may go elsewhere (or not give at all). That means it’s crucial to stay compliant.

For most tax-exempt organizations, the key date is May 15. That’s the filing deadline this year for calendar year tax-exempt organizations (otherwise, it’s the 15th day of the fifth month following the close of the tax year).

Jeff Skoll | Stanford Social Innovation Review

Jeff Skoll | Stanford Social Innovation Review: n this interview with Stanford Social Innovation Review Managing Editor Eric Nee, Jeff Skoll discusses how the Skoll Foundation’s work has evolved over the years, what makes Participant Media such a successful movie studio, and why he created the Global Threats Fund.

Eric Nee: When you embarked on philanthropy, did you have any role models or people you turned to for advice?

Jeff Skoll: One of my role models when I

Why Watching CEO Expense Accounts Matters - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Why Watching CEO Expense Accounts Matters - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Why Watching CEO Expense Accounts Matters

Michael Peregrine

The expense accounts of nonprofit chief executives don’t often command much attention among board members, given the many pressing issues a charity’s leaders must deal with every day.

But some of the most embarrassing and damaging scandals erupt over what sometimes seem like small irregularities—$20,000 or $50,000 out of a multimillion- or multibillion-dollar budget. Abusive spending not only raises questions of general accountability but also damages the reputation of the nonprofit and its governing board.

Revolving Doors and Musical Chairs | CNRG

Revolving Doors and Musical Chairs | CNRG: Revolving Doors and Musical Chairs

Have you ever noticed when you read the job postings in the CNRG Digest, that you will often find openings for the same development positions at the same organizations once every year or so? I have.

The other day, I received information that there was an opening at one of the two nonprofit organizations in Portland that I would most like to work for. I admire the mission of the program and the philosophy of the founder. I had met previously with the Development Director in the recent past, so I sent her a message via Linked In, and then I filled out the application, wrote a cover letter to the Director, and faxed my application materials. Moments after I submitted my materials, I got a message back from the Development Director saying that she had left the organization the previous week. She had been with that organization for just over a year.

Massachusetts backs off school bake sale ban - Wire National News - The Sacramento Bee

Massachusetts backs off school bake sale ban - Wire National News - The Sacramento Bee: Massachusetts backs off school bake sale ban

The Players Championship supports nonprofits across North Florida | jacksonville.com

The Players Championship supports nonprofits across North Florida | jacksonville.com: Since 1977, The Players Championship has contributed more than $46 million to Northeast Florida nonprofits that provide health care, youth education and human services.

Legal Aid Societies in South Florida: Swamped with clients, low on funds - OrlandoSentinel.com

Legal Aid Societies in South Florida: Swamped with clients, low on funds - OrlandoSentinel.com: PLANTATION — A cross-section of South Florida's new poor gathers each weekday morning in the lobby of the one place in Broward County where the indigent can get free legal representation, bringing with them a wealth of woes and a little bit of hope.

School bus takes new form in Zambo | Inquirer News

School bus takes new form in Zambo | Inquirer News

The Players Championship supports nonprofits across North Florida | jacksonville.com

The Players Championship supports nonprofits across North Florida | jacksonville.com: Since 1977, The Players Championship has contributed more than $46 million to Northeast Florida nonprofits that provide health care, youth education and human services.

Mass. Bake Sale Ban: Apt Obesity Response or “Nanny State” Overreach? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

Mass. Bake Sale Ban: Apt Obesity Response or “Nanny State” Overreach? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: Bake sales are somewhat de rigueur for small, largely volunteer community or charity organizations, including lots of school-oriented fundraisers. Kid-made cupcakes available for a quarter or half dollar are virtually ubiquitous as a means of generating a little money for school activities, the school band trip, the sports event, or books for the underfunded school library. Tell us when you haven’t come across a school bake sale and perhaps purchased a chocolate chip cookie or two.

In Massachusetts, however, the state is aiming to ban bake sales before, during, and after school as part of an effort to fight youth obesity

UCLA Donor's Heirs Sue Over Plan to Sell Japanese Garden - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

UCLA Donor's Heirs Sue Over Plan to Sell Japanese Garden - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: UCLA Donor’s Heirs Sue Over Plan to Sell Japanese Garden

May 10, 2012, 10:40 am

Heirs of the late philanthropist Hannah Carter have gone to court to block the University of California at Los Angeles from selling a Japanese garden that the university purchased with donated funds, reports the Los Angeles Times.

In a suit filed Monday, the plaintiffs contend the sale breaches a contract in which University of California Board of Regents committed to maintain the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden permanently.

Congressional Hearing to Examine Nonprofit Tax Issues - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Congressional Hearing to Examine Nonprofit Tax Issues - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Congressional Hearing to Examine Nonprofit Tax Issues

May 9, 2012, 9:55 pm

By Suzanne Perry

A Congressional hearing has been scheduled next week to examine various tax issues affecting nonprofits, including Internal Revenue Service oversight of universities and nonprofit hospitals.

Missed signals as Triangle YWCA failed | Philanthropy Journal

Missed signals as Triangle YWCA failed | Philanthropy Journal: The occasion was the 29th annual Academy of Women Awards, an event presented each fall by YWCA of the Greater Triangle to recognize women who have excelled in their fields and supported the agency's mission.

But despite the veneer of success and vitality the event provided, the YWCA was in deep trouble.

What will the Blackbaud-Convio Merger Mean? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.

What will the Blackbaud-Convio Merger Mean? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.: One of the most significant mergers in the realm of nonprofit technology in recent years is now in the books. This week, Blackbaud and Convio began operating as one entity in the wake of a merger in which the former acquired the latter for $325 million. Blackbaud specializes in software and services that increase efficiency for nonprofit organizations, and Convio is “a leading provider of constituent engagement solutions that enable nonprofit organizations to maximize the value of every relationship,” according to its website.

It’s Party Time! | Michael Rosen Says…

It’s Party Time! | Michael Rosen Says…: I’m conflicted about nonprofit special events.

On the one hand, organizations are often fuzzy about the objectives behind a special event. Staff is often not quite sure if the event is to raise money and, if so, how much? Or, is the event to attract media attention? Is it to build new relationships? You get the idea. Also, events require a great deal of effort, often for only a modest monetary return even if the objective was specifically to bring in the dollars.

Managing Young Fundraisers - Resource Center - AFP

Managing Young Fundraisers - Resource Center - AFP: Young people enter the workforce today having earned one or two university degrees, being technologically advanced, and completely at ease in a world that moves incredibly fast. Young workers master the limited requirements of their entry-level positions quickly and soon approach their bosses for more variety in their work and greater responsibility. But, their enthusiasm is sometimes dampened by managers who, ironically, have too much to do and too little time in which to do it themselves. Instead of focusing on the benefits of retaining an eager, motivated and now experienced young staff member, they think about the additional orientation, training and supervision time required to promote this individual and hire his or her replacement.

BC High gets record $12 million from alumnus - Brockton, MA - The Enterprise

BC High gets record $12 million from alumnus - Brockton, MA - The Enterprise: BOSTON —

Boston College High School is getting the sort of gift that schools dream of – $12 million from Class of 1952 alumnus Patrick Cadigan.

It’s the largest single donation in the Roman Catholic college-prep school’s history, as well as the largest ever for a New England Catholic secondary school.

Pat Cuneo: Nonprofits unfairly labeled boogeyman | GoErie.com/Erie Times-News

Pat Cuneo: Nonprofits unfairly labeled boogeyman | GoErie.com/Erie Times-News: As a matter of fact, these nonprofits are paying the wages of workers, who pay the taxes, who make the system work, however fouled up it is. Yes, it needs to be fairer, but labeling nonprofits deadbeats because they have some tax-exempt status (as some people have been doing more and more), is quite the inaccurate reach. The more taxable these agencies become, the more consequences to the economy could result, especially in hiring fewer people.

Is it any wonder that Mercyhurst University officials generated a report that shows its impact on the local economy is $101 million? I'm glad they did. And that's just in dollars and cents.

Fundraisers’ Pay Didn’t Keep Up With Inflation Last Year - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Fundraisers’ Pay Didn’t Keep Up With Inflation Last Year - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: bout 43 percent of fundraisers said they had looked for a new job in the past year, up slightly from 41 percent in 2010 and 37 percent in 2009. Many more fundraisers are thinking about doing so—a total of about six in 10, the survey found—and they said the search for a higher salary was the No. 1 reason.

Fundraisers earned a median of $66,000 in 2011, meaning that half earned more and half less, edging up only slightly from the $65,000 median salary of 2010.

The survey was based on data from more than 2,700 fundraisers provided to the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Nearly 80 percent were women and slightly less than 4 percent were minorities.

The Power of Student Giving and Black College Fundraising Success

The Power of Student Giving and Black College Fundraising Success: Claflin University, a historically Black institution in South Carolina, has joined the ranks of the colleges and universities mentioned above. Not only does the institution have an alumni giving percentage over 40 percent (which mirrors that of much wealthier institutions), but also, through its student giving campaign, it has raised $100,000. This is an amazing contribution on the part of the students, and one that other HBCUs should model. Seemingly, Claflin has long-term intentions of increasing its alumni giving rate and what better way to prepare for that goal than to engage students in the process before they leave campus.

Philanthropy Daily� � Alumni giving: Cold, hard cash preferred

Philanthropy Daily� � Alumni giving: Cold, hard cash preferred: t’s not exactly news that schools have started asking graduating seniors to donate money to show their support for their soon-to-be alma mater, and that they have started to emphasize “participation rates” over the size of the gifts. I graduated 14 years ago and this was already the trend. What the Post article does is show how this is connected to the school’s U.S. News ranking.

Sandy Weill just wants to move on - The Term Sheet: Fortune's deals blog Term Sheet

Sandy Weill just wants to move on - The Term Sheet: Fortune's deals blog Term Sheet: Weill has been focusing most, if not all, of his time on philanthropy – an endeavor he hopes will define his legacy.

On Monday, Weill and his wife, Joan, will be honored at the National Academy Foundation's 30th Anniversary Benefit gala in Manhattan.

Philanthropist Bill Goldring awarded Times-Picayune Loving Cup | NOLA.com

Philanthropist Bill Goldring awarded Times-Picayune Loving Cup | NOLA.com: “Receiving the Loving Cup in Stephen Goldring Hall is especially meaningful to me, and my family,” said Goldring, the chairman of the Sazerac Co., a distilling company that owns and manufactures nearly 200 brands of spirits, and Crescent Crown Distributing Co., a beer wholesaler. The museum’s hall is named for his father.

Florida scores poorly on Senior Hunger Report Card | FLORIDA TODAY | floridatoday.com

Florida scores poorly on Senior Hunger Report Card | FLORIDA TODAY | floridatoday.com: The just-released study placed Florida at No. 9 among the 10 states with the highest percentage of those 60 and older facing the threat of hunger or “food insecurity.”

Florida joins Mississippi, at No. 1, and five other Southern states on the list. Especially vulnerable among the estimated 8.3 million seniors at risk nationwide: senior women.

Donors Can Lose Their Deductions - TheNonProfitTimes

Donors Can Lose Their Deductions - TheNonProfitTimes: Partial interest, incomplete, contingent and gifts to a particular person are all issues that can easily haunt donors when seeking to claim their deduction. “Donors are always trying to control this stuff,” Dryburgh said, adding that their lawyers might not understand the applicable rules and regulations well enough to keep the clients out of trouble. The basic rule to follow is to ensure that a donor conveys the entire interest in the gift to the charity, he said.

Blackbaud and Convio Now Operating As One - TheNonProfitTimes

Blackbaud and Convio Now Operating As One - TheNonProfitTimes: Thirteen years after its founding and just two years after going public, Convio is no longer its own company. The Austin, Texas-based fundraising technology firm is now officially a wholly owned subsidiary of its longtime competitor, Blackbau