Boston Foundation to Give $10M to Nonprofits Over Four Years

massnonprofit.org :::

July 23, 2013 — Reflecting its community developer role, the Boston Foundation last week announced that over the next four years it will grant $10 million to nonprofits located along the Fairmount Corridor, a nine-mile stretch of neighborhoods along the MBTA’s Fairmount rail line, to support housing, jobs, and cultural organizations.

How To Talk About Fundraising Costs | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits

How To Talk About Fundraising Costs | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits: ike it or not, far too many folks judge a charity by its cost of fundraising and ‘overhead’.

From regulators to the media, from charity watchdogs to far too many nonprofit boards — and even some fundraisers themselves — the false metric of ‘cost of fundraising’ has created a big mess of misunderstanding.

Fortunately, the industry is waking up and finally seems motivated to deal with the issue.

Firings At 92nd Street Y Include CEO | The NonProfit Times

Firings At 92nd Street Y Include CEO | The NonProfit Times: our employees are out at the 92nd Street Y – including Executive Director Sol Adler – after an internal investigation revealed an alleged kickback scheme as well as an undisclosed personal relationship by its longtime chief executive.

The organization is not affiliated with the YMCA but rather the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA). It’s a member of the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America and an agency of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation.

Charities Struggle to Fill Teams for Returning N.Y. Marathon - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Struggle to Fill Teams for Returning N.Y. Marathon - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofit groups that use the New York City Marathon to raise money are finding themselves critically short of runners as the October event approaches, in part because of last year’s Hurricane Sandy-related cancellation of the race, according to The Wall Street Journal.

University of Colorado reports record $258.8 million in private donations in past fiscal year

University of Colorado reports record $258.8 million in private donations in past fiscal year: BOULDER, Colorado — The University of Colorado says it raised a record $258.8 million during the past fiscal year, which is up 13 percent from the previous record set a year ago.

Presidents point the light on volunteerism - The Washington Post

Presidents point the light on volunteerism - The Washington Post: There are many causes that can unify even the deepest philosophical and political divides. Last week, at the White House, it was the spirit of community service. President Obama, former President George H. W. Bush and their families held a ceremony to award a couple from Iowa with the 5,000th Daily Points of Light Award for their efforts to combat world hunger.

Nantucket nonprofits try to make the most in short fundraising season | CapeCodOnline.com

Nantucket nonprofits try to make the most in short fundraising season | CapeCodOnline.com: For Nantucket's small army of nonprofit organizations, the annual fundraising season is short, the competition is intense, and the ability to stand out from the crowd is increasingly difficult.

There are now more than 100 nonprofit organizations based on Nantucket or actively fundraising on the island. The list of important institutions with worthy missions is long, and when summer arrives, their fundraising efforts kick into high gear.

What can schools sell instead of candy? Trash bags - Houston Chronicle

What can schools sell instead of candy? Trash bags - Houston Chronicle: Some schools have done away with catalog sales altogether, instead asking parents to make direct donations. Alison Oleson, former president of the Sleepy Hollow PTA in Falls Church, Va., said with both parents working in so many families, people just don't have time "to go out and get their kids to sell things. And schools can't get the volunteers to sit there and sort the wrapping paper and candy when it comes in."

Another reason to drop catalog sales is that schools only keep a portion of what they sell — 42 percent on average, according to the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers. A letter to Sleepy Hollow parents explaining the switch noted that "the exciting part of this fundraising program is that 100 percent of your donation goes to support PTA programs (not 50 percent, as before) and it is tax deductible!"

Growing Southern Minnesota’s philanthropic resources - Le Sueur MN: Opinion

Growing Southern Minnesota’s philanthropic resources - Le Sueur MN: Opinion: Local philanthropy is nothing new. In fact, it has always been a key factor in building a quality of life in our communities.

That is because people like to donate to the places and causes that they feel strongly about. Here at Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we are passionate about local philanthropy. We are proud that 100 percent of SMIF’s board and staff are also donors to our Foundation, demonstrating their support for our mission.

An Interview with Jean Case on the 2013 Millennial Impact Report - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

An Interview with Jean Case on the 2013 Millennial Impact Report - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The Case Foundation just released their 2013 Millennial Impact Report. I had the chance to speak with Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation, and she discussed the encouraging data this report reveals on the Millennial Generation. In a media world that often portrays millennials in a negative light as “technology obsessed” and uninterested in face-time, it was uplifting to speak with Jean and hear how millennials are becoming increasingly more connected to nonprofits and giving, as well as the great potential the nonprofit sector has to tap into this age group.



Aine Creedon: Hi, Jean! It’s nice to meet you over the phone.

Great Daffodil Appeal raises record �7m

Great Daffodil Appeal raises record �7m: Marie Curie’s flagship fundraising event, Great Daffodil Appeal, raised a record �7m with more than half of the fundraised total coming from donations in collection boxes and buckets.

Why Rural Philanthropy Must Mean More than Money - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Why Rural Philanthropy Must Mean More than Money - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: n rural communities and small towns, philanthropy can take stands, create coalitions, and break down racial barriers that other institutions avoid. Philanthropy plays the role of professor, listener, pulse reader, dream interpreter, and community organizer.

Pro Bono Is a Two-Way Street - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Pro Bono Is a Two-Way Street - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Nonprofit managers who have experience working with pro bono consultants are likely to agree with these four principles for a successful engagement identified by Elizabeth Linzer of Catchafire:

Taking a strategic approach, which means attention to the longer-term view and careful prioritization of needs.

Giving Back While at Work: 32 Percent of Workers Volunteer Through Company Programs | TheLedger.com

Giving Back While at Work: 32 Percent of Workers Volunteer Through Company Programs | TheLedger.com: Such corporate generosity — which can vary from financially supporting employees' own initiatives to get involved to coordinating a company-level volunteering day — is increasing, said Jessica Rodell, an assistant professor of management at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

Steve Delfin, president and CEO of America's Charities, a nonprofit representing 115 national charities, agreed.

Alumni engagement scoring vs. predictive modelling | CoolData blog

Alumni engagement scoring vs. predictive modelling | CoolData blog: Alumni engagement scoring has an undeniable appeal. What could be simpler? Just add up how many events an alum has attended, add more points for volunteering, add more points for supporting the Annual Fund, and maybe some points for other factors that seem related to engagement, and there you have your score. If you want to get more sophisticated, you can try weighting each score input, but generally engagement scoring doesn’t involve any advanced statistics and is easily grasped.

Brian M. Carney: Pedaling for a Good Cause—But Why? - WSJ.com

Brian M. Carney: Pedaling for a Good Cause—But Why? - WSJ.com: I recently went on a 60-mile bicycle ride in the middle of the night. The venture resulted not from an existential crisis but from a charity challenge. By now the genre is familiar: A charity that promotes research into cancer or some other disease sponsors an event requiring feats of physical prowess or endurance. People sign up and seek sponsors, who agree to donate to the charity in exchange for—what, exactly?

This was the question I was asking myself as I pedaled, in increasing agony, through Sussex toward sunrise and the English coast.

DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles | The NonProfit Times

DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles | The NonProfit Times: DMANF Unveils Fundraising Principles
By Patrick Sullivan - July 11, 2013

The Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation (DMANF) has released its first set of fundraising principles. The principles are effective immediately and cover general principles, use of funds and costs of fundraising, as well as contracts with commercial partners. “The principles really pull together standards and best practices around several areas,” said Xenia “Senny” Boone, DMANF’s general counsel.

Rock 'n' role star; Joe Saxton's 16 tips for survival in the world of work | nfpSynergy

Rock 'n' role star; Joe Saxton's 16 tips for survival in the world of work | nfpSynergy: This is a two-part blog. This first part is all about general nuggets, probably most useful people new to the world of work. The second part is specifically about nuggets for managers.

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center: The IRS has published its Exempt Organizations Update for July 2013.

The Future of Your Nonprofit Organization and MCON13 | Case Foundation

The Future of Your Nonprofit Organization and MCON13 | Case Foundation: I care about Millennials getting involved in causes, but I care more about the state of the organizations that are trying to make a difference in our communities. I worry they are not prepared to engage Millennials who want to be involved and have not adapted to the growing business changes this generation and others are demanding, such as: transparency, real time reporting, digital connectedness, and collaborative leadership.

Lets face it. Today we are dealing with a whole new way to do business and social sector work that is playing an increasingly important role across sectors.

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Congress should scrap the Obama administration’s proposal to overhaul the federal government’s annual charity drive next year with changes that could “devastate” the campaign, a United Way official told lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday.

Federal employees donated $258-million in 2012 to nearly 25,000 charities through the Combined Federal Campaign’s 160 local drives, which are managed mostly by local United Ways.

Micro-mentoring in practice: why the “micro”? |

Micro-mentoring in practice: why the “micro”? |: In other words, nearly three quarters of charities struggle to access the support they need, and yet only a third want support from outside the charity sector. The reasons are to do with how people look at their problems. If a task can be broken down and clearly articulated, many skills are transferable across sectors. It’s only when a project is taken as a complete item that you are stuck needing help and advice only from someone else doing the same job as you but with more experience.

Donor-Acquisition Strategies During Tough Times : FundRaising Success

Donor-Acquisition Strategies During Tough Times : FundRaising Success: At the Association of Fundraising Professionals'Opens in a new window Fundraising Day in New YorkOpens in a new window last month, Clint O'BrienOpens in a new window, vice president of business development at Care2Opens in a new window, laid out acquisition techniques in today's fundraising landscape in the session, "Acquisition in Tough Times: Finding New Donors Without Breaking the Bank."

Half Of All Fundraisers Flee | The NonProfit Times

Half Of All Fundraisers Flee | The NonProfit Times: Half Of All Fundraisers Flee
By Patrick Sullivan - July 9, 2013

More than half of all chief development officers (CDOs) recently polled served less than two years in their most recent position, according to a study by Campbell & Company. A panel of chief development officers shared how things could and should be during the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Conference on Fundraising (ICON).

One Hundred Mass. Nonprofits Receive Grants of $100K Each:

massnonprofit.org ::: One Hundred Mass. Nonprofits Receive Grants of $100K Each

July 5, 2013 — One hundred greater Boston nonprofits have been awarded grants of $100,000 each from the Cummings Foundation through its $100K for 100 program that “reflects a desire to give back in the areas where the grant funds were derived.”

The 100 nonprofits charities were chosen from about 370 applicants during a competitive review process by the Woburn-based foundation.

Should Detroit sell its art?: Motown steps on Degas | The Economist

Should Detroit sell its art?: Motown steps on Degas | The Economist: Desperate times call for harsh measures. Kevyn Orr, the city’s emergency manager, who was appointed this year with almost dictatorial powers to turn the city’s finances around, has ordered an inventory of the treasures in the DIA. These were valued at $1 billion in 2004; they may be worth more now. If Detroit formally declares bankruptcy, they may be sold. That would be controversial.

All Eyes on Philanthropy: Warby Parker Hits a Donation Milestone | TIME.com

All Eyes on Philanthropy: Warby Parker Hits a Donation Milestone | TIME.com: Nearly five years after that trip to the bar, Warby Parker has hit a deeply personal milestone–a total 500,000 pairs of glasses distributed through their Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program and an updated Do Good website that places full focus on their charitable aims. The initiative works with companies like VisionSpring to donate one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair Warby Parker sells. It’s a concept that echoes TOMS’ one-for-one mode, but it adds in an element of sustainability. VisionSpring creates jobs and trains low-income entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.

N.Y. Library Systems Struggle with Legacy of Carnegie Gift - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

N.Y. Library Systems Struggle with Legacy of Carnegie Gift - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A $5-million donation from industrialist Andrew Carnegie that built 67 New York libraries in the early decades of the 20th century has produced unanticipated burdens for the city’s three library systems, writes The Wall Street Journal.

Marketing for Nonprofits: Innovation is Overhead

Marketing for Nonprofits: Innovation is Overhead: Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Innovation is Overhead
My bestie, Laura Caligan, shared this brilliant thought with me today.

"Innovation is overhead."

Vatican Bank donated $70 million to charity in 2012 | The Catholic Response to the Huffington Post

Vatican Bank donated $70 million to charity in 2012 | The Catholic Response to the Huffington Post: The Vatican Bank donated some $70 million to charities in 2012, according to a Vatican statement released Thursday.