Stephen Pidgeon: Our direct mail is more creative than in the US | Third Sector

Stephen Pidgeon: Our direct mail is more creative than in the US | Third Sector: "I'm just back from the US, where I'd been invited to speak to neighbouring chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the US equivalent of our Institute of Fundraising. I was reminded of the different status fundraising holds in the US, where local charities provide many services that are provided in the UK by local or national government."



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Seniors moment: Baring it for a charity calendar - Naples Daily News

Seniors moment: Baring it for a charity calendar - Naples Daily News: "AKRON, Ohio - Grandpa and Granny are stripping again for charity.

Residents of Barberton, Ohio’s Pleasant Pointe assisted living facility recently posed baring (almost) all for their 2016 calendar. Last year, they did the same thing and generated nearly $9,000 for the Esther Ryan Shoe Fund, which provides shoes for children who attend Barberton schools."



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Another Gates Education Experiment Grinds to an End, Leaving Questionable Results Behind | Nonprofit Quarterly

Another Gates Education Experiment Grinds to an End, Leaving Questionable Results Behind | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Now, as the end of the seven-year time frame for the program approaches, the Tampa Bay Times is looking at how the program has worked in one of the districts that partnered with the Gates Foundation:

"



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Employee Retreats And Party Tricks - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Employee Retreats And Party Tricks - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "The 25 staff members at Young Community Developers (YCD) drove about an hour and a half away from the organization’s San Francisco headquarters for an employee retreat in 2013. When they returned they had a new program."



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N.Y. Philharmonic Gets $25 Million Gift From Board Chair - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

N.Y. Philharmonic Gets $25 Million Gift From Board Chair - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "The New York Philharmonic received a $25 million donation Thursday from its board chairman, the financier Oscar S. Schafer, and his wife, Didi, reports The New York Times. The announcement of the gift coincided with the orchestra's first performance in David Geffen Hall, as the venue was officially renamed in a pre-concert ceremony."



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Pierre Omidyar Donates $269 Million in eBay Shares - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Pierre Omidyar Donates $269 Million in eBay Shares - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Internet billionaire Pierre Omidyar has given away one-tenth of his holdings in eBay, a stock gift valued at nearly $270 million, according to EcommerceBytes. The Omidyar Group, which manages the philanthropic activity of the eBay co-founder and his wife, Pam, did not respond to requests for comment on what organizations or causes will benefit from last month's gift."



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Foundation Center - Press Release - Philanthropy Leaders Call for Greater Role in Tackling Global Challenges Defined in New Sustainable Development Goals

Foundation Center - Press Release - Philanthropy Leaders Call for Greater Role in Tackling Global Challenges Defined in New Sustainable Development Goals: "Philanthropy Leaders Call for Greater Role in Tackling Global Challenges
Defined in New Sustainable Development Goals

New York, NY — September 24, 2015. Today, more than 150 leaders from philanthropy, government, UN agencies, civil society, and business are meeting to consider how the philanthropy community can connect more with the Sustainable Development Goals over the next 15 years. "Philanthropy Engaged: Implementing and Achieving the Post-2015 Agenda" is being hosted by the SDG Philanthropy Platform, a partnership of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Foundation Center, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA)."



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The Content of the GAO Audit of Red Cross that is the Basis for Demands for Greater Oversight | Nonprofit Quarterly

The Content of the GAO Audit of Red Cross that is the Basis for Demands for Greater Oversight | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Here at NPQ we are great believers in the value to managers of reading forensic audits and that is how we look at the Government Accountability Office’s recent document on the Red Cross, entitled American Red Cross: Disaster Assistance Would Benefit from Oversight through Regular Federal Evaluation so we figured we would give you direct access. The report is well worth a read."



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Sixers owner crunched big data before giving to PAL - philly-archives

Sixers owner crunched big data before giving to PAL - philly-archives: "In announcing his $3.5 million donation to the group serving boys and girls with sports and other after-school programs, Harris subjected the nonprofit to the same scrutiny that has earned him a fortune as cofounder of Apollo Global Management L.L.C.

Harris hired a consulting firm to interview people inside and outside the organization. He personally helped the group draft a detailed five-year plan that includes ways of measuring improvements in the well-being of children who use PAL's 18 centers."



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Is Your Staff Trained to Sell Membership?: Associations Now

Is Your Staff Trained to Sell Membership?: Associations Now:



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Travelocity Launches Program Promoting 'Voluntourism' | TravelPulse

Travelocity Launches Program Promoting 'Voluntourism' | TravelPulse: "Travelocity announced Monday that it has re-launched its “Travel for Good” grant program to accommodate the growing desire to travel for philanthropic purposes. As part of a contest, three deserving individuals will receive a $20,000 trip for two to the destination of their choice. On top of that, Travelocity will make a $10,000 donation to each winner’s non-profit organization of choice. "



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GoLocalProv | Rhode Island’s Top 100 Non-Profits Have Over $16 Billion in Assets

GoLocalProv | Rhode Island’s Top 100 Non-Profits Have Over $16 Billion in Assets: "The hundred largest nonprofits in Rhode Island have combined assets over $16 billion, according to their latest IRS 990s -- and top ten (not including credit unions) amount for over $10 billion alone."



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Rejecting a Tainted Grant: Dan Snyder Just Can’t Save Face | Nonprofit Quarterly

Rejecting a Tainted Grant: Dan Snyder Just Can’t Save Face | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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IoF ban selling of donor data as part of latest Code amendments

IoF ban selling of donor data as part of latest Code amendments: "The Institute of Fundraising has today announced a ban on the selling of donor data to third parties as part of a number of changes made to its Code of Fundraising Practice.
The changes were made in response to the Fundraising Standards Board’s interim report in June, which recommended the Code be tightened in a number of areas."



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McDonald’s Effectively Shamed Into Massive Charity Donation -- Grub Street

McDonald’s Effectively Shamed Into Massive Charity Donation -- Grub Street: "Today's New York Times reports that McDonald's has asked other "like-minded" organizations, like MasterCard and Facebook, to help it raise money to help the United Nations’ World Food Program respond to the migrant crisis in Europe and the Middle East. The reasonable conclusion for this is the pressure following Burger King's ill-fated suggestion that the two join forces and make a McWhopper "for peace." "



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The First Steps to Building a Foundation of Nonprofit Culture

The First Steps to Building a Foundation of Nonprofit Culture:



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United Way aims for ‘collective impact’ « Philanthropy North Carolina

United Way aims for ‘collective impact’ « Philanthropy North Carolina: "Now, as president and CEO of United Way of North Carolina, Marx is building on that model to help its members reinvent the way they do business. Those members include 57 local United Ways and two United Funds that serve 83 of the state’s 100 counties and last year raised a total of $100 million.

"



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Red Cross Sunshine Act Would Require More Stringent Accountability Measures | Nonprofit Quarterly

Red Cross Sunshine Act Would Require More Stringent Accountability Measures | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) unveiled the proposed American Red Cross Sunshine Act concurrent with a Government Accountability Office report, also requested by Thompson, which found that oversight of the congressionally chartered group is inadequate.

Despite its federally mandated role in responding to disasters, “no regular, independent evaluations are conducted of the impact or effectiveness of the Red Cross’s disaster services,” according to the report. The bill would require more regular audits of the Red Cross’s work and accountability."



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Burger King and friends to give away 1,500 Peace Day burgers on Sept. 21

Burger King and friends to give away 1,500 Peace Day burgers on Sept. 21: "The Peace Day campaign was launched last month when BK took out full-page ads in the Chicago Tribune and New York Times calling on McDonald's to join them in a one-day cease-fire in their "burger wars" by collaborating to make a McWhopper (a hybrid of McDonald's Big Mac and Burger King's Whopper). Burger King suggested that the mashup burger could be sold to raise money to benefit Peace One Day, a non-profit organization campaigning to raise awareness of Peace Day, a United Nations recognized day that will be celebrated on Monday."



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Perelman to Vacate Carnegie Hall Chair Amid Oversight Clash - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Perelman to Vacate Carnegie Hall Chair Amid Oversight Clash - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "Perelman to Vacate Carnegie Hall Chair Amid Oversight Clash
Billionaire financier and philanthropist Ronald O. Perelman told fellow Carnegie Hall board members Thursday that he would not seek re-election as the panel's chairman next month, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times write."



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New IRS Rule Likely to Make Impact Investing Easier - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

New IRS Rule Likely to Make Impact Investing Easier - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "The Internal Revenue Service took a major step this week to calm grant makers’ fears about taking risks with impact investments, giving them a green light to commit more of their assets to investments that further their missions.

The news came just a few days before the Kresge Foundation’s Thursday announcement that it would put 10 percent of its endowment, or $350-million, into impact investing by 2020, one of the largest such commitments by a wealthy grant maker."



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Admin Ratio Is a Poor Indicator of a Charity's Effectiveness | Marina Glogovac

Admin Ratio Is a Poor Indicator of a Charity's Effectiveness | Marina Glogovac: "But when we look at charities to support, we suddenly and inexplicably get fixated solely on the "admin ratio" and the overhead, which for charities can include both costs of fundraising and admin expenses. We value charities mostly based on how low the overhead is -- this is a deeply entrenched, if not consciously examined, measuring stick for charities. We want our support to go exclusively toward program delivery and not into staff, operations, technology, or training and development -- as if the two are completely unrelated."



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Our say: Great Give scrapped, but giving remains vital to Anne Arundel County - Capital Gazette

Our say: Great Give scrapped, but giving remains vital to Anne Arundel County - Capital Gazette: "he event has raised more than $2 million for 248 Anne Arundel nonprofits in its brief existence, including $908,000 this year — more than the goal of $750,000. The high-profile, beat-the-clock hoopla was enjoyable, made for good news stories — ones that were also "good news" stories — and encouraged organizations to build up their social media presence.

But the effort was expensive and there were always questions about how many of the donations were actually garnered by the Great Give"



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Stars Help Raise Over $12 Million At BGC Charity Day - Look to the Stars

Stars Help Raise Over $12 Million At BGC Charity Day - Look to the Stars:



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Apple CEO Tim Cook talks charity, coming out as gay on 'Late Show' - Sep. 15, 2015

Apple CEO Tim Cook talks charity, coming out as gay on 'Late Show' - Sep. 15, 2015: "Cook said he's focused on charity for the same reason he came out as gay last year. People are suffering, and because of his position at Apple (AAPL, Tech30), he's able to do something about it.
"It became so clear to me kids were being bullied in school, kids were getting discriminated against, kids were even being disowned by their own parents," he said. "I needed to do something.""



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To Tackle America’s Greatest Challenges, Follow Detroit’s Lead | Jamie Dimon | LinkedIn

To Tackle America’s Greatest Challenges, Follow Detroit’s Lead | Jamie Dimon | LinkedIn: "I’ve traveled to Detroit on business for more than 25 years, and the signs of the city’s recovery are becoming apparent. Although the city has a long way to go, you can feel the increasing energy and spirit of cooperation that businesses, government and nonprofits have to increase economic growth and create greater opportunity for all."



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Salesmanship in proposal writing - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Salesmanship in proposal writing - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Most nonprofit professionals believe passionately in their organization’s mission, and new grant seekers often believe that articulating their organization’s good work is all that’s needed to win funding. “Their commitment to the issue is so strong that they can’t imagine the funder won’t feel the same way and jump on board,” said Holly Thompson, contributing editor for The Grantsmanship Center, in Los Angeles, Calif."



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Charities need to stop abusing language « Philanthropy North Carolina

Charities need to stop abusing language « Philanthropy North Carolina: "They need to be able to tell their story so it is easy to understand the need they address, the people they serve, the way they work, their impact, and why people should care, get involved and support them.

Charities should speak plainly and make their words matter. They should embrace the fact that they are businesses with both social and financial bottom lines, and must survive in a fiercely competitive charitable marketplace."



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Nominations Now Open for the AFP/Skystone Partners Research Prize - Press - AFP

Nominations Now Open for the AFP/Skystone Partners Research Prize - Press - AFP: "Authors of published research works on fundraising and philanthropy are invited to submit a book or monograph of 50 or more pages OR a peer-reviewed article for the 2016 Skystone Partners Prize for Research on Fundraising and Philanthropy, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.  Other individuals or organizations may submit nominations of appropriate publications."



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Insights from the Blackbaud #GivingTuesday Trends Report

Insights from the Blackbaud #GivingTuesday Trends Report: "By most accounts, the annual late November #GivingTuesday online giving tradition has been gaining traction since 2012. TechSoup donor partner Blackbaud recently released a report that digs deep into the #GivingTuesday results over three years to reveal the patterns that are emerging from this increasingly important national day of charitable giving.

Here's what jumped out at us."



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