Friday, March 18, 2016

The Charity Defense Council & Wounded Warrior Project Connection: Follow the Money | Nonprofit Quarterly

The Charity Defense Council ; Wounded Warrior Project Connection: Follow the Money | Nonprofit Quarterly: "But today, NPQ did receive some kind of defense—not from the organization, but from the nonprofit Charity Defense Council (CDC), which distributed an 11-page “preliminary media advisory” defending the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and its terminated leadership from what CDC calls “material errors and omissions uncovered in media reporting” about WWP. The advisory specifically criticizes CBS’s and the New York Times’ reporting, which questioned WWP’s spending on fundraising and overhead costs as opposed to dedicating more of its budget to the wounded veterans for which the charity was formed. We should say that we are not addressing the points made in that missive here, but rather raising questions about the relationship between the two organizations that caused the Wounded Warrior Project to make a sizable grant to the Charity Resource Council in 2013–2014 when apparently no one else was doing the same. This was first reported by the New York Times in January, but as the situation has evolved it becomes an ever more important question. The advisory did contain a disclosure of significant support in 2014."



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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Michelle Obama, Zendaya, Missy Elliott drop charity single - NY Daily News

Michelle Obama, Zendaya, Missy Elliott drop charity single - NY Daily News: "This song’s for the girls.

First Lady Michelle Obama revealed Wednesday that she’s enlisted Zendaya, Missy Elliott, Kelly Clarkson, Lea Michelle and Janelle Monae to record a charity single to educate girls globally.

The empowering anthem “This Is For My Girls” dropped on iTunes on Wednesday for $1.29. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Fund as part of FLOTUS’s #62MillionGirls campaign to benefit the young women around the world without access to education."



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More European Museums Turning to U.S.-Style Fundraising - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

More European Museums Turning to U.S.-Style Fundraising - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "With European governments' austerity measures cutting into cultural budgets, major art museums abroad are increasingly seeking to tap private philanthropy along the American model writes, The New York Times as part of a package of articles on trends in the museum world."



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A Guide to Getting a Job in Fundraising or Development

A Guide to Getting a Job in Fundraising or Development: "On the other hand, Amy Eisenstein was graduating from a public administration and nonprofit management program and thought she wanted to be an executive director of a nonprofit eventually. She "hated" fundraising but knew that it was a necessary skill for nonprofit CEOs.

So, Amy got a job as a fundraiser in a small nonprofit where she had to do everything herself. She fell in love with it, to her surprise, and stuck with it. Today she is a respected consultant to nonprofits large and small and a highly sought speaker and author.

Today, you'll find many graduate programs that feed nonprofits with professionals. You can get a Master's of Public Administration, Master's of Public Policy or Master's of Urban Planning. And some universities, such as the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, now have degrees in philanthropy, "



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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Board Chair Takes Helm at Wounded Warrior—but Donors Have the Floor | Nonprofit Quarterly

Board Chair Takes Helm at Wounded Warrior—but Donors Have the Floor | Nonprofit Quarterly:



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Slicing Donors' Age Nearly In Half - The NonProfit Times

Slicing Donors' Age Nearly In Half - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "The organization considered a variety of steps forward for a rebound, including a move from a mix of street and door-to-door canvasing to a primarily door-to-door operation. A paper pitch card that was previously handed out was replaced by a menu of different places prospective donors could protect along with specific threats, tangible ways of helping and information on the benefits of monthly giving.



Onboarding was expedited. Tablets and online processing were used to sign up new donors and a welcome process launched within 10 days of a donor being added to a file. Video content was found to be effective, so new members of TNC’s online community were greeted with invitations to vote on content and participate in surveys. Overall, the tone shifted — from the work that TNC does to donors being the true rock stars.



The efforts have worked, according to Katie Valvo, the organization’s director of monthly giving.  TNC has managed to flip its one-to-four ratio between monthly and one-time donors to four-to-one in favor of monthly supporters. The organization has been successful in securing younger donors, with the average canvass-acquired donor being 35. With a new means of attracting a younger audience, TNC expects its average donor age to continue to drop in the coming years."



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Nonprofit spotlight: Easter Seals redirects focus to early education | Columbus CEO

Nonprofit spotlight: Easter Seals redirects focus to early education | Columbus CEO: "Stepping away from its previous core service has allowed Easter Seals to double interventions where it is more effective.

When Pandora Shaw-Dupras took the helm of Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio, the organization was finding it difficult to fund its signature service—pediatric outpatient therapy.

Declining government reimbursements and increasing program costs meant the organization was struggling to pay therapists to work one-on-one helping children learn to walk and talk—services many have associated with the organization since its inception nearly 100 years ago. Easter Seals had always supplemented program costs with dollars donated through its various fundraisers, but following the recession, those dollars also were shrinking"



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United Way CEO to speak at White House forum on preschool prep - Crain's Detroit Business

United Way CEO to speak at White House forum on preschool prep - Crain's Detroit Business: "Herman Gray, president and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan will be in Washington, D.C., on Friday to speak on the Detroit-based agency’s use of Social Innovation Fund support in Southeast Michigan.

Gray was invited by the fund’s director to give the opening remarks at the White House forum.

He plans to share stories of how United Way is successfully utilizing Social Innovation Fund support to change lives in here in metro Detroit and also demonstrate the importance of the fund for nonprofits across the nation."



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Monday, March 14, 2016

What’s the Alternative to Giving Tuesday? Community Foundation Raises $1.3M in 30-hour Event | Nonprofit Quarterly

What’s the Alternative to Giving Tuesday? Community Foundation Raises $1.3M in 30-hour Event | Nonprofit Quarterly: "o determine what was and was not working in this growing phenomenon of community foundation giving days, the Knight Foundation launched a study to follow the progress and processes of 17 different community foundations that conducted giving days in fall of 2013 or spring of 2014. From that data, the Knight Foundation created its Giving Day Playbook. It also developed platforms, such as a specific community foundation giving day Facebook page, to encourage conversations between community foundations on how best to implement giving days. However, the Knight Foundation was careful not to declare such giving days a foolproof strategy, stating that their long-term effects remain to be seen.

One of those long-term effects still to be determined is the impact of the social media–driven Giving Tuesday. "



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Local nonprofits prepare for the future - MRT.com: Philanthropy

Local nonprofits prepare for the future - MRT.com: Philanthropy: "“A downturn in the local economy typically equates to an increase in services needed throughout the community. People remain here without the resources needed to support their family,” said Ryan Loyd, president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Permian Basin.

“We currently see this to be true as the West Texas Food Bank, the Jubilee Center, the American Red Cross, the Genesis Center and other benevolence service providers diligently work to provide support for community members who are without work,” he said Friday.

With an eye on the nonprofit sector at large, Loyd said that these days, any funds are welcome."



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SisterFund giving circle seeks community change | Richmond Free Press | Serving the African American Community in Richmond, VA

SisterFund giving circle seeks community change | Richmond Free Press | Serving the African American Community in Richmond, VA: "Twenty philanthropically minded women have come together to have a greater impact on giving in the Richmond community.

With their spirit and their dollars, they have created SisterFund, a giving circle dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls in the Greater Richmond areas."



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Vet Groups Worried About Donations After Wounded Warrior Firings - NBC News

Vet Groups Worried About Donations After Wounded Warrior Firings - NBC News: "s the Wounded Warrior Project suffers fallout following the ousting of two top executive in the wake of a spending scandal, other charities that work with American veterans were left wondering whether the high-flying non-profit's fall from grace would affect them.

"We have no idea. I think that's the question every organization in the military and veteran support space is asking today," said Joyce Raezer, executive director of the National Military Families Association. "We would certainly hope that the American public says we still need to support military families and vets through nonprofits, because there's so much need. But nobody knows how this is going to affect donor behavior at this point.""



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Giving Day Breaks Records | Bridgeport News

Giving Day Breaks Records | Bridgeport News: "
Fairfield County’s Giving Day on March 10 exceeded all expectations. In just 24 hours, thousands of community members joined together to give nearly $1.25 million in support of 410 local nonprofits serving Fairfield County.

Initiated in 2014 by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, with lead sponsor Bank of America, Giving Day is a 24-hour period when everyone in Fairfield County is encouraged to “give where you live” by going to FCGives.org and donating to participating local nonprofit organizations."



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Friday, March 11, 2016

Meet the 50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy - Inside Philanthropy - Inside Philanthropy

Meet the 50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy - Inside Philanthropy - Inside Philanthropy: "Meet the 50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy
David Callahan and Kiersten Marek
Two years ago, we published a list of the 15 most powerful women in U.S. philanthropy. The idea for that article emerged because we were struck by how many women are involved in philanthropy at a high level—and equally struck by how little attention they tend to receive. In particular, while the spouses of billionaires often play a lead role in charting a couple’s giving, the spotlight usually falls on their better-known husbands when major gifts are made. Not only is this unfair, but it misses the real story of how today’s big philanthropy is unfolding as new mega-donors enter the scene—with women in the lead."



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A Lemonade Stand Grows, With Some Bumps, Into Social Venture - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

A Lemonade Stand Grows, With Some Bumps, Into Social Venture - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: "The New York Times examines the complications of social entrepreneurship through the ups and downs of a charity-minded business that started out with a burst of publicity and investment a few years ago but has run into rocky shoals since."



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Judge OKs Shutdown of Disgraced Penn State Coach's Charity - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Judge OKs Shutdown of Disgraced Penn State Coach's Charity - The Chronicle of Philanthropy:



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Wounded Warrior Project Fires CEO, COO Amid Controversy - NonProfit PRO

Wounded Warrior Project Fires CEO, COO Amid Controversy - NonProfit PRO: "Wounded Warrior Project Fires CEO, COO Amid Controversy"



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Wounded Warrior fires execs over spending accusations - WTOP

Wounded Warrior fires execs over spending accusations - WTOP:



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CEO, COO Out At Wounded Warrior ProjectThe NonProfit Times

CEO, COO Out At Wounded Warrior ProjectThe NonProfit Times:



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Ouster of Wounded Warrior CEO and COO Follows Preliminary Audit Findings | Nonprofit Quarterly

Ouster of Wounded Warrior CEO and COO Follows Preliminary Audit Findings | Nonprofit Quarterly: "Reportedly, the preliminary results of both a financial and policy audit are now in, and the board yesterday fired not only CEO Steve Nardizzi, but also COO Al Giordano. We do not yet know what those findings may have included, or whether they actually caused the firing but the charges leveled against the organization include extravagant spending on staff conferences and events and spending too little on programs for veteran and too much on fundraising. (A Daily Beast article details some of the spending habits of the organization.)"



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Thursday, March 10, 2016

Optimists donate to 11 Madison schools | The Madison County Record

Optimists donate to 11 Madison schools | The Madison County Record: "MADISON – Members of Optimist Club of Madison recently presented cash donations to all elementary and secondary schools in the Madison City Schools’ district.

Optimists wanted the money to help in funding programs on all 11 campuses.

An Optimist member visited each school to present the $300 check to PTAs and Parent-Teacher-Student Associations during their monthly meetings in January and February."



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Why 253 Indian Prairie school supporters are becoming charity runners

Why 253 Indian Prairie school supporters are becoming charity runners: "Why 253 Indian Prairie school supporters are becoming charity runners"



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Understanding families – How can charities engage with parents and their children? | nfpSynergy

Understanding families – How can charities engage with parents and their children? | nfpSynergy: "ur findings have revealed some interesting dynamics within the family unit, underscoring why the family is such a valuable audience for many charities. In this blog, I’ll take you through a few of the things we’ve learned.

 

Families like to share their enthusiasm for charities

In the past we’ve talked a lot about ‘pester power’ – the influence children exert on their parents to support charities. Now that we can link the responses of children to their parents (and vice versa), we can see that this influence goes both ways in the family."



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Wednesday, March 09, 2016

Trump’s donations aside, these are tough times for veterans groups - The Washington Post

Trump’s donations aside, these are tough times for veterans groups - The Washington Post: "Meanwhile, some of the nation’s largest veterans organizations are struggling. Traditionally, the majority of these have been membership organizations — groups like the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans — that depend on dues and contributions from veterans, as well as donations from veterans’ families and people with some military affinity. But their membership ranks have declined along with the veterans population. Veterans of my generation simply aren’t replacing older veterans in as great numbers, or with as much disposable income (yet), to make up the difference. And the growing civil-military divide is getting in the way of giving."



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CEO Sarah Eagle Heart Grows Nonprofit 'Native Americans in Philanthropy' - ICTMN.com

CEO Sarah Eagle Heart Grows Nonprofit 'Native Americans in Philanthropy' - ICTMN.com: "Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) has revved up its outreach and networking since Sarah Eagle Heart, Oglala Lakota, came on board as its new chief executive officer in fall 2015. Eagle Heart is a fierce advocate of building strong, healthy tribal communities while preserving Native traditions."



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The Big Bucks Don’t Always Reside In The C-Suite - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

The Big Bucks Don’t Always Reside In The C-Suite - The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: "Lesley Rosenthal took a path less traveled on her way to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. She went to law school. Then she spent more than a decade in “Big Law” before moving over to the nonprofit side 11 years ago.

She’s now Lincoln Center’s senior vice president, general counsel and secretary.

General counsel is not a position found at many organizations. "



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Five Boston nonprofits recently were awarded $180,000 by the city to undertake a range of projects

massnonprofit news ::: "March 3, 2016 — Five Boston nonprofits recently were awarded $180,000 by the city to undertake a range of projects—to install murals, restore woodland, complete a sculpture, and other improvements—that will help enhance the Fenway neighborhood.

The funds, from the Boston Redevelopment Authority, stem from the Fenway Park Demonstration Project, an agreement made with the Boston Red Sox in September 2013 for certain game and event day easements on Yawkey Way."



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Monday, March 07, 2016

The IRS Statistics of Income Division has published Nonprofit Charitable Organizations and Donor-Advised Funds, 2012,

Nonprofit Law Prof Blog: "The IRS Statistics of Income Division has published Nonprofit Charitable Organizations and Donor-Advised Funds, 2012, reporting on selected data for Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) organizations and donor-advised funds. Highlights from the tax year 2012 Form 990 and Form 990-EZ filings include the following:"



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Can Big Nonprofits Get Big Results? | Stanford Social Innovation Review

Can Big Nonprofits Get Big Results? | Stanford Social Innovation Review: "Big nonprofit networks like the Y-USA and 4-H have been serving children and families for more than a century by providing programs that meet community needs, such as summer camps and after-school programs. Once a network organization reaches a certain size, it gains the power to effect broad change; it also has a lot to sustain. Focus on ongoing operations too often crowds out analysis of changes in the very populations an organization exists to serve."



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An example of greatness in donor appreciation and recognition | 101fundraising

An example of greatness in donor appreciation and recognition | 101fundraising: "ast year my cousin courageously ran the Amsterdam half marathon for charity. The foundation “Together is not alone” (Samen is niet alleen) for which he raised money is a small local charity that aims to support people in troubling situations mainly due to poverty. My cousin asked me to support his fundraising endeavour and obviously I donated.
Almost 4 months later I received an email with the subject “Spending marathon”. I opened it and this is what it said:"



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