Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Nonprofits Are Building Green; Kresge Foundation Awarded :: PNNOnline ::

Nonprofits Are Building Green; Kresge Foundation Awarded :: PNNOnline ::: "onprofits Are Building Green; Kresge Foundation Awarded
Posted by: michelleatwilliams on Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Topic Special Features


The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has selected The Kresge Foundation for its 2005 Leadership Award. The award recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations providing “vision, leadership and commitment to the evolution of green building design and construction.”


“There is a growing enthusiasm among nonprofits of all types to build and operate in sustainable ways,” says Kresge Foundation Senior Vice President Elizabeth Sullivan. “We hope this award calls attention to their achievement and encourages others to consider green options.”


The award, given to The Kresge Foundation in the category of Community, acknowledges the Foundation’s green building leadership and program initiatives including a national program which provides educational materials and funding for nonprofit organizations to plan and design green buildings."

Help choose a charity for our Green Room book - - MSNBC.com

Help choose a charity for our Green Room book - - MSNBC.com: "Help choose a charity for our Green Room book
Know a charity you think is worthy? If so, read below and e-mail us your thoughts on the best charity to receive the proceeds from the 'Today' show's 2005 Green Room Book Charity Auction
Today

Updated: 7:21 a.m. ET Dec. 21, 2005

For the past seven years, 'Today' has asked notable visitors to our Green Rooms in New York and Washington, D.C., to sign our Green Room Book, which we have auctioned off annually on eBay for charity."

Salary hurts Goodwill, but it's an anomaly

Salary hurts Goodwill, but it's an anomaly: "Salary hurts Goodwill, but it's an anomaly
Nonprofits come in a jumble of shapes, but this compensation package is an anomaly
Wednesday, December 21, 2005

T he words 'good will' are sprinkled around as thickly as snowflakes this time of year, but in the accounting world, the term has a fairly precise definition. As Webster's relays, goodwill (often used as a single word) is an intangible asset, representing the value that patronage and reputation add to a business.

If anything diminishes this intangible asset, of course, the repercussions are tangible, indeed, which is why accountants bother to define it. And if good will is crucial to profit-making firms, many nonprofits simply melt without it. That's why we were glad to see Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette move swiftly to counteract the damage done by its president's total compensation package of $831,508."

Kansas City Star | 12/21/2005 | Charity in the round

Kansas City Star | 12/21/2005 | Charity in the round: "Charity in the round
Donors form giving circles to bring more power to their dollars
By ANN SPIVAK
The Kansas City Star

A few years ago Beth Zollars asked 20 guests to bring a new woman’s coat to a holiday charity luncheon. She ended up dragging about a dozen super-size trash bags filled with donations to her car.

“I knew right then, ‘I’m definitely onto something,’ ” Zollars said.

This year about 500 guests attended Zollars’ holiday celebration at her Leawood home and wrote checks totaling almost $40,000 for local charities that focus on women and children.

Giving circles like Zollars’ are one of the most popular trends in philanthropy in the last five years, according to New Ventures in Philanthropy, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that recently studied this type of shared giving."

The Resource Alliance 7TH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON RESOURCE MOBILISATION

The Resource Alliance (formerly known as The International Fund Raising Group): " 7TH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON RESOURCE MOBILISATION



The world's leading Workshop for the global South

The 7th International Workshop on Resource Mobilisation (IWRM) will be held at the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on 5th - 7th May 2006.

The IWRM has evolved into becoming the leading international platform for discussion, debate and training on local resource mobilisation in the South. It is the second flagship event of the Resource Alliance and is growing in size each year - the 6th IWRM attracted 375 attendees from over 40 countries worldwide! "

Donor shortage halts plan for free 'Aida' - The Boston Globe

Donor shortage halts plan for free 'Aida' - The Boston Globe: "Donor shortage halts plan for free 'Aida'
Lyric Opera scraps Common showing

By Geoff Edgers, Globe Staff | December 20, 2005

Three years after Boston Lyric Opera staged a free production of ''Carmen' that drew a stunning 140,000 people to the Common, the company has reluctantly shelved plans for a follow-up event, concluding that it couldn't find enough local corporate support to underwrite the show."

SR.com: Survey finds region's nonprofits cutting back services

SR.com: Survey finds region's nonprofits cutting back services: "Survey finds region's nonprofits cutting back services

Benjamin Shors
Staff writer
December 20, 2005

Nearly 60 percent of nonprofits in Eastern Washington have decreased their services in the past two years because of financial struggles, according to a survey released this month.

“Despite positive fundraising trends, nonprofits across Washington are scaling back services,” said Aggie Sweeney, CEO of The Collins Group, a Seattle firm that conducted the survey. “Unfortunately, giving trends aren’t keeping up with the costs of delivering services.”

The percent of Eastern Washington nonprofits that had to decrease services was nearly double the statewide figure of nearly 33 percent. Sweeney said the study did not address why regional nonprofits may be faring worse than others in the state."

Channelnewsasia.com- Govt warns knee-jerk reaction may stifle post-NKF charity sector

Channelnewsasia.com: "he Singapore government is tightening coordination among its agencies, as well as checks and balances on charities to make sure the NKF (National Kidney Foundation) saga will not be repeated.

But Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan also warned against a knee-jerk reaction to over-regulate the charity sector.

The charity sector in Singapore has over 1,700 voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) of various sizes. "

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Supports AIFEP, Native Americans in Philanthropy (12/20/05)

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Supports AIFEP, Native Americans in Philanthropy (12/20/05): "W.K. Kellogg Foundation Supports AIFEP,
Native Americans in Philanthropy

The Grotto Foundation was awarded a $180,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for the American Indian Family Empowerment Program (AIFEP), while Native Americans in Philanthropy received a $140,000 from the Kellogg Foundation to support the enhancement of Native philanthropy.

AIFEP, which is administered by Grotto Foundation staff, will use the grant to advance American Indian leadership and participation within the Minnesota philanthropic and nonprofit sectors; create partnerships and networks among philanthropic, tribal, corporate and nonprofit communities and sectors; and support infrastructure improvements."

Philadelphia Daily News | 12/20/2005 | Giving can be a tough sell

Philadelphia Daily News | 12/20/2005 | Giving can be a tough sell: "Giving can be a tough sell
By MICHAEL HINKELMAN
hinkelm@phillynews.com
Eileen R. Heisman has been a prominent philanthropic fund-raiser in Philadelphia, and she now serves as chief executive officer of the National Philanthropic Trust.

But she says she has never spent much time trying to solicit money from corporations.

'I've always found corporations too difficult to deal with,' she said. 'You have to hit them with the right pitch, and it often has to be aligned with their corporate mission.'

Otherwise, they’re not interested, she said.

The trust is an independent public charity that manages more than $560 million in assets and has raised more than $1 billion in charitable contributions."

Nation: How corporate, how Catholic?

Nation: How corporate, how Catholic?: "How corporate, how Catholic?

Tax-exempt hospitals face questions over pay and uninsured care

By JOE FEUERHERD
Washington

Officials at the nonprofit Providence Health System, the largest hospital system in Oregon and the state’s second largest employer, knew they had, at a minimum, a public relations problem. Difficult questions were sure to be raised about the $6.6 million in wages and retirement benefits received by retired CEO Henry Walker and the high six-figure salaries paid to other top management.

In a Nov. 15 e-mail to his managers, Russ Danielson, who heads Providence’s Oregon operations, acknowledged as much. “I’m sending you this information,” Danielson told his staff, “because there are organizations whose work is intended to disrupt and divide.” Danielson noted that his 2004 compensation was $646,050 of which $97,366 was for deferred retirement. “It’s important that you know what is being reported in the event you are asked about it or hear about from the media,” wrote Danielson.

The compensation information, part of a routine financial disclosure report to the IRS made by Providence last month, came at a particularly inopportune time for the $4 billion health care giant, a jewel in the $66 billion, 600-hospital Catholic health system. Among the disrupters and dividers alluded to by Danielson: the Internal Revenue Service, the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, numerous state attorneys general, local governments, health care watchdog groups, politically connected trial attorneys who have shifted their attention from tobacco companies to nonprofit hospitals, and the Service Employees International Union."

ThirdSector-Valuable charity brands ‘could bring in more income’

ThirdSector: "December 21 2005
Valuable charity brands ‘could bring in more income’
Charities are failing to exploit their “hugely valuable” brands, according to new research.

A survey by Intangible Business, an independent brand evaluation consultancy, has revealed that Cancer Research UK’s brand is worth £202.2m, making it the most valuable charity brand in the country. The National Trust was ranked second at £196m and Oxfam came third with £166.2m."

Channelnewsasia.com-New NKF working to rebuild public trust

Channelnewsasia.com: "ime is GMT 8 hours
Posted: 20 December 2005 2117 hrs

New NKF working to rebuild public trust
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia


SINGAPORE : Following the revelations on the National Kidney Foundation's old management practices, many donors have cancelled their donations to the charity.

Going forward, its new chairman Gerard Ee tells Channel NewsAsia NKF aims to get its priorities right by putting patients first and has no intention of holding any large scale fundraiser. "

Free Web Site Software for Nonprofits :: PNNOnline ::

Free Web Site Software for Nonprofits :: PNNOnline ::: "ree Web Site Software for Nonprofits
Posted by: ngs-christine on Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Topic Special Features


This holiday season, software company nGenuity Solutions launches an ongoing initiative to serve the global community by donating their flagship product, Easy Website Builder, to any qualified nonprofit organization.


“We wanted to find a gift that would extend beyond the holiday season,” says nGenuity Solutions president James O’Kelly. The offer for free website building software for charitable nonprofits will extend beyond the holidays and become a new division within the com"

Campaign for 9/11 Memorial Beset by Troubles, Experts Say

Campaign for 9/11 Memorial Beset by Troubles, Experts Say: "Campaign for 9/11 Memorial Beset by Troubles, Experts Say

By Amy Westfeldt
Associated Press
Tuesday, December 20, 2005; Page A20

NEW YORK -- With groundbreaking a few months away, the campaign to raise $500 million for a Sept. 11 museum and a memorial to the World Trade Center dead has been beset by vague cost estimates, battles over what to build, and, some say, poor planning.

The campaign by the nonprofit World Trade Center Memorial Foundation represents the most ambitious fund drive for a memorial in U.S. history."

Time Magazine Cover Reflects Importance of Philanthropy :: PNNOnline ::

Time Magazine Cover Reflects Importance of Philanthropy :: PNNOnline ::: "Time Magazine Cover Reflects Importance of Philanthropy
Posted by: laurakujawski on Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Topic Expert Opinion


Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, issued the following comment regarding Time Magazine's naming Bono and Bill and Melinda Gates Persons of the Year.


'The acknowledgment of Bono and Bill and Melinda Gates by Time Magazine reflects the growing importance of philanthropy in society,' said Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. '"

The Jakarta Post - Tax incentives for non-profit organizations

The Jakarta Post - Tax incentives for non-profit organizations: "Tax incentives for non-profit organizations

Pahala Nainggolan, Jakarta

In the draft of new tax bill, the government introduced a long-awaited policy that allows taxpayers to record their donations as deductible expenses. Donations given for national catastrophes and for community and social development will be accounted for as expenses from a tax point of view. Thus the more donations that one gives will be that much less tax paid. Currently, donations for social activities are treated as non-tax deductible expenses. It means that for each donation, on top of it, 30 percent must be added for government as a tax payment. This discourages people's charity and social solidarity."

The Globe and Mail: Pressure mounts for disclosure

The Globe and Mail: Pressure mounts for disclosure: "Pressure mounts for disclosure

By PAUL WALDIE

Monday, December 19, 2005 Posted at 9:50 PM EST

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Faye Wightman is always eager to talk about the charity she runs and the fine work it does. But there's one thing Ms. Wightman is reluctant to discuss — how much she's paid.

“I guess there are mixed feelings about it,” said Ms. Wightman, who is chief executive officer of the Vancouver Foundation, one of Canada's largest charitable foundations with more than $600-million in assets. “The problem is if it's not put in perspective sometimes it can be taken out of context.”"

OregonLive.com: NewsFlash - Goodwill chief agrees to pay cut following audit

OregonLive.com: NewsFlash - Goodwill chief agrees to pay cut following audit: "Goodwill chief agrees to pay cut following audit
12/20/2005, 12:23 a.m. PT
The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The president of Portland's Goodwill made an 'unreasonable' amount of money in 2004, according to an audit by the Oregon attorney general's office.

Michael Miller earned more than $830,000 in pay and benefits last year, making him easily the highest-paid executive at Oregon's social service nonprofits, according to the audit obtained Monday by The Oregonian.

Miller also made more than executives at the other 172 Goodwill branches in North America."

USATODAY.com - Retailers ring up charitable giving with shoppers

USATODAY.com - Retailers ring up charitable giving with shoppers: "Retailers ring up charitable giving with shoppers
By Lorrie Grant, USA TODAY
Charity may start at home, but for many holiday shoppers, it continues at Wal-Mart, Target and Talbots.

After a year of natural catastrophes — from the tsunamis in South Asia to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina — many consumers are looking differently at possessions and are increasingly eager to connect gift-giving to worthy causes, retail trend analysts say.

Retailers often link with charities during the holidays, but many of the largest have stepped up those efforts this year. 'Holiday 2005 will be remembered as the year of giving to those in need,' says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD Group. 'Retailers want consumers to feel good about buying and helping others.'"

Philadelphia Daily News | 12/20/2005 | Charity varies among big city firms

Philadelphia Daily News | 12/20/2005 | Charity varies among big city firms: "Charity varies among big city firms
By MICHAEL HINKELMAN
hinkelm@phillynews.com

THEY ALL like to crow about their good works. In fact, when it comes to social responsibility, all of the big public companies headquartered in the city have the same mantra: We care.

Health insurer Cigna boasts of being 'a business of caring.' Visit cable giant Comcast's Web site and you will quickly discover that 'Comcast Cares.'

But does all that caring result in charitable donations? Particularly here, in their hometown?"

Monday, December 19, 2005

The Times-Tribune - News - 12/19/2005 - Compensation varies widely for nonprofit CEOs

The Times-Tribune - News - 12/19/2005 - Compensation varies widely for nonprofit CEOs:

snip snip>>
"However, those packages do not even represent a half a percentage point of each hospital’s annual budget.

“People don’t realize non-profit hospitals are competing with for-profit hospitals,” said Jack Voorhees, executive director of the Scranton Better Business Bureau. “The salaries have to be fairly competitive and usually are much less than a CEO would make at a for-profit hospital.”

Nationwide, charities pay an average of 3.4 percent of their total expenses to their top executive in salary and other compensation, said Thomas Pollak, assistant director of the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics. That average is based on a sampling of 4,257 charities. “Donors are very interested in how much charity leaders make,” said Bennett Weiner, chief operating officer of the Virginia nonprofit watchdog group, Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. “Is that the most important thing to a donor? Maybe. Maybe not. But they definitely want to know the information.”"

Charity isn't free; know how to make yours work best - - - December 18, 2005

Charity isn't free; know how to make yours work best - - - December 18, 2005: "Charity isn't free; know how to make yours work best

Whether your seasonal giving is based in the Jewish principle of Tzdakkah, a Christian or Muslim belief in charity, humanitarian philosophy, or response to colleagues' requests to donate to their favorite group, it is likely that most readers will join the 89 percent of all North Americans who contribute to nonprofit or faith-based organizations each year. Philanthropy means 'love of humanity.' We give because we recognize that we are responsible for each other and for the condition of our world. And — giving feels good.

Your mailbox is flooded with letters, appealing photos of children, animals and land that can only be saved with your contribution today. So how do you decide which groups to support? The big national organizations? The ones you know personally? The ones that pressure you?"

Hattiesburg American -Red Cross was overwhelmed by amount of aid needed

Hattiesburg American - www.hattiesburgamerican.com - Hattiesburg, Miss.: "Red Cross was overwhelmed by amount of aid needed
By Erin Hilsabeck

For decades, the American Red Cross has aided Mississippians in the aftermath of all kinds of natural disasters - providing hot meals, shelter, blankets, water and money.

But Hurricane Katrina threw the 124-year-old organization for a loop. Despite preparation, the Red Cross' relief efforts have received widespread criticism locally and nationally."

NBC's The Apprentice 4: And The Winner Is...

NBC's The Apprentice 4: And The Winner Is...: "


December 16, 2005

NBC's The Apprentice 4: And The Winner Is...
In the final showdown of NBC's The Apprentice 4, Randal and Rebecca squared off to raise funds for charitable organizations. Randal turned his attention to a celebrity auction with big names like Sugar Ray Leonard to raise money directly for Autism Speaks. Rebecca promoted a comedy event sponsored by Yahoo. Her approach to charity fund raising was more behind-the-scenes than Randal. Every gift bag for the comedy fest included a direct mail piece for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The final result was Randal raised over $11,000 while Rebecca's event didn't produce an immediate measurable outcome. In the end, each candidate faced a round of serious questions from Donald Trump who awarded the apprentice crown to Randal. "

Gift-Wrapped Guilt?

Gift-Wrapped Guilt?: "Gift-Wrapped Guilt?
My Adventure With Ethical Shopping

By Frances Stead Sellers

Sunday, December 18, 2005; Page B01

Earlier this month, there was a three-day sale of imported Oriental rugs at the Mennonite church near my house in Baltimore. 'They are a little pricey,' one of my neighbors warned me wryly, 'because the workers are paid a living wage.' What a concept! The last time I bought an Oriental rug -- years ago in Kashmir -- I haggled over the price with little thought for the well-being of the rugmakers. I was pretty sure most of the profit would go to the store owner, anyway. But now my already stressful shopping season -- garlanded with aspirations to find creative presents -- had been complicated by the intrusion of altruism: I was meant to worry about the workers."

Philanthropy UK Quarterly E-letter

Philanthropy UK Quarterly E-letter: "the Philanthropy UK Newsletter emerged from the PhilanthropyUK Project directed by Theresa Lloyd, which ended in 2004. It is currently being overseen by a consortium of organisations, including the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), Community Foundation Network (CFN), Impetus Trust, Institute for Philanthropy, New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) and Pilotlight."

The Chronicle, 12/16/2005: Americans Don't Want Gifts Used for Purposes They Haven't Approved, New Poll Finds

The Chronicle, 12/16/2005: Americans Don't Want Gifts Used for Purposes They Haven't Approved, New Poll Finds: "Americans Don't Want Gifts Used for Purposes They Haven't Approved, New Poll Finds

By Harvy Lipman

Nearly 60 percent of Americans believe that a charity should return a donor's money if the organization intentionally ignores what the donor wanted done with the money.

Ninety-seven percent of Americans say that if charities spend donations on unauthorized projects that would be a 'serious' matter, according to the survey, which was conducted by the Zogby International polling firm.

Nearly 80 percent said they would stop giving to a charity that accepts contributions for one purpose and uses the money for something else. And 72 percent said the managers of such an organization should be held legally or criminally liable."

'Clock is Ticking' for Year-End Giving | Christianpost.com- Christian News Online , Christian World News

'Clock is Ticking' for Year-End Giving | Christianpost.com- Christian News Online , Christian World News:
snip snip>
"new survey revealed that six in ten consumers are unaware of the tax incentives despite efforts made to increase giving. The December 2005 survey from Kintera Inc., which supports nonprofit organizations in raising funds for such causes as hurricane relief, was conducted on more than 600 consumers.

Additional results showed that 53 percent of respondents will consider making additional charitable contributions or plan to consult their tax advisor about KETRA; 44 percent of consumers planning to give will donate online to meet the Dec. 31 deadline; 32 percent planning to donate will do so via mailed check; and 82 percent of consumers planning to give would consider donating up to $100 in light of KETRA."

The Globe and Mail: Charity finds a new address: Bay Street

The Globe and Mail: Charity finds a new address: Bay Street
SPECIAL REPORT: Tax reforms set in motion nearly 10 years ago have altered philanthropic behaviour in Canada by ushering in an era of ever-larger gifts. Donor-directed giving is not only revolutionizing how charities operate, but it's also opening new opportunities for financial institutions.

Nonprofits serving poor see decline in giving

Nonprofits serving poor see decline in giving: "Nonprofits serving poor see decline in giving
Even though charitable contributions are increasing, donations targeted to help the poor account for a smaller share."

USNews.com: Charity begins with homework (12/26/05)

USNews.com: Charity begins with homework (12/26/05): "Charity Begins With Homework

Yes, it does make you a better person to give to charity (even though you really wanted to treat yourself to that new flat-panel TV). But choosing a charity to support can be overwhelming, especially in a year like 2005, when the legacy of a tsunami and too many hurricanes may have left you feeling that the number of causes far outstrips the contents of your wallet."

Charity isn't free; know how to make yours work best - - - December 18, 2005

Charity isn't free; know how to make yours work best - - - December 18, 2005: "Charity isn't free; know how to make yours work best

Whether your seasonal giving is based in the Jewish principle of Tzdakkah, a Christian or Muslim belief in charity, humanitarian philosophy, or response to colleagues' requests to donate to their favorite group, it is likely that most readers will join the 89 percent of all North Americans who contribute to nonprofit or faith-based organizations each year. Philanthropy means 'love of humanity.' We give because we recognize that we are responsible for each other and for the condition of our world. And — giving feels good."

Katrina swells tax benefits of benevolence - 2005-12-19

Katrina swells tax benefits of benevolence - 2005-12-19: "ith the holiday spirit in the air and Dec. 31 just around the corner, many taxpayers are looking to make last-minute donations to their favorite charities, and Birmingham area fundraisers are working long hours to keep up.

'It's not eight-hour days, it's 12-hour days, and many of us work on Saturdays and Sundays as well,' says Diana Pool-Spencer, board president for the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Alabama chapter."