Friday, December 14, 2007

The Denver Post - Youth revival of giving caught in Net

The Denver Post - Youth revival of giving caught in Net: "WASHINGTON — The old thinking goes that to change the world, you have to give millions. But young tech-savvy philanthropists are trying to prove otherwise.

Leveraging new technologies and the growth of social networking websites, several online-giving pioneers have been trying to expand the pool of potential donors by democratizing philanthropy and making it more transparent."

No shortage of challenges for the non-profit sector in 2008 - Long Island Business News

No shortage of challenges for the non-profit sector in 2008 - Long Island Business News:

"Typically, donations by individuals account for 85 percent of contributions to non-profit organizations, foundations supply 10 percent and about 5 percent come from corporations, according to Jim Rennert, CFRE, province director of development, The Cenacle Sisters and president of the Long Island chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. “Many corporations and banks in particular, are being acquired by larger entities from other locations in and out of the U.S.,” Rennert said."

Fidelity program aims to nurture future philanthropists - The Boston Globe

Fidelity program aims to nurture future philanthropists - The Boston Globe: "Fidelity program encourages good will
BU among 5 colleges given $15,000 to seed philanthropy
By Sacha Pfeiffer
Globe Staff / December 14, 2007

In an effort to nurture a future generation of philanthropists, the charitable arm of Fidelity Investments is giving five colleges - including Boston University, the only school selected in Massachusetts - each a $15,000 fund students will decide how to distribute as grants.

The program, sponsored by the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, the country's fourth-largest public charity, will put the students in the role of real-life philanthropists. Just as trustees at private foundations and other grant-making organizations do, they will have a chance to form boards of directors, create donor guidelines, research prospective grant recipients, choose which nonprofits should get money and how much they should receive."

Thursday, December 13, 2007

100 million pennies displayed in NYC - Yahoo! News

100 million pennies displayed in NYC - Yahoo! News: "One hundred million pennies for your thoughts on the latest display in Rockefeller Center. New York first lady Silda Wall Spitzer joined hundreds of public school children on Monday to unveil a mass of $1 million in pennies collected for charity. The display, called the Penny Harvest Field, includes an estimated 100 million pennies — plus a few nickels, dimes and quarters that slipped in by mistake."

Traditions of Charity for the Holidays | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Traditions of Charity for the Holidays | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "NEW YORK — Christmas may be fast approaching, but Cynthia McKay isn't interested in receiving any presents _ unless they're cartons or cans of dog food or cat food. McKay, of Castle Rock, Colo., is among thousands of Americans who believe the spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa is best expressed through charity. They aim to help struggling artists, educational programs, the environment, missionary work, needy families or, in McKay's case, unwanted dogs and cats. For many, charitable giving at the holidays has become a family tradition."

Large charitable gifts have little to do with calendar

Large charitable gifts have little to do with calendar:

"Is there a reason all of these major gifts came at the end of the year? There is, but it's not the income tax deduction that makes December charitable giving so popular for Joe Taxpayer. In the case of non profit foundations -- such as Mellon and Hillman -- they must give away at least 5 percent of their assets annually, a requirement from the Internal Revenue Service, in exchange for tax exempt status, said Reed Smith partner Carolyn Duronio, who works with public charities and private foundations. If a foundation falls short of the 5 percent requirement, it has 12 months to make it up. Failure to do so results in an excise tax."

Philanthropic shift - The Boston Globe

Philanthropic shift - The Boston Globe: "Now a Harvard Business School student, Belsky (who is the grandson of Stanley Kaplan, founder of test-prep giant Kaplan Inc.) and other young, affluent Jews like him are at the vanguard of a profound shift in Jewish philanthropy."

Nation & World | In new philanthropy, charity begins online | Seattle Times Newspaper

We post on Nonprofit Technology topics in our AFP Nonprofit Technology Blog here

Nation & World | In new philanthropy, charity begins online | Seattle Times Newspaper:

"In new philanthropy, charity begins online By Philip Rucker The Washington Post WASHINGTON —

The old thinking goes that to change the world, you have to give millions. But tech-savvy philanthropists are trying to prove otherwise. Leveraging new technologies and the growth of social-networking Web sites, several online-giving pioneers have been trying to expand the pool of potential donors by democratizing philanthropy and making it more transparent. America Online founder Steve Case's private foundation today is launching America's Giving Challenge, one of the nation's most ambitious efforts to draw the masses to philanthropy through the Internet (www.casefoundation.org/givingchallenge)."

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

VOA News - Charities Seek Useful Donations from Holiday Shoppers

VOA News - Charities Seek Useful Donations from Holiday Shoppers: "Goats, chickens, even a toilet -- they may not seem like ideal presents for the end of the year holidays, but many charities think they are. Some aid agencies are making unusual gifts their selling point and they want to capitalize on the holiday spirit of giving to help people in the world's poorest countries. But there are questions and doubts over just how donors' contributions are being used, as VOA's Mandy Clark reports from London."

Look Ahead | University fundraising on track - News

Look Ahead | University fundraising on track - News: "Michael Nilsen, Public Affairs Director of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, said the campaign is 'right on track,' especially because of a particularly successful quiet phase of fundraising, which began two years ago and brought in about $1.6 billion from big donors. The campaign began 'with a bang,' Nilsen said."

Find More Money for Charity

Find More Money for Charity: "This is the time of year when we tend to give more thought than usual to people in need. Americans will donate more than $100 billion to good causes between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, according to Charity Navigator. Imagine how much more we could give if we weren't financially strapped by gift-giving, holiday travel, and family feasts. While we're thinking of others, our stressed-out bank accounts eventually start thinking only of their own well-being."

Nonprofits Need Endowments To Survive

Nonprofits Need Endowments To Survive: "What needs to be done is what colleges and universities have known for decades. Endowment funds can be the sustaining monetary programs that provide steady income. Some nonprofits have endowment funds, but not nearly enough nor large enough. The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay has been helping local nonprofits build endowments for the last seven years. Here's how it works:"

The Review

The Review: "Friley and 17 other post members attended the national VFW convention in Kansas City, Mo. back in August. While they were there, the post offered a donation of $35,000 to Operation Uplink. “We thought this was an important program to get behind,” Friley said. “Larger donations have come from collections of VFW posts in a state or from corporations, but this is the single largest donation from a single VFW post.”"

Princeton Business Journal

Princeton Business Journal: "Philanthropy is a key part of a company's identity Tuesday, December 11, 2007 2:11 PM EST By Lauren Otis, Business Editor Is cultivating a philanthropic niche for your business important? Even in times of economic uncertainly, like the present ones? Yes."

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Philanthropy's Largest Gifts Go to Colleges and Universities

Philanthropy's Largest Gifts Go to Colleges and Universities

Young Isaac Launches Annual Philanthropy Program with $8 Blank Check - Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Young Isaac Launches Annual Philanthropy Program with $8 Blank Check - Press Release: "A list of nearly 500 Young Isaac clients and friends are mailed a check with the payee left blank. Each person is encouraged to earmark the $8 to a charity of their choice and perhaps send additional funds at the same time, which Young Isaac does not track."

Monday, December 10, 2007

400 Santas join annual charity run - icWales

400 Santas join annual charity run - icWales: "400 Santas join annual charity run Dec 10 2007 Western Mail HUNDREDS of Santas hot-footed it around a sleepy market town yesterday as part of an annual festive charity fund raiser. Organisers of the Santa Run in Newtown, Powys, praised the “spirit of Christmas” at the conclusion of the annual event."

AFP > About AFP | AFP news & press releases > AFP Leaders Lewis, Pierpont Earn Rosso Medal for Achievement in Ethical Fundraising

AFP > About AFP | AFP news & press releases > AFP Leaders Lewis, Pierpont Earn Rosso Medal for Achievement in Ethical Fundraising: "AFP Leaders Lewis, Pierpont Earn Rosso Medal for Achievement in Ethical Fundraising (Dec. 10, 2007)Patricia Lewis, ACFRE, who served previously as president and chief executive officer of AFP in the 1990s, and Robert Pierpont, CFRE, a long-time member of the association, were honored on Nov. 4 with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University’s Henry A. Rosso Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Ethical Fund Raising."

Cupboards Are Bare at Food Banks - washingtonpost.com

Cupboards Are Bare at Food Banks - washingtonpost.com: "Area food banks are experiencing a critical shortage of supplies as donations drop dramatically and as demand for free and discounted food continues to soar. The Capital Area Food Bank, the region's primary distribution center, reported that it had about 230,000 pounds of goods on its shelves this week, down from 570,000 pounds at this time last year, officials said."

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "The fundraising profession in Canada: Past, present and future

Andy Levy-AjzenkopfBy Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf
December 10, 2007
It’s the mark of any good career that there are institutions dedicated to fostering the next generation of leaders. Whether it is lawyers, doctors, executive directors or machinists, if there’s a recognized school or program that takes students and churns out expert professionals, then that profession has made it. So it is with the Canadian fundraising professional, perhaps the voluntary sector’s most vital cog in the charitable machine."

Eva does it for charity-International Buzz-Entertainment-The Times of India

Eva does it for charity-International Buzz-Entertainment-The Times of India: "The actresses are among a host of celebrities who have come up with their own unique hand-painted creations for the popular sheep-skin boots which will go under the hammer for an Australian company’s art and sole sale."

NCVO - Researching The Voluntary Sector

NCVO - Researching The Voluntary Sector: "UK Giving 2007 Results of the 2006/07 Individual Giving Survey on charitable giving with special reports on gender and causes - NCVO/CAF publication Sunday 9 December 2007"

Businessman set to walk length of Cape Cod for 9/11 charity fund - BostonHerald.com

Businessman set to walk length of Cape Cod for 9/11 charity fund - BostonHerald.com: "snowstorms and icy blasts won’t keep one big-hearted businessman from completing his “Winter Walk for Charity.” On Dec. 18 and 19, Jeffrey Liskov, 37, of Plymouth, a vice president at Fidelity Investments, will walk 100 miles, from Provincetown to Plymouth Rock, in hopes of raising at least $2,500 for the Feal Good Foundation - a nonprofit charity founded in 2005 to aid sick or injured 9/11 rescue workers. “I’m doing the charity walk to raise awareness of a situation that is happening to 9/11 first-responders,” Liskov said."

Mark Tomasik: Nonprofits aid economy : Columns : TCPalm

Mark Tomasik: Nonprofits aid economy : Columns : TCPalm: "At speaking engagements, I sometimes ask Treasure Coast residents to name the best qualities of their community. Inevitably, someone will mention philanthropy. Indeed, our region has a well-deserved reputation for generous giving and for volunteer work."

Nonprofits borrowing brand tactics for year-round relevance

Nonprofits borrowing brand tactics for year-round relevance: "However, this is a pattern that is changing. Nonprofits are increasingly borrowing strategies and tactics from brand marketers, and as a result, many are enjoying a higher profile."

Charity wristbands get Red Arrows' backing - Peterborough Today

Charity wristbands get Red Arrows' backing - Peterborough Today: "A CHARITY campaign which was set up by a teacher and a group of his pupils is being given support from all over the world.

Stamford’s Richard Brewster set up the Supporting Our Troops charity with pupils at Stamford School and fellow colleague Falklands veteran Marc Jackson, because of the school’s strong links with the armed forces. Since then he has been amazed at how much support the charity has gained.

The England cricket team agreed to wear the special wristbands and One Day International skipper Paul Collingwood has continued to wear the band since the Lord’s test series – including at the 20/20 World Cup in South Africa."