Friday, January 11, 2008

www.kansascity.com | 01/10/2008 | AS I SEE IT: Increase homegrown leadership for nonprofits

www.kansascity.com | 01/10/2008 | AS I SEE IT: Increase homegrown leadership for nonprofits: "Bartle’s solution? A rigorous, college-based program to train and certify future nonprofit sector leaders, connect them to jobs at organizations in need of talent, and help launch meaningful careers of public service."

Editorial: Defining roles, responsibilities | Hutchinson Leader

Editorial: Defining roles, responsibilities | Hutchinson Leader: "The focus will be Policy Governance, a registered and trademarked term that defines a set of concepts and principles by which a governing board carries out its activities. The person credited with creating it is John Carver, who has written more than 200 articles and six books on the subject, including “Boards that Make a Difference” and “Reinventing Your Board.”"

SunHerald.com : Bayer Corporation Renames Its U.S. Foundation, Refocuses Charitable Giving Areas

SunHerald.com : Bayer Corporation Renames Its U.S. Foundation, Refocuses Charitable Giving Areas: "PITTSBURGH, Jan. 10 --
Bayer Corporation announced today it has changed the name of its corporate philanthropic arm to Bayer USA Foundation (from Bayer Foundation) and, under the new name, refocused one of the Foundation's four strategic giving areas, while maintaining the other three."

The NonProfit Times - One Third Of Donors Skip Giving In Some Years

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "One Third Of Donors Skip Giving In Some Years

Roughly six in 10 U.S. households contribute to charity routinely, according new findings from the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study (COPPS) at Indiana University.

The ongoing survey asked the same 8,000 families about their charitable gifts made in 2000, 2002 and 2004. While the total percentage of households that gave was similar in all three years (67 to 69 percent), it was not always the same households. The study found that a fairly large proportion of all U.S. households -- nearly one third -- shift between donating and not donating."

'06 charitable grants exceed $400 million in Colorado : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News

'06 charitable grants exceed $400 million in Colorado : Updates : The Rocky Mountain News: "Charitable grants from Colorado-based groups topped $400 million in 2006, a gain of more than 50 percent from a giving study conducted two years earlier.

Foundations and organizations such as United Way donated more than $412 million to nonprofits throughout the state, up from $272 million the last time grants were measured in 2004, according to the Colorado Association of Funders."

DailyProgress.com | Santa Fund collects record $129,090.71

DailyProgress.com | Santa Fund collects record $129,090.71: "Charlottesville-area residents and businesses were more generous than ever during the holiday season.

Donors contributed a record-breaking amount to the Santa Fund,"

Is Direct Mail Dead? - Philanthropy.com

Via The Chronicle
Is Direct Mail Dead? - Philanthropy.com: "January 11, 2008
Is Direct Mail Dead?

A new report on the fund-raising performance of nonprofit groups shows that charities are not earning as much money through direct-mail appeals as they have in years past.

And news of that report — by the Boston consulting company Target Analysis Group — has prompted many writers to urge nonprofit groups to take steps to adapt to changing trends."

Hampden couple's $1.5M to bolster innovators at UM

Hampden couple's $1.5M to bolster innovators at UM: "ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine marked a significant milestone in its capital campaign Thursday with a $1.5 million gift from a well-known Hampden couple."

Thursday, January 10, 2008

newsobserver.com | Universities consider naming rights

newsobserver.com | Universities consider naming rights: "But for the right amount of money, they might bend the rules from here on out.

So in addition to old-school philanthropy, many are taking a close look at the kind of deals that have made corporate naming rights a staple of professional sports.

No one is about to slap the name of a bottled water company across the Old Well at UNC-Chapel Hill. But local universities are seeing the kind of money typically offered for 'termed contracts' at arenas and stadiums. Many would like a piece of that pie."

Quad-Cities Online

Quad-Cities Online: "Students at Augustana College in Rock Island are eagerly anticipating this coming Saturday, Jan. 12, and their fifth annual Augustana College Dance Marathon.

Dance Marathon is the largest philanthropic event on the Augustana College campus. Students have raised over $43,000 in the past four years to benefit University of Iowa Children's Hospital through Children's Miracle Network. This year, students involved with Dance Marathon are hoping to raise more than $20,000 for this pediatric center of excellence."

The Ithaca Journal - www.theithacajournal.com - Ithaca, NY

The Ithaca Journal - www.theithacajournal.com - Ithaca, NY: "Culture, museums serve people from all walks of life
Frank Robinson / Guest Column

In his op-ed essay, “Tax breaks may not encourage charitable giving” (Dec. 31), Daniel Grant maintains that the current system of tax deductions for gifts to cultural institutions does not benefit society in general or encourage further gifts, and “imposes the desires of the rich” on those institutions and on society."

PNNOnline

PNNOnline: "As Anonymous Gifts Increase, Pressure to Reveal Donors Grows
Date Thursday, January 10 @ 05:25:51
Topic General Fundraising


Anonymous giving to U.S. charities by major donors is increasing while nonprofits find themselves under increased pressure to disclose benefactors' names, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Last year, there were thirty-seven gifts of at least $5 million by donors who refused to have their names publicly announced, according to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. That figure is up from twenty-seven anonymous gifts in 2006 and thirteen in 2004. Publicity-shy donors say they choose to donate anonymously to give back to their communities while avoiding the headaches of a high public profile, such as pushy fundraisers, jealous relatives with less charitable plans for the money, and even risks to their personal safety and that of their families. Some give without fanfare for religious reasons, regarding anonymous gifts as a more sincere or even higher form of giving."

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Amarillo.com | Opinion: Column - Roger Remling: Charities fighting uphill battle 01/09/08

Amarillo.com | Opinion: Column - Roger Remling: Charities fighting uphill battle 01/09/08: "Certainly our local United Way of Amarillo and Canyon is doing just that. The donors and volunteers should be commended for their efforts this year, as I expect reaching the $5 million mark was not an easy task. Still, the need is great as we can see, when organizations like the Maverick Club cut back on services that have been a part of their legacy for years.

One can certainly see the challenge for non-profits in light of the many forecasts for an economic slowdown. People are less likely to give when there is less financial certainty in their own lives.

Hopefully we won't see a drop in 2008 like charities saw in 2001 when aggregate donations dropped 4 percent across the board."

Change helps nonprofits stay accountable, viable | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

Change helps nonprofits stay accountable, viable | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA: "More significant change is that which has occurred in the nonprofit sector over the past 10 years or so. In my mother’s day, nonprofit board members (and she was one) gathered regularly, often in mid-mornings with coffee and cookies, to discuss the good works their organization was doing and to plan events or other fundraising activities.

Fast-forward to today, and board agendas are filled – or should be – with in-depth financial reports, strategic planning, assuring compliance with growing regulations, and, yes, working on fundraising.

The sheer numbers have something to do with this difference. Talk about change. In 1993 there were 13,002 nonprofits identified by the IRS as tax-exempt. In 2007 there were 24,007. That’s nearly double in just 14 years. In the past year, the Secretary of State’s Office reported recording new nonprofits in Washington at the rate of 13.2 a day."

San Jose Mercury News - Editorial: Gates' philanthropy deserves emulation

San Jose Mercury News - Editorial: Gates' philanthropy deserves emulation: "As Gates moves into Act Two of his career, he's carrying out his philanthropic calling with sweeping goals and steadfast determination. He serves as an inspiration to other individuals - and companies - with business fortunes that could be channeled into saving lives, improving health and education or other good works. Silicon Valley executives (take note, people in Cupertino, Mountain View and Redwood Shores) should follow Gates' example.

Gates' philanthropy already has made a difference on a scale that dwarfs Andrew Carnegie or John D. Rockefeller. The Gates foundation, with $37.6 billion in assets, has donated $14 billion since 2000. Its mission is ramping up even more, after investor Warren E. Buffett in 2006 pledged more than $30 billion of his wealth to the Gates' philanthropy. That means the foundation by 2009 will double its annual giving, to an awe-inspiring $3 billion-plus a year, comparable to last year's revenue for Adobe Systems."

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Direct-Mail Appeals Suffer, New Survey Finds - Philanthropy.com

Direct-Mail Appeals Suffer, New Survey Finds - Philanthropy.com: "Direct-Mail Appeals Suffer, New Survey Finds

By Holly Hall

Charities’ direct-marketing appeals are not raising as much money as they have in years past, and charities are losing more donors and attracting fewer new supporters, according to a new survey.

The quarterly survey, conducted by Target Analysis Group, a Boston consulting company, is based on more than 70 million donations of less than $5,000 apiece made by 39 million donors, mostly in response to the direct-mail solicitations of large nonprofit organizations. The 72 organizations in the survey represent a range of causes, including animal welfare, environmental, health, social service, international relief, and advocacy groups."

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source

NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source: "When I come in in the morning, my biggest nightmare since I've been here has been Meals on Wheels,' Sherri Napier, Senior Center director, said.

Napier said Monday that the center runs nine daily routes. Volunteer drivers cover seven of the routes, which range from 10 to 37 meals each to be delivered. Two trucks, driven by employees, deliver about 90 meals a day.

'You've got to get in first thing in the morning and make sure all your volunteers are going to show up, and if they don't, you have to plan and plan and plan because the meals are going to start going out,' Napier said. 'You can't leave hungry people out there.'"

Heifer wins highest architecture honor

Heifer wins highest architecture honor: "Heifer International’s headquarters received the American Institute of Architects’ highest honor Monday for its ecologically minded design as the organization prepares to break ground for an expansion."

Monday, January 07, 2008

Seminary bequeathed $6.1 million, its largest gift - NJ.com

Seminary bequeathed $6.1 million, its largest gift - NJ.com: "BETHLEHEM | The estate of a man whose ancestors were the first Moravian settlers in the region has donated $6.1 million to Moravian Theological Seminary, the seminary announced Friday.

The donation from the late Charles D. Couch marks the largest single gift in the seminary's history and the second major contribution it has received in the past year."

Hospitals report record fund-raising results

Hospitals report record fund-raising results: "Hospitals report record fund-raising results

January 5, 2008

By PATRICIA ANSTETT

FREE PRESS MEDICAL WRITER

Contributions from Michiganders and companies helped to make 2007 a record-breaking fund-raising year for many hospital systems despite the state's slumping economy.

In many cases, donations from grateful patients, board members, employees and civic leaders helped hospitals increase value by supporting costly new construction and technology or by converting semi-private rooms to private spaces."

Charity fears missing mail means lost donations -- dailypress.com

Charity fears missing mail means lost donations -- dailypress.com: "RICHMOND, Va. - A charity that helps children with hearing and speech difficulties fears that thousands of dollars in donations may have been lost because its mail was misplaced.

Workers at the Scottish Rite Childhood Learning Center put the mail on hold while they were out for the holidays and it disappeared from a Richmond post office. The U.S. Postal Service is investigating."

The Morning News: News : Taxing Charity

The Morning News: News : Taxing Charity: "FAYETTEVILLE -- Springdale's bingo balls may stop bouncing soon.

A weekly bingo game run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Springdale has lost about $1,500 a month since the state legalized charitable bingo in July.

State taxes are cutting away at the money once raised for local charities, said post quartermaster Randy George.

'Some people think it's not even worth having now,' he said about the long-standing bingo game that attracts about 100 people to the post each Wednesday."

GoErie.com: Donor's identity of greater interest outside Erie

GoErie.com: Donor's identity of greater interest outside Erie: "When Yahoo included the $100 million anonymous gift to the Erie Community Foundation, which will benefit many social-service agencies, among its 10 most inspirational stories of 2007, the calls started again.

You might remember the deep interest reporters from across the globe took in this story in November. A representative from the British Broadcasting Corp. checked back last week to see if Erie was pleased to make the 'story of the year' category."

Hawaii contributors set Christmas fund record - The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaii contributors set Christmas fund record - The Honolulu Advertiser: "Hawai'i's kindness and generosity reached new heights in 2007."