Friday, January 25, 2008

Wealthy College Endowments Beat the Stock Market - US News and World Report

Wealthy College Endowments Beat the Stock Market - US News and World Report: "The nation's 76 richest colleges earned a market-beating 21.3 percent on their billions of dollars in tax-free endowment funds in the fiscal year ending last June 30, according to a report issued today by the National Association of College and University Business Officers."

Democrat & Chronicle: Local News

Democrat & Chronicle: Local News: "The prospects for achieving such fundraising goals are reasonable, one expert said.

'There has never been a recession in philanthropy in this country. Despite a number of recessions, economic crises, energy crises, sudden changes in administrations, conflicts or wars, giving in the United States has increased, or at least stayed the same every year. It's an encouraging thing for nonprofit institutions,' said Thomas Kissane, senior vice president at Community Counselling Service in New York City, a fundraising consulting firm that works with colleges, universities and all types of nonprofits.

Between 2000 and 2007, UR's endowment grew by about $500 million to $1.7 billion, making it 39th among schools in the annual ranking of endowments by the National Association of College and University Business Officers, released Thursday."

United Way likely to miss $3M. fundraising target

United Way likely to miss $3M. fundraising target: "The United Way of Atlantic County may come up short of meeting its annual fundraising goal for the fourth consecutive year.

While the final figures will not be known until April, the agency has pulled in $2.5 million of the $3 million it hoped to raise last year."

CU fundraising set for record year : CU News : Boulder Daily Camera

CU fundraising set for record year : CU News : Boulder Daily Camera: "Donors gave $84.3 million in six months

By Brittany Anas (Contact)
Friday, January 25, 2008

Donors gave $84.3 million to the University of Colorado in the six-month period that ended Dec. 31, surpassing the $59.2 million raised over the same period the year before, officials announced Thursday

The university raised $133.5 million in donations last fiscal year, which ended June 30, making 2007 the best fundraising year in the school's 131-year history. School officials say they could be on pace to set a new record."

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas helps firms do good works | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Business News

Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas helps firms do good works | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Business News: "But like its larger counterparts, it wants to give back to the community. That's why it joined the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas shortly after opening its doors in 2000.

'We can leverage their staff ... to get help with setting up community service projects,' said Wes Blair, the company's chief operating officer. 'We can focus on providing the service.'

The Entrepreneurs Foundation's mission is to help smaller companies organize volunteer activities.

Essentially, it's 'an outsourced community development department,' said executive director Pam Gerber."

As donations double, Boston Foundation awards $92m - The Boston Globe

As donations double, Boston Foundation awards $92m - The Boston Globe: "It was another banner year for the Boston Foundation.


The foundation, which is a major grant-making organization that distributes tens of millions of dollars to thousands of nonprofit groups annually, more than doubled the amount of donations it received last year, to about $155 million - up from a near-record $72 million the year before.

The windfall brings its total assets to nearly $1 billion, and the foundation increased its grant-making accordingly. It gave away $92 million in 2007, centering its philanthropy on Boston-area organizations that focus on education, workforce development, and housing.

That payout was the largest in the foundation's history."

Tide turns against tiny community's really big event

Tide turns against tiny community's really big event: "The annual sandcastle competition at Harrison Hot Springs is all washed up.

A high tide of financial losses and rainy weather has brought the famous sand-sculpture event crumbling down.

Organizer Bob Bell said he needs $80,000 to fund this year's event, but the money's just not there."

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

O'Keefe's resignation affects donations - News

O'Keefe's resignation affects donations - News: "One week after Chancellor Sean O'Keefe announced his resignation, several University donors said they plan to withhold scheduled donations to the University until they understand how the position will be filled.

'It's not meant as a threat,' said Charlotte Bollinger, Bollinger Shipyards Inc. executive vice president and University donor. 'It's meant as the reality that those pledges came about because of Chancellor O'Keefe. People give to organizations where they understand who is running the organization and what the plan for the money is.'"

Put some charity zip into the new year - icWales

Put some charity zip into the new year - icWales: "Put some charity zip into the new year

Jan 24 2008 by Gary Marsh, Cynon Valley Leader

ARE you looking for an exciting challenge in 2008?

Television presenter Amanda Protheroe Thomas is calling for Cynon Valley people to take part in Prince’s Trust Cymru’s fundraising Zip Line.

The event takes place in Cardiff this weekend (January 26-27).

Amanda will be one of the many thrill-seekers to take up the challenge of zip-sliding from the roof of the Holiday Inn, Cardiff."

Impact of Nonprofits - News - Reston Connection - Connection Newspapers

Impact of Nonprofits - News - Reston Connection - Connection Newspapers: "Calculating how much good numerous nonprofit organizations in the region do is complicated, since it is difficult to put a value behind some services those organizations provide. However, an alliance of 200 nonprofit organizations in the Washington area attempted to do exactly that.
The Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington published its findings in late November, 2007, in a report titled 'Beyond Charity: Recognizing Return on Investment."

Philanthropy website will ask donors for feedback - Third Sector

Philanthropy website will ask donors for feedback - Third Sector: "TheBigGive, the website that enables wealthy philanthropists to browse for charitable projects, is planning to introduce a user-review system.

The system is likely to be similar to the points rating used by online retailer Amazon. Site users would give marks out of five for projects they have read about. 'We will ask visitors to give feedback on projects as they go through the system,' said Jon Brooks, managing director of theBigGive.

'This kind of thing is an important development in the web at the moment,' he added. 'The founder of Wikipedia is trying to challenge Google with a search engine that uses the idea of user-generated content.'"

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Board's Give Or Get More Expensive Now

More than half of nonprofits now require board members to make an annual contribution, with a major share of large ones setting a minimum of $5,000.

That finding, in the new edition of National Board Governance Survey for Not-for-Profit Organizations conducted by the accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP, comes against a backdrop of more and more nonprofits reshaping board of directors practices and policies to fit the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Just as more public companies expect their directors own stock, nonprofits expect an investment as well."

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Charity draws fire for paying generals - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times

Charity draws fire for paying generals - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times: "Retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks was paid $100,000 — out of donations made to wounded veterans — for allowing his name to be used on fundraising appeals by a charity that has come under increasing scrutiny for the way it handles its money.

Lawmakers questioned the ethics of the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes Foundation not only for using donors’ money to pay Franks, but for failing to disclose to potential donors who received the mail solicitations that Franks was paid for his endorsement."

Vindy.com News – Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana Ohio - Training promotes diversity on boards

Vindy.com News – Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana Ohio - Training promotes diversity on boards: "Volunteer Services Agency, in partnership with leaders from the business and nonprofit community, is offering Project Blueprint, a training program designed to promote diversity on nonprofit boards and committees in the Mahoning Valley."

Should a charity’s fundraiser get commission on donations? - Today's Paper > Local News | Bakersfield.com - Kern County news, events, shopping & searc

Should a charity’s fundraiser get commission on donations? - events, shopping & search: "Clark also gets a hefty cut — 10 or 20 percent of the donation, depending on whether he did all or just most of the work. He made $408,767 over the last two years. In 2005-06, his income was 6 percent of the money the mission pulled in from the public.

That commission structure is unusual in fundraising. In fact, the Association of Fundraising Professionals calls it unethical."