Friday, January 15, 2010

- Courant.com-Storytelling Expert Shares Secrets Of Using Stories To Promote Nonprofits

Your Reader-Submitted Articles - Courant.com: "Carol Mon, of the Connecticut Storytelling Center, addressed a crowd of professionals and community leaders of local Jewish agencies and synagogues about the effectiveness of storytelling to promote the mission of nonprofit organizations."

Haiti earthquake aid pledged by country: full data | News | guardian.co.uk

Haiti earthquake aid pledged by country: full data | News | guardian.co.uk: "Haiti earthquake aid pledged by country

Haiti's quake has apparently galvanised the world. Find out how much different countries and organisations have pledged to the aid effort"

Business & Economics Articles | Corporate HQs Mean More Charity For Nearby Nonprofits | Miller-McCune Online Magazine

Business & Economics Articles | Corporate HQs Mean More Charity For Nearby Nonprofits | Miller-McCune Online Magazine: "Tax incentives and other subsidies to attract corporate headquarters have long been justified by claims of their positive impact on local nonprofits. Researchers David Card, Kevin F. Hallock and Enrico Moretti set out to find out if this claim is empirically true. Their research, to be published in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Public Economics, indicates that the answer is yes, but not primarily due to corporate largesse."

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Goodwill fights job crisis | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Goodwill fights job crisis | detnews.com | The Detroit News: "Goodwill fights job crisis
Nonprofit ups profile to connect employers, clients in tough times
Karen Dybis / Special to The Detroit News

Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit has one main purpose: To find people gainful employment.

So you can imagine that the past 12 months felt like some of the worst in its history.

In recent years, Goodwill has been able to place between 1,200 and 1,400 clients -- everyone from the unemployed to the mentally and physically disabled -- in full-time jobs. This year, however, the organization will be lucky to place 500."

How to check out charity before making donations

How to check out charity before making donations: "Don't be misled by organizations providing what's known as a 'tax ID number.' These numbers do not show that an organization is a charity; they're simply IRS-required employer identification numbers. Michael Nilsen, public affairs manager with the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Alexandria, Va., says he would be suspicious of any group whose members tried to use its tax ID number to gain your support."

FCC Lifts Ban on Radio Fundraising for Haiti Relief - Reviews by PC Magazine

FCC Lifts Ban on Radio Fundraising for Haiti Relief - Reviews by PC Magazine: "As more news emerged Wednesday about the widespread devastation caused by an earthquake in Haiti, aide organizations flooded the Web with ways to donate online or via text message. Now, the Federal Communications Commission is getting onboard and will temporarily lift a ban on fundraising by non-commercial TV and radio stations so that they can accept funds to help the victims.

The FCC rules generally prohibit these stations from on-air fundraising for anything else other than the station itself. A non-commercial station is one that does not accept advertising and, therefore, does not have to pay licensing fees to the FCC."

The NonProfit Times - Getting Relief To Quake-Stricken Haiti Is Perilous For Charities

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "The devastation caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday is so widespread that many relief agencies also have ceased to be able to function. Even if relief supplies and efforts have been mobilized, delivery is proving to be almost impossible.

Fundraising, which usually jumps when a catastrophe occurs, might not even be of immediate help if the situation in Haiti continues as is."

Education Foundations Trim Giving - Philanthropy.com

Education Foundations Trim Giving - Philanthropy.com: "Education Foundations Trim Giving

By Ian Wilhelm

With the bad economy taking a toll on their assets, many foundations that support education causes decreased their giving last year, says a new report."

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Baby boomers turn retirement into a time for volunteering | dailyrecord.com | Daily Record

Baby boomers turn retirement into a time for volunteering | dailyrecord.com | Daily Record: "Nearly 40 percent of Americans increased their volunteering when they retired, according to the AARP's September 2008 'More to Give' report, a study of civic engagement among what it terms 'Baby Boomers, the Silent Generation and the Greatest Generation.'

Forty-one percent, almost 45 million Americans, indicated they were likely to increase the amount they will volunteer within the next five years."

AFP Responds to Haiti Earthquake - AFP

AFP Responds to Haiti Earthquake - AFP: "AFP Responds to Haiti Earthquake

Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake on Jan. 12. In response to the critical and overwhelming challenges that the country now faces, AFP has put together a list of organizations providing relief efforts.

This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but simply an easy way that members can give to support the relief efforts. We know that we have many members who work for organizations involved in the relief efforts."

Finalists Announced for Chase Community Giving - Philanthropy.com

Finalists Announced for Chase Community Giving - Philanthropy.com: "Finalists Announced for Chase Community Giving

More than one million Facebook users voted in the first round of Chase Community Giving. The financial-services company has announced the 100 small and local charities that received the most votes and will continue on to the second round of the $5-million competition."

Arts Council stripped of $150,000 in funding | pnj.com | Pensacola News Journal

Arts Council stripped of $150,000 in funding | pnj.com | Pensacola News Journal: "Commissioners voted unanimously to rescind the county's funding agreement in light of the Arts Council's financial troubles.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to terminate the Arts Council's lease at the Old Escambia County Courthouse."

Philanthropy Front and Center - New York: Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Information

We have posted a variety of links on the Haiti Earthquake on
The AFP Disaster Relief Blog


Philanthropy Front and Center - New York: Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Information: "Haiti: Earthquake Relief and Information

The earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince last night has been devastating. New Yorkers who want to contribute to the relief efforts getting underway can follow the web sites below for ways to help:"

Chase Community Giving on Facebook | Chase Trust

Chase Community Giving on Facebook | Chase Trust: "Congratulations to our Top 100 Charities

Thanks to your votes, these 100 charities will receive $25k each to help them better serve your communities. Over the last several weeks, each has submitted their Big Idea for what they would do with $1MM. Check out their proposals and be sure to return on Jan 15 to vote for your favorites."

Alexandria-Arlington news in brief -A vote for nonprofit group could be worth $1 million

Chase Community Giving Challenge heads for Round 2 on Jan 15.


Alexandria-Arlington news in brief - washingtonpost.com: "A vote for nonprofit group could be worth $1 million

The Arlington Street People's Assistance Network was recently notified by Chase Bank that the organization is eligible for a $1 million donation."

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Six Types of Wealthy Donors - Resource Center - AFP

Six Types of Wealthy Donors - Resource Center - AFP: "Six Types of Wealthy Donors

(Jan. 12, 2010) A new study identifies six types of high net worth donors and explains what motivates them to give."

CharityVillage® Leading change

CharityVillage® Leading change: "There has been much research done on the effects of change on an organization and an individual. The approach to change has an impact on how well it is received and the level of resistance people will feel and act on. Although change is a natural part of life and business, people tend to have a natural resistance to change. How people are supported through the transition and how they view the transition can determine whether the effects of change last for months or years. As a business owner, manager, or team leader, your leadership style has a huge impact on how your people react to change, whether it be positive or negative. Understanding the effects of change will help you lead your people through the process more effectively."

Fundraising in the Downturn: Library Budgets 2010 - 1/15/2010 - Library Journal

Fundraising in the Downturn: Library Budgets 2010 - 1/15/2010 - Library Journal: "Where fundraising fits in

In the face of such an assault, some donors can be called upon to step up. According to Donna Bero, executive director of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, donors “don't want to see what they've already given get squandered.” However, by and large, the experts agreed that asking for money to fill a gap in public funding generally isn't the right approach. “People don't want to give to turn on the lights,” said Cooper. “They want to give to make a good library a great library.”"

5 Trends that Will Affect Online Fundraising in 2010 | Network for Good Learning Center - Learn how to raise money online for your nonprofit

5 Trends that Will Affect Online Fundraising in 2010 | Network for Good Learning Center - Learn how to raise money online for your nonprofit: "No one can say for sure what 2010 will bring. Will there be an economic recovery? Will direct mail continue to thrive? Will more and more donors continue to turn to the Web as their preferred means of giving?

Last year the Chronicle of Philanthropy shared their 'Trends That Will Affect Fund Raising in 2009,' penned by Robert F. Sharpe, a planned-giving consultant in Memphis.

In 2010 Network for Good has taken a crack at the five trends we've seen (with an online spin):"

Monday, January 11, 2010

A flurry of last-minute giving lifted charities' holiday appeals -

A flurry of last-minute giving lifted charities' holiday appeals -: "Envelopes are still being unsealed and checks processed, but early indications suggest that December brought mixed results for charity fundraising.

Many non-profit groups reported significant drops that could force them to cut even deeper into the services they provide."

Editorial: Community rallies to fill Red Kettles | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern

Editorial: Community rallies to fill Red Kettles | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern: "Consistent with its charitable nature, it comes as no surprise that the Oshkosh community stepped up to make the Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle campaign a record-breaking success, not an easy task given the current economy that still finds people unemployed or under employed. Donations totaled $172,960, which is nearly $21,000 more than the agency's $152,000 goal and shattered the old mark of $131,000 in 2008, according to officials from the Oshkosh Salvation Army."

CEP | Why Haven’t Foundations Made More Progress in Becoming Strategic? (part 2) | The Center for Effective Philanthropy

CEP | Why Haven’t Foundations Made More Progress in Becoming Strategic? (part 2) | The Center for Effective Philanthropy: "In the previous post, I explored the difficulty of developing clear goals and being disciplined in sticking with them as one reason why foundations are not more strategic. This post looks at a second topic, “unique positioning.” The CEP report argues that business strategy is different than foundation strategy, in part because the concept of unique positioning is less relevant for philanthropy than for business."

Report: Maryland nonprofits gained jobs in '08 despite recession - washingtonpost.com

Report: Maryland nonprofits gained jobs in '08 despite recession - washingtonpost.com: "Maryland's nonprofit organizations gained jobs in 2008 despite the recession, according to a Johns Hopkins University study released Monday, even as the state's businesses lost jobs."