Thursday, December 20, 2012

Charleston Regional Business Journal | Charleston, SC

Charleston Regional Business Journal | Charleston, SC: The holiday season is magical, something to truly enjoy — through fellowship and celebration with colleagues and friends, through family traditions, and through donations of time, talent and treasure to nonprofits we care about. All three of these are true for me, things I enjoy — and take joy — in doing.

CFO Fitness Quiz: Are You Tough Enough for the Caring Sector?

CFO Fitness Quiz: Are You Tough Enough for the Caring Sector?: Contemplating a switch to the nonprofit sector? Here are seven questions that can surface your readiness for the Olympic-level challenge of financial management in the social sector.

Five Secrets to Keep Your Fundraiser from Losing Money

Five Secrets to Keep Your Fundraiser from Losing Money: Five Secrets to Keep Your Fundraiser from Losing Money

December 2012

Reprinted from the GuideStar Blog

A 2007 study by Charity Navigator revealed that for many nonprofit groups, fundraisers are actually fund-losers: the average organization spends $1.33 on an event for every $1.00 the event raises. Efficient events, however, spent as little as $0.71 for every $1.00 raised, making the event a financial as well as a social success.

Hearts Broken - How to Help Newtown

Hearts Broken - How to Help Newtown: Update: The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported on Tuesday that donations are pouring in to several memorial funds set up for the families of the Sandy Hook victims. More Than $1-Million Raised for Newtown's Survivors.

It's been a very hard week for everyone. The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Friday took away our breath and our joy.

My emotions have been both grief and helplessness. But I also experienced a deep need to do something, anything to help.

IRS Offers Tips for Year-End Giving

IRS Offers Tips for Year-End Giving: RS Offers Tips for Year-End Giving

IRS Videos: Exempt Organizations Select Check: English | Spanish
Fair Market Value of Charitable Donations: English | Spanish | ASL

Podcasts: Exempt Organizations Select Check: English | Spanish

IR-2012-102, Dec. 19, 2012

WASHINGTON — Individuals and businesses making contributions to charity should keep in mind some key tax provisions that have taken effect in recent years, especially those affecting donations of clothing and household items and monetary donations.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Philanthropy beat: Hotel donates instead of liquidates | StarTribune.com

Philanthropy beat: Hotel donates instead of liquidates | StarTribune.com: Home
Local
Minneapolis

Philanthropy beat: Hotel donates instead of liquidates

Article by: Jean Hopfensperger , Star Tribune
Updated: December 17, 2012 - 7:21 PM


When the Millennium Hotel in downtown Minneapolis closed its doors for a major renovation last week, it did something new for the upscale hotel chain.

The hotel donated about 1,900 pieces of furniture -- as in dressers, bed frames, lamps, desks and chairs -- to local charities instead of shipping them off to liquidators or landfills.

Council on Foundations 'Redesigns' Organization and Sheds 19 Jobs - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Council on Foundations 'Redesigns' Organization and Sheds 19 Jobs - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Council on Foundations ‘Redesigns’ Organization and Sheds 19 Jobs

December 17, 2012, 8:26 am

By Caroline Preston

The Council on Foundations, an organization that represents many of the nation’s biggest grant makers, has eliminated 19 positions in the last two months, part of a “redesign” its president says will enable the organization to better serve its members.

N.Y. Nonprofits Can Now E-File - TheNonProfitTimes

N.Y. Nonprofits Can Now E-File - TheNonProfitTimes: Charities registered with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau (AGCB) may now file their reports online. New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the move will allow release

Monday, December 17, 2012

More than 100 students complete nonprofit minor | Philanthropy Journal

More than 100 students complete nonprofit minor | Philanthropy Journal: Hardworking students in the nonprofit studies minor helped the Institute for Nonprofits achieve a significant milestone last week when its number of graduates passed the century mark.

The 10 students who completed the program and were commended on Friday brought the tally to 104 graduates since the minor was established in 2006. Another 110 NC State University undergrads are currently enrolled.

How to Respond to a National Tragedy | Nonprofit Marketing | Getting Attention

How to Respond to a National Tragedy | Nonprofit Marketing | Getting Attention: How to Respond to a National Tragedy

Like you, my heart and head are heavy in the wake of Friday’s tragedy in Newtown, CT. Especially since I feel so helpless.

My gut is that’s how many of your supporters and prospects are feeling as well, and what will be top of mind for at least a few more days. So be responsive, even though you’re pressured by the year-end push for support.

Looming Tax Hikes Boost DAFs - TheNonProfitTimes

Looming Tax Hikes Boost DAFs - TheNonProfitTimes: Looming Tax Hikes Boost DAFs - 12/17/2012
By Patrick Sullivan


It seems as if the words “fiscal cliff” can be seen everywhere. For most Americans, the impending tax increases and spending cuts are something over which to lose sleep, but tax uncertainty is fueling major growth for the donor advised fund (DAF) of San Francisco, Calif.-based Schwab Charitable. Between July and October 2012, Schwab Charitable saw its total assets under management increase by $188 million, or 74 percent, compared to the same period in 2011.

Nonprofits looking for political clout - SFGate

Nonprofits looking for political clout - SFGate: Staub heads a political action committee trying to increase the political clout of the nonprofit sector in federal elections. Most of the committee's members are affiliated with charitable organizations.

"We want to be a political player in a positive way," said Staub, chairman of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Political Action Committee, an umbrella organization for charitable fundraisers. "There are lots of interest groups, and we decided we needed to have a greater voice for philanthropy."

The Charitable Deduction and Why It Needs to Stay - NYTimes.com

The Charitable Deduction and Why It Needs to Stay - NYTimes.com: WHATEVER else we do about the tax code, we need to save the charitable deduction, which has done so much good in our country and springs directly from some of our deepest values.

Friday, December 14, 2012

#GivingTuesday: Hype or Hope? | Michael Rosen Says…

#GivingTuesday: Hype or Hope? | Michael Rosen Says…: #GivingTuesday: Hype or Hope?

A headline at Bloomberg excitedly gushed, “Why GivingTuesday is the Social Innovation Idea of the Year.”

We’ve had Black Friday immediately following Thanksgiving. We’ve had Cyber Monday on the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving. Now, on the heels of those two days dedicated to consumerism, we have Giving Tuesday, as a way to promote philanthropy on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.

Number of library volunteers has risen by more than half in four years

Number of library volunteers has risen by more than half in four years: The UK Annual Libraries Survey, published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, reveals that 23,397 people volunteered in UK libraries in 2011/12

The number of volunteers working in UK libraries has risen by more than half in the past four years, according to new figures.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s UK Annual Libraries Survey, published this week, shows there were 23,397 people who volunteered in UK libraries in 2011/12 compared with 15,008 in 2007/8 – a rise of 56 per cent.

Progressive Grant-Making Collaborative Ceases Operations - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Progressive Grant-Making Collaborative Ceases Operations - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Progressive Grant-Making Collaborative Ceases Operations

December 14, 2012, 8:18 am

By Caroline Preston

The Funding Exchange, a 33-year-old organization that helped to pioneer social-justice giving, announced this week that it is ceasing operations.

Financial woes stemming from declining investment earnings from the group’s donor-advised funds led to the decision, said Casey Cook, executive director of the Bread and Roses Community Fund and chairman of the Funding Exchange’s board.

Nonprofit money crunch spurs urge to merge - San Francisco Business Times

Nonprofit money crunch spurs urge to merge - San Francisco Business Times: Nonprofits are merging to make ends meet.

With stiff competition for resources, looming government budgets cuts and more demand for measurable results from funders, nonprofits are joining forces to stay afloat.

2 nonprofits serving children in need merge | Metro Louisville - WLKY Home

2 nonprofits serving children in need merge | Metro Louisville - WLKY Home: Text Size:


LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Two local nonprofits have merged, creating one of Kentucky's largest agencies catering to children in need.

Association works to boost private colleges, universities � Philanthropy North Carolina

Association works to boost private colleges, universities � Philanthropy North Carolina: Working to address all those issues and others affecting private higher education in the state is North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.

Formed in 1969, the Raleigh-based association serves as the statewide office for the state’s 36 private, nonprofit colleges and universities.

And Now for Something Different on the Charitable Tax Deduction . . . editor notes issue #83 | Blue Avocado

And Now for Something Different on the Charitable Tax Deduction . . . editor notes issue #83 | Blue Avocado: And Now for Something Different on the Charitable Tax Deduction . . . editor notes issue #83

How #GivingTuesday Built a Powerful Network - Social Good - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

How #GivingTuesday Built a Powerful Network - Social Good - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: For Henry Timms, the unexpected success of #GivingTuesday isn't a story about how Twitter and Facebook helped fuel a national day of giving.

Instead, the deputy director of New York's 92nd Street Y says it is a testament to the power of community.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Reductionism in the So-Called Science of Giving? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Reductionism in the So-Called Science of Giving? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: As we are in the end-of-year period when people traditionally think about making charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations and causes, we recognize that there are almost as many reasons to give as there are donors. But what donors give to and what they should expect to see from their gift has been a fairly hot topic, particularly with the growing emphasis on outcomes in the sector. As one article in NPQ has reported, there have been many studies and much investment in looking at what donors want. With no firm conclusions to be had, there are nonetheless legions of advocates who are wed to the idea that even if metrics are not what donors want as deciders in their giving, they should be. Now, in a blog on the New York Times website, Tina Rosenberg writes about a researcher from Oxford University, Toby Ord, who suggests that donors should give to those organizations that are the most effective in having an impact on the most significant issues (by the way, if you read this blog posting, do open up the comments section, as there have been some very interesting and intelligent responses posted there from around the world).

IRS Gives Additional Time to Small, Automatically Revoked Tax-Exempt Organizations Affected by Hurricane Sandy | Planned Giving Design Center

IRS Gives Additional Time to Small, Automatically Revoked Tax-Exempt Organizations Affected by Hurricane Sandy | Planned Giving Design Center: As part of the administration’s efforts to bring all available resources to bear to support state and local partners impacted by Hurricane Sandy, the IRS is postponing the filing date until Feb. 1, 2013, for some small tax-exempt organizations affected by Hurricane Sandy to take advantage of transitional relief when applying for reinstatement of their exempt status.

Good Data Help Ensure Collaboration Success

massnonprofit.org ::: The potential benefits are obvious: better service to clients through program synergy, lower overhead costs via economies of scale, increased scope of service, or simply letting someone else do something that they’re better at. However, there are complexities at every turn, and critical decisions need to be made in every phase of the process.

This is why using data to help shape the collaboration process is so important.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Catholic Charities has new way to take services to poor, needy | Fort Worth | News from ...

Catholic Charities has new way to take services to poor, needy | Fort Worth | News from ...: Catholic Charities now provides more than three dozen services, including utility bill assistance, financial counseling, English and parenting classes, and help for refugees. The agency, with a $19.1 million annual budget, served 124,096 people last year, compared to about 50,000 people nine years ago.

The agency's efforts got a big boost Monday when it unveiled its newest tool -- a shiny, new customized bus dubbed the "mobile unit" -- that will be used to expand service such as financial counseling and English classes far outside the city or as an outreach to the homeless living in shadows along city streets.

Leadership Lessons From Nonprofit Mergers And Closings | Fast Company

Leadership Lessons From Nonprofit Mergers And Closings | Fast Company: Financial challenges facing nonprofits are driving organizational mergers and closings. Because the role of the nonprofit board is to ensure that the organization’s assets are used for designated purposes, the board must be thoughtful in deciding if and when a nonprofit is no longer viable, and then exploring options for the future. There are valuable leadership lessons to be learned from boards that have undertaken the serious responsibility of merging or closing a nonprofit.

Grateful patient philanthropy and the doctor-patient relationship

Some additional Grateful Patient material 

Grateful patient philanthropy and the doctor-patient relationship: Grateful patient philanthropy and the doctor-patient relationship

December 10, 2012 in Other

Physicians associated with "patient philanthropy" – financial donations from grateful patients to a medical institution – are concerned with how these contributions might affect their own behavior and attitudes, and how they might impact the doctor-patient relationship. A new study by Scott Wright, MD and Joseph A. Carrese, MD, MPH of Johns Hopkins University, and colleagues, explores this topic. The paper considers the perspectives of internal medicine physicians working in an academic medical center who have had experiences with these situations. Their findings appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer.

IAEE Plans Co-Location With ASAE Annual Meeting: Associations Now

IAEE Plans Co-Location With ASAE Annual Meeting: Associations Now: With all the recent talk about co-location of meetings, it only makes sense that ASAE would jump on board, right?

That’s why the association is co-locating with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events’ Midyear Meeting during the 2013 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Atlanta. The events overlap on Monday, August 5, and Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

Philanthropy study funded by $5 million grant

Philanthropy study funded by $5 million grant: How do you study philanthropy? Through philanthropy, apparently.

UW-Madison and two other colleges are sharing a $5 million grant to explore the motives behind philanthropy and what strategies can be developed to get the most dollars.

The Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) is a collaboration among UW-Madison, the University of Chicago and Georgia State. The $5 million grant is from the John Templeton Foundation.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Ten Tips for Staying Sane While Fundraising This Holiday Season

Ten Tips for Staying Sane While Fundraising This Holiday Season: Ten Tips for Staying Sane While Fundraising This Holiday Season

December 2012

Reprinted from Benevon

Dreading the holidays? You are not alone. Rather than falling prey to the slippery slope of holiday overwhelm and busy-work, follow these top 10 tips for mastering the season while developing long-term relationships with your donors.

Donor Intent Decision Appealed - TheNonProfitTimes

Donor Intent Decision Appealed - TheNonProfitTimes: Donor Intent Decision Appealed - 12/06/2012

A dispute regarding the development of a suburban Maryland farm will continue as the family behind the original lawsuit has filed an appeal.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Rubin sided with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in granting summary judgment, saying that the sale of the 138-acre Belward Farm for $5 million was an arm’s length real estate transaction rather than a gift. A formal trial was scheduled to begin Nov. 13 but both parties filed for summary judgment in September.

Ed Norton's Crowdrise Brings Fundraising (And Fun) To The Masses | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

Ed Norton's Crowdrise Brings Fundraising (And Fun) To The Masses | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: Ed Norton’s Crowdrise Brings Fundraising (And Fun) To The Masses

Written by: Rachael Chong

The serial philanthropist’s project is helping people raise tons of money for their causes, while keeping the attitude light and funny.

Nonprofit theaters' fiscal mood improving, national survey shows - latimes.com

Nonprofit theaters' fiscal mood improving, national survey shows - latimes.com: America's nonprofit theaters are feeling a bit better about their finances these days, according to a recent survey conducted by the sector's main national service organization, Theatre Communications Group.

But the actors, directors and designers who work in those theaters shouldn't bank on a trickle-down effect boosting their standard of living.

Post-Sandy Donor Fatigue Worries N.Y. Charities - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Post-Sandy Donor Fatigue Worries N.Y. Charities - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: he rush of donations to aid victims of Superstorm Sandy is straining giving to other New York City-area nonprofit groups, writes The Wall Street Journal.

Better communications seen as critical for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina

Better communications seen as critical for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina: Nonprofits believe government, the media and the general public do not understand the distinct values that make the social sector indispensable to society, and nonprofits also believe they need to communicate more effectively about their role and impact, says the report by the Listening Post Project of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies.

#GivingTuesday Drew 103 Mass. Nonprofits to Start Yearend Drive

massnonprofit.org ::: November 30, 2012 — One hundred three Massachusetts nonprofits joined #GivingTuesday, a one-day campaign held this week to celebrate and encourage charitable activities and support nonprofit organizations, and likely benefited from as much as a 53% increase in online donations on that day.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

New Rules for Catholic Charities May Hinder Charity Collaboration - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

New Rules for Catholic Charities May Hinder Charity Collaboration - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The Vatican has issued new guidelines for Catholic charities, and the rules may have a significant impact on Catholic charities’ ability to collaborate with non-Catholic groups. A new apostolic letter, issued December 1 on the Vatican web site, is titled “De Caritate ministranda,” or, “On the service of charity.” The rules seek to assure that Church-affiliated charitable organizations and charitable works are also compatible with Catholic teaching. The National Catholic Reporter summarizes the edict from Pope Benedict XVI:

Obituary: David Oliver Relin, Co-Wrote 'Three Cups of Tea' - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Obituary: David Oliver Relin, Co-Wrote 'Three Cups of Tea' - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Obituary: David Oliver Relin, Co-Wrote ‘Three Cups of Tea’

December 4, 2012, 10:15 am

David Oliver Relin, who co-authored the controversial memoir Three Cups of Tea with philanthropist Greg Mortenson, has committed suicide, according to The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

The Risks of Limiting Charitable Deductions - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

The Risks of Limiting Charitable Deductions - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: In his Urban Institute blog, The Government We Deserve, the Tax Policy Center’s Gene Steuerle looks to the past to auger the future of charitable deductions. He suggests that rather than eliminate charitable deductions altogether to increase much needed revenue, government should consider other options. He cites a 2003 GAO study which details what happened when tax deductions on donated cars were curtailed: claims for donated vehicles dropped. This was dramatically illustrated as only a graph could.

TripAdvisor Combines Philanthropy And Marketing By Letting Reviewers Give A Free $25 Kiva Microloan | TechCrunch

TripAdvisor Combines Philanthropy And Marketing By Letting Reviewers Give A Free $25 Kiva Microloan | TechCrunch: TripAdvisor is demonstrating what Shah calls a “a very big trend”. Rather than writing one big check, companies and high net worth individuals can greater leverage their contribution by putting in the hands of others. In March 2012, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman put up $1 million to let other people try Kiva. He drove 47,840 new signups to Kiva, and since then, those people have lent an addition $417,000 of their own money.

Google launches effort to spur innovation in nonprofit sector, granting $23M to 7 nonprofits - The Washington Post

Google launches effort to spur innovation in nonprofit sector, granting $23M to 7 nonprofits - The Washington Post: WASHINGTON — Google is announcing $23 million in grants to spur innovation among charities and increase education for girls and minority students in science and technology.

Seven nonprofits will win the first Google Global Impact Awards on Tuesday.

Albany Herald | 'Georgia Gives Day' features nonprofits

Albany Herald | 'Georgia Gives Day' features nonprofits: ALBANY, Ga. -- For most people, life without nonprofit agencies would be difficult at best, according to Karen Beavor, president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. To raise money and awareness for the more than 1,300 nonprofit agencies registered with the GCN, the first-ever Georgia Gives Day will be held Thursday.

Do the Math: Abolishing the Charitable Deduction Would Cost Charities Billions - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Do the Math: Abolishing the Charitable Deduction Would Cost Charities Billions - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: While economists have long studied the impact of the deduction, they have not reached a clear consensus on how much it matters. A new study, however, along with recently released IRS data make it quite clear that America’s charitable organizations could be hurt greatly if donors lost all or part of the charitable income-tax deduction as lawmakers seek ways to avert the looming “financial cliff.”

The new study of the wealthy and their philanthropy, released last month by Bank of America, asked affluent people (mostly with incomes of $200,000 or more and net assets of at least $1-million) how they might alter their giving if deductions were eliminated.

#GoodSpotting Returns! | Case Foundation

#GoodSpotting Returns! | Case Foundation: This time of the year it’s easy for us all to get swept up in the swirl of holiday shopping, parties, and gifts. But as we saw most recently with the incredible success of #GivingTuesday – it truly is the “most wonderful time of the year,” when the spirit of generosity surrounds us. Every holiday season (and year round) at the Case Foundation, we celebrate the incredible acts of good, large and small, that take place every day in cities and towns all over the world, thanks to amazing individuals and organizations. This holiday season, we hope you’ll join us in sharing the spirit of generosity, community, and service as we go #GoodSpotting! All you have to do is remember these three simple instructions: Spot Good. Share Good. Do Good!

Arts used as tool to improve graduation rate � Philanthropy North Carolina

Arts used as tool to improve graduation rate � Philanthropy North Carolina: CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ninety-six percent of students enrolled in the National Center for Arts & Technology at Pittsburgh’s Manchester Bidwell Corporation graduate from high school, and 89 percent go on to higher education.

Based on the Pittsburgh model, the Arts & Science Council in Charlotte has teamed with Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to launch Studio 345, a free after-school program that aims to improve the graduation rate in the county by incorporating the arts in a studio setting into all subjects in the curriculum.

Hurricane Sandy Donations — 15 Percent of What? - NYTimes.com

Hurricane Sandy Donations — 15 Percent of What? - NYTimes.com: That the practice has found some of its most aggressive expression in the aftermath of natural disasters is surely obvious to anyone who has observed the second and third chapters of Hurricane Sandy, as businesses have gone about the yoked work of advancing their interests while igniting charitable impulses, occasionally to unseemly, or at the very least, utterly confounding, effect

Monday, December 03, 2012

"Giving Tuesday' gets mixed results - Welcome to the W.C.H. Record-Herald - Washington Court House, OH

"Giving Tuesday' gets mixed results - Welcome to the W.C.H. Record-Herald - Washington Court House, OH: More than 2,500 organizations partnered this holiday season to encourage charitable giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, a new "Giving Tuesday" holiday to follow the enthusiastic consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Although some organizations reported boosts as large as 56 percent over the same Tuesday last year, several local charities did not see gains and some are seeking additional help from local donors.

Renew The Heart & Soul of your Non-Profit for a Chance To Win $10,000 | Beth’s Blog

Renew The Heart & Soul of your Non-Profit for a Chance To Win $10,000 | Beth’s Blog: Re-inspire your sense of mission by participating in the Heart & Soul grant

The CTK Foundation has just launched the 2012/2013 Heart & Soul Grants, with over $55,000 to assist nonprofits like yours in accomplishing your mission.

But, more important than the money is the process for applying, which is unlike any other grant program!
How do you apply for these grants?

All you have to do is submit a 4-8 line poem expressing the heart of your mission at www.communitytech.net (orgs must be US-based 501 c3s).

Youth Volunteerism: 3 Ways Millennials Are Changing Philanthropy

Youth Volunteerism: 3 Ways Millennials Are Changing Philanthropy: As a millennial who cares deeply about making the world a better place, I’ve been thinking about the ways my generation’s approach to philanthropy differs from older generations. This view has been largely informed by serving on the board of directors for Spark, a non-profit network of young professionals dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, and to training the next generation of philanthropists.

Charities Would Lose $10-Billion Under Tax Cap, White House Says - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Would Lose $10-Billion Under Tax Cap, White House Says - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Charities Would Lose $10-Billion Under Tax Cap, White House Says

December 3, 2012, 9:25 am

By Doug Donovan

President Obama won’ t support an annual limit on deductions, including those for charitable giving, as the White House issued an estimate that such a break would cost charities at least $10-billion a year.

That will come as a relief to nonprofit leaders who say such limits are essentially the same as ending charitable deductions.

Friday, November 30, 2012

#GivingTuesday Sparks Big Spike in Donations - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

#GivingTuesday Sparks Big Spike in Donations - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The amount of online donations processed by Blackbaud, a processor of online gifts, shot up 53 percent to $10-million on Tuesday, compared with the same day last year.

Network for Good, another processor of online gifts, also reported a spike. The total number of donations more than doubled, to 113 percent, on #GivingTuesday versus the Tuesday after Thanksgiving 2011. The amount collected Tuesday was also 55 percent more than the amount of donations collected on Monday.

Philanthropy Reborn at United Way Again? You Judge! - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Philanthropy Reborn at United Way Again? You Judge! - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Philanthropy Reborn at United Way Again? You Judge!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Civil Society, Chinese Style:The Rise of the Nonprofit Sector in Post-Mao China - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Civil Society, Chinese Style:The Rise of the Nonprofit Sector in Post-Mao China - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: n July of 2012, hundreds of Chinese nonprofits shared a moment of celebration: China’s first-ever charity fair had taken place, in Shenzhen, a south China municipality that aspires to become a “city of philanthropy” and a “city of volunteers.” The charity fair had a strong government flavor: it was hosted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA) and the local Shenzhen government. This event, along with President and General Secretary Hu Jintao’s call for stronger and more creative forms of social management (and the release of draft guidelines for the development of Chinese philanthropy—a five-year plan for 2011–2015—by MOCA in the previous year), sends a clear signal that the Chinese government is now ready to recognize the tremendous growth of the nonprofit and voluntary sector, and to value its contribution to Chinese society.

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund awards its final tranche of legacy grants

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund awards its final tranche of legacy grants: Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund awards its final tranche of legacy grants

Responsive Philanthropy in Black Communities - National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy

Responsive Philanthropy in Black Communities - National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy: Everywhere – in your city and mine – the reality of where we are and where we want to be are miles apart. In Minneapolis, the disparities faced by people (both American-born and foreign-born) are stark.Though we are surrounded by more Fortune 500 companies per capita than any place in the country (including the headquarters ofTarget, General Mills and Best Buy), need and poverty surround us. For example, although only 19 percent of Minneapolis residents are black:1

Social Media Power #GivingTuesday Holiday Giving Effort - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Social Media Power #GivingTuesday Holiday Giving Effort - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: While it is too early to tally how many charities are participating and how much money has been raised, it’s not too soon to monitor the considerable social-media buzz for #GivingTuesday, which has been a popular tag on Twitter and has been dominating Facebook conversations.

4 Problems with Giving Tuesday & How to Address Them | GivingThree

4 Problems with Giving Tuesday & How to Address Them | GivingThree:
4 Problems with Giving Tuesday & How to Address Them

Nov 27, 2012 by Benjamin Mohler, CFRE Weblog

Today #Giving Tuesday will be trending on Twitter and filling Facebook news feeds. It will also be prominently featured on both new and traditional media outlets. In general terms, this is a good thing. It puts the ideas of charity and philanthropy into the main of public discourse. However, unlike Black Friday or Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday has a few challenges that, left un-addressed, will doom its long-term success.

It's Not Just Semantics: Managing Outcomes Vs. Outputs - Deborah Mills-Scofield - Harvard Business Review

It's Not Just Semantics: Managing Outcomes Vs. Outputs - Deborah Mills-Scofield - Harvard Business Review: n the non-profit world, outputs are programs, training, and workshops; outcomes are knowledge transferred and behaviors changed. In the for-profit world, the distinctions are not always so clear. Let's define outputs as the stuff we produce, be it physical or virtual, for a specific type of customer—say, car seats for babies. And let's define outcomes as the difference our stuff makes—keeping your child safe in the car. Borrowing an example from the Innovation Network, a highway construction company's outputs are project design and the number of highway miles built and repaired. Outcomes are the difference made by the outputs: better traffic flow, shorter travel times, and fewer accidents.

Chicago Ends Charity Mandate for Firms in Subsidy Program - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Chicago Ends Charity Mandate for Firms in Subsidy Program - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration has dropped a requirement that developers participating in a city financing program donate to charities on a City Hall-set list, a practice that had particularly benefited an organization led by his predecessor’s wife, reports the Chicago Sun-Times

Dallas Museum of Art takes bold step of offering free general admission AND free memberships | Center Stage

Dallas Museum of Art takes bold step of offering free general admission AND free memberships | Center Stage: Beginning Jan. 21, the Dallas Museum of Art will take the unprecedented step of offering an unusual one-two punch: Free general admission and free memberships, making it the first art museum in the country to do so, DMA director Maxwell Anderson announced at a press conference this morning.

Nonprofit Charitable Orgs

Nonprofit Charitable Orgs: From Joanne Fritz, your Guide to Nonprofit Charitable Orgs

"Churn," "donor attrition," and "leaky bucket" are all terms we're beginning to recite in our sleep.

Recent research from the Nonprofit Research Collaborative found that retention of existing donors is the one thing that sets apart nonprofits that gained revenue so far in 2012 from those that didn'

Lessons From Billionaire Philanthropists: The Short Version - Forbes

Lessons From Billionaire Philanthropists: The Short Version - Forbes: Billionaires often don’t like to talk much about how they made their fortunes, or how big those fortunes are. But ask about how they’re giving some of that money away, and suddenly the conversation starts to flow. People are passionate about the causes they invest in and donate to

On ‘Giving Tuesday,’ big donors shed light on why, when and how they give - The Washington Post

On ‘Giving Tuesday,’ big donors shed light on why, when and how they give - The Washington Post: On Tuesday, the firm, which was founded in 2000 by former Bain & Co. chief executive Thomas Tierney, launched “Conversations with Remarkable Givers,” a series of video interviews with some of the nation’s biggest philanthropists, including AOL co-founder Steve Case and his wife Jean, Peter and Jennifer Buffett, media mogul Ted Turner, eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein and actor Michael J. Fox. Each of the more than 50 participants was asked a series of questions about their strategy and insights regarding their philanthropic work. The edited video responses range from 30 seconds to four minutes long.

An Armchair Advocate’s Guide to: 24 Hours of Giving [Infographic] | Armchair Advocates

An Armchair Advocate’s Guide to: 24 Hours of Giving [Infographic] | Armchair Advocates: Below we present our latest infographic: An Armchair Advocate’s Guide to 24 Hours of Giving. We hope you find it a helpful reminder to use your time, treasures and technology for social good each day.

Second Social Innovation Fund Director Resigns - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Second Social Innovation Fund Director Resigns - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: After less than two months as director of the Social Innovation Fund, Idara Nickelson is leaving the job to work for an international nonprofit, the Corporation for National and Community Service announced Wednesday.

Should the Charitable Tax Deduction Be Eliminated? - US News and World Report

Should the Charitable Tax Deduction Be Eliminated? - US News and World Report: Should the Charitable Tax Deduction Be Eliminated?
Policymakers are considering doing away with or reducing the tax break for charitable giving

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Giving Tuesday: A Day To Help Nonprofits - Technorati Lifestyle

Giving Tuesday: A Day To Help Nonprofits - Technorati Lifestyle: With many people feeling that the holiday season is becoming more and more consumer oriented, there is a small but growing number of movements trying to take back what the season is supposed to be about. One of these is Buy Nothing Day which is celebrated on the same day as Black Friday. A newly launched idea that is hoping to become a much larger movement is Giving Tuesday.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Art institute sues philanthropists over unpaid millions | The Raw Story

Art institute sues philanthropists over unpaid millions | The Raw Story: Art institute sues philanthropists over unpaid millions

“Your Own” Nonprofit: The Language of Founder’s Syndrome - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

“Your Own” Nonprofit: The Language of Founder’s Syndrome - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: At first glance, it’s not particularly newsworthy that a Detroit nonprofit hosted a half-day seminar on starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization offering the Detroit training session was the Minerva Education and Development Foundation (MEDF), which identifies itself as the Detroit alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The MEDF was founded in 1992 and has distributed over $300,000 in grants, scholarships and sponsorships, according to its website. Its mission is “…to focus and drive charitable giving to support philanthropic initiatives in the areas of educational and economic development.”

Standard Mileage Rates for 2013

Standard Mileage Rates for 2013: eginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:



56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven
24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

SOI Tax Stats - Fall Bulletin 2012

SOI Tax Stats - Fall Bulletin 2012: SOI Tax Stats - Fall Bulletin 2012

'Giving Tuesday': The Start Of A Holiday Tradition? : NPR

'Giving Tuesday': The Start Of A Holiday Tradition? : NPR: First, there was the post-Thanksgiving sales spectacle Black Friday and then the online version, Cyber Monday. Now, charitable groups want to start a new holiday tradition — it's called Giving Tuesday and the first one is tomorrow.

It may seem a little surprising that no one came up with the idea before of designating a specific day to help launch the holiday charitable giving season.

Case Study: Lifestyle Data Lifts Gift Size for Heifer International : Page 1 of 2 : Target Marketing

Case Study: Lifestyle Data Lifts Gift Size for Heifer International : Page 1 of 2 : Target Marketing: Nascar fans are less likely to donate cows to African farmers in their friends’ names for Christmas, but organivores might, Heifer International found in a case study detailed by the charity’s donor conversion manager on Oct. 16 at DMA2012Opens in a new window in Las Vegas.

Giving remains sluggish, survey says � Philanthropy North Carolina

Giving remains sluggish, survey says � Philanthropy North Carolina: Slammed by an erosion in giving by individuals, over a third of nonprofits are raising less money this year than last year, a new survey says.

Thirty-seven percent of 500 public charities and public foundations surveyed online in October by GuideStar said contributions fell in the first nine months of 2012, compared to the same period last year, while 34 percent said they grew and 28 percent said they were flat.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Brammer named CEO of 3 nonprofits’ combined operations - Business Courier

Brammer named CEO of 3 nonprofits’ combined operations - Business Courier: The Greater Cincinnati Health Council, the Health Collaborative and HealthBridge appointed Craig Brammer CEO for the combined operations of the three nonprofits.

The new leadership position is a result of a reorganization of the three groups during the summer.

Overseas Chinese donate 47b yuan to Guangdong|Society|chinadaily.com.cn

Overseas Chinese donate 47b yuan to Guangdong|Society|chinadaily.com.cn: Overseas Chinese, including those from Hong Kong and Macao, have contributed more than 47 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) in charity donations to Guangdong province over the past three decades, sources with the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Affairs Office say.

The sources say this represents about 60 percent of the nation's overseas donations.

What Does It Take to Make and Build Your Career as a Fundraiser? - Resource Center - AFP

What Does It Take to Make and Build Your Career as a Fundraiser? - Resource Center - AFP: n the social-profit sector we strive to make a difference. We spend much of our days at our workplaces because we want to make the world a better place, while still yearning to make enough money and see a clear path to our dream job. But creating that balance doesn’t happen on its own. In the rush of our daily roles and responsibilities, we have to take charge of reaching our goals

Skilled Volunteers Can Help Organizations Grow - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Skilled Volunteers Can Help Organizations Grow - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: o achieve that success, the group didn’t have a vast staff. Instead, its founder, Charles Best, sought as much donated support as he could get. Technology professionals have given their time to help the group build a constantly evolving efficient marketplace for teachers and donors.

Today, that same approach to using pro bono help is aiding the organization as it matures. Pro bono service accounts for over 20 percent of its budget. American Express, for example recently provided the group with a team of analysts to figure out how viable the DonorsChoose.org approach of matching donors and teachers would be over the long haul.

More Photojournalists Paid by Nonprofits to Document Crises - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

More Photojournalists Paid by Nonprofits to Document Crises - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: More Photojournalists Paid by Nonprofits to Document Crises

November 20, 2012, 10:23 am

As media outlets’ revenue and budgets shrink, globe-trotting photojournalists are collaborating more often with aid agencies and other charities to report on social issues or conditions in disaster and conflict zones, says The New York Times. The Photo Philanthropy foundation gives annual cash awards to professional and amateur photographers who work with nongovernmental organizations to further humanitarian goals.

From our Blog | Case Foundation

From our Blog | Case Foundation: Today we are proud to announce the winners of Finding Fearless, our campaign to recognize, reward and inspire fearless changemakers nationwide, and a pillar of our Be Fearless initiative. We’re equally excited to kick off “Fan Favorite” voting,...

Dania Beach roller coaster may be sold to fund disaster relief - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

Dania Beach roller coaster may be sold to fund disaster relief - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: The highly visible Dania Beach Hurricane, one of the United States' 112 wooden roller coasters, will be sold for scrap to help fund a local charity, a spokeswoman for the owner said.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Single Code of Fundraising Practice launched today

Single Code of Fundraising Practice launched today: Stephen Pidgeon, chair of the Institute of Fundraising committee that drew up the document, says he's proud of reducing 28 codes to one

The Institute of Fundraising has launched a single Code of Fundraising Practice to replace its 28 "long and repetitive" original codes.

The new code, published today on the institute’s website, covers about 40 pages, with links to supporting guidance, compared with the 440 pages in total of the previous codes.

Private-Equity Firms Eye Growing Microfinance Sector - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Private-Equity Firms Eye Growing Microfinance Sector - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Jean Case: Giving Tuesday -- What the Season of Giving Really Means

Jean Case: Giving Tuesday -- What the Season of Giving Really Means: Just when I could be a little discouraged about where all of this is going, I'm encouraged and inspired by a counter movement. A movement to redefine the season of giving, away from the emphasis on "sales, sales, sales!" and toward the true spirit of giving to others in a more meaningful way, especially those in need. Called "Giving Tuesday," this effort is designed to create a moment and build momentum for the season of giving back, in the same way that Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday kicks off the holiday shopping season. The Case Foundation is excited to join the UN Foundation, 92Y and more than 200 other organizations on Tuesday, November 27, to celebrate this special time of year and to highlight the exceptional work that so many nonprofits and social enterprises do to strengthen our communities during the holiday season and all year-long.

Nearly $220M in charitable donations for Sandy relief raised thus far - NorthJersey.com

Nearly $220M in charitable donations for Sandy relief raised thus far - NorthJersey.com: Donors have given nearly $220 million to charities for superstorm Sandy relief and recovery efforts.

Non-profit officials say that's the largest outpouring of donations for any domestic disaster in the past five years. But it's only about one-third of what was raised in the first two weeks after Hurricane Katrina pounded the Gulf Coast in 2005 and about half the donations made in the same amount of time following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Wanted: New nonprofit leaders in Rock River Valley - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Wanted: New nonprofit leaders in Rock River Valley - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star: ROCKFORD — It’s time for nonprofit agencies in the Rock River Valley to recruit new leaders.

A wave of retirements that’s likely to continue as baby boomers age has a mix of six area nonprofit and government agencies searching for its next generation of directors.

Legal Expenses Are Mounting For Charities - TheNonProfitTimes

Legal Expenses Are Mounting For Charities - TheNonProfitTimes: The biggest drivers of legal expenses are usually employment issues, according to Cynthia Rowland of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass in San Francisco, Calif. Active charities with a lot of employees might typically be faced with higher legal expenses, she said. “Sometimes it’s not a lot if you have employment practices insurance, or you’ve got insurance for those unfortunate events,” said Rowland, but it can be the biggest area, even bigger than contract disputes.

A lot of organizations get pro bono legal help so it might appear that they don’t have legal expenses, Rowland said, particularly smaller, mid-sized community organizations. The really large national and international nonprofits usually don’t get pro bono legal help, she said, but most smaller, community-based organizations get free advice whenever they can, from friends of the organization who are lawyers, or board members. That also might be a strategy in board member recruitment.

What Comes After Cyber Monday? #Giving Tuesday | Millionaire Corner

What Comes After Cyber Monday? #Giving Tuesday | Millionaire Corner: “Giving Tuesday is intended to open the holiday season on a philanthropic note and put heart back into the holidays,” Sarah Renusch, of the global aid organization World Vision, said in a statement. “World Vision is encouraging Americans to dedicate this day to getting back to the true meaning of the holidays. It is about community, not commercialism, giving, not receiving.”

Philanthropy can work better by working smarter � Philanthropy North Carolina

Philanthropy can work better by working smarter � Philanthropy North Carolina: n addressing them, we are fortunate to be able to work through the philanthropic sector to pool resources and find shared solutions to problems that affect our entire community.

To do that, philanthropy itself needs to do a better job in putting its resources to work.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Marketing Without a Master - Morra Aarons-Mele - Harvard Business Review

Marketing Without a Master - Morra Aarons-Mele - Harvard Business Review: But right now, I'm working on a marketing campaign that knows no master, a ship without a captain. And it's exhilarating. Its logo will never win any design awards, and there are no brand guidelines, but somehow this idea has grown to over 1,000 volunteer partners in every state. It's called #GivingTuesday.

'#GivingTuesday' event aims to boost charities

'#GivingTuesday' event aims to boost charities: Now, a group of charities and corporate sponsors is urging Americans to make the Tuesday after Thanksgiving just as powerful a day of giving to those in need.

It's called #GivingTuesday, and organizers say it's gaining momentum as the holiday shopping season approaches.

Flea-market Renoir reignites tensions between museum and art donor’s descendants - The Washington Post

Flea-market Renoir reignites tensions between museum and art donor’s descendants - The Washington Post: ehind every museum’s art collection, behind every terse “Gift of” plaque on a museum wall, are the little-known, often fraught histories between museums and their donor families. On one hand, museums feel obligated to keep donor families happy so that other wealthy collectors might give but, on the other hand, feel entitled to exercise their curatorial judgment.

The New Model of Moves Management For Effective Fundraising

Moves Management White paper from Avectra. 

The New Model of Moves Management For Effective Fundraising

Develop More Engaged Donors By Incorporating Social Data To Build Relationships & Increase Involvement

Moves Management has been defined as “changing people’s attitudes so they want to give.” A successful moves management model is built on targeted, quantifiable actions that shift donors from a passive or one-time contribution to an active, ongoing relationship with the organization.

Shame on Livestrong Donors Who Want Their Money Back

Shame on Livestrong Donors Who Want Their Money Back: Lance Armstrong may or may not be a cheat in the cycling competition world, but he wasn’t cheating when he founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997. As you read the foundation’s milestones, it is very clear that the nonprofit has accomplished a great deal in its history.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Exclusive: Livestrong cancer charity drops Lance Armstrong name from title | Reuters

Exclusive: Livestrong cancer charity drops Lance Armstrong name from title | Reuters: (Reuters) - The Lance Armstrong Foundation has formally dropped the name of the disgraced cyclist from its title, the organization said on Wednesday, marking the latest move by the cancer charity to distance itself following the biggest doping scandal in the sport's history.

New Effort Seeks to Steer Donors to High-Impact Charities - For Donors - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

New Effort Seeks to Steer Donors to High-Impact Charities - For Donors - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: As the year-end giving season gets under way, a new effort aims to steer more donations to nonprofits that can prove they get results and have a plan to expand to help more people.

The Social Impact 100 Index features high-performing nonprofits that focus on education, health, poverty alleviation, and youth development, bringing them together on a Web site that makes it easy for donors to learn more about the groups and to give.

How a Planning Committee Can Catapult Your Capital Campaign Forward

How a Planning Committee Can Catapult Your Capital Campaign Forward: A Short-Term Planning Committee Is the Answer

We find that many community leaders are quite willing to serve on a shorter-term planning committee to help organize the campaign and plan campaign strategy.

And once they are involved on the planning committee, they become much more interested and personally invested in the campaign's success.

Your campaign planning committee is distinct from your campaign steering committee. It gives you a unique opportunity to invite a few special people to help shape the campaign over a couple of short meetings without asking them to join a committee that will meet for the entire duration of the campaign.

8 Steps to Writing Successful Fundraising Appeals | npENGAGE

8 Steps to Writing Successful Fundraising Appeals | npENGAGE: No matter how digitally savvy you are, if you want to be successful in fundraising you need to come to grips with the fact that fundraising letters work.

At this point in the year, you should already have all your direct mail appeals at the mail house. (You do, don’t you?) Here are some tips to help you get ready for next year’s fundraising letters. It’s not too early to begin designing the package!

Deconstructing Philanthropy: Take a Sunday drive on the road to annual planning

Deconstructing Philanthropy: Take a Sunday drive on the road to annual planning: Think of your annual plan as your fundraising roadmap. Like a road trip, fundraising doesn’t just happen. It requires both a plan and a process to ensure milestones are set and achieved. It requires that you know where you’re going and how you intend to get there. These six questions are key to the planning process:

The AFP Blog: Happy National Philanthropy Day�!

The AFP Blog: Happy National Philanthropy Day�!: I want to celebrate National Philanthropy Day by talking a little about service. Each year, it’s my privilege to travel and share this day with many of you. Everywhere, I meet people from different backgrounds and nationalities, different ages, experience and outlook. All of us united and included in our community by one thing – our desire to serve.

Nonprofits to get a 1-day boost

Nonprofits to get a 1-day boost: The Georgia Center for Nonprofits is going to find out exactly that with the first-ever Georgia Gives Day this December.

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits is holding Georgia Gives Day on Dec. 6. The event is a 24-hour fundraising campaign for nonprofits that will take place Dec. 6, midnight to midnight.

18 Nonprofits Honored for Outstanding Taglines: 2012 Taggies | Nonprofit Marketing | Getting Attention

18 Nonprofits Honored for Outstanding Taglines: 2012 Taggies | Nonprofit Marketing | Getting Attention: The 18 winners, listed below, were selected by more than 3,300 voters from 63 nonprofit tagline finalists identified by our expert panel of judges. The finalists were drawn from 1,400 tagline entries.
The organizations behind the winning taglines range from the regional (Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc.) to the national (Wounded Warrior Project) and global (The TARA Project).

Fidelity Charitable Offers 4 Strategies for Giving in Fluid Tax Environment

Fidelity Charitable Offers 4 Strategies for Giving in Fluid Tax Environment: Last week, Fidelity Charitable rolled out an online Giving & Taxes Center to help philanthropists find the best approaches to funding giving plans now and in the future.

The new tool offers four strategies to make the most of the 2012 tax environment and prepare for potential changes in 2013:

How to Turn Your Stakeholders into Fundraisers: Social Fundraising and How Measurement Can Make It More Effective - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

How to Turn Your Stakeholders into Fundraisers: Social Fundraising and How Measurement Can Make It More Effective - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: When nonprofits marry tried-and-true fundraising techniques with social media, social fundraising is the result. Social fundraising is only a couple of years old and very much an emerging practice, but it has already shown tremendous power and promise in its ability to turn an organization’s stakeholders into fundraisers. With 90 percent of nonprofits having a presence on Facebook in 2011 and virtually all nonprofits having some presence in social media, best practices in social fundraising are evolving quickly as nonprofits use measurement to learn what works best.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Leaders Told To Chart Mission Delivery - TheNonProfitTimes

Leaders Told To Chart Mission Delivery - TheNonProfitTimes: Nonprofits were called upon to be the north star of change in the charitable universe and leaders should fix a point in time and space from which to chart their organizational course. The comment was made by Independent Sector President and CEO Diana Aviv during the organization’s annual conference, being held in San Francisco, Calif.

Aviv called on the more than 900 leaders assembled at the Union Square Hilton that managing data, investing in people and forging partnerships with other organizations will help to accomplish their goals.

Monday, November 12, 2012

To be a fundraiser isn’t a vocation–it’s a verdict. | AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Blog

To be a fundraiser isn’t a vocation–it’s a verdict. | AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Blog: Any vocation can be reduced to its mechanics. Some priests joke, rather darkly in my opinion, about hatching, matching and dispatching the members of their respective congregations over the course of their respective lifetimes. But they jest. They too, are about transformation.

To paraphrase another artist, there are two kinds of fundraisers: Those who like people, and those who don’t. A fundraiser who likes people (ideally employed at an organization that treats people accordingly) is about transformation. A fundraiser who doesn’t like people is focused narrowly on raising funds, having forgotten it (transformation) in people.

The AFP Blog: Thinking Bigger—and Beyond—the Charitable Tax Deduction

The AFP Blog: Thinking Bigger—and Beyond—the Charitable Tax Deduction: Thinking Bigger—and Beyond—the Charitable Tax Deduction
I'm in San Francisco at the Independent Sector conference listening to Jonathan Greenblatt, director of President Obama’s Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation; John Bridgeland, president and CEO of Civic Enterprises and former assistant to President Bush; Diana Aviv, president of Independent Sector; and Ralph Everett, president and CEO of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Update: Charities Raise More Than $174-Million for Sandy Victims - Recovering From Sandy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Update: Charities Raise More Than $174-Million for Sandy Victims - Recovering From Sandy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: As of Friday, charities have reported raising more than $174-million for relief and recovery efforts in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, which devastated the New York and New Jersey region on October 30.

That’s more than the $136-million that U.S. charities had raised within 10 days of last year’s Japan tsunami and earthquake. But it’s dwarfed by the outpouring that followed the 2010 Haiti earthquake ($380-million 10 days after the event) and 2005′s Hurricane Katrina ($740-million nine days after the storm).

Red Cross pushes back on Sandy response, calls it 'near flawless' - U.S. News

Red Cross pushes back on Sandy response, calls it 'near flawless' - U.S. News: The American Red Cross, which bills itself as “the world's largest humanitarian network,” is pushing back against critics of its response to superstorm Sandy, with the head of the organization saying its relief effort has been “near flawless” despite criticism from stranded storm victims and elected officials.

Nonprofits get creative to reach donors | TBO.com

Nonprofits get creative to reach donors | TBO.com: MIAMI --

Feeding South Florida needed a fresh way to raise awareness about hunger. Enter the graffiti artists.

With a wall in the hip Wynwood neighborhood now devoted to the cause, the Pembroke Park-based organization has become a prime example of the lengths nonprofits are going to as need grows, traditional support shrinks and competition for dollars heats up.

Flexibility key for gift pledges in tough times � Philanthropy North Carolina

Flexibility key for gift pledges in tough times � Philanthropy North Carolina: Many gifts pledged to charities are falling short of what donors intended and charities expected as economic woes continue to change the conditions under which the gifts were made.

So donors and charities, often with the assistance of their lawyers or other intermediaries, increasingly are finding themselves negotiating over how to resolve their gift agreements.

Friday, November 09, 2012

Top 10 tips for nonprofit annual reports | Communicate and Howe!

Top 10 tips for nonprofit annual reports | Communicate and Howe!: hese organizations issued a 2012 edition of the Best Practices in Charity Annual Reporting. Since my last post continues to be widely read, I thought that I should take a look at their 2012 edition.

As I did last time, I will list each of the top ten tips recommended by the judges of the Voluntary Sector Reporting Awards. I will then comment on them from the perspective of a communications professional. My focus is to cover new ground and not repeat my comments in the last post.

Arts Branding Sucks. Here Are 4 Ways To Fix It | Co.Design: business innovation design

Arts Branding Sucks. Here Are 4 Ways To Fix It | Co.Design: business innovation design: Hollywood movies were as bland and formulaic as their posters, there’d be no point in going to see them. If the writers, directors, and performers on Broadway were as memorable as their publicity materials, their shows would be unwatchable.

Groups Work on Attracting Women Philanthropists - NYTimes.com

Groups Work on Attracting Women Philanthropists - NYTimes.com: Apparently, the high-powered volunteers were on to something. The local United Way groups have grown into 137 Women’s Leadership Councils that have raised $985 million in 12 years.

The wider philanthropy world, too, is discovering the differences between men and women. A half-dozen studies have been published in the last two years — the first systematic research into gender and philanthropy — revealing that women generally donate more, are more actively involved in the given charities, demand more proof of effectiveness and prefer somewhat different causes than men.

Largest-Charities Methodology: Size, Then Financial Efficiency - Forbes

Largest-Charities Methodology: Size, Then Financial Efficiency - Forbes: The annual list of the largest U.S. charities is a roster of the country’s biggest as calculated by Forbes. However, biggest is not necessarily the best. That’s for you to figure out, but we’ll give you a start beyond the five deemed worthy of all-star status.

Beyond Competition, Running for a Cause - NYTimes.com

Beyond Competition, Running for a Cause - NYTimes.com: Last year, according to the New York Road Runners, organizers of the New York City Marathon, more than $34 million was raised for charity. Moreover, fund-raising experts expect that the vast majority of runners in this year’s race will still honor their commitments.

“I’m sure they’re disappointed, and there might be some who are annoyed,” said Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va. “But based on what we’ve seen in other situations where a charity event has been canceled because of weather or some other once-in-a-lifetime type circumstance, people generally don’t take it out on the charity.”

Mr. Nilsen said he would not be surprised to see “two-thirds, maybe more” of the charity marathoners meet their commitment to deliver the money they raised.

More Family Firms Make Philanthropy Their Business - NYTimes.com

More Family Firms Make Philanthropy Their Business - NYTimes.com: amily-owned companies are increasingly making philanthropy a cornerstone of their business model, according to Betsy Brill, president of Strategic Philanthropy, a Chicago-based firm that advises donors and their legal and financial advisers.

“Businesses that are owned or controlled by families are using philanthropy as part of a business strategy and aligning the family’s core values with the company’s,” Ms. Brill said. “It makes sense and can also be extremely beneficial to business objectives such as attracting and retaining great employees and improving the company’s reputation as a good corporate citizen with its customers, community and vendors and suppliers.”

Richmond Folk Festival gets record donations | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Richmond Folk Festival gets record donations | Richmond Times-Dispatch: RICHMOND, Va. --

Public contributions to the Richmond Folk Festival amounted to far more than a drop in the bucket, as volunteers collected $108,000 during the festival's three-day run last month.

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Goodwill pushes for greater regulation of donation boxes - California Watch - The Sacramento Bee

Goodwill pushes for greater regulation of donation boxes - California Watch - The Sacramento Bee: ut in cities and counties across the country, Goodwills are pushing for municipal and state regulation - and often winning. Local chapters have argued that donation boxes divert money from the community and contribute to blight.

Goodwill chapters have helped pass legislation in several states, including New Jersey and Michigan.

Ten Things You Might Have Missed (October 30, 2012) - Resource Center - AFP

Ten Things You Might Have Missed (October 30, 2012) - Resource Center - AFP: Ten Things You Might Have Missed (October 30, 2012)

What Nonprofits Can Learn from the Response Media Model - NPQ

What Nonprofits Can Learn from the Response Media Model - NPQ: esponse media has a bad rap, and most of it is deserved. The idea is to comb through search queries on the Web to see what people are looking for and then create a page that specifically answers that question. In a perfect world, this would mean that if enough people searched for “how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” and there was no good answer for that already, some really well-informed people at the Woodchuck Research Institute would be kind enough to write a Wikipedia article explaining the answer succinctly, and then we all move along with our day.

GT | Newsroom - Georgia Tech Posts Near Record Philanthropy

GT | Newsroom - Georgia Tech Posts Near Record Philanthropy: The Georgia Institute of Technology posted the second best year-to-year philanthropy results in the Institute’s history for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. Private gift income to the Institute and its associated foundations totaled $118.4 million, as reported to the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), which measures only gifts received, excluding pledges.

Needed: A Multi-level Approach to Credentialing Volunteer Management

Needed: A Multi-level Approach to Credentialing Volunteer Management

University of Kent offers stand-alone Masters-level course in Fundraising and Philanthropy | UK Fundraising

University of Kent offers stand-alone Masters-level course in Fundraising and Philanthropy | UK Fundraising: University of Kent offers stand-alone Masters-level course in Fundraising and Philanthropy
Published on 8 November 2012, by howardlake
in

Training

The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at the University of Kent is offering a Masters level module in Spring on 'Fundraising and Philanthropy' as a stand-alone course for people working in the local charity sector.

Update: Fundraising for Sandy Victims Totals More Than $116.2-Million - Recovering From Sandy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Update: Fundraising for Sandy Victims Totals More Than $116.2-Million - Recovering From Sandy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Update: Fundraising for Sandy Victims Totals More Than $116.2-Million

November 8, 2012, 9:15 am

By Anais Strickland

Here are the latest totals from charities that are raising money for Superstorm Sandy relief and recovery efforts. Combined with previously reported figures, more than $116.2-million has been raised.

Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs - Planned Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs - Planned Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs

By Holly Hall

Donor-advised funds last year grew for the first time since 2007, the best year the funds had before the recession took hold, according to a study released today.

Using data from 652 organizations, the National Philanthropic Trust examined the performance of the funds, which allow people to set up charitable accounts, take an immediate tax deduction, and channel money to whatever charities they want whenever they want.

Cumberland funder to help raise $20 million for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina

Cumberland funder to help raise $20 million for nonprofits � Philanthropy North Carolina: Cumberland funder to help raise $20 million for nonprofits

November 8, 2012 � Leave a Comment

By Todd Cohen

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Cumberland Community Foundation has launched an effort help local nonprofits raise a total of $20 million in endowment funds by 2020.

The Foundation already is working with 30 nonprofits and manages endowments for many of them.

November 7520 Rate Settles to 1.0% | Planned Giving Design Center

November 7520 Rate Settles to 1.0% | Planned Giving Design Center: For purposes of determining the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or a term of years, or a remainder or a reversionary interest, Revenue Ruling 2012-30 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for November 2012 is 1.0%; down 0.2% from the October rate of 1.2% and unchanged from the September rate of 1.0%.

Will Sandy Destroy Fundraising? - Association Bisnow (DC)

Will Sandy Destroy Fundraising? - Association Bisnow (DC): Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington president Chuck Bean says not to worry. He’s confident Americans will only dig deeper rather than divert their giving to hurricane relief. Non-hurricane-related non-profits, which start their big fundraising push during the three to four weeks after Thanksgiving, need to continue talking about their mission and what they do with donations to make sure people give the same amount or more. The end of the election today will also allow for more opportunities to capture the public’s attention.

Risk Management In Mid-Sized and Small Museums - Cultural Heritage Partners

Risk Management In Mid-Sized and Small Museums - Cultural Heritage Partners

Monday, November 05, 2012

Center on Philanthropy symposium will focus on preparing for the future : Newscenter : IUPUI

Center on Philanthropy symposium will focus on preparing for the future : Newscenter : IUPUI: INDIANAPOLIS -- Powerful new ideas are transforming philanthropy. What are these forces? How will they affect nonprofits’ and donors’ ability to make a difference?

These and other questions will be addressed during the annual symposium sponsored by the Center on Philanthropy, located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus.

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation Honors the Work of Five Nonprofits

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation Honors the Work of Five Nonprofits: n celebration of Native American Heritage Month and to underscore the importance of philanthropy, the third annual Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation Dinner honored five Santa Barbara County nonprofits for their contributions to the community on Friday night at the Chumash Casi

Dissolving a nonprofit: The lifespan of Event Committee Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Dissolving a nonprofit: The lifespan of Event Committee Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The attorney for K&L Gates handling Event Committee Pittsburgh's closure was unable to comment on the dissolution, according to the law firm's spokesman, Michael Rick.

However, John R. McGinley Jr., the attorney who spent six years working on the dissolution of St. Francis Hospital, said with revenues of $217, the cost of keeping Event Committee Pittsburgh exceeded the benefit of shelving the organization in case it might be needed again.

Mr. McGinley said there are hordes of zombie nonprofits (he called them "shell nonprofits," sort of like shell corporations) existing in name and incorporation, sitting on shelves in offices around the city but not doing anything.

"Operating small nonprofits can be very cost-intensive relative to the benefits," he said, adding that most are better off finding another nonprofit with a similar or the same mission and transferring their assets over, then dissolving.

Nonprofit founder urges charities to pool resources - The Washington Post

Nonprofit founder urges charities to pool resources - The Washington Post: Now 25 years later, Egger is stepping down as head of D.C. Central Kitchen to start a similar charity in Los Angeles. Capital Business caught up for a chat.

Chris Brown to announce new children’s charity called ‘Symphonic Love’ - National Celebrity Headlines | Examiner.com

Chris Brown to announce new children’s charity called ‘Symphonic Love’ - National Celebrity Headlines | Examiner.com:

Chris Brown is hoping to help others by starting a children’s charity. Looking to revamp his image and maybe even soften up the idea that he was convicted of assaulting woman, the artist will announce a new children’s charity called Symphonic Love to the public on Monday.

Washington area charities take action to prepare for ‘fiscal cliff’ - The Washington Post

Washington area charities take action to prepare for ‘fiscal cliff’ - The Washington Post: At the nonprofit United Communities Against Poverty, Nina Lewis has a goal for this holiday season: Don’t let one volunteer slip away.

Her position as volunteer coordinator was created in October as part of the charity’s strategy to gird itself against the looming federal budget cuts, which threaten to hack $178,595 from its government funding.

Program gives farmers chance to support their favorite non-profit | Alexandria Echo Press | Alexandria, Minnesota

Program gives farmers chance to support their favorite non-profit | Alexandria Echo Press | Alexandria, Minnesota: For the third consecutive year, America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives eligible farmers the opportunity to win a $2,500 donation to direct to their favorite local nonprofit organization. Farmers can enter between now and Nov. 30 for their chance to help a nonprofit in need.

Benefit Telethon Generates Record Volume of Individual Donations For Hurricane Sandy Victims

Benefit Telethon Generates Record Volume of Individual Donations For Hurricane Sandy Victims: he American Red Cross and NBCUniversal announced today that “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” a live, one-hour benefit telethon, generated nearly $23 million in support of victims impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

A record number of individual donations by phone, text and online were accepted by the American Red Cross during the 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. time period beginning on Friday, November 2, 2012. The volume of website and phone traffic exceeded previous benefit telethons in support of the American Red Cross over the last five years.

Philanthropy Turned to Short-Term, Project Funding During Recession

Philanthropy Turned to Short-Term, Project Funding During Recession: We examined new data from 2004-2010 for the newly released (and revised) “The Philanthropic Landscape: The State of Multi-Year Funding” and found that reported multi-year grantmaking in 2009 fell 21 percent to $5.5 billion during a time when total grantmaking declined only by 13 percent. If we excluded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the nation’s largest grantmaker, from the analysis, the drop becomes pronounced at more than 33 percent.

Lyric Hammersmith

Lyric Hammersmith: Follow these simple steps to make a donation towards the Capital Development:

Step 1: Click on Floor 1 or Floor 2
Step 2: Click on a room to see what items are

Yahoo’s Homepage Isn’t Raising Enough Money For Hurricane Sandy Relief, Let’s All Step Up | TechCrunch

Yahoo’s Homepage Isn’t Raising Enough Money For Hurricane Sandy Relief, Let’s All Step Up | TechCrunch: Silicon Valley is slowly getting into gear, with Yahoo! doing its normal fundraising on its homepage. There’s only one problem, though: It doesn’t seem like the site is raising that much money. Now mind you, any money during this time is fantastic, but if you look back to 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, Yahoo! performed quite well for fundraising during that period.

Let’s look at Yahoo’s homepage today, which features the donation page and tracks how much money has been raised. I believe this is fantastic and it’s something every major site should add, maybe including ours:

Wells Fargo 'Days of Giving' Donates to 8 Roswell Non-Profits - Roswell, GA Patch

Wells Fargo 'Days of Giving' Donates to 8 Roswell Non-Profits - Roswell, GA Patch: Eight Roswell non-profits were honored with $1,000 Days of Giving donations Tuesday as the Wells Fargo program exceeds $1 million in grants to groups across Georgia this fall, since its beginning four years ago

In all, 62 groups received $1,000 checks at a community breakfast at Founders Hall in Roswell. Three additional breakfasts are occurring across Atlanta this fall and 251 groups in all will receive the same gift.

SBA Loans For Nonprofit Operations - TheNonProfitTimes

SBA Loans For Nonprofit Operations - TheNonProfitTimes: If your nonprofit operates in any county that has been declared a major disaster area by President Barack Obama due to Hurricane Sandy, it might be eligible for low-interest loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Friday, November 02, 2012

Some Staten Island nonprofit groups postpone fundraisers | SILive.com

Some Staten Island nonprofit groups postpone fundraisers | SILive.com: STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In consideration of the continuing effort in families and communities to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, some nonprofits have postponed their fundraisers scheduled for next week.

Message to Schools of Public Affairs: Innovate or Die - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Message to Schools of Public Affairs: Innovate or Die - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: NASPAA also serves as the accrediting body for these master’s degree programs, the majority of which offer a nonprofit concentration. Nearly 500 people—largely deans, directors and faculty members—attended the conference.

The buzzwords I heard throughout the conference sessions were innovation, adaptation, collaboration and teaching across sectors.

Top 5 #Philanthropy Reads - October 2012 (Philanthropy Front and Center-Cleveland )

Top 5 #Philanthropy Reads - October 2012 (Philanthropy Front and Center-Cleveland ): Top 5 #Philanthropy Reads - October 2012

At the beginning of every month, we review the top five posts driving traffic to Philanthropy Front and Center Cleveland from the previous month. If you didn't catch them the first time, we hope you enjoy reading them now. And, we are always interested in your thoughts, so weigh in by leaving comments.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon set for Nov. 15

Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon set for Nov. 15: CHESTERTON | The Association of Fund Raising Professionals Indiana Northwest Chapter will host its fourth annual National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon and program from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Sand Creek Country Club, 1001 S. Clubhouse Drive

The public is welcome to attend. Special guest Andrew Watt, president and CEO of AFP, is the featured speaker.

NBC adds Hurricane Sandy fundraising special Friday, moves 'Revolution' to 9 p.m. | Tulsa World

NBC adds Hurricane Sandy fundraising special Friday, moves 'Revolution' to 9 p.m. | Tulsa World: NBC shuffling its programming for Friday again to add fundraising special featuring performances by Bruce Springsteen and Christina Aguilera.


The special, which will benefit the American Red Cross' Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, will also air on the NBCUniversal channels Bravo, USA, E!, CNBC, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and G4. It will be broadcast live from NBC's 30 Rock studios in New York and live-streamed on NBC.com. There is a possibility other channels may carry the event, according to hollywoodreporter.com.

Palm Springs Charities - The deaths of longtime desert philanthropists in the past few years highlight the need for the next generation to carry the selfless torch into the future.

Palm Springs Charities - The deaths of longtime desert philanthropists in the past few years highlight the need for the next generation to carry the selfless torch into the future.: Finding and developing a new generation of philanthripists can be challenging for nonprofit organizations.

“Cultivating the next generation of givers — millennials/Gen Yers, Gen Xers, or even baby boomers — generally requires an understanding of social dynamics and contemporary communication preferences,” says Greg Murphy, fund development director for Gilda’s Club Desert Cities. “Although one doesn’t necessarily need an app to reach them, you do need a point of engagement that conveys your mission in an appealing and direct way, whether virtually through a website or through actual interaction. Once engaged, the easier it will be for a prospective donor to act on a charitable impulse.”

Hurricane Hits, Apocalypse Looms. Get a Go Bag! | Inspiring Generosity

Hurricane Hits, Apocalypse Looms. Get a Go Bag! | Inspiring Generosity: To punctuate the point the Eastern Massachusetts chapter of the Red Cross launched a new site last week, SavingZombies.com. The site plays on people’s fears of a full blown apocalypse on December 21 as predicted by the Mayan Calendar. No one knows what will happen on that day, but the Red Cross has a good guess: zombie apocalypse.

A Recovery Plan for Fundraisers Facing Burnout - Fundraising Wisdom - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

A Recovery Plan for Fundraisers Facing Burnout - Fundraising Wisdom - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A Recovery Plan for Fundraisers Facing Burnout

October 31, 2012, 2:40 pm

By Carol Weisman

Do any of these describe you?

You spend more the 50 percent of your therapy session talking about fundraising.

Your efforts to get board members to help raise money are so unpleasant, you find yourself daydreaming of the good old days when you were on the front lines in the Vietnam War.

You have gained more than 30 pounds, tripled your alcohol consumption, or taken up smoking over the age of 40.

You and a co-worker are thinking of leaving together. The only thing you haven’t decided is who will be Thelma and who will be Louise.

If any of these sound familiar, you may be suffering from burnout.

Cause Philanthropub Plans to Give All its Profits to Charity - Young & Hungry

Cause Philanthropub Plans to Give All its Profits to Charity - Young & Hungry: Cause will operate like any other bar: You come in, buy drinks, eat food. The restaurant pays its staff and its bills. And then it does something completely unheard of in the restaurant industry: It gives 100 percent of the profits to charity.

At the opening, Ratwani quickly acknowledged to the crowd of nonprofit reps, friends, and media that he and Vilelle have no restaurant experience. “Two psychologists trying to start a restaurant? I’m sure everybody knows the statistics about the failure rate of restaurants.”

Birdies for Charity breaks record

Birdies for Charity breaks record: The 2011 John Deere Classic broke a record for money raised by almost $1 million.

The 2012 campaign crushed that record — raising $1.5 million more than the previous year.

And it all goes to local charities and community organizations.

During a news conference Wednesday at the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, tournament staff and volunteers shared their excitement with representatives of the 493 funded programs that stopped by to pick up their checks.

Social Life Comes to Halt as Library, WNYC Cancel Galas - Businessweek

Social Life Comes to Halt as Library, WNYC Cancel Galas - Businessweek: Arriving in one of the busiest weeks of New York’s social season, Hurricane Sandy forced dozens of nonprofits to cancel their fundraisers. Vendors and nonprofits will have to work out the financials of the situation and determine their next steps.

Rosenblum: Why do I feel bad saying no to giving a buck here and there? | StarTribune.com

Rosenblum: Why do I feel bad saying no to giving a buck here and there? | StarTribune.com: So we want to explain that our giving tends to be, well, more strategic. We support organizations that we feel passionate about, after we've vetted them. We join friends at galas that are important to them. We support our professional organizations. And periodically, we reassess and shift our donor dollars.

But there are 12 people now behind us in the coffee line.

"You are not alone," assured Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Virginia-based Association of Fundraising Professionals. This type of at-the-counter pitch has "exploded" over the past five or 10 years, he said, for a compelling reason. It raises lots of money for nonprofits trying to break out of the pack.

Politics of generosity show up in national rankings | StarTribune.com

Politics of generosity show up in national rankings | StarTribune.com: What is generosity?

Philanthropy experts such as Schervish shake their heads at state "generosity indexes."

"Generosity is a function of people's care for each other," Schervish said. "Charitable giving is charitable giving [reported on a tax return]."

His center has studied state charity differences and did not find significant differences between Bible Belt and Northern states.

"Do you take care of a sick mother? Do you save for your children's education?" he asked. "Do you send money [to family] in anot

Why Long Fundraising Letters Outpull Shorter Ones

Why Long Fundraising Letters Outpull Shorter Ones: Excerpted from The Fundraiser's Guide to Irresistible Communications: Real-World, Field-Tested Strategies to Raise More Money

Aunt Ruth was smiling. Aglow with happiness. I couldn't figure it out.

My 79-year-old aunt had just brought in the day's mail. There was a lot of it, including several fundraising appeals. She threw one away unopened. The others she set on the small table next to her comfy chair. Smiling. The whole time.

Jamie Oliver Gets Hairy Upper Lip for Movember Charity - Businessweek

Jamie Oliver Gets Hairy Upper Lip for Movember Charity - Businessweek: Movember, a global cancer campaign that encourages men to grow moustaches in November, has a record number of registrations this year driven by the growth in users of Facebook (FB) Inc. and Twitter Inc.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Komen Foundation Still Struggles to Regain Momentum - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Komen Foundation Still Struggles to Regain Momentum - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Komen Foundation Still Struggles to Regain Momentum

October 30, 2012, 12:13 pm

Months after it courted controversy by withdrawing its support for Planned Parenthood and then restoring it, the Susan G. Komen Foundation is struggling to regain its traditional level of fundraising and attendance at its Race for the Cure e

Charities Scramble to Raise Money After Sandy Hits - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Scramble to Raise Money After Sandy Hits - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofit organizations are starting to mobilize donations to help victims of Hurricane Sandy, but so far the sums appear to be small.

That’s in part because the two big groups involved in disaster fundraising, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, declined to release a tally of how much they have collected so far.

Charitable Deduction Isn’t ‘Loophole To Close’ - TheNonProfitTimes

Charitable Deduction Isn’t ‘Loophole To Close’ - TheNonProfitTimes: In the middle of an acrimonious election season, policymakers in Washington, D.C., are faced with a looming “fiscal cliff” and the very real possibility that their delay in dealing with a number of fiscal policies is finally catching up with the country.

The facts are stark and can be universally agreed upon: With the growth in entitlement spending and a tax code that grows more complex every year, this country faces a major need to look at all fiscal policy to determine what is the best path forward for long-term, sustained economic growth. Regardless of what mix of “revenue enhancements” and spending cuts are used, a healthy nonprofit sector will be a critical component to these changes.

Want Young Volunteers? Think Short, Sociable, and Fun

Want Young Volunteers? Think Short, Sociable, and Fun: DoSomething.org, the classy nonprofit that entices young people to volunteer and take social actions, released results last week of its survey of how young people volunteer. The conclusions should be taken seriously by nonprofits, if they want to really involve more young people.

The survey covered more than 4,000 young people ages 13 to 22 and asked about their motivations and preferences. Here are some of the findings:

New CEO aims to diversify Komen fundraising � Philanthropy North Carolina

New CEO aims to diversify Komen fundraising � Philanthropy North Carolina: On the heels of that drop, Komen’s Raleigh-based North Carolina Triangle to the Coast affiliate has a new executive director and big plans to diversify its fundraising to support its recent expansion in southeastern North Carolina.

“We’ve been extremely successful with our events,” says Pam Kohl, a nonprofit veteran who joined Komen in August after serving for nine years as district director for U.S. Rep. Brad Miller. “Just like any nonprofit, we know we can never depend on any particular revenue stream.”