Wednesday, November 27, 2013

As Giving Tuesday Nears, Wise Up About Charities - Forbes

As Giving Tuesday Nears, Wise Up About Charities - Forbes: As December approaches, you may be ready to amp up your charitable giving to maximize your 2013 tax write-off. You might even plan to contribute on#GivingTuesday — the nonprofit world’s answer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when donors are urged to unite and give, give, give (this year, it falls on Tuesday, December 3).

But how can you be sure your gift

Seven Reasons To Tell Your Kids What They Will (Or Won't) Inherit - Forbes

Seven Reasons To Tell Your Kids What They Will (Or Won't) Inherit - Forbes: For many people, estate planning is both a private matter and a morbid topic – not something that parents want to discuss with their adult children. While having such conversations takes a lot of courage, families that speak freely about these delicate issues can avoid problems down the line.

Opinion: Church-Related Social Ties Boost Giving by Faithful – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Opinion: Church-Related Social Ties Boost Giving by Faithful – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The cohesive social connections that form within congregations, rather than faith itself or theological teachings, drive the higher rates at which religious people donate to charity, a political scientist asserts in a Time magazine opinion column.

David E. Campbell, a Notre Dame professor and co-author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, says research for the book turned up no evidence linking belief per se with giving. Rather, he writes, “the ‘secret ingredient’ for charitable giving among religious Am

$3.8 million raised by the Singapore Red Cross for victims of Typhoon Haiyan

$3.8 million raised by the Singapore Red Cross for victims of Typhoon Haiyan: The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has raised $3.8 million for victims of Typhoon Haiyan since it launch an appeal for donations on Nov 11, said SRC secretary-general Benjamin William on Wednesday.

How one nonprofit loved their lapsed members back � The Butterfly Effect (Blog) � Cause & Effect

How one nonprofit loved their lapsed members back � The Butterfly Effect (Blog) � Cause & Effect: Well, Audubon decided to begin a “don’t worry about it” forgiveness program for their 20 year members who hadn’t renewed their membership.

Instead of allowing their membership to lapse, each 20 year lapsed member received a carefully handwritten note on one of Audubon’s stunning bird note cards.

In the handwritten note, Audubon thanked this loyal member for many years of support.

Leaders Fight For Clear, Fair Political Activity Rules | The NonProfit Times

Leaders Fight For Clear, Fair Political Activity Rules | The NonProfit Times: Imagine there is a law that mandates you cannot drive fast, but the speed limit is not posted: You have been given no definition of what it means to go fast. This is the situation charities face when it comes to political activity. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has failed to define what constitutes political activity, relying on the “facts and circumstances” of each case to decide whether an organization is participating in political activities.

Celebrate #GivingTuesday | The White House

Celebrate #GivingTuesday | The White House: Typically, the holidays are a moment when many Americans volunteer to help the most vulnerable. Others make charitable contributions that can last throughout the holiday season. Next week, we will celebrate #GivingTuesday, a worldwide effort to raise awareness and motivate action for the common good.

Join in to help others with #GivingTuesday | Deseret News

Join in to help others with #GivingTuesday | Deseret News: Utahns are generous people, which is why our state leads the nation in charitable giving and in volunteerism. This culture of compassion is part of what makes Utah an enviable place to live. My hope is that the #GivingTuesday movement will encourage Utahns to go to even greater lengths to care for those in need.

Second Annual Giving Tuesday | Social Velocity

Second Annual Giving Tuesday | Social Velocity: Tuesday, December 3rd is the second annual Giving Tuesday, an exciting experiment that started last year to “create a national day of giving to kick off the giving season on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.” Last year’s first Giving Tuesday saw some impressive results:

More than 2,500 recognized #GivingTuesday™ partners from all 50 states
Blackbaud processed over $10 million in online donations on 11/27/12 – a 53% increase when compared to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving the previous year.
DonorPerfect recorded a 46% increase in online donations and the average gift increased 25%.
More than 50 million people worldwide spread the word about GivingTuesday – resulting in milestone trending on Twitter.

North Country non-profits struggle to grow jobs and attract dollars | News from North Country Public Radio

North Country non-profits struggle to grow jobs and attract dollars | News from North Country Public Radio: A new study released last week found that 36 non-profits in the North Country generated more than $400 million in economic activity, providing roughly 10% of all the jobs in the region.

Cali Brookes, head of the Adirondack Foundation, which co-sponsored the study and hosted a meeting of non-profits groups at the Wild Center last week. She ays the non-profit sector is playing a more prominent role in the economy. “This being rural America and small towns, the non-profits are more visible, they’re more active, and more engaged," said Brooks. You can see them stronger and brighter here than in other places.”

Charitable Giving in America – An Infographic - CHARITABLE GIVING COALITION

Charitable Giving in America – An Infographic - CHARITABLE GIVING COALITION

Generosity Without Borders on #GivingTuesday | Randal Mason

Generosity Without Borders on #GivingTuesday | Randal Mason: Luckily, the interconnected nature of our world applies to creating opportunities and solutions as well. International education, business partnerships, and cultural knowledge--there's a wealth of ideas and experiences to be shared and leveraged for the greater good. So, as we approach #GivingTuesday, which kicks off the holiday giving season, why not consider going global with your gifts?

Charity Leaders Live – when things go wrong | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

Charity Leaders Live – when things go wrong | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: Charity Leaders Live – when things go wrong
Occasional crises are inevitable, but being prepared and practising your response procedure can make all the difference

The AFP Blog: Giving Tuesday

The AFP Blog: Giving Tuesday: Giving Tuesday began last year as a national day of giving in the United States, attracting thousands of charities and generating countless dollars in contributions. The theme of the day, happening after shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, has resonated with many people. This year, Giving Tuesday is launching in Canada, and AFP is proud to be one of the sponsoring organizations.

The Second Annual “Protect Giving Day” Invites You to Be the Charitable Deduction - Press - AFP

The Second Annual “Protect Giving Day” Invites You to Be the Charitable Deduction - Press - AFP: On Nov. 20, more than 200 attendees representing over 140 organizations participated in the Charitable Giving Coalition’s Protect Giving – DC Day.

In its second year, the Charitable Giving Coalition set out to continue the fight to preserve the full value of the charitable deduction by convincing Congress that WE are the charitable deduction. Broken out into 36 teams, they attended hundreds of meetings across the Hill, all portraying their connection to the charitable deduction.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

My New Favorite Holiday | Elaine Martyn

My New Favorite Holiday | Elaine Martyn: Whether it's a natural disaster in the Philippines, a horrific rape case in India, or political turmoil in Egypt, women in the Global Fund network rise to the occasion because we are in this together. Being part of the Global Fund community makes you an activist who cares as much about how you advocate for women's rights as you do the impact itself.

We live in new era of philanthropy. Kathy Calvin and Henry Timms tell us that it's no longer just about big wealth. It's about big impact and it's not just billionaires and world leaders who can make a difference. We couldn't agree more. In fact, this is the foundation on which Global Fund was built on 25 years ago.

Put the “Giving” Back into Turkey-Day

Put the “Giving” Back into Turkey-Day: Our reactions were startlingly different. I grabbed the handle of my umbrella more tightly and tried to frame my response. In the very same instant, my colleague handed her umbrella to the stranger – who thanked her politely. We walked on, sharing one umbrella, and entered the restaurant for our meeting.

As we looked out the window, dry and cozy, we saw the man making his way slowly down the street in a wheelchair. My colleague’s umbrella was providing him with shelter from the deluge – at least for the time being.

Should philanthropy be instinctive or strategic?

Baltimore Gears Up for 'Giving Tuesday’ With a Grass-Roots Campaign - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Baltimore Gears Up for 'Giving Tuesday’ With a Grass-Roots Campaign - Ideas & Advice - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Baltimore has bragging rights to uphold: Last year, the event’s first year, a local charity, the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, raised more than any other nonprofit in America that day, according to Giving Tuesday organizers.

Giving Tuesday: Magnify Your Generosity This Year | David Nocenti

Giving Tuesday: Magnify Your Generosity This Year | David Nocenti: In homage to the true spirit of Thanksgiving, last year saw the launch of "Giving Tuesday," a new, unofficial holiday devoted to charity. Created by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, Giving Tuesday is a movement to popularize a national day of philanthropic activity on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. (This year, the date falls on December 3.)

The initiative struck an instant chord -- last year over 2,500 partners from all 50 states led charitable giving campaigns, and more than 50 million people worldwide spread the word about Giving Tuesday, as evidenced by milestone trending about the day on Twitte

South Florida nonprofits mobilize for Giving Tuesday - Sun Sentinel

South Florida nonprofits mobilize for Giving Tuesday - Sun Sentinel:There's a national day to give thanks, why not a day to give back?

That's the idea behind Giving Tuesday, a campaign started last year by nonprofits to mobilize support on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and kick off what many call "the giving season."

More South Florida nonprofits are taking part in the effort this year and spreading the word through email, websites, Facebook and Twitter, often using the hashtag #GivingTuesday.

Multichannel Marketing For Nonprofits

Multichannel Marketing For Nonprofits: Here are some key facts about how fundraising and email are changing for nonprofits:

On its own, email is not enough: the median click-through rate for 2013 was 0.5%;
Over 50% of email is on mobile now;
People participate because they’re drawn in by stories and visuals;
Multichannel marketing is a great way to raise optimism and engagement.

Controversial Philanthropist Peter Lewis Dead at 80 - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Controversial Philanthropist Peter Lewis Dead at 80 - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Peter B. Lewis died on Saturday, leaving behind a notable legacy in his philanthropy. A member of the Giving Pledge, he was known to have strong opinions and principles, progressive politics, a love for the arts and higher education, and high expectations of those he funded. In just one of a few high-profile disagreements he had with grantees, for instance, Lewis resigned summarily from the Guggenheim Museum board in 2005, citing “differences in direction” after being on its board for eight years and contributing $77 million. This was four times as much as any trustee had ever given. The dsipute was substantive in this case, centering on whether the museum should focus locally or internationally but Lewis was known to be as generous with his opinions as with his money.

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Five Ways Grantmakers Can Smash Silos

keeping a close eye... by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Five Ways Grantmakers Can Smash Silos: Grain silos along the west side of the small West Texas town of Ralls, Texas by Leaflet [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

In our latest Smashing Silos in Philanthropy: Multi-Issue Advocacy and Organizing for Real Results, NCRP Research and Policy Director Niki Jagpal and I note how multi-issue coalitions have been responsible for some of the biggest policy developments of recent years. When organizations advocating and organizing in disparate spaces see the connections and come together, the results are transformative.

Foundations prefer to go their own way � Philanthropy North Carolina

Foundations prefer to go their own way � Philanthropy North Carolina: Private foundations typically do not collaborate with one another, like to find their own grantees and stick with them, prefer not to push their agendas on grantees, and prefer financial returns to investments that advance their mission.

Monday, November 25, 2013

After Nonprofit Fraud, Mere Restitution is Insufficient - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

After Nonprofit Fraud, Mere Restitution is Insufficient - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: e Washington Post followed up its “Diversions” series with a story on Saturday that should act as a reminder to nonprofits that reporting crimes against them is a responsibility not just to their donors and constituents but also to the rest of the sector..

We have previously acknowledged that the response of some few nonprofits to employee fraud is to seek restitution and keep it quiet in hopes that they will not lose face with donors and the public. This leaves the perpetrator to go on and steal from other organizations. This is just plain irresponsible, and boards should understand that it is an ethical issue. And while NPQ would like to believe that perhaps the group that suffered the fraud in the first place would go on to tighten up their systems, these two stories indicate these organizations may still not be as attentive to detail as they might need to keep themselves safe.

Charities Victimized by Theft Often Eschew Criminal Cases – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Charities Victimized by Theft Often Eschew Criminal Cases – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Charities Victimized by Theft Often Eschew Criminal Cases

Nonprofit groups hit by internal fraud or theft—but looking to avoid bad publicity or a donor backlash—frequently decline to pursue legal action against suspected embezzlers in exchange for repayment of the lost funds, according to The Washington Post.

Charities 'must vet for social media experience when hiring'

Charities 'must vet for social media experience when hiring': The chief executive of Beating Bowel Cancer, who has made the inaugural list of top 30 charity CEOs on social media, says it is essential now that when a charity hires a new CEO, that it is sure they are social-media savvy.

Mark Flannagan made the comments at an event to unveil the list of the top 30 charity CEOs on social media.

Charity Choice: When Donor-Advised Funds Trump Private Foundations - Forbes

Charity Choice: When Donor-Advised Funds Trump Private Foundations - Forbes: So in 2008 Norm, now 70, and Elaine, now 65, created the “Brodsky Foundation”–which isn’t (despite its name) a private foundation but a donor-advised fund. Like a private foundation, a DAF functions as a conduit. You make your contribution and claim your tax deduction now, then dribble money out to specific operating charities over years or decades while your charitable dollars are invested and growing tax free or nearly tax free (with a private foundation, there’s a small investment tax).

Charities latch onto 'crowdsourcing' - CSMonitor.com

Charities latch onto 'crowdsourcing' - CSMonitor.com: Instead of looking for a few large donors, they're finding that acquiring many small ones is an effective way to battle homelessness, poverty, hunger, and so on. Instead of narrow appeals tied to specific events or drives – as has long been done for charity walks and races – philanthropic groups are using the power of the Internet to expand their fundraising to a mass audience at a much lower cost than traditional methods.

The result: a small-donation bonanza that is capturing the largest chunk of the crowdsourcing market.

KPBJ.COM | World Vision anticipates record-setting 'Giving Tuesday' after�Thanksgiving | Business Daily | The KPBJ | KITSAP PENINSULA BUSINESS JOURNAL

KPBJ.COM | World Vision anticipates record-setting 'Giving Tuesday' after�Thanksgiving | Business Daily | The KPBJ | KITSAP PENINSULA BUSINESS JOURNAL: SEATTLE — World Vision is one of thousands of nonprofits taking part in the second annual observance of Giving Tuesday. Held after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday has a simple goal: after two days focused on shopping (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), it’s meant to be a day to refocus on giving thanks by giving back.

Thune-Wyden Letter Aids Bid to Save Charitable Deduction: Taxes - Bloomberg

Thune-Wyden Letter Aids Bid to Save Charitable Deduction: Taxes - Bloomberg: Opponents of President Barack Obama’s proposed cap on charitable deductions say they have gotten a boost from a bipartisan letter by two Senate Finance Committee members that urges maintaining the tax break.

Senators John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, and Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, composed their letter last week and intend to deliver it to leaders of the Finance panel, Bloomberg BNA reports, as debate heats up revising the U.S. tax code.

Giving Tuesday to pair shelter residents, downtown businesses - Chico Enterprise Record

Giving Tuesday to pair shelter residents, downtown businesses - Chico Enterprise Record: Residents of two area shelters will turn the tables Dec. 3 when they take part in "Giving Tuesday," a national program that encourages charitable organizations to give back to communities that have helped them.

Residents of Esplanade House, a shelter for families, and Skyway House, a program to aid families and individuals in the treatment of substance abuse, will join with Downtown Chico Business Association members in clean-up projects.

Hall charities reap less from Georgia Gives Day

Hall charities reap less from Georgia Gives Day: The second annual Georgia Gives Day wrapped up its online fundraiser with significantly more money raised across the state, but numbers taking a slight dip in Hall County.

Hall County donations slid from $2,726 in 2012 to $2,511 raised this year.

The Marietta Daily Journal

The Marietta Daily Journal: MARIETTA — A local millionaire businessman convinced the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University to teach graduate students this fall about the importance of philanthropy.

With literally millions of ways to give, Tom Hughes asked the students what nonprofit is the best in the “Philanthropy of Business” class, the first course focused on charity giving offered by KSU.

7520 Rate for December Unchanged at 2.0% | Planned Giving Design Center

7520 Rate for December Unchanged at 2.0% | 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 2013-26 indicates the applicable federal rate under section 7520 for December 2013 is 2.0%; unchanged from the November rate of 2.0% and down 0.4% from the October rate of 2.4%.

Artist-Endowed Foundations: Two New Publications from The Aspen Institute | Planned Giving Design Center

Artist-Endowed Foundations: Two New Publications from The Aspen Institute | Planned Giving Design Center: The Aspen Institute has announced the release of two brand new free online publications as a follow-up of its 2010 study for artists interested in creating a private foundation and we have them for you right here!

National Study of Artist–Endowed Foundations
A study of the emerging artist-endowed foundation field in the US

The play’s still the thing at N.C. Shakespeare Festival � Philanthropy North Carolina

The play’s still the thing at N.C. Shakespeare Festival � Philanthropy North Carolina: NCShakes, which began in February 1977, reduced its staff from 16 full-time and part-time positions to the equivalent of five full-time positions. It cancelled its annual fall production of a Shakespeare play, which this year would have been Macbeth. And it scrubbed its 36th annual production of A Christmas Carol.

But NCShakes’ nonprofit board of trustees had no intention of shutting down the company permanently, says Pedro Silva, an actor who has worked for the company since 1977 and served as managing director since 1983.