February 2010

"I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution." - Andrew Carnegie

Champion of Choice
CEO reforms education and invests in development

PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE - Patrick Byrne, CEO of Overstock.com, created Worldstock, a store within Overstock that sells handcrafted products from artisans in the developing world, generating more than $40 million to date for more than 10,000 participating craftsmen. Since 2005, he has built 22 private schools throughout Africa, India, Asia, and Latin America, all of which are structured around a profit-making enterprise to sustain their ongoing operations. read more...

How Long Should Gifts Just Grow?
Spend it all, spend it sooner

NEW YORK TIMES - As nonprofit institutions have seen donations and investments grow spectacularly in recent years, the urge to keep the money rolling in is being supplemented by a new pressure: make it flow out faster. These “spend it sooner” proponents say that the minimum that private foundations are required to give has in many cases become the maximum. To really attack social ills, foundations and other nonprofits need to open their spigots much wider. read more...

Casting A Shadow Beyond The Grave
It is more blessed to give than to receive

KARDIA PLANNING - Mankind is mortal. God has granted us a certain number of days to dwell upon this earth. For some, it may be only days. For others, it may be tens of thousands of days. No matter what our number, there will come a time for all of us when our last day will arrive. Then this life, as we now know it, will be over. Will you be someone people will even want to remember? Will you be someone people will be glad to forget? read more...

Giving To Haiti Has Yet To Be Spent
Half a billion dollars raised, most sits in banks

ABC NEWS - Of the half a billion dollars sent to Haiti relief organizations contacted by ABC News, 18 percent is already being spent on food and water, 11 percent is going toward medical supplies and clinics, six percent on housing, and two percent on operations. But here's the catch. The money now being spent is only a small fraction of the total donations given. Most of the donations made to the relief efforts -- 69 percent or $325 million -- have not been spent on anything yet. read more...

Giving 2010 Survey Report
Over 100 philanthropic leaders share wisdom about 2010

DINI PARTNERS - In this second annual survey, more than one hundred philanthropic leaders from across the United States shared their wisdom and insights about giving in the year ahead. The data provided in this Dini Partners’ survey report is encouraging and demonstrates the critical thinking that undergirds philanthropy in these challenging times. read more...

World Economic Forum: Rethinking Philanthropy
How should philanthropic strategies adjust to the post-crisis?

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM - The economic contraction has focused philanthropic energy on effectiveness of each dollar. In fact, with $350 billion available, the U.S. does not need more, but rather better philanthropy. Many of the delegates advocated new lessons and creative approaches to “philanthro-capitalism”, particularly taking advange of the rise of social media connections through Internet technology and mobile telephony, allowing poorer and younger people to engage and to donate easily and quickly. read more...

Nonprofit CEOs Are Worth Every Dime
The public outcry against nonprofit CEO salaries is misplaced

FORBES - Several journalists responded to a recent report on nonprofit salaries critically, accusing well-compensated nonprofit CEOs of being driven by financial gain rather than belief in the cause and by suggesting that these "bloated salaries" represent irresponsible spending by the entire nonprofit sector. This misplaced anger amounts to kicking nonprofits while they're down. read more...

America's Top Philanthropists Gave Less in 2009
The wealthy have been giving less to charity

WALL ST. JOURNAL - The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of top 50 philanthropists now shows that total giving by the group plunged almost 75% to $4.1 billion. Aside from less dollars, the list highlights the continuation of a much bigger trend: rather than writing checks to big nonprofit groups, the rich are forming their own foundations to tackle global social ills. read more...

The Second Half: Tina and Bob Muzikowski
An inspiring story of real adventure and real significance

HALFTIME - Not far from his high-rise office in downtown Chicago, Bob launched the Near West Little League in one of the poorest sections of the city. Taking their dream further, he and Tina opened the Chicago Hope Academy, an outstanding school for gifted inner-city kids. Moving their entire family into the neighborhood, the Muzikowskis are investing their life in the community. Their journey of faith is not only thrilling to hear – but deeply challenges my heart. read more...

The Power of Half
One Family's Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back

It all started when 14-year old Hannah Salwen, idealistic but troubled by a growing sense of injustice, had a eureka moment when a homeless man in her neighborhood was juxtaposed against a glistening Mercedes coupe. "You know, Dad," she said, pointing, "If that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal." This glaring disparity led the Salwen family of four to embark on an incredible journey together from which there would be no turning back. They decided to sell their Atlanta mansion, donsize to a house half its size, and give half of their profits to a worthy charity. This decision would transport them across the globe and well out of their comfort zone. Along the way they would inspire so many others wrestling with the same questions: Do I give enough? How much is enough? How can I make an impact in the world? In the end the Salwens' journey would bring them closer as a family, as they discovered, together, that half could be so much more. buy at Amazon.com...