February 2009

"The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value." - Charles Dudley Warner (American author)

Ex-Wall Street Executives Help Nonprofits
Wall St. methods to finance nonprofit expansion

NEW YORK TIMES - Charles Harris, a former Goldman Sachs partner, founded an organization that uses Wall Street methods to help charities raise money to finance expansion. The goal of the organization is to create a nationwide donor network of wealthy individuals and family foundations that can be mobilized with other existing sources of funds to provide growth capital for entrepreneurial organizations. read interview...

Half a Million Nonprofits May Lose Tax Exemption
According to IRS estimates, many defunct non-profits

GUIDESTAR - Did you know that in May 2010, half a million nonprofits could find themselves stripped of their exempt status? The IRS estimates that that's the number of smaller organizations that have failed to file a Form 990-N. That means that 18 months from now, hundreds of thousands of charitable nonprofits, many operating on a shoestring, may no longer be able to accept tax-deductible contributions. read more...

How Donors Can Help Deliver a Nonprofit's Promise
Givers can ensure that their donations make a difference

BRIDGESPAN - Questions of donor impact and effectiveness lie at the heart of effective philanthropy, and there are no easy answers. But there are guideposts, as noted in an article by Bridgespan managing partner Jeffrey Bradach, chairman Thomas Tierney, and partner Nan Stone for the December 2008 edition of the Harvard Business Review. Listen in as Mr. Tierney discusses the important factors funders must consider. download podcast | read the HBR article ...

Giving Principles in Tough Economic Times
A biblical approach to giving in uncertain times

FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY - The Bible has much to say about managing your life during uncertain times. Paradoxically, the biblical messages stand in contrast to what the world says. Gary Hoag, vice president at Denver Seminary, explores the Bible has to say about giving and fund-raising during a time crisis such as this. read more...

Should Donors Increase Giving During Downturn?
Nonprofit leaders look to foundations for relief

BOSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL - The impact of the dwindling funding is being felt across the board, from human service organizations and health centers to theater groups. Nonprofit leaders are looking to foundations for relief. Some players question why foundations are not giving more, especially those that only give the 5 percent of endowment required by law. In good times grow the endowment, they argue, in bad times spend it. read more...

Private Foundations Step in to Rebuild Economy
As economic crisis deepens, foundations step into the breach

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR - As debate continues in Congress on how best to give a genuine boost to the troubled economy, some of the nation’s foundations have responded quickly to the crisis. Despite being hit hard themselves, close to 50 foundations have committed more than $100 million toward efforts to reduce foreclosures, provide financial counseling, and shore up services to the jobless and homeless. read more...

A Giving Recession?
The downturn poses new challenges for philanthropy

THE ECONOMIST - Among the more difficult things to forecast for 2009 is what will happen to giving. On the one hand, the turmoil in financial markets has reduced the assets of many prominent givers, both foundations and individuals. On the other hand, giving has proven remarkably recession proof, at least in America. The heads of two of America's largest foundations speak with the Economist. read more...

The World We Want
by Peter Karoff

In The World We Want, Peter Karoff presents a collective vision of an ideal world. The book weaves together multi-sector, multidiscipline strategies, but in large part it is about the power of human connection, reinforced by personal stories of motivation and the human capacity for caring. Without ignoring the institutional and cultural obstacles, and the courage needed to face down the dark side of human behavior, Karoff shows how citizen engagement and open source solutions could tip the scale toward a better world. buy at Amazon.com...