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 Philanthropys 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...
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