July 2009

"Giving is not something we do,
but something we are." - Warren Wiersbe

A Buffett Turns to Farming in Africa
Warren's son Howard quietly fights global hunger

WALL ST. JOURNAL - The middle child of Warren Buffett is an unassuming Illinois soybean and corn farmer. But for the past four years, he has played a behind-the-scenes role in the global war against hunger. He spends much of the year traveling through Africa, experimenting with ideas for helping poor farmers produce crops to feed their families and to lessen the continent’s food shortage. read more...

Why Overhead Isn't Evil
Coventional wisdom is wrong: nonprofit overhead is not evil

FAST COMPANY - Every industry has a bogeyman. In the not-for-profit world, it's overhead. The assumption is that when 99% of your expenses go to programs, you are fantastic. But low overhead doesn't necessarily mean an organization is awesome at fighting poverty, or that its turnover is low and its people productive. And it certainly doesn't guarantee that the group is spending wisely. read more...

Social Entrepreneurship Revisited
What does "social entrepreneurship" actually mean?

SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW - Social entrepreneurship is one of the most alluring terms on the problem-solving landscape today, and is in use even in the new Obama administration. The question is not whether social entrepreneurship is a term in good currency, but what it actually means. read more...

From Haiti, A Surprise: Good News about AIDS
Infection rate plummets as organizations cooperate

ASSOCIATED PRESS - Haiti's success in addressing the spread of AIDS, particularly in the face of chronic political and social turmoil, came because organizations cooperated and tailored programs to the country's specific challenges. Some say the Haitian AIDS community does some of the best work in the world. read more...

Madoff Foundation Victims Lack Adequate Board
Poor governance contributed to their becoming victims

CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY - Of the foundations that have been hardest hit by the Bernard Madoff financial scheme, the majority of them lacked adequate board size or diverse board leadership, factors that contributed to their becoming victims of the investment scandal. read more...

Hedge Fund Manager Gives $800M to Charity
Defying the crisis, a controversial manager gives a sum

DAILY TELEGRAPH - One of London's most controversial hedge fund managers has defied the financial crisis and given away one of the biggest ever charitable donations. Chris Hohn, 42, a secretive financier who is best known for his aggressive investment tactics, donated £499 million last year to a foundation that funds projects for children across the developing world. The gift beats his own previous record set in 2007, when he gave £323 million. read more...

The Second Half: Patrick McConathy
An inspiring story of real adventure and real significance

HALFTIME - Patrick is a successful oil and gas businessman with a big heart for healing men's hearts — and through them healing their families. Patrick and Trisha purchased a ranch in Colorado and redevloped it into the perfect setting where men come to address the deepest needs of their hearts in the safety of their peers. read more...

Millions in Debt, Medical Charity Suspends Operations
After three decades, a charity closes down

CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY - International Aid, a relief charity in Michigan, is suspending its operations after nearly three decades of work helping poor people abroad. Board members of the Christian charity voted unanimously last week to close the organization, a move that has affected 40 staff members in the United States and 32 in Honduras and the Philippines. read more...

To Whom Much Is Given
Navigating the dilemmas affluent Christians face

Jay Link, from Kardia Planning, has decades of experience in working with wealthy families. This shows through in this book as he “cuts to the chase” in identifying the major challenges and dilemmas that are common roadblocks for affluent Christian families. If you have achieved a good level of financial success in life, this little book is concentrated wisdom that you simply cannot afford to be without. Jay has provided an invaluable road map to point the way on what to do with and about your wealth. buy at kardiaplanning.com...