March 2009

"The measure of a life is not its duration, but its donation."
- Peter Marshall (former U.S. Senate chaplain)

Building Philanthropy
Interview with David Weekley

PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE - David Weekley is a builder. It's his life's work and passion. In 1976, he founded a home construction company. It has since become the largest privately held homebuilder. Mr. Weekley also works to build up nonprofits, dedicating 50 percent of his income and 50 percent of his time to philanthropy. Philanthropy Magazine spoke with Mr. Weekley about his charitable giving. read interview...

Preparing Your Heirs
How you can affect the impact of your inheritance

KARDIA PLANNING - One of the greatest struggles of wealthy parents seem to have is how can we effectively pass our wealth on to our heirs without ruining them? The fact is that an ill-planned inheritance can actually ruin the very ones you love the most. This parental concern is not new to our day either. It has troubled the wealthy for hundreds of years. read more...

Obama's Tax Plan May Hurt Nonprofits
Philanthropic tax deduction changes may decrease giving

BUSINESS WEEK - Americans have a unique commitment to philanthropy. Now, amid the economic crisis it's more important than ever to support education, health care, art, culture, and efforts to alleviate poverty. Many in Congress worry that the proposed philanthropic tax deductions in Obama's budget will bring a decline in gifts to charities. read more...

FBI Raid on Nonprofit Raises Questions
Angel Food Ministries financial management in question

ASSOCIATED PRESS - For more than a decade, Angel Food Ministries seemed like a godsend for families who purchased its low-cost food boxes and the churches that shared millions in revenue for distributing the goods. Now, a lawsuit coupled with an FBI raid at the group's headquarters has raised accusations of financial mismanagement at the nonprofit. read more...

Socially Responsible Profits
When a profit-minded business wants to do good

FORBES - Andrew Carnegie made a fortune and then gave it all back. Paul Newman had 100% of his company's profits going to good causes from the start. Between these extremes are those businesses that aim for profits while affecting to trade for the public good. They fall in the realm of what modern academics describe with the Theory of Blended Values. Two such ventures are Google.org and Tom's of Maine. read more...

Ten Non-Profit Funding Models
Engaging in conversation about long-term funding strategies

SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW - For-profit executives use business models—such as “low-cost provider” or “the razor and the razor blade"—as a shorthand way to describe and understand the way companies are built and sustained. Nonprofit executives, to their detriment, are not as explicit about their funding models and have not had an equivalent lexicon—until now. read more...

Lifting the Burden of Malaria
An Investment Guide for Impact-Driven Philanthropy

CENTER FOR HIGH-IMPACT PHILANTHROPY - Every 30 seconds a young child dies of malaria. Each of those deaths, however, is avoidable. With an arsenal of cost-effective tools, a consensus strategy, and global partners from all sectors, philanthropists now have an opportunity to help save millions of lives and break the cycle of sickness and poverty from malaria. Your challenge is to figure out how you can best leverage the current momentum against this devastating disease. read more...

Giving That Worked
Learning to combine generosity with discernment

WORLD MAGAZINE - With "work tests" for the able-bodied and disdain for indiscriminate givers, Christians in the past fought urban poverty with generosity plus discernment. Generosity and discernment were to go together like sodium and chloride to produce salt. read more...

Passing the Plate
by Christian Smith

Why is it that Christians in the world's most affluent nation give so little of their income to charity? This sociological study, based on extensive survey data and building on prior studies of Christian philanthropy, shows that American Christian groups typically give away only 1.5% to 2% of their income. Considering that this figure is based on self-reporting, the reality is probably even less. The first two chapters lay out the problem of Americans' ungenerous behavior, while the third ventures explanations: it's not that Americans don't have the money, but that they spend it on luxuries and fail to perceive needs outside their own circles; also, churches are vague about expectations for giving. A fourth chapter delves into parishioners' and pastors' complex feelings about giving, while a stirring conclusion lays down the gauntlet for change. buy at Amazon.com...