November 2008

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

Big Donations Bring Complexities
How UC is dealing with Booth's $300 Million

CHICAGO TRIBUINE - David Booth, a Chicago financier, recently donated $300 million to the University of Chicago. Like many nonprofit managers, the university's leaders may struggle with how to effectively deal with such a big, game-changing gift. read more...

Excellence in Giving Welcomes New Team Members
Meet our two newest colleagues

EXCELLENCE IN GIVING - As the demand for our giving advisory services grows, Excellence in Giving welcomes Laura Fisher and Mark Percy to our team. Laura has joined as our first partner, bringing over 20 years of corporate and non-profit experience. Mark, an experienced business executive and social entrepreneur, will lead the operation and expansion of our California practice. read the news release | meet the EIG team

Philanthropy During a Downturn
Now a new urgency to give dollars more carefully

PHILANTHROPY NEWS DIGEST - In any economic downturn, the demand for philanthropy increases as the supply of philanthropic capital declines. The current financial crisis is no exception. Its breadth, severity, and potential duration bring new urgency to the need to manage philanthropic dollars wisely. read more...

Charity Begins in The Office
Giving to "overhead" can make charities more efficient

FINANCIAL TIMES - For many non-profits, grants to improve their back office remain an elusive dream. Too often, funding comes with strings attached – strings limiting the spending to program work rather than on support functions such as staff training, improved IT systems or HR management. But funders are potentially missing an opportunity to improve the efficiency of their favorite charities. read more...

Middle-Eastern Philanthropy Surges
Nonprofits around the world can expect billions of new dollars

WALL STREET JOURNAL - More-formalized philanthropy in the Middle East has surged and in coming years is expected to inject billions of dollars into nonprofit programs around the world. Philanthropic giving is a core principle of Islam but has traditionally been handled quietly and informally in the Middle East. In recent years, however, the region's rich have started building U.S.-style foundations to handle their philanthropy. read more...

I'm Not Rockefeller
33 philanthropists discuss their approach to giving

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - Over a series of interviews with 33 high net worth families who give over $1 million a year, the University of Pennsylvania studied how these philanthropists currently make their giving choices and the limitations they confront. read more...

Aid Group Says Zimbabwe Misused $7.3 Million
Funders less willing to rebuild Zimbabwe due to Mugabe

NEW YORK TIMES - The government of Zimbabwe, led by President Robert Mugabe, spent $7.3 million donated by Global Fund to Fight AIDS has failed to honor requests to return the money, according to the organization’s inspector general. Zimbabwe’s actions also jeopardize a more ambitious $188 million Global Fund grant to Zimbabwe, due for consideration by the fund’s board on Friday, Mr. Parsons said. read more...

Foundations Can Provide a Giving Stimulus
Creating a powerful incentive for others to give

SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW - Foundations can help nonprofits fundraise at this end-of-the-year giving season by providing a stimulus for giving. Take a page from the Columbus Community Foundation, which today announced a giving stimulus plan created to match gifts to local nonprofits. The foundation aims to “raise $1 million in 48 hours.” read more...

Money Well Spent
A Strategic Guide to Smart Philanthropy

Billions of philanthropic dollars all too often go to waste, failing to achieve stated goals or make true change happen. The reason for this is simple: poor strategy. Drawing on examples from many different foundations, Money Well Spent presents donors with the framework to design a plan that will ensure meaningful returns. Paul Brest and Hal Harvey, who help run the U.S.'s sixth largest foundation, bring a wealth of experience and expertise on what works and what does not. For those who believe that philanthropic dollars should be administered according to the highest standards of stewardship, this book is money well spent. buy at Amazon.com...