Friday, June 13, 2014

If It Were Easy To Do, We Wouldn’t Need You � 101fundraising

If It Were Easy To Do, We Wouldn’t Need You � 101fundraising: Major gift fundraising at its best can transform an organization. When an inspired potential donor says, “We have to make that happen,” “It’s critical that we solve this societal problem,” “How can I help?” incredible philanthropic investments follow. So why do some of us spend so little time getting this right?

One reason is because so many other things are easier to do.

Knights set charitable giving record last year | HartfordBusiness.com

Knights set charitable giving record last year | HartfordBusiness.com: he Knights of Columbus, which has its international headquarters in New Haven, said members of its fraternal organization donated a record $170.1 million and 70.5 million man hours to charities in 2013.

ArtsBoston aids nonprofits in the art of data mining - Business - The Boston Globe

ArtsBoston aids nonprofits in the art of data mining - Business - The Boston Globe: ArtsBoston is teaching other US nonprofits the art of data mining.

For decades, art institutions have individually collected basic information about their own subscribers and donors — names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mails — as part of their marketing strategy.

But ArtsBoston, a nonprofit that helps organizations with their marketing needs, has taken that concept a step further by convincing 60 of its 150 area members — from the Boston Symphony Orchestra to the Danforth Museum in Framingham — to pool their data to get a more comprehensive, crossover look at the region’s arts scene and

Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: News & Articles > Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form
Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form
By Mark Hrywna - June 13, 2014

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to release a shorter version of its application for tax-exemption (Form 1023 EZ) within the next month and reduce the backlog of the longest applications by the end of the fiscal year.

Remembering Rural Philanthropy in an Urban-Focused Society - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Remembering Rural Philanthropy in an Urban-Focused Society - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Rick Cohen is liveblogging his experiences at this year’s annual meeting of the Council on Foundations. Here, he gives his impressions on presentations by Chuck Fluharty of the Rural Policy Research Institute and USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development, Doug O’Brien regarding the state of rural America. You can follow all of Rick’s blog posts here.

The Durango Herald 06/12/2014 | Philanthropy Days in full swing

The Durango Herald 06/12/2014 | Philanthropy Days in full swing: Southwest Coloradans are known for coming together to solve problems, but sometimes more money is needed than can be raised locally.

Enter Rural Philanthropy Days, which, every four years, brings the large foundations from the Front Range down to see the good work we are doing. They are familiar names – El Pomar, Anschutz, Gates Family and Temple Hoyne Buell among them.

Strapped San Jose Theater to Close and File for Bankruptcy – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Strapped San Jose Theater to Close and File for Bankruptcy – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: fter several years of financial struggle and falling ticket sales, the San Jose Repertory Theatre announced Wednesday that it has shut down and will file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the San Jose Mercury News writes.

Opinion: Delaware Museum’s Art Sale Sets Dangerous Precedent – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Opinion: Delaware Museum’s Art Sale Sets Dangerous Precedent – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Delaware Art Museum’s planned sale of works to pay down millions of dollars in debt and bolster its endowment will ultimately weaken rather than strengthen the institution, a leading museum executive writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

Match Day fundraising drops this year

Match Day fundraising drops this year: Yet, the number of donors was roughly the same for both years. On Thursday, 980 individual donations came in for 80 out of 96 nonprofits. Last year’s Match Day had 950 donors. Donation amounts and giving incentives differed this year and that, along with other factors the Community Foundation of North Florida suspects, made the difference.

Community Foundation executive director Joy Watkins said this year’s Match Day took place in June, compared to its first two years in November — the giving season.

Bone marrow recipient giving back | News - Home

Bone marrow recipient giving back | News - Home: Now, Rivera is celebrating her "new" birthday by giving back to the organization that gave her a second chance at life.

"I am blessed every day that I open my eyes and put my feet on the ground," said Rivera. "So I decided to celebrate by giving back to Be The Match. I want to do a fundraising campaign they just started called, By the Mile."

Rivera's goal is a 100-day challenge, in which she will ride 1,000 miles on her bike and raise $10,000 for Be The Match to help get more donors on their registry.

Why you should probably trash your general brochure - Future Fundraising Now

Why you should probably trash your general brochure - Future Fundraising Now: Why you should probably trash your general brochure

Perhaps the single biggest waste of time and money in fundraising is the general brochure

Participating Nonprofit Organizations Complete 6(th) Annual Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge - WSJ.com

PRESS RELEASE



Participating Nonprofit Organizations Complete 6(th) Annual Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge - WSJ.com: The Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge pairs nonprofit organizations facing a mission critical issue with a team of top-performing Morgan Stanley professionals. Through the eight-week long project, the employees work half-time for the charity, identifying researched, feasible and impactful solutions that the charity can implement to reach scale, expand impact and improve its efficiency, such as scaling an existing program.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Fake Modesty Etiquette for Modern Philanthropy | New York Observer

Fake Modesty Etiquette for Modern Philanthropy | New York Observer: Have you been invited to contribute to a friend’s charity recently?

Perhaps through a link to one of the many online donation sites like Causes.com, Fundly or Crowdrise, whose tag line is, “If you don’t give back, no one will like you.”

As with everything else on the internet, the whole process is utterly public. How much you give, your name, how much other people gave: it’s all there to be judged.

Giving Tuesday�|�Peter A. Georgescu

Giving Tuesday�|�Peter A. Georgescu: We already have a Thursday dedicated to giving thanks every year. How about a Tuesday devoted to just giving. (The thanks will be coming back at you all on its own.) That was the notion behind #GivingTuesday, a movement devoted to creating a national holiday to encourage voluntarism and charity. From the movement's website: "It's a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Be a part of a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity." The mission: "To create a national holiday at the start of the holiday season to promote giving." Organizationally, two of my favorite organizations are playing a big role: the New York's 92nd St. Y, and the United Nations Foundation.

Following a Founder or Long-Timer Requires a Hard Head | Blue Avocado

Following a Founder or Long-Timer Requires a Hard Head | Blue Avocado: f founding a nonprofit takes strong self-confidence and a soaring vision, following such a leader takes hard-headed management skills and just plain hard work, according to 28 "followers" -- let's call them "successors" because they

Is It Time to Trash Your Fundraising Plan? | Social Velocity

Is It Time to Trash Your Fundraising Plan? | Social Velocity: It’s time to trash your ineffective fundraising plan.

A Financing Plan, unlike a traditional fundraising plan, is an integrated, thoughtful, and strategic way to help a nonprofit raise enough money to achieve its programmatic and organizational goals. Instead of asking the question:

Donald Sterling’s dollars: Charities face dilemmas with tainted donors | Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Donald Sterling’s dollars: Charities face dilemmas with tainted donors | Jewish Telegraphic Agency: JTA Archive
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Donald Sterling’s dollars: Charities face dilemmas with tainted donors
By Uriel HeilmanMay 5, 2014 5:05pm
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is pictured here at a 2013 basketball game with V. Stiviano. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is pictured here with V. Stiviano to his left at a 2013 basketball game. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (JTA) –

7 Types of Corporate Giving Programs

7 Types of Corporate Giving Programs: Every organization’s revenue stream is different, but, for most, at least a portion of fundraising comes from corporate support.

Besides traditional corporate grants, which you apply for directly through a company’s grant making arm, corporations offer a variety of programs to give back to communities where their employees live and work. Collectively, corporate philanthropy accounts for nearly $15 billion in annual giving to nonprofits.

You might be surprised at the number of ways that corporations spread around their corporate giving dollars. Here are some of the most common:

Create case studies to show your impact � Philanthropy North Carolina

Create case studies to show your impact � Philanthropy North Carolina: A great way to engage constituents, donors and other partners is through case studies or white papers that showcase your cause, your work and your impact.

Case studies do not need to be long or complicated. Their value is to make it easy for people to understand what you do, how you do it, the need you address, and the difference you make, and show them how they can benefit from working with you.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Local nonprofits take part in annual diaper drive � Merrimack Valley � EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

Local nonprofits take part in annual diaper drive � Merrimack Valley � EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA: ANDOVER — For the past 13 years during the 40 days of Lent, the nonprofit Communities Together conducts a diaper drive with member church communities, and then distributes the diapers collected to Lawrence nonprofits serving low-income families. This year’s drive was an overwhelming success, gathering a total of 21,000 diapers and items for newborns, said the agency’s Executive Director, David Edwards. Agencies recently picked up their diapers at South Church in Andover.

Minn. College to Cede $600,000 of Financier Felon’s Gift – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Minn. College to Cede $600,000 of Financier Felon’s Gift – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: he College of St. Benedict has agreed to give up one-fifth of a $3-million gift it received from convicted Ponzi schemer Tom Petters in 2003, writes The Wall Street Journal.

The $600,000 from the St. Joseph, Minn., liberal-arts college will go into a cash pool for creditors of Mr. Petters, his foundation, and his businesses. Mr. Petters was convicted in 2009 of bilking investors out of several billion dollars and is serving a 50-year prison sentence. Officials overseeing the bankruptcy of his former business empire have sought to claw back funds from recipients of his largesse.

Finding the silver lining: How to keep moving forward after the loss of a charismatic leader

Finding the silver lining: How to keep moving forward after the loss of a charismatic leader: When I say "dynamic nonprofit leader", I bet your mind instantly goes to someone in particular. Someone who has a certain charisma, who gets the job done, is a force to be reckoned with and usually is an inspiration to work alongside.

But what happens when an organization loses that influential leader?

Cancer walk draws record crowds, donations • Brooklyn Daily

Cancer walk draws record crowds, donations • Brooklyn Daily: The Bergen Beach arm of the American Cancer Society raised $100,000 at its third-annual Relay for Life on June 7 — $30,000 more than last year.

“We blew by our number for last year,” said organizer Joe Gillette. “You usually expect to go up in increments of $10,000.”

This year, the Relay partnered with area schools to raise money, and Gillette said the boost made all the difference.

Why Did Simon Greer Get Fired from the Nathan Cummings Foundation?� - Inside Philanthropy: Fundraising Intelligence - Inside Philanthropy

Why Did Simon Greer Get Fired from the Nathan Cummings Foundation?� - Inside Philanthropy: Fundraising Intelligence - Inside Philanthropy: unning a family foundation may be the toughest job in philanthropy, at least for any self-respecting executive.

Families know they need to bring in strong leaders with their own ideas to have more impact. Yet family members may balk when it comes to letting that person really shake things up.

Given that Simon Greer was the third professional executive to lead the Nathan Cummings Foundation over the past two decades, you wouldn't think those dynamics would be at play in this case.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

BizTimes: Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin Business News | BizTimes

BizTimes: Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin Business News | BizTimes: With a backbone of support from four lead sponsor organizations, the Thriving Waukesha County Alliance takes a collective and collaborative approach to increasing the capacity of nonprofits specializing in health and human services.

Lead alliance sponsors include United Way in Waukesha County, the Waukesha County Community Foundation, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Waukesha County Executive's Office.

DeBoskey: Reap benefits of donor-advised funds while giving to causes you care about - The Denver Post

DeBoskey: Reap benefits of donor-advised funds while giving to causes you care about - The Denver Post: In the philanthropic universe, there are many ways to give. The challenge becomes selecting the tool that best helps donors meet their unique philanthropic goals.

The fastest-growing tool in this arena is the widely acclaimed donor-advised fund. More than 200,000 DAFs have been created, with an estimated $50 billion now under management.

The AFP Blog: Leadership Through Change

The AFP Blog: Leadership Through Change: That’s how long it will take you to help determine the direction of our association when you nominate someone (even yourself) to one of our boards—either our association board, or the board of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy.

Change in our world is constant. We’re going to evolve—as individuals, as an association and as a profession. It’s inevitable.

Marijuana Event Brings Money and Attention to Colo. Symphony - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Marijuana Event Brings Money and Attention to Colo. Symphony - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Marijuana Event Brings Money and Attention to Colo. Symphony

By Megan O'Neil

Marijuana is providing a fundraising high for the Colorado Symphony, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars and lots of attention by offering what appears to be the first attempt to lure donors with a pot-smoking opportunity.

The orchestra last month hosted the first of three fundraising concerts to take place this summer, dubbed “Classically Cannabis: the High Note Series.” Supporters are invited to bring their own marijuana to enjoy at the event. Private consumption of pot has been legal in the state since January.

Monday, June 09, 2014

$2.2-Million Charity Bid Wins This Year’s Lunch With Buffett – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

$2.2-Million Charity Bid Wins This Year’s Lunch With Buffett – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: A Singaporean man paid nearly $2.17-million Friday to earn a lunch date with Warren Buffett in the billionaire investor and philanthropist’s annual eBay auction to benefit San Francisco charity Glide, reports The Wall Street Journal

Secular Coalition Fires Top Executive Ahead of Big D.C. Meeting – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Secular Coalition Fires Top Executive Ahead of Big D.C. Meeting – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Secular Coalition Fires Top Executive Ahead of Big D.C. Meeting

A network of atheist and nonbeliever organizations set to launch a Capitol Hill lobbying push on the separation of church and state this week has fired its executive director, reports The New York Times.

Sterling to run charity as part of Clippers' deal - chicagotribune.com

Sterling to run charity as part of Clippers' deal - chicagotribune.com: Los Angeles Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling will continue to be close to the organization as part of the terms of the team's sale to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, according to the Associated Press.

Two sources told the AP that the $2 billion deal allows for up to 10 percent of the team -- or $200 million -- to be funneled into a charity run by Sterling.

To Stay Relevant, Community Funds Must Adapt to a Radically Changed World - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

To Stay Relevant, Community Funds Must Adapt to a Radically Changed World - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: As the Cleveland Foundation, the nation’s first community foundation, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, it’s worth asking what may be in store for the second century of community philanthropy.

America’s community foundations now collectively hold nearly $60-billion in assets (as much as the Gates, Ford, and Robert Wood Johnson foundations combined) and serve as important gateways to philanthropy for thousands of local donors. But a rich and storied history is not, on its own, a license to operate for the next 100 years

Girl Scouts chart path for growth � Philanthropy North Carolina

Girl Scouts chart path for growth � Philanthropy North Carolina: Now, Jones wants girls throughout the 41 counties the Raleigh-based Council serves to have the same kinds of opportunities she found in Scouting.

Guided by a three-year strategic plan it developed last year with input from volunteers, board members, girls and staff, the Council aims to boost training and support for volunteers; strengthen traditional troops, particularly for younger girls; recruit more alumnae and strengthen the bond of Girl Scouting; focus on underserved regions and the potential for growth; and diversify its funding.