A very interesting interview with Pierre Omidyar at the Conference of Nonprofit Communities of Hawaii. Don’t miss it.
Moving Beyond Red at Arts Organizations
Michael Kaiser shares his view that deficits are damaging but avoidable for arts organizations.
Long Lines Not for Flat Screen TVs but for Affordable Housing
While thousands of Americans line up overnight to cash in holiday deals at electronic and department stores, their desperate neighbors do the same in hopes of getting a roof over their heads for the holidays.
School District Insists—All for One and One for All Where Fundraising Is Concerned
School districts find themselves less and less able to cover their budgets just with tax dollars but if parents fundraise for individual schools, kids in schools with higher income parents will get more resources. In Santa Monica/Malibu the school district has put its foot down and all fundraising for staff will go into a central pool.
OWS Protestor Injured in Oakland Still Recovering
What happened to Scott Olsen whose head/brain was injured during the raid on the Oakland OWS encampment? Apparently he is up and around though slightly the worse for wear but still an OWS supporter.
A Real Story in the Midst of Red Cross Shrinking Ranks and Chapters
Many national federated organizations have been consolidating chapters – regionalizing where offices have previously been very local. What has this done to local support and responsiveness? This story highlights a particular incident in Nebraska when the Red Cross moved in to restructure and exert control on a chapter.
These Young People Know How to Change the World
To paraphrase a hit song from the 1970s, we better “believe the children are our future.” The courage of these International Children’s Peace Prize finalists should inspire anyone of any age who’s trying to make positive change around big social issues.
Charitable Giving to Religious Groups Outpacing Giving to Secular Charities
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability consistently demonstrates its professional approach to tracking and monitoring the fundraising of religious bodies, at least those within the ever-expanding ECFA membership. ECFA’s reports on how its members have fared in terms of cash donations—based on members’ financial reports, not inconsistent and inaccurate surveys—are intriguing and thought-provoking, showing exactly which parts of the religious infrastructure in this nation are doing well during the recession.
Lessons to be Learned from Sandusky’s Second Mile Charity: Issues in Nonprofit Governance
Michael Wyland has posted a very interesting 12-topic analysis of questions and problems about the governance and structure of Second Mile, the charity founded by alleged pedophile and former assistant football coach of Penn State University. Failure to follow best practices doesn’t automatically lead to multiple charges of child abuse, but it does suggest a nonprofit culture that was corrosive for decades and perhaps unlikely to deal properly with revelations about its founder.
Should Congress Establish Mandatory Payout Rates for Donor-Advised Funds?
Boston College’s Ray Madoff thinks that donor-advised funds should have private foundation-like payout requirements, else the charitable donations get immediate tax write-offs without necessarily being spent on nonprofits on the ground. But the 5 percent payout requirement on private foundations is hardly worth celebrating, considering the much higher cumulative payout rates of DAFs managed by big commercial firms and community foundations.
Corruption in International Adoption
Tiny Spark’s inaugural show takes a look at corruption in international adoption.
Unusual Advice: Should You Opt Out of the State Unemployment Insurance Tax?
If your organization were counseled to stop using the alternative postal rate offered to nonprofits, it would seem like strange advice wouldn’t it? Since Congress and the U.S. Postal Service specifically provide a special rate for nonprofits to send their mail for 24 cents per piece instead of 44 cents, why wouldn’t you opt to pay less?