Pundits seem surprised that President Obama is accepting campaign contributions from power players in the lobbying industry—despite a pledge to reject contributions from lobbyists. In many cases, the contributors run lobbying shops but aren’t registered lobbyists themselves, so the pledge is secure. We have discovered that one of Obama’s campaign bundlers is not just a fundraiser for Democratic politicians but also a key player in Hollywood philanthropy.
Does Rising Use of Hospice Care Reflect Need or Business Opportunity?
For-profit hospice providers now outnumber nonprofits, but are they treating the field like “a golden business opportunity” and creating unnecessary cost to taxpayers?
OWS Spurs “Largest Mobilization of Pro-Bono Lawyers” in 40 years
As Occupiers are being arrested all over the country, a record-breaking number of attorneys are making their services available on a pro-bono basis to help represent protestors, draft and file motions, and provide advice.
“Zombie Hunters” Promote Disaster Preparedness and Generosity
A volunteer-driven nonprofit group uses pop culture, humor, social media, technical knowledge, and occasionally beer to reach new audiences around a dead serious issue.
Immigrant Seniors Fear Loss of Haven
Shrinking government budgets are endangering service which our most vulnerable rely on, such as senior centers that ameliorate the isolation and loneliness of old age.
NPQ’s Week in Review | October 24 – October 28, 2011
NPQ continues to follow the continuously expanding news on Occupy Wall Street, as Egypt protests in support of the Occupy Oakland incident and NPQ raises questions on why OWS decided to rise up three years after the bank bailouts. Some philanthropic trends coming our way are sure to excite the nonprofit sector, and Cindy Gibson asks the million-dollar question, “Is innovation innovative?” All this and more in the Week in Review.
Egyptians March in support of Occupy Oakland Protestors
The “occupy” movement continues to expand as Egyptian protestors march from Tahrir Square to the U.S. Embassy in support of the protestors at Occupy Oakland.
The Financial Blockade of WikiLeaks and Its Meaning for the Nonprofit Sector
If there is a more controversial nongovernmental organization out there than WikiLeaks, it’s hard to find. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has inspired activists who believe in his strategy of massive revelations of confidential government and business communications regardless of the consequences and others who see Assange as a loose cannon whose disclosures cause unnecessary harm to nations, corporations, and individuals. Among those clearly not supportive of WikiLeaks and Assange are financial institutions that process donations for the organization. Most of the donation processers have cut WikiLeaks off from almost all of its financial support, leaving WikiLeaks on the precipice of bankruptcy. Leaving aside the specifics of WikiLeaks, might problems ensue if financial institutions could pick and choose the organiztations they are willing to work with (and process donations for) based on the content of their message?
Voices From the Field: Reflections on OCCUPY Oakland
Kim Klein sheds light on the shocking events that took place at Occupy Oakland, originally published on her blog Kim Klein and the Commons. This piece was in response to Ruth McCambridge’s e-Newsletter asking people to make some noise about OWS. Why were 200 cops in full riot gear necessary to clear out some 105 protestors? What could have been done to avoid the chaos that ensued?
How Much Disclosure Should New York State Require of Nonprofits in Political Campaigns?
Two conflicting strands of public policy have collided in New York City’s new proposed campaign finance rules: the Campaign Finance Board’s desire for disclosure of expenditures that are really partisan political campaigning for or against political candidates versus nonprofits’ desires for legitimate public policy advocacy that has to identify politicians associated with the policies they want to support or oppose. Dozens of nonprofits are agitated by the possibility that new regulations will have unintended negative consequences for their public advocacy work.
Brooklyn Borough Prez Marty Markowitz: Arm Twister or Force of Nature for Nonprofits?
If you’re going to be a politician with favored charities—including your own—you might as well play the game with flair and joie de vivre like Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz. It’s not our recommended MO for politicians, but it doesn’t bother Markowitz, who would like to bring that style from Brooklyn Borough Hall on Joralemon Street to a spot at Gracie Mansion as Mayor of New York City.
New Orleans Takes Back Lots Entrusted to Nonprofit Developers
Of one thousand lots given to nonprofits for redevelopment in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, three hundred remain undeveloped six years later, and community people—especially those in Ward 9—are suffering as a result.