Fidelity Charitable Funds are predicting a banner year in 2011, both in giving from and receiving contributions to their donor advised funds. But before you celebrate .. .

Couchsurfing.org is a website used by over $3 million members to connect, host, and “surf” with travelers across the world. CouchSurfing International has recently made the switch from a nonprofit organization to a for-profit B Corporation, donating its assets to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. This big change in how CouchSurfing functions as an organization has resulted in a backlash from the CS community. 

After a banner FY 2011, thanks to a few large gifts and pledges, Temple University reports that institutional giving is about half of what it was at this point last year, and in the process provides a quick “Fundraising 101” course for the entire university community. 

Localities are very sensitive about who get to be cab drivers to pick up fare-paying passengers, usually because there are decent fees paid by drivers with medallions—and those drivers who acquire medallions, in turn, are sensitive about rogue cabbies who bypass the system. In Pitkin County (Aspen), Colorado, a 75-year-old man has been caught providing illegal cab rides has come up with a new defense strategy: he’s calling his cut-rate cab rides a charitable service.

Jobs with the Nonprofit Quarterly

Senior Online Editor

The Position:

The Nonprofit Quarterly, a leading journal and website for nonprofit and a small, but influential, fast paced online publication is hiring a seasoned online editor.

The successful candidate will be a key member of the team engaged in carrying out an experimental publishing model that delivers current information and analysis to the nonprofit/social sector, in part, by engaging volunteers as journalists. 

The online editor will be one of a core group of publishing strategists but must also be willing to work regular evening hours and some weekend hours doing direct editing and publishing tasks to ensure our daily publishing goals are met. It will also coordinate the online team including writing and production staff.

Essential Job Functions:

• Edit and post daily newswires and feature articles;
• Manage daily publishing schedule including outreach to writers outside
  the organization, volunteer contributors, and internal writers;
• Coordinate and cultivate volunteer writer community;
• Convene twice-weekly meetings about scheduled content;
• Monitor analytics related to NPQ’s online publishing;
• Help develop online publishing and marketing strategies with
  editorial and publishing team.

Qualifications:

• Experience in online journalism and editing including investigative journalism;
• Knowledge of the nonprofit/social sector;
• Knowledge and experience with editing using the  AP style;
• Experience with and ability to work with diverse group of authors to provide feedback and guidance;
• Flexible with good verbal communications skills;
• Excellent and rapid editing and fact checking skills,
• Good organizing and motivational skill;
• Working knowledge of Joomla (or similar platform);
• Good grasp of social media, mobile apps, and acute curiosity about shifting horizons for publishing;
• Familiarity with graphics software a plus;
• Experience with search engine optimization important.

Compensation

This is a full time (37.5 hours per week) position. The applicant will be compensated depending on experience.

NPQ Mission

The Nonprofit Quarterly’s overarching editorial goal is to strengthen the role of nonprofit organizations to activate democracy.

Nonprofit Quarterly believes that open societies require venues for individuals to undertake public projects together that are larger than friends and family but smaller than the state and that range from community arts and group homes to environmental advocacy.

Nonprofits naturally fill this role, particularly when their efforts engage the ideas, energy, and speech of members of their community. While generating resources encouraged by tax exemption is useful to support this work, Nonprofit Quarterly believes that in a democratic society the essential role of nonprofit organizations is rooted in the First Amendment and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, not the tax code or the market economy.

We live in a world that needs more of what nonprofits can achieve. We know that our communities hold untapped courage, compassion, and support and that nonprofits are uniquely positioned to build relationships and understanding. Nonprofit Quarterly is committed to provide a forum for the critical thinking and exploration needed to help nonprofits stay true to this democratic calling—and to achieve their potential as effective, powerful, and influential organizations in concert with their constituencies.

Nonprofit Quarterly is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity on its staff. To apply for this position, please send your resume and cover letter by
November 15^th to Armando@npqmag.org

It’s pretty remarkable now that Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) by tax exempt property owners are now headline news in local and sometimes national newspapers.  Attribute it to the ongoing fiscal nightmare of states and localities.  This story about the UPMC Hamot deal in Erie, Pennsylvania reflects the desperation of the localities for revenues and the fear of the nonprofit hospital that its tax exemption would be challenged.