If you’re a nonprofit news junkie, you know it’s nearly impossible to go a day without reading or hearing the words “innovation” and “impact.” But for those of us who care about linking rigor to innovation and impact (especially impact assessment), it’s hard to find serious discussion that is more about practice and less about how savvy some of the folks who opine about these concepts want to appear. Cynthia Gibson asks—how innovative is innovation?
Self-Diagnostic Test Time: Choose Your Political Poison
Confused about your political orientation? Take this handy-dandy test.
Your OWS Donation May Not Be Tax deductible—But Who Cares?
For how many of us would the tax deductibility of a donation matter, especially when it is, in part, a movement to question the tax structure.
City Year Co-Founder Khazei Exits Massachusetts Senate Race
City Year co-founder bows out of Massachusetts senate race after local news outlets take him on for practices related to Be the Change.
Brewery Member-Owners Toast World’s Second Co-op Brewpub
This Halloween marks the end of Co-op Month 2011, but it also kicks off the United Nations–designated International Year of Cooperatives—opportune timing for raising a pint of the inaugural beer from Seattle’s first cooperative brewery.
Almost-Instant History: The Book on the Occupy Wall Street Movement Coming in December
Among the various people attending Occupy Wall Street protests have been well-known, skilled writers, Some of whom have banded together as “Writers for the 99%” and committed to producing a history of the movement—by sometime in December.
Will Nonprofits Get Cash from the AGs’ Investigations of Bank Foreclosure Practices?
All 50 state attorneys general are aiming to get the banks to pay up for their illegal mortgage servicing practices that led to people losing their homes to foreclosures unnecessarily, losing opportunities to refinance and modify their mortgages, or being rushed to foreclosure much too quickly. But if the banks pay what the AGs want—a settlement of $25 billion—will nonprofits that have done the lion’s share of work helping homeowners stave off improper foreclosures be allowed to participate in the proceeds?
Fidelity Study Finds Majority of Donors Will Maintain or Increase Giving
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 .. .
NPR, Occupy Wall Street, and Journalists’ Ethics
When do the personal political values of news organizations employees bump into priciples of journalistic integrity ad impartiality. At NPR, even the appearance of bias is scary, which led to the semi-sacking of opera show host Lisa Simeone. But Simeone’s “mistake”–doing a YouTube video endorsing a protest organized by the October 2011 Movement–could have been done by almost any one of us, right?
CouchSurfing International Converts to Benefit Corporation and Donates Assets to New Hampshire Charity
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.
Indiana University Study Finds Proposals to Cap Charitable Deduction Likely to Have Small Negative Impact on Overall Charitable Giving
The debates over various proposals to limit the charitable deduction continue with one finding that most people accept: the studies suggest that President Obama’s proposal to cap the charitable deduction would have a small impact on overall charitable giving. According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, much more important than the rate of the deduction is the amount of disposable income people have for making charitable donations. In other words, it’s the depressed economy, not a cap on the charitable deduction, that looms as the drag on charitable giving.
Arts Professionals Use Social Media to Keep Abreast of the Arts Scene
In the massive art hub of New York City, how can you possibly decide what art shows, gallery exhibits, or lectures to attend? The young art professionals of the Big Apple are using social networking sites like Meetup.com, Twitter, and Facebook to discuss art and discover upcoming events.