Cohen Report | Rick Cohen, NPQ’s resident skeptic, examines the real-world consequences of online role-playing game Second Life, lawless lobbying, and more shenanigans from the Smithsonian.
The Never Ending Smithsonian Story
Somehow, the Smithsonian’s leadership keeps giving and giving and giving (startlingly good examples of how to manage badly). For readers who have followed our recent stories on the Smithsonian’s tribulations, The Washington Post’s crack investigative reporting team of James Grimaldi and Jacqueline Trescott provide us with yet further evidence that the Smithsonian is in need
Advocating for and Against Black Farmers
We reported in the last issue of CR about the plight of black farmers and the nonprofits that were fighting on their behalf to secure justice. Even though a positive court decision supported the farmers’ rights, the federal government’s lack of diligent follow-up on the case has attracted the attention of Senators Barack Obama and
Specter of the Istook Amendment Haunting Congressional Philanthropy Caucus
Earlier this year, when Republican Congressman Robin Hayes of North Carolina announced his intention to create the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus, nothing seemed amiss. The caucus was the lobbying creation of the Council on Foundations (COF)—so much so, in fact, that Hayes told interviewers to call “Steve” (as in Gunderson, the CEO of the foundation trade
First Amendment, Shmirst Amendment
We should have expected it, but the Congressional hearing on egregious fundraising practices among veterans organizations and the unusual “nonprofit entrepreneurs” running a couple of them reminded us of a slight problem of nonprofit sector amnesia. The Cohen Report has been monitoring this issue of abusing veterans through despicable charities for some time now. In
Virtual Worlds, Nonprofit Realities
Nonprofits are piling into the virtual world of Second Life and similar online venues. What might seem to many as simply “role-playing games” or RPGs, Second Life and its ilk are becoming increasingly real life environments, with financial benefits and consequences, for players and nonprofits. A recent Wall Street Journal article detailed a run on
Foundations, Intermediaries, and Workforce Solutions
Amid the national indicators of economic growth are all too-often reports of populations left by the wayside. The annual labor market reports produced by the Community Service Society of New York outline employment issues that ought to galvanize the attention of public- and private-sector leaders. The latest report [PDF] in the series includes these findings:
Models for Local Infrastructure
You can download a PDF version of this article here .
A Thriving Town Center for Maine Nonprofits
You can download a PDF version of this article here .
Growing the Grassroots in South Carolina
You can download a PDF version of this article here .
Capacity Building and the National Infrastructure to Support It
You can download a PDF version of this article here .
Foundation Stories: Why We Fund Infrastructure
You can download a PDF version of this article here .