Ex-Foundation Leader Burwell Named U.S. Health Secretary
President Obama is nominating White House budget chief Sylvia Mathews Burwell, a former top official with the Walmart and Bill & Melinda Gates foundations, to replace Kathleen Sebelius at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reports The New York Times.
Congressional Committee Backs Contempt Case Against Lerner
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted Thursday to hold Lois Lerner, former head of the Internal Revenue Service’s unit on nonprofit groups, in contempt of Congress, sending the matter to the full House, Bloomberg writes.
Ore. Groups Fear Challenge Gift From Nike Co-Founder Will Hurt Fundraising
Nonprofit fundraisers in Oregon worry that Nike co-founder Phil Knight’s $500-million challenge gift to Oregon Health & Science University will drain donations from other charities, particularly small social-service groups, according to the Portland Tribune.
Chicago Pursues George Lucas Museum After Presidio Rejection
Chicago officials are stepping up efforts to lure the Star Wars filmmaker to the city to build his proposed museum of movie memorabilia and populist art, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune report.
Detroit Creditors Say Billion-Dollar Offers in Hand for Art
With support from major creditors in Detroit’s bankruptcy case, a bond insurer has solicited bids to buy some or all of the Detroit Institute of Arts collection, a move aimed at undercutting the “grand bargain” to preserve the museum’s holdings with a mix of state and philanthropic funds, the Detroit Free Press and The New York Times write.
House Panel Votes on Party Lines for Lerner Prosecution
The Ways and Means Committee voted Wednesday to refer former Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution for her alleged role in targeting political nonprofit groups for IRS scrutiny, reports The Washington Post.
Charity Fundraising Giant ACS Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Associated Community Services, one of the country’s biggest charity telemarketers and the target of investigations in multiple states over its fundraising practices, will stay in business while pursuing bankruptcy protection, reports the Detroit Free Press.
Dartmouth Gets $100-Million Gift for Academic Efforts
The New Hampshire college will use the anonymous and largely unrestricted donation to enhance a program that builds faculty teams across disciplines to foster innovative approaches to global problems, The Boston Globe reports.
Labor Group Seeks Freeze on San Diego Opera’s Assets
A union representing singers and chorus members is asking the National Labor Relations Board to pursue an injunction freezing the shuttering opera’s assets to ensure its contracts with performers are paid off, reports U-T San Diego.
Online Giving Up 14% to $325-Million in 2013, Study Says
A new report on Internet giving to and advocacy by major nonprofit groups found online donations totaled nearly $325-million last year, a 14-percent increase from 2012, according to tech-news site Mashable.