Good Business Behavior Is in Too-Short Supply at Charities
To the Editor: Pablo Eisenberg’s opinion piece about the dangers of commercialism in the nonprofit sector is well taken (“The Public Loses Out When Charities Become Too Businesslike,” June 10). Still, there is another side to this issue. After many years of sharing stories with colleagues,…
A Simple Way to Help Nonprofit Boards
Recent press exposés of misbehavior by executives and board members of charitable organizations have underscored why good governance at both foundations and charities is so important. Many of the abuses reported by the news media were caused by board members who did not understand, and in some…
By Deborah Hechinger
Contributor
IRS Releases Letters Revoking Charity Status
By Elizabeth Schwinn In the wake of a recent ruling by a federal appeals court, the Internal Revenue Service has started to make public the letters the tax agency sends to groups that explain why it has denied or revoked their tax-exempt status. The decision to release the letters -- which reverses…
Advocacy Groups Discover the Power of Blogs to Spread Their Messages
TOOLS AND TRAINING By Peter Panepento Earth Share of Washington had staked its claim in cyberspace. The only problem, says Dave Manelski, the group’s program coordinator, was that its territory drew few visitors. The Seattle nonprofit group serves as a hub of information for its 65 member…
By PETER PANEPENTO
Contributor
Trustees of a Minnesota Foundation Find an Innovative Way to Evaluate Their Own Performance
BRAINSTORMS By Darlene M. Siska When Jim Hoolihan was the mayor of Grand Rapids, Minn., in the early 1990s, he kept his office door open. Citizens could come to City Hall to offer comments or even complain about the job he was doing. But in 1992, when he began his service on the board of the…
By Darlene M. Siska
Contributor
Preserving Anonymity and Donor Trust
To the Editor: I was disappointed in the speculative nature of Julia Green’s June 10 article “Is N.Y. Mayor Anonymous Carnegie Donor?” As a development officer, it is my responsibility on behalf of the nonprofit I serve to protect the interests and rights of donors. To remain anonymous is one of…
The Uphill Battle to Steer Government Aid to Religious Groups
“I invite churches and faith-based institutions to continue to play the role they have always played -- as leaders, teachers, and guides in our communities. I want to offer support for your efforts, including financial support, in a way that supports our Constitution and civil-rights laws and…
By LESLIE LENKOWSKY
Contributor
Reagan and His Legacy Harmed, Not Helped, Philanthropy
To the Editor: Leslie Lenkowsky’s opinion piece in the June 24 issue (“Reagan’s Policies Bolstered Philanthropy Despite Protests From Nonprofit Officials”) grossly strains logic and misinterprets facts, like an arts patron describing a piece in such a way that even the artist does not recognize it.…
Mobilize the ‘60s Generation Again
Organizations that advocate for social justice don’t usually look to Prada, Tiffany, or Mercedes-Benz as their role models -- but they should. Just as the luxury-goods market is courting the affluent baby boomers, so too should social-justice groups, which face some of the most enormous challenges…
By Rebecca Sive
Contributor
Charity Seeks to End Tax Breaks for Churches
In the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, the American Civil Liberties Union has asked a federal appeals court to reinstate a ruling that struck down Louisiana sales-tax exemptions for churches and other nonprofit groups. At issue is whether the exemptions, which allow churches,…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor