Opinion

How to Help the IRS Improve Charity Oversight

The Internal Revenue Service and most states do a poor job of policing tax-exempt groups, and much of the reason can be traced to a lack of adequate funds. But the money to fix the problem is readily available. It should come from the federal excise tax that is levied annually on the net investment…

By PABLO EISENBERG
Contributor

Column Misstated Scholars’ Research

To the Editor: In a recent opinion piece (“College Programs Fail to Meet Their Goals,” September 6), Roger Nozaki and Bob Shireman discuss the problems and challenges that college-preparation programs face. Since the authors cited our work, we feel compelled to respond. Certainly the authors make…

Passion in Philanthropy Must Be Balanced With Hard Data

To the Editor: H. Peter Karoff is correct that passion, intuition, and creativity are key to philanthropic effectiveness (“Passion -- Not Strategy -- Drives Successful Giving,” September 20). The problem comes in his assumption that, somehow, there is a choice to be made between these qualities, on…

American Donors Should Look Abroad

After last month’s terrorist attacks, American foundations, corporations, and individuals have given to others on a scale that has been without precedent. Millions of people were captivated by the sight of America’s most famous music, film, and television stars, who helped raise an astounding…

By Marc Ross Manashil
Contributor

Conclusions Wrong on Faith-Based Plan

To the Editor: John P. Bartkowski’s opinion piece, “Small Religious Groups Face Tough Time Getting Aid” (September 6), deals with one of the more hotly debated social-policy issues -- whether and how faith-based groups should be involved in providing human services. Like Professor Bartkowski, I…

U.S. Immigration Policy Exploits Low-Wage Foreign Workers

To the Editor: Thank you for publishing Barbara Ehrenreich’s article, “The Shameful Treatment of America’s Poor” (September 20). I write to express my concern that many policy makers wish to escape feelings of shame about American poverty, not by addressing its causes, but by using immigration…

Nonprofit Groups Must Meet the Challenges of a World in Tumult

RETHINKING ROLES In the wake of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, donations of ALSO SEE:Picking Up the PiecesCharities Brace for Lean Fund-Raising Season in Tragedy’s WakeHow Charitable Giving Fared During Crises in U.S. HistoryHundreds of Displaced N.Y. Charities Face Financial,…

By Peter Frumkin
Contributor

Passion – Not Strategy – Drives Successful Giving

By H. PETER KAROFFFor years, a choir of philanthropic players, from individual donors and foundations to scholars and watchdog groups, has been singing a similar tune: Philanthropy should have measurable “impact,” meaning that grants should produce documented results and certifiable outcomes. My…

The Shameful Treatment of America’s Poor

This article no longer available. Because of the terms of The Chronicle’s agreement with the author, the article “The Shameful Treatment of America’s Poor” by Barbara Ehrenreich, is no longer available on this site. The essay is from her book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America,…

By Barbara Ehrenreich
Contributor

Small Religious Groups Face Tough Time Getting Aid

By John P. Bartkowski The Bush administration is to be commended for acknowledging in a recent report that ALSO SEE:Faith-Based Fallout federal agencies unfairly favor big, established religious groups over smaller, less-prominent ones when making grants for faith-based social-service programs. But…