Nonprofit Groups Have Role in Economic Policy
By BRUCE E. TONNThe nonprofit world accounts for an estimated 12 cents of every dollar in goods and services produced in the United States. Yet, in managing the nation’s economy, the Federal Reserve System ignores the huge impact of nonprofit institutions. In fact, the Fed controls the nation’s…
By Bruce E. Tonn
Contributor
Keeping Volunteers Requires Leadership
To the Editor: The story on the UPS Foundation’s efforts to help nonprofits get more out of their volunteers (“Ensuring Service Delivery,” August 24) is timely and interesting. The article does perpetuate, perhaps unintentionally, some ideas about volunteers that make for trouble in paradise if…
Merger Won’t Affect Goals of Standards
To the Editor: Your coverage of the proposed merger of the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Foundation, and its Philanthropic Advisory Service, with the National Charities Information Bureau (“Merger of 2 Watchdog Groups Raises Concern Among Observers,” September 21) did not fully address some…
Charity Regulation Should Focus on Scam Artists
By HENRY GOLDSTEINThe National Association of State Charity Officials last month released a proposal to govern fund-raising solicitations on the Internet. Their bottom line: Charities should register in their own states when they set up fund-raising Web sites, but don’t need to sign up elsewhere…
Judith Rothschild Foundation: No Conflict of Interest
To the Editor: Your recent article on the Judith Rothschild Foundation (“Making Sure Their Art Stays Alive,” September 21) raised conflict-of-interest questions about the compensation paid to Harvey Miller where none exist. Mr. Miller did not fix his own compensation. I did so in my capacity as…
Don’t Sacrifice Substance for Results
By KENNARD T. WINGFoundations’ current obsession with “outcomes” reflects the American zeitgeist. It should come as no surprise that foundations are calling on grant recipients to specify the results they will accomplish -- not just the activities they will undertake -- and attempting to hold their…
By Kennard T. Wing
Contributor
New York Charity Wins VictoryBut No Moneyin Case Against Trust
By GRANT WILLIAMSIn a case of national significance, a New York appeals court has handed a charity a victory and a defeat in its long-running fight with the New York Community Trust that involves the amount of control community foundations can exercise over donors’ gifts. The Appellate Division of…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Insurer to Pay $25-Million to Settle Dispute in Hawaii
By STEPHEN G. GREENEAn insurance company for Hawaii’s wealthiest charity would pay $25-million to settle a long-running legal battle between the attorney general and the charity’s former trustees, FROM THE ARCHIVES:9/17/1989: For Trustees Who Run Hawaii’s Bishop Estate, the Rewards Are Influence,…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
Restoring Americans’ Civic Spirit
‘Bowling Alone’ author sees key role for charities in renewing social tiesRobert Putnam is trying to bring about a grand-scale nonprofit revival in America. ALSO SEE:Americans’ Social Ties: Trends Affecting Nonprofit OrganizationsFund Puts Theories of ‘Bowling Alone’ Author to WorkWays That Groups…
By Jennifer Moore
Contributor
Cartoon insulted telephone solicitors
To the Editor: Bob Schochet’s cartoon in the August 10 issue provides an illustration of Satan overlooking a telephone center and claiming credit for the invention of telemarketing. I find it ironic that the leading newspaper of the non-profit sector would so negatively portray a legitimate tool…