Soros on Why the Market Is Not Enough: ‘Every Society Needs Some Shared Values’
In announcing his gift of up to $500-million to finance social programs in Russia, the philanthropist and financier George Soros said last week that he was motivated by his desire to promote a global capitalist society -- but not one controlled merely by market forces. In a speech last month to a…
Big Non-Profit Salaries Are Demoralizing
To the Editor: The Chronicle article on the exorbitant salaries received by the C.E.O.'s of some non-profit organizations (“Executive Pay Outpaces Inflation,” September 4) was really in 3-D: disgusting, deplorable, and demoralizing. Thirteen years ago, I organized a non-profit 501(c)(3) historical…
Clearing Accounts About Non-Profit Debt
To the Editor: Susan Kenny Stevens is a big proponent of non-profits’ borrowing funds as a means of reaching their goals (Letters to the Editor, September 18) and supports Richard Linzer’s hypothesis that borrowing can be a substitute for endowment funds (“Charities Should Borrow Money, Not Hoard…
Cutbacks in Funds Can Help Charities
To the Editor: Does a cutback in federal or foundation funding always hurt a charity? This seem to be the assumption of Chronicle writers in discussing programs for troubled girls (“Keeping Girls Out of Trouble,” September 18), but it misses an important issue. Any charity can go through the…
When Non-Profit Awards Pander to the Rich
When a charitable organization presents a major award to someone who clearly does not deserve it, people understand that more than bad judgment is involved. Paying tribute to the rich and powerful may seem like a savvy maneuver that can bring philanthropic dividends. But in the long run it could…
By Norman Solomon
Contributor
Planned-Gift Quiz Was Full of Flaws
To the Editor: As a lawyer who spends much of his time advising planned-giving programs, I took particular interest in the planned-giving quiz in your edition of August 7 (“Rich Donors Cite Displeasure With Financial Advisers”). The article pointed out that most of the financial advisers and…
Money Won’t Kill the Altruistic Spirit of Grassroots Groups
To the Editor: David Horton Smith is right on when he says that foundations, corporate grant makers, and governments that wish to promote pluralism, participatory democracy, and social institutions in the United States need to focus more than they currently do on grassroots organizations…
‘Non-Profit’ Label Limits Charities’ Effectiveness
Instead of lamenting the lack of general public understanding of its undertakings, the leaders and managers of non-profit organizations would benefit from rereading 1984, George Orwell’s classic novel of life in a drab authoritarian society of the future. The novel vividly illustrates the power of…
By Richard L. Moyers
Contributor
State and federal regulators probe Hawaii’s wealthiest charity amid charges of mismanagement and financial abuse Trustees of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate, Hawaii’s wealthiest charity, are under investigation by federal and state regulators amid allegations that they have mismanaged the estate…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
Large gifts by Microsoft’s CEO and other high-tech entrepreneurs could be a sign of things to come Two multimillion-dollar donations from high-technology tycoons relect how computer moguls are giving away their money -- and may soon spark an explosion of philanthropy. Bill and Melinda Gates last…
By Vince Stehle
Contributor