Documentary films gain favor as a way to raise public awareness A Story of Healing, a documentary about a California charity’s trip to Vietnam to provide free reconstructive surgery to children there, won an Academy Award last year. ALSO SEE:Filmmaking Finds a Bigger NicheFilmmakers Say the Search…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Filmmaking Finds a Bigger Niche
As outlets for documentaries increase, charities and foundations help artists Television and movie documentaries are exploding in popularity -- in no small part because of money and creative work provided by charities and foundations. ALSO SEE:A Screen Test for CharitiesFilmmakers Say the Search…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Foundation Giving Rose 22% in a Year, Report Says
Giving by the nation’s grant makers grew by 22 per cent from 1997 to 1998, according to a new study by the Foundation Center. In 1998, grant makers gave an estimated $19.46-billion to non-profit organizations, up from nearly $15.98-billion the previous year, according to the center, which is…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Leaders of Black Church Call for Increased Accountability in Wake of Scandal
Church leaders are demanding that one of the nation’s largest black denominations make far-reaching changes in its financial-management practices in the wake of a sex-and-money scandal that led to the criminal conviction and resignation of the group’s president. While leaders of the National…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Investment Plan Nets Fraud Charges for Florida Church
Federal officials have arrested the leaders of a Florida church, charging that the group’s money-doubling investment plan is a fraud, and that the church did not fulfill its promise to spend millions of dollars on charity. The seven leaders of Greater Ministries International, in Tampa, face a…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Florida Jury Finds Church Leader Guilty of Misusing Donations
A Florida jury has found the Rev. Henry J. Lyons, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, guilty of theft and racketeering under state law. The same jury acquitted Bernice Edwards, an aide to Mr. Lyons, of racketeering charges. During a six-week trial, prosecutors argued that Mr. Lyons --…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
From Technology to Tobacco, Myriad Sources Spawn Big New Foundations
Big sums of new money are expected to flow into foundation coffers in 1999 and beyond -- and much of it could come from non-traditional sources. ALSO SEE:Related storiesFull results of survey New funds are being created through a variety of business and legal deals, and several established…
By Debra E. Blum and MARINA DUNDJERSKI
A Sampling of the Largest Grants in 1998 From the Nation’s Top Foundations
Some of the country’s largest foundations -- their endowments flush with several years of good investment returns or new money from their donors -- took the opportunity to make large gifts in 1998. ALSO SEE:Related storiesFull results of survey One of the biggest winners in last year’s…
By Debra E. Blum and MARINA DUNDJERSKI
Big funds distributed $7.7-billion in ’98; endowment growth slows Giving by the nation’s wealthiest grant makers soared last year, rising by 28 per cent over 1997 levels, a Chronicle survey has found. Among 122 foundations that provided figures to The Chronicle for both 1997 and 1998, total giving…
By Debra E. Blum and MARINA DUNDJERSKI
Raising Funds Over the Long Run
Charities tap into marathon mania to earn big bucks for their causes About 8,000 of the 20,000 people signed up for this year’s Suzuki Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego are members of the Leukemia Society of America’s Team In Training. ALSO SEE:Charities Use Outdoor ‘Challenges’ to Attract…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor