Court Denies State Aid to Christian Charity’s Prison Program
In a legal decision that may hinder the use of federal dollars to support religious charities, a federal judge in Iowa said that a Christian nonprofit group’s efforts to rehabilitate prisoners violates the Constitution. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Pratt said the charity program — run by the…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
National YWCA Votes to Allow Male Trustees
By Ian WilhelmThe YWCA USA last month approved a controversial proposal that would allow men to assume board positions, a decision that ends the group’s 148-year history of requiring that all of its trustees be women. During the organization’s annual meeting in April, YWCA agreed to allow its…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Charity Leaders Urge Federal Government to Change Trustee-Pay Rules
By Ian WilhelmA group of key nonprofit leaders has released recommendations on how to curb excessive trustee compensation, stop fraudulent charitable solicitations, and prevent other abuses in the nonprofit world. The report was put together by the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, which was organized…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Director of President’s Faith-Based Office Resigns to Take Helm of Catholic College
H. James Towey, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, has ALSO SEE:Excerpts from an interview with H. James Towey announced his resignation, saying that despite his departure, the Bush administration’s effort to allow religious organizations greater access to…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Foundations Urged to Upgrade Communications Efforts
Charity officials give high marks to foundations that make sure their Web sites, literature, and staff members provide consistent information about their philanthropic goals and programs, says a new report on how grant makers communicate. Such consistency is the best predictor that a charity will…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Gates Grant Seeks Vaccine for Pneumonia
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to spend $75-million over five years to develop a vaccine to prevent the spread of pneumonia. The money will support efforts by Path, a nonprofit group in Seattle, to work with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop a vaccine that targets…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Michigan Asks Ford Foundation to Show It Is Following Donor’s Intentions
In a move that has generated concern in the nonprofit world, Michigan’s attorney general has started an investigation into the Ford Foundation, saying the fund has ignored the Ford family’s philanthropic wishes by reducing support for charities in the state. The attorney general, Mike Cox, has also…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Ford Plans to Expand Global Fellows Program
Idemudia Lawrence is a busy man. Last week he helped hearing-impaired athletes compete in Nigeria’s National Sports Festival while spending his free time revising his plan to curtail begging by deaf people in the streets of Abuja, the African nation’s capital. Mr. Lawrence, chairman of the Abuja…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Gates Foundation to Support New Causes
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Seattle, announced last week that it is changing how it operates and expanding the number of causes it supports with its $29-billion endowment. The foundation plans to provide more money to agricultural projects and to efforts that expand financial services…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Fraud Investigations Raise New Questions for Beleaguered Red Cross
Washington The American Red Cross faces new questions about its management and operations after it disclosed last month it is investigating 5,500 allegations of fraud and mismanagement related to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The Red Cross said 50 percent of the cases could involve criminal…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor