Surprise! More People Give If They Don’t See the Pitch Coming
Avoid giving people “time to find reasons why they might not want to give,” says one of the researchers.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Nonprofit Grocery Aims to Boost Healthy Eating
Before DMG Foods opened in East Baltimore, many residents lacked access to a healthy, affordable food store.
By Ariella Phillips
Contributor
Every Person Counts: Why the Census Must Be Rescued
Nearly all foundation missions will be harmed if the every-decade survey is hampered by low participation among immigrants, cyberattacks, or any in a range of other problems, say foundation leaders Gary Bass, Antonia Hernández, Barbara Picower, and Darren Walker.
Grants Can Create Dysfunction at Charities. Here’s a Solution.
Donors who listen, ask good questions, and get out of their offices to learn what nonprofits need will be more effective than those who just impose their own ideas of what matters.
By HAL HARVEY
Contributor
PolicyLink, Center for Community Change Promote New Leaders
Also, Michelle Milford Morse joins the U.N. Foundation to work on women’s issues, and Terry Mazany has been named senior vice president for philanthropy at the $1.1 billion Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
By M.J. Prest
Senior Editor, Solutions
What Andrew Carnegie Would Tell Jeff Bezos About Where to Give
Don’t give to universities, imagine what the libraries of today are, and be sure to give virtually all your money to organizations that promote the common good.
By Richard LeBaron
Contributor
When Salaries Are Bigger Than Grants
Our look at 20,000 foundations identified 49 at which the compensation paid to staff and board members accounted for more than half of the foundations’ charitable grant making.
By Peter Olsen-Phillips and Megan O’Neil
A Group Born at Greenpeace Spreads Ideas About Grass-Roots Advocacy
Mobilisation Lab works with charities around the world to put control over campaigns in the hands of more supporters.
By HEATHER JOSLYN
Contributor
5 Steps to Stronger Advocacy Campaigns
Allow interested employees at all levels and in all departments of the organization to participate, and keep fundraisers involved at all stages.
By HEATHER JOSLYN
Contributor
Smithsonian’s $1.9 Billion Capital Campaign Unleashes Lasting Change
The institution faced many challenges getting its far-flung operations geared up for the first comprehensive capital campaign since its founding in 1846.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
How One Nonprofit Identified Website Visitors by Traits — and Saw Fundraising Spike
Identifying “personas” can give charities the information they need without spending money on surveys and consultants’ fees. It helped boost one group’s giving 100 percent from one year to the next.
By HEATHER JOSLYN
Contributor
Donor Lawsuits Highlight Need to Tread Cautiously With Gift Agreements
Legal action can rear its ugly head if donors and recipients aren’t clear in their expectations. Experts offer tips on how to avoid problems.
By Maria Di Mento and Timothy Sandoval