How Important Is Competition in the Nonprofit World? Plus More: Monday’s Roundup
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
April 5, 2010 | Read Time: 2 minutes
- Is competition good for the nonprofit world? Kristin Ivie, social-innovation program associate at the Case Foundation, asks this question on Case’s Social Citizens blog. Ms. Ivie looks at the proliferation of Web sites to help donors and volunteers and at the growth in the number of professional associations meant to help nonprofit workers. Read a discussion on a similar topic on The Chronicle’s Social Philanthropy blog.
- While a recent New York Times article discloses the big gifts people must donate to get on to the board of elite cultural institutions in New York, most charities require far less financially and are in desperate need of committed board members, says Alice Korngold, a nonprofit consultant, on a Fast Company blog.
- Baby Boomers are often stereotyped as “terrified of electronic equipment” and stuck in their ways, but younger generations have plenty to learn from them, writes Claire Kerr, special projects manager for Artez Interactive, which helps charities with fund raising and other efforts. On her personal blog, she says older people can teach others about how to deal with unpleasant workplace situations, nonprofit regulations, and more.
- Is there a conflict between program evaluation and metrics and judging the resourcefulness and character of grant recipients? Alyse d’Amico, of the Center for Effective Philanthropy, highlights a debate on this topic between Phil Buchanan, who leads the center, and Peter Frumkin, director of the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at the University of Texas at Austin.
- Rosetta Thurman, a nonprofit consultant and Chronicle contributor, says the economy has created more opportunities for nonprofit professionals to earn extra money through consulting services. On the Stanford Social Innovation Review’s blog, Ms. Thurman offers advice to those looking to begin a career as a nonprofit consultant.
- John Lyman, program manager at Google.org, says mobile providers in Liberia are making money but are fiercely competitive with one another, slashing prices, offering new products to gain market share, and trying to expand into new markets like broadband. He adds that their activities are far from philanthropic, but they have a more positive effect on Liberians’ day-to-day life than any other segment of society. On Google’s philanthropic blog, Mr. Lyman discusses his recent trip to Liberia.
