Foundation officials gain a better view of how charities work by following executives on the jobThe day Irene Cooper-Basch went back to high school, inspiration struck. Ms. Cooper-Basch, then a program ALSO SEE:Sabbatical Among Ex-Prisoners Is Transforming for a Foundation Vice President officer at…
By Darlene M. Siska
Contributor
Survey: Giving Drops at Charities That Bank on Direct Mail
Major charities that rely heavily on direct mail for their incomes had weak fund-raising results last year, according to a new survey. Of the 28 organizations that provided donor totals in 2002, the median change, compared with totals in 2001, was a decline of 3.6 percent, meaning half saw bigger…
By nicole lewis
Contributor
United Ways Suffer Worst Fund-Raising Decline in Three Decades
The nation’s United Ways suffered their worst fund-raising decline in three decades in the 2002-3 campaign season, forcing charitable groups that rely on the organization for support to brace for further cuts. Donations to the country’s 1,400 local United Ways dropped between 3 and 4 percent -- a…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Some Antiwar Groups Plan Long-Term Fund Raising
The fund-raising coffers of antiwar groups have benefited from the recent news coverage of their protests and ALSO SEE:Challenges in Aiding IraqAdvocacy Group’s Online Savvy Nets More Than DonationsThe War in Iraq: A Sampling of Charities Providing Relief Aid numerous special appeals. Yet even as…
By nicole lewis
Contributor
Relief groups say security and profiteering cause problemsSecurity concerns and alleged profiteering are complicating the work of charities providing ALSO SEE:Advocacy Group’s Online Savvy Nets More Than DonationsSome Antiwar Groups Plan Long-Term Fund RaisingThe War in Iraq: A Sampling of…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
Home-Repair Ministry Is Among ‘Points of Light’
Following are the people and organizations that have most recently been named to receive President Bush’s Daily Points of Light Award. The Points of Light Foundation, a Washington charity, assists the president in making the choices and carrying out the award program. More information about the…
CEO Pledges $30-Million to Museum; Other Gifts
Two organizations have recently received large commitments: The Royal Ontario Museum, in Toronto, has received an unrestricted pledge of $30-million from Michael Lee-Chin, chief executive officer of AIC Limited, in Burlington, Ontario. The gift will be used for capital improvements and to expand…
Reports Recommend Ways Charities and Corporations Can Deal With Crises
Two new reports focus on how philanthropy should respond to national emergencies, disasters, and other crises by examining how charities and corporations reacted to the September 11 attacks: Relief charities should not rely solely on news organizations to convey important information about their…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Most Big Gifts Benefit a Handful of Large Charities, Study Finds
Big gifts from wealthy donors and foundations are made primarily to a small group of very large charities, ALSO SEE:Big Gifts: Share of Money That Goes to Charities, by Cause with the result that many causes -- and almost all small and regional groups -- are cut off from a substantial source of…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Foundation Rankings: America’s Biggest Grant Makers
BY ASSETS Rank Assets Total giving1 1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation $32,751,466,0002 $1,146,958,000 2. Lilly Endowment $12,814,397,581 $598,001,581 3. Ford Foundation $10,814,696,000 $829,190,310 4. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation $9,044,511,000 $270,985,040 5. J. Paul Getty Trust 3…