The Long-Term Perils of Aggressive Advocacy
It may not have been unusual to hear Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes, delivering a radio address supporting the extension of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program. But it was surprising that her speech was the formal Democratic Party response to President Bush’s weekly…
By WILLIAM SCHAMBRA
Contributor
Seemingly Generous Pledge Attracts Interest and Suspicion, but No Takers
The telephone message was the first hint that something wasn’t quite right. Jennie Peabody, director of planned giving at Mercy Corps, an international aid and development organization in Portland, Ore., thought it was odd to get a voice-mail message from a friend of a prospective donor who wanted…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Donors Seek Better Charity Evaluations
Like the people who created GiveWell, a new group that publicly evaluates how well charities do their jobs, ALSO SEE:ARTICLE: A Quest for the BestARTICLE: Evaluation Process Proves Slow Going for Grant MakerARTICLE: A Zagat’s for Charities a growing number of donors are looking for ways to measure…
By SUZANNE PERRY
Contributor
A new online venue allows charity clients, volunteers, and others to post guidebook-style ‘reviews’When people ask Perla Ni how her new Web site, Great Nonprofits, helps people judge the quality of charities, Ms. Ni turns the question around on them. “When’s the last time you bought a book from…
By Sam Kean
Contributor
Opinion: Charities Should Be More Open and Accountable
Opinion: Charities should be more open and accountable
Opinion: A New Way for Wealthy Colleges to Use Their Endowments
A new way for wealthy colleges to use their endowments
$100-Million Tuition Grant Brings High Hopes to Pittsburgh
Major tuition grant brings high hopes to Pittsburgh
United Way Leader Should Retract Comment
To the Editor: On behalf of the more than 1,000 community-action agencies across America and the more than 14 million low-income people and families they serve annually, I write in response to Brian Gallagher’s curious remarks that “poor people may start demanding changes through violence — the…
Grant Makers Shouldn’t Follow One Approach
To the Editor: As you noted in your November 1 issue (“Committee of Nonprofit Leaders Issues Set of Accountability Guidelines”), Independent Sector has issued its “Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations.” The document was prepared by the Panel on…
A Foundation’s Attempt to Make a Difference May Produce the Opposite Result
For many years the Public Welfare Foundation has enjoyed a distinguished, well-deserved reputation as an innovative and risk-taking foundation that has supported new ideas and helped grass-roots organizations finance advocacy efforts that few other grant makers were willing to support. With its…
By PABLO EISENBERG
Contributor