The Challenges Posed by an Era of Mega-Gifts
Although Warren Buffett’s pledge of most of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was, by far, the biggest gift of 2006, large-scale philanthropy is no longer as rare as it once was. Billion-dollar foundations are much more common — today the United States has more than 50 — than they…
By Leslie Lenkowsky
Contributor
The Challenges Posed by an Era of Mega-Gifts
Although Warren Buffett’s pledge of most of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was, by far, the biggest gift of 2006, large-scale philanthropy is no longer as rare as it once was. Billion-dollar foundations are much more common — today the United States has more than 50 — than they…
By Leslie Lenkowsky
Contributor
Opinion: Why Companies Should Give to Charity
Opinion: New study shows value of corporate giving
A Practical Look at Foundation Practices
A good book on philanthropy is hard to find. Those who write about foundations tend either to extol or excoriate them. Academic studies lack the pragmatism of real-world experience, and the reminiscences of those who have run a foundation are often overlaid with an unnaturally rosy hue. Happily,…
By Mark R. Kramer
Contributor
An Unexpected Event Changes an Experiment
To the Editor: Inspired in part by a study on matching gifts reported in The Chronicle (“Bigger Matching Gifts Don’t Produce More Donors,” June 15), a charity focusing on women’s social issues conducted a test this summer in its annual appeal. The charity had received a matching grant from a major…
Milton Friedman Was Right About Philanthropy After All
To most people in philanthropy, Milton Friedman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist who died last month, is probably best known — if he is known at all — as an opponent of corporate social responsibility, which he once called a form of “pure and unadulterated socialism.” He also compared the idea of…
By LESLIE LENKOWSKY
Contributor
In a Major Scandal, Where Was the Board?
To the Editor: We would like to express concern about recent events surrounding the fiscal problems of the Milwaukee Public Museum (“Former Financial Officer Faces Charges in Museum Debt Crisis,” October 26.) While there is no question that falsifying financial reports and illegally transferring…
Newspapers Must Be Taught to Cover Charities
Over the next few weeks, newspapers around the country will be full of predictable, seasonal articles about nonprofit organizations. Readers will be offered timely tips on how to support organizations that bring holiday cheer to the most-vulnerable Americans and dozens of tax-savvy ways to support…
By Robert Egger
Contributor
‘Barroom’ Banter and Cyber-Appeal: Tips on Creating a Successful Blog
The first rule for writing a successful blog is to forget all the rules of professional writing. That doesn’t exempt bloggers from using proper grammar and punctuation. But those who blog about ALSO SEE:Article: Blogs on the RiseArticle: 10 Nonprofit Blogs That Get AttentionArticle: Charity Blogs:…
By PETER PANEPENTO
Contributor