Business Leaders Should Lead –Â and Volunteer
By Curt Weeden The catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, may have reversed a downward trend in American volunteerism. In many instances, however, volunteerism is turning into a quick-hit experience, with people often engaging in an annual or semiannual day of service. Not that short-term…
The Debate Over Foundation Payout Rules
To the Editor: The furor over the provision of HR 7 that would exclude administrative expenses from the 5-percent payout calculation for private foundations has some interesting lessons, regardless of what side of the debate you are on. Pablo Eisenberg and the folks at the National Committee for…
Reward Good Work, Not Just Good Ideas
In a market economy, people are motivated to do their best by the prospect of economic reward. Take that away and you have North Korea or the (not coincidentally) former Soviet Union. Yet most foundations -- which arguably are among the crown jewels of the market economy and were created by some of…
By PAUL JELLINEK
Contributor
To the Editor: I applaud the sentiments of Gary A. Tobin in your My View article on megagifts (“Getting Megagifts to the Neediest Causes,” May 1). Mr. Tobin calls for donors to reassess their motives when contemplating giving the megagifts to icons of higher education. Although these institutions…
Reconciling Religion and The Academy
To the Editor Religion has long been a bad word in academe, especially when scholars actually attempt to assign real-life relevance to it. So it is predictable and amusing, in “Spirituality Research Backed by Templeton Fosters Plenty of Skepticism” (June 12), to see the academy madly circling its…
Focusing On a Caring Profession
To the Editor: This article (“Gentleman Caller,” May 29) is one of the most beautiful articles I have read in any publication. Thank you for capturing so well the graciousness and the studied focus of Roger Ellison’s calls. I know there are many planned-giving callers (men and women) like him who…
Nonprofit World Must Work Together
To the Editor: The last few months have been marked by attacks on the philanthropic and charitable sector, both from outside antagonists and from within the field itself. More so than at any other time over the past 10 years, fear, confusion, and uncertainty are paralyzing the sector. Of course,…
Payout Proposal Doesn’t Consider the Long Haul
Soon after Labor Day, lawmakers will consider one of the most sweeping pieces of philanthropy legislation in years, the Charitable Giving Act of 2003. Amid the rancorous debate that has erupted over that bill’s attempt to change the rules governing how much foundations give away, a key question has…
By Vince Stehle
Contributor
Is a Growing Glut of Books Weighing Down the Nonprofit World?
One of the diseases of this age is the multiplicity of books; they doth so overcharge the world that it is notable to digest the abundance of idle matters that is every day hatched and brought forth into this world. (Barnaby Rich, 1613) Befitting the vast stretches of the nation’s nonprofit…
By Richard Magat
Contributor
Sarcasm Is No Substitute for Sound Analysis of House Bill
To the Editor: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is among the group of foundations that Pablo Eisenberg criticizes for opposing the provision of HR 7 that excludes administrative costs from the required 5-percent payout and for retaining a lobbyist to help us communicate our position…