Remembering Robert Bremner, a Humble Chronicler of Philanthropy
Of Robert H. Bremner, the distinguished historian of philanthropy who died last month at age 85, Daniel Boorstin, a former librarian of Congress, wrote, "[He] is neither a sentimentalist, a cynic, nor a muckraker. He is a...sympathetic historian.” Mr. Boorstin had commissioned Mr. Bremner to write…
By Richard Magat
Contributor
An Acute Dearth of Leadership Plagues the Nonprofit World
To the Editor: While I find myself in substantial agreement with the thoughtful comments of the various individuals interviewed for the special report on the lessons of September 11 and with Lester Salamon’s views (“What Really Matters About September 11,” September 5), I would like to add a few…
Grant Making and School Leadership
Private foundations have been making grants to public schools in increasing numbers. It is too early to judge the depth of commitment that foundation officials or public-school leaders have to their new alliances, but it is not too soon to wonder how grant makers will deal with leadership turnover,…
By Ronald Thorpe
Contributor
Charity and foundation heads see 7.5% median gain in salaryIn a year that saw the economy dip into its first recession in 10 years, salaries paid in 2001 to ALSO SEE:2002 Compensation SurveyHow The Chronicle‘s 2002 Survey of Nonprofit Compensation Was CompiledChief Executives Who Received $100,000…
By Harvy Lipman
Contributor
Some charities find surveys help them better understand and retain supporters, but others say they don’t payA year ago, Food for the Hungry spent $15,000 on a telephone survey of donors and those who might give to the charity. As Matthew Panos, vice president of ministry partnerships and resources,…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Electronic Giving Has Big Implications
To the Editor: I commend you for your coverage of United Ways and the business of e-giving (“On-the-Job Goes Online,” August 22). However, in reading the article I could not avoid thinking that there is a great deal of thinly disguised effort to make a virtue of what professionals in the field…
What Independent Sector Should Look For in a New CEO
When John Gardner and Brian O’Connell created Independent Sector in 1980, they envisioned a strong collective voice on such issues as government regulation of nonprofit organizations, the relationship between foundations and charities, and the future of the nonprofit world. But in recent years, the…
By PABLO EISENBERG
Contributor
In Defense of the ‘Effective Philanthropy’ Approach
To the Editor: In his “My View” column (“Where Have the ‘Learned Foundations’ Gone?,” August 22) Stanley Katz correctly observes that many philanthropists take the short view. But he erroneously criticizes what Mark Kramer and Michael Porter have termed “effective philanthropy” for being…
Foundations Must Set the Standard for Integrity
The Charity Aid, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act contains several important and worthwhile provisions to encourage more private giving for charitable purposes. However, what is not in the bill is a provision to reduce the excise tax that private foundations pay on net investment income from a…
By William S. White
Contributor
Groups That Advise Corporations Are Wary About Taking Their Dollars
When Net Impact, a group of 5,000 former and current M.B.A. students worldwide, plans its annual conference each year, ALSO SEE:Toward Corporate ChangeEncouraging Business to Consider Social Goals: A Sampling of Grants it solicits money from corporations to run it. Companies such as Starbucks, Ford…
By Michael Anft
Contributor