Foundations Shouldn’t Sit on Money Needed Today
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, generous Americans have given more than $2-billion for relief and recovery. That includes $172-million from 34 private foundations. Drastic needs call for unusual measures, and these foundations have responded generously to the terrorist attacks. Yet, while…
By Richard N. Goldman
Contributor
Action Speaks Louder Than Studies
We are all creatures of habit, so it should be no surprise that the philanthropic organizations we create are much the same way. Sometimes, however, the decisions of habit can lead us in entirely the wrong direction. Consider a perennial philanthropy favorite: the feasibility study. Among…
By ANDREW TAYLOR
Contributor
Minnesota Court Rules Gifts Not Deductible
In a case that some observers fear could dampen charitable giving, Minnesota’s tax court has ruled that a couple can’t deduct from their state income taxes gifts they made through a donor-advised fund that benefited local charities. The couple, R. Austin and Nadine Chapman, gave $1.6-million to the…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
A Sampling of Charities Given IRS ‘Fast Track’ Status
The Internal Revenue Service gave more than 250 groups expedited approval for tax-exempt status ALSO SEE:IRS Handling of September 11 Charities Shows Weaknesses of Approval System, Critics SaySeptember 11 Charities Face Challenges Beyond the OrdinaryHalf of $2-Billion Raised for September 11 Given…
Convening a Dialogue: a Shakespearean Proposal
To the Editor: Tony Proscio’s opinion article on garbled messages (“Doing Good by Rejecting Gibberish,” January 10) puts me in mind of a proposal we once received. It said: “It is proposed that a nationwide dialogue be convened among the constituency of public agencies and public and private…
A Lack of Guts and Intellectual Vigor Hobbles the Foundation World
The foundation world has long been a backwater of lazy thinking, uncritical attitudes, self-satisfaction, and backslapping. In recent months, a few top foundation executives have written thoughtful speeches and articles challenging institutional practices and encouraging more effective performance.…
By PABLO EISENBERG
Contributor
Taking a Lesson From New York’s Billion-Dollar Blue Cross Heist
Last month’s decision by the New York legislature to permit the conversion of Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield into a for-profit company offers a cautionary tale for all nonprofit groups concerned about the government’s ability to usurp charitable assets for political and fiscal ends. The deal,…
By James J. Fishman
Contributor
The Nonprofit World Is Ripe for an Enron-Like Debacle
To the Editor: The Enron debacle brings home the fact that we too have a few nonprofit Enrons and nonprofit Arthur Andersens among us. This remains a cause for concern. Creative -- if not outright fraudulent -- accounting is not an exclusive province of for-profit corporations. Regrettably,…
The Wrong Way to Encourage Volunteerism
President Bush’s effort to use his State of the Union address to harness the patriotic fervor generated by the fight against terrorism into a community-service revolution should have been an exciting moment for nonprofit groups that involve volunteers in their work. But instead it was a surprise…
By Susan J. Ellis
Contributor
Challenges Faced by Child-Advocacy Groups
Who Speaks for America’s Children?
By Katy Marquardt
Contributor