Coverage of Commercial Solicitors Lacked Adequate Research
To the Editor: Since IDC came out smelling like a rose in “Calling Solicitors to Account” (April 5), you are probably wondering why this letter. While I applaud your zeal to inform your readers about telemarketing fraud and the amount that really goes to the charity, unfortunately your lack of…
Grant Makers: Choose Democracy Over Elitism
By MARK DOWIEPaul Ylvisaker, the legendary public-affairs director of the Ford Foundation, liked to describe philanthropic foundations as “America’s passing gear.” It’s an appealing metaphor that fits comfortably into the self-generated mythology of organized philanthropy, a mythology that is…
By Mark Dowie
Contributor
Putting Venture Philanthropy Into Perspective
By VARTAN GREGORIANIn recent years, the United States has witnessed unprecedented prosperity. In 1999, there were an estimated 7.2 million millionaires, more than double the number five years earlier. In 2000, American households held more than $50-trillion in assets, up from just over $30-trillion…
Don’t Cut Spending on Communications
By JOANNE EDGARIn the last few years, foundations have grown in both numbers and assets, and yet the grant-making world’s unbounded optimism of just six months ago is now shaken by rocky economic indicators and receding assets. This uncertainty has led to the inevitable discussions about cuts in…
By JOANNE EDGAR
Contributor
A Warning on Soliciting Friends
To the Editor: Your article “Getting Friends to Give” (February 22) is a helpful guide on the technique of raising charitable contributions from friends and family. One notable omission, however, was a warning about the generally acknowledged, but largely unspoken, fact that successful approaches…
Has the Philanthropic Boom Gone Bust, or Should We Be Bullish?
By H. PETER KAROFFIn the last couple of months, I’ve lost count of how many people have asked, “So, is it all over? Has a new golden age of philanthropy dissipated along with the fabulous wealth of the Nasdaq high rollers?” We know, of course, that the Dow Jones industrial average and the Nasdaq…
By H. Peter Karoff
Contributor
Public Plays Role in How Charities Train Their Managers
To the Editor: In his letter to the editor, Basil J. Whiting affirmed Chronicle columnist Mark Kramer’s assessment that donors do not evaluate the true state of leadership or management of a nonprofit (“Bias Plays Role in Incompetent Nonprofit Management,” February 22). Mr. Whiting’s observations…
Boomers Should Become the Giving Generation
By LARRY MEYERBrothers and sisters, unite! In the spirit of the radical 60’s, join the protest! The largest generation that the United States has ever produced is in danger of being tagged for eternity with the nickname “baby boomers.” Do 76 million of us really want to go down in history as a…
By LARRY MEYER
Contributor
Environmental Groups Offered Internet Tools
By NICOLE WALLACEA new organization is building Internet-based tools to help environmental organizations work together to improve their communications efforts. Green Media Toolshed, in Washington, provides its members with a directory of more than 230,000 press contacts in the United States and…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
To the Editor: Leslie Lenkowsky (“Charities Should Support Bush Tax Cut,” March 8) mentions three Bush administration proposals of particular interest to charities: the nonitemizer deduction for charitable donations, tax-free donations of retirement savings, and state income-tax credits for…