Magazine’s ‘Shallow’ Charity Evaluation Ill Serves Donors
To the Editor: Smart Money magazine’s December article “Put Your Money Where Our Math Is” (Press Clippings, November 30) provided yet another tempting solution for donors who want to be sure that their “donation isn’t just lining the pocket of some fat-salaried administrator.” By creating a Top 100…
Philanthropy Can Thrive Without Estate Tax
By PAUL G. SCHERVISHNow that George W. Bush is headed for the White House, the estate tax and its deduction for charitable bequests are likely to be short-lived, as least as we have known them. In his campaign, Mr. Bush promised to eliminate the tax, and Congress -- with substantial support from…
By Paul G. Schervish
Contributor
To the Editor: Several people you interviewed in “No Relief for Nation’s Food Banks” (November 16) expressed the view that the 1996 change in the federal welfare law is responsible for the growing demand on food charities. How can that be when demand on these charities has been growing steadily for…
Counting the Votes: a New Priority
To the Editor: I’m glad Mark Rosenman urges nonprofit leaders to get involved in campaign-finance reform and other issues that will encourage Americans to become more engaged in our political system (“Nonprofit Leaders Must Help to Restore the Nation’s Democratic Principles,” November 30). In…
When the Rich Get Richer, Charities Benefit
By LESLIE LENKOWSKYOne of the fundamental goals of much of the philanthropic world is to narrow the gap between rich and poor. But judging from a new report issued by the White House, doing so might have the ironic effect of curtailing the growth of charitable donations. The report, by President…
Jobs Coalition: a Chance for Foundations to Walk Their Talk
By PABLO EISENBERGGrassroots organizing in low-income neighborhoods is alive and well. Not since the welfare-rights movement in the 1960’s has the United States witnessed such a surge in local activism. And yet, while nonprofit advocacy groups are effective at the local and state levels, they have…
Attack on Catholic Charities: a Distorted View of Good Works
To the Editor: It is sadly astonishing that the good work of Catholic Charities agencies across the country continues to be distorted and demeaned by Brian Anderson, who is waging an apparent media campaign to mislead the public about our true role and our members’ good works. The most recent…
Collaboration: the Key to Effective Philanthropy
By RITA R. SEMELA decade ago, Oakland, Calif., had one of the highest infant-mortality rates in the nation. Eighteen of every 1,000 babies died in their first year -- almost twice the national average. In response, the federal government and agencies in Alameda County pumped millions of dollars…
By Rita R. Semel
Contributor
To the Editor: While your November 2 issue is great, I would like to express a concern. I noticed that on the front page (“Top Charities See Donations Surge Again”), the caption under the large photograph reads: “Children’s Scholarship Fund...was started...to help poor youngsters attend private…
To the Editor: In a letter to the editor (October 19), Richard Larkin made some comments to follow up a recent article titled “Learning to Make Do With Less” (September 7) that addressed the effect of consumerism on the environment. Mr. Larkin states that “there are already far more humans alive…