Firm Sues Calif. Attorney General Over Scotched Sale of Catholic Hospitals
For-profit hospital operator Prime Healthcare Services has filed suit against California Attorney General Kamala Harris for imposing conditions that led the company to pull out of an $843-million deal to buy six Catholic medical centers, the Los Angeles Times writes.
Britain Weighs Plan to Purge Charities of ‘Extremist’ Trustees
The British government’s proposed counter-extremism strategy would authorize charity regulators to dismiss people considered to be extremists from nonprofit boards, The Telegraph reports.
Top 10 Things to Consider Before Joining a Board
A foundation executive director and board chair share key questions to answer before a prospective member commits to serving on a board.
By SUSAN SCHAEFER
Contributor
Big Aid Groups ‘Misleading’ Donors on Nepal Work, Says Watchdog
Major global aid charities surveyed about their Nepal earthquake response have spent up to one-sixth of funds raised in disaster appeals on overhead, even though many are doing little direct work on the ground in hard-hit areas but rather “regranting” money to local organizations, the Thomson Reuters Foundation reports.
House Votes to Defund Planned Parenthood; Senate OK Unlikely
Citing controversy over Planned Parenthood’s provision of fetal tissue for medical research, the House of Representatives voted largely along party lines Friday to block federal grants to the women’s health nonprofit for a year, but Senate Democrats have enough votes to block the measure in the upper chamber, the Associated Press reports.
Perelman’s Claims ‘Totally Untrue,’ Say Carnegie Hall Trustees
Five ranking members of Carnegie Hall’s board sent a letter to fellow trustees Friday refuting outgoing Chairman Ronald O. Perelman’s allegations of a lack of financial transparency and oversight at the storied New York venue, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal write.
Land Sale to D.C. Private School to Shutter Nursing Home
The Washington Home, a venerable nonprofit care facility for elderly, infirm, and low-income patients, will close by the end of next year with the sale of its property to the elite private Sidwell Friends School, The Washington Post reports.
New Top Fundraiser at the Vera Institute of Justice
Other personnel changes include the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, LISC, and Mission Investors Exchange.
By anais.strickland
Contributor
Federal Court Backs Faith Groups on Contraceptive Mandate
The 8th Circuit Court in St. Louis ruled Thursday that the Affordable Care Act’s mandate of birth-control coverage for employees violates nonprofit faith groups’ religious freedom, differing with seven other U.S. appeals courts and setting up a potential Supreme Court clash, the Associated Press and The Washington Post report.
Perelman to Vacate Carnegie Hall Chair Amid Oversight Clash
A day after circulating an email to Carnegie Hall board members raising questions about governance and financial transparency at the venerable New York venue, billionaire financier and donor Ronald O. Perelman said Thursday that he would not seek re-election as the panel’s chairman next month, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times write.
Calif. Regulators Tighten Rules on Nonprofit Politicking
The state’s campaign-finance watchdog office approved new requirements Thursday that effectively outlaw “dark money,” closing a potential loophole in previous legislation and regulatory moves to compel donor disclosure by nonprofits steering money into state races, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Big Gifts for U. of Wisconsin and Harvard
The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced a $22-million donation Thursday from the Grainger Foundation to boost tutoring and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for engineering students, the Wisconsin State Journal reports, and the research-focused Warren Alpert Foundation pledged $20 million Thursday to Harvard Medical School, Bloomberg writes.
Redskins Charity Cries Foul as Indian Rodeo Renounces Deal
The Indian National Finals Rodeo, one of America’s biggest sporting events for Native Americans, abruptly took a sponsorship deal with the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation off the table earlier this month, The Washington Post reports.
$13-Million Funding Round Backs Anti-Poverty Software Firm
A group of investors led by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman is backing a startup that is developing software for nonprofits and government bodies running anti-poverty programs in developing countries, Bloomberg writes.
Fla. Man Admits $2-Million Theft From Medical Nonprofits
The former executive director of the American Registry of Pathology and treasurer of the International Registry of Pathology faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to diverting payments to the organizations into a personal account, the Associated Press reports.
New IRS Rule Likely to Make Impact Investing Easier
The agency offers guidance to grant makers just days before Kresge announces it will commit 10 percent of assets to social investing.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations