More eye-popping gifts like Gerald Chan’s $350-million donation to Harvard, a chance for Generation Xers to shine as leaders, a focus on nonprofit privacy issues, and more are in store this year.
Wilder’s Slavery Museum Sues Over Stalled Site Sale
Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder’s U.S. National Slavery Museum has filed a legal complaint to force a sports company to complete its stalled purchase of the Fredericksburg, Va., site that was to have been the long-planned institution’s home, reports The Free-Lance Star. The museum is counting on the sale to clear a property-tax debt of more than $600,000 to the city of Fredericksburg and proceed with an effort to build the museum in Richmond, the state capitol.
Satire Can Be a Powerful Message for Nonprofits
A tragic but important lesson from the Paris attacks is that comedy gets across a message that makes a difference.
By Justin Korda
Contributor
Suspected Pro-ISIS Group Hacks Calif. Aid Charity
A hacker group calling itself Team System Dz replaced Buena Park-based Giving Children Hope’s home page with a message supporting jihadist force Islamic State, the Orange County Register reports.
Conn. Nonprofit Leader Admits $205,000 Theft
The former president of a Hartford, Conn., community-development group pleaded guilty to embezzling from the now-defunct group, using an organization debit card to make ATM withdrawals at casinos, the Associated Press reports, citing the Journal Inquirer of north-central Connecticut.
Leading and Managing Nonprofits: the Best Advice of the Last Year
Chronicle editors selected nine stories from 2014 that will help you sort through fads, test new ideas, and find success in unexpected places.
Letter to the Editor: Column on Hershey School Was ‘Factually Inaccurate Portrayal’
The school has protected the best interests of its students, says its vice-president for communications.
Suicide of an Expelled Student Raises New Questions About Hershey Trust
For more than two decades, the $12-billion organization has faced accusations of wrongdoing, but government and others do little.
By PABLO EISENBERG
Contributor
Need for Diversity at Nonprofits Is More Vital After Garner and Brown Cases
Charities have much to learn from business on the importance of hiring more women and minorities.
By ANN LEHMAN
Contributor
Questions Board Members Should Ask to Foster Diversity
Consultant Ann Lehman suggests making diversity part of a strategic plan and setting up a buddy system to mentor new trustees.
Americans’ Engagement With Organizations Wanes, Report Says
Latest survey results support trend of declining volunteerism and growing loss of trust in public institutions.
By Megan O’Neil
Contributor
New Veterans Study Touted as National Model
University of Southern California researchers acquire data at local level to better identify specific communities’ needs.
By Megan O’Neil
Contributor
Founder of DC Central Kitchen Has New City to Feed: Los Angeles
Robert Egger, who grabbed the spotlight in the nation’s capital with innovative approaches to feeding the hungry, is set to open L.A. Kitchen.
By Megan O’Neil
Contributor
Arts Groups in Flux but Trying Out New Ideas, Survey Shows
Nonprofit Finance Fund received more than 5,000 responses to our annual State of the Sector survey in early 2014, including 919 arts and cultural organizations covering a broad cross section of artistic disciplines and budget sizes. In addition to questions on financial health and viability, we…
By Angela Francis
Contributor
‘Impact Investments’ Show Strong Returns, Survey Says
Of 39 institutional investors who made $2.5-billion in total commitments, 80 percent said their investments met or exceeded financial expectations and 90 percent said they exceeded social goals.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor
Courageous Nonprofit Leadership Groups Are Greatly Needed
The lack of attention to big issues, like forcing wealthy institutions to give more and act more democratically, is hobbling the ability of charities to serve society.
By PABLO EISENBERG
Contributor