Smithsonian Board Holds First Meeting Before Public
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History here is home to many unusual artifacts. A stuffed male African elephant in the lobby, for example. But this month the museum was the site of an exhibit never seen before in the Smithsonian’s 162-year history: a public meeting of its…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Nonprofit Leaders Tapped for Transition Team
President-elect Barack Obama’s transition aides, who are preparing for the change of power on January 20, have appointed more than 20 representatives of nonprofit groups, foundations, and think tanks to “agency review teams” that are charged with examining particular government bodies and offering…
A New Era of Nonprofit Engagement?
As President-elect Barack Obama pulls together his administration, nonprofit leaders are floating ideas to help the Democratic victor fulfill his campaign pledges to expand national service and work with charities to solve the country’s social problems. While some worry that the country’s…
By SUZANNE PERRY
Contributor
Blues Charity Auctions Musician’s ‘Soul’ on eBay
Blues lore holds that the legendary musician Robert Johnson went to the crossroads at midnight and sold his soul to the devil to play guitar. But now, some 70 years later, the prince of darkness has fallen on hard times and put Mr. Johnson’s soul, “slightly used,” up for sale on eBay. The auction,…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Management Consultants Offer Free Online Tools
Charity leaders looking for information on nonprofit management have a new resource to which they can turn. The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit consulting organization in Boston, has added six “learning centers” to its Web site, focusing on evaluation, fund raising, growth, human resources,…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
At 66, Delle Willett is the oldest employee at the San Diego Natural History Museum, where she has worked as the director of marketing for a decade. And while her husband and friends have all retired, Ms. Willett doesn’t have retirement in sight. That’s because the crumbling economy has put her…
By Caroline Preston
Contributor
Nonprofit Boards Urged to Focus on the Challenges Posed by the Economy
Given the sour economy, charities must make tough decisions in the months ahead that will be critical to determining whether they survive, Rebecca W. Rimel, president of the Pew Charitable Trusts, told board members and other nonprofit leaders at a meeting in Washington last month. “Compared to a…
By Paula Wasley
Contributor
Voters Reject State Measures That Could Have Harmed Charities
Charitable organizations that rely on state aid got a lift from last week’s election as voters rejected measures that could have led to major cutbacks. While the tax proposals on several state ballots were not aimed specifically at nonprofit organizations, the reductions in state revenue they would…
By Eric Kelderman
Contributor
Priorities for a New President
As Barack Obama prepares to enter the White House, he comes to power during a turbulent period in American history, with the nation facing a financial meltdown, two wars, and an increasing number of people struggling to meet basic needs. But nonprofit leaders see opportunities in the crisis. They…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
American Associates, Ben-Gurion U. of the Negev (New York): Appointed Harriet Winer, principal consultant at HJ Winer and Associates (Boston), to be vice president of development. American Heart Association (Dallas): Appointed Nancy Brown, chief operating officer, to be chief executive officer.…
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (Fla.): Appointed John Richard, chief operating officer and executive vice president of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (Newark), to be president and chief executive officer. American Farmland Trust (Washington): Appointed…
The Philanthropy 400 at a Glance
By Holly Hall WHAT THEY ARE 114 colleges and universities 52 international groups 35 hospitals and medical centers 28 community foundations 27 health charities 24 social-service groups 15 religious groups* 14 education groups 14 museums and libraries 13 donor-advised funds 13 environmental and…
By Holly Hall
Contributor
Former Ad Executive Finds Nonprofit Work Comes With Modest Pay but Rich Benefits
At my second interview for the job I hold now — development director for a small, nonprofit hunger-relief group in Vermont — the other staff members wanted to know what had prompted me to leave a lucrative career as a creative director at large, big-city advertising agencies to interview for a…
By Anne Loecher
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in advocacy, fund raising, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and other areas: Arts. Americans for the Arts (Washington) has announced the winners of its National Arts Awards, which recognize artists and supporters of the arts who show national…
Many Charities Would Hire Professionals Who Have Worked Outside Nonprofit World
By Suzanne PerryHalf of nonprofit employers say people who decide they want to work for charities late in their careers or after they have retired are highly appealing job candidates, while 39 percent say they are somewhat appealing, according to a new survey. Almost 70 percent said that such…
By SUZANNE PERRY
Contributor
New Charity Official Seeks to Close the Wealth Gap
By Cassie J. MooreIn the early 1970s, Meizhu Lui took a major detour from her intended career path. She held a master’s degree in Russian language from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign yet was unable to find a job that took advantage of those skills. When she was 27, she and her…
By Cassie J. Moore
Contributor