Senators Urge IRS to Step Up Scrutiny of Potential Scam Involving Charities
The Senate Finance Committee wants the Internal Revenue Service to step up its investigation of a possible tax scam involving charities that accept donations of a type of property lease. The agency in May said that it had identified 48 companies whose investors have claimed about $271-million in…
By PETER PANEPENTO
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in advocacy, fund raising, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and other areas: Education fund raising. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (Washington) recently presented its 2007 Distinguished Service Awards. The winners: — The…
Networking Site Adds Charity Links
The world’s largest professional networking site, LinkedIn, will soon allow its 11 million users to add “badges” to their profiles that link to their favorite philanthropic causes. LinkedIn already offers members — who use the site to connect with other professionals — the option of adding badges,…
By Sam Kean
Contributor
‘Karma’ Video Game Promotes Altruism
Do Something, a youth organization in New York, has created Karma Tycoon, a free online video game it hopes will introduce teenagers to the nonprofit world, encourage volunteerism, and teach financial responsibility. Players have to watch their budgets carefully as they set up a nonprofit…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Satellites Aid Darfur Human-Rights Efforts
To stanch bloodletting in Darfur, an Amnesty International project is putting satellite images online to monitor 12 vulnerable villages in Sudan and nearby Chad. The dozen villages have not been attacked but are in danger because of their location near water or other resources, say officials of…
By Sam Kean
Contributor
An Educator Learns the Value of Having a Champion
In my work, I frequently stress the difference one person can make in the lives of others. Our special-education school for more than 100 children with serious learning, emotional, and behavioral challenges offers programming based on the latest research in education, child development,
Making a Difference: a Glance at Purpose Prize Finalists
A Call to All Congregations Growing up in an Episcopal household in rural Northern California, Sally Bingham absorbed two lifelong ALSO SEE:ARTICLE: Real Work Gives Real Meaning to an Unpaid Charity JobARTICLE: Purpose Prize Honors Achievements of Older Americans Who Use Their Talents to Solve…
By BRENNEN JENSEN
Contributor
Purpose Prize honors achievements of older Americans who use their talents to solve social issues They might not seem to have much in common: a chief executive officer making his multinational corporation more ALSO SEE:ARTICLE: Real Work Gives Real Meaning to an Unpaid Charity JobARTICLE: Making a…
By BRENNEN JENSEN
Contributor
A Phoenix museum seeks to make peace with patrons after an edgy exhibit draws fireNo museum director relishes a sit-down talk with angry donors — and Frank Goodyear was no exception. As the director of the Heard Museum, a small institution focused on Native American arts and culture in Phoenix, Mr.…
By Alison Stein Wellner
Contributor
Smithsonian Takes Steps to Clean Up Governance After a Scathing Review
The Smithsonian Institution’s board violated numerous principles of good management during the tenure of its former top executive, Lawrence M. Small, including overcompensating him and allowing him to create an “imperialistic and insular culture,” an independent review committee said in a report…
By SUZANNE PERRY
Contributor
Insider Deals and Other Controversial Board Practices Persist, Study Finds
At least 20 percent of nonprofit groups make insider deals with board members and more than 70 percent ALSO SEE: GRAPH:: Percentage of Organizations That Obtain Goods or Services From Board Members have not adopted policies to insure that such deals could be easily identified as posing a conflict…
By PETER PANEPENTO
Contributor
Proposed informational return would contain specific questions on governance and hired fund-raising companiesThe Internal Revenue Service has released a new version of its Form 990 informational tax return, ALSO SEE: TABLE: Disclosing Nonprofit Information: New Sections of IRS Form 990 GRAPHIC: New…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Brooklyn Children’s Museum (New York): Appointed Nikia Redhead, public-relations and marketing coordinator at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (New York), to be public-relations manager. Catholic Charities CYO (San Francisco): Appointed Jim Willford, executive director of YMCA Storer Camps…
Following are summaries of recent reports by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This private group reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The alliance does not approve or disapprove of charities, and urges potential donors…
Real Work Gives Real Meaning to an Unpaid Charity Job
About 18 months ago, I left retirement to start a terrific job — special projects manager for Access, ALSO SEE:ARTICLE: Purpose Prize Honors Achievements of Older Americans Who Use Their Talents to Solve Social IssuesARTICLE: Making a Difference: a Glance at Purpose Prize Finalists a nonprofit…
By William Stone
Contributor
Following are summaries of recent reports by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This private group reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The alliance does not approve or disapprove of charities, and urges potential donors…