American Heart Association, Great Rivers Affiliate (Columbus, Ohio): Appointed John Meiners, executive vice president at the association’s Ohio Valley Affiliate (Columbus), to be executive vice president. American Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation (Alexandria, Va.): Appointed Susan G. Braun,…
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…
Alliance for Children and Families (Milwaukee): Appointed Trudy Archie, membership-services coordinator at the United Neighborhood Centers of America (Milwaukee), to be communications administrator; Judith Austin, office manager at Canvasbacks (Milwaukee), to be assistant to the director of…
The Nonprofit World: Its Size and Scope
Nonprofit groups are growing in number and in wealth, show new data released by the Urban Institute, in Washington. The number of nonprofit organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service grew by 27 percent from 1994 to 2004, according to a preview of the Nonprofit Almanac 2007, released…
The following awards have been presented for work in advocacy, fund raising, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and other areas: Education. The McGraw-Hill Companies (New York) has presented its 2006 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, which honors individuals dedicated to improving education…
A Pioneering Nonprofit Consultant Looks for a ‘Last Big Project’
When Jan Masaoka became the executive director of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services in 1993, the idea that charities could benefit from the guidance of consultants was still relatively new. Fast forward 13 years, and nonprofit groups routinely hire outside advisers. “There was a period when I started…
By Jennifer C. Berkshire
Contributor
‘National Journal’: Electioneering Battles
Left-leaning Christian groups are increasingly challenging their conservative Christian counterparts over the meaning of the expression “values voter,” which emerged as an integral part of President Bush’s re-election in 2004, says the National Journal (October 28). The clash comes amid increased…
By Brennen Jensen
Contributor
‘Harvard Business Review’: Disaster Relief
Corporations donated unprecedented amounts of cash, goods, and services to relief organizations responding to the Southeast Asian tsunamis in 2004, but shortcomings in the humanitarian effort highlighted the need for greater collaboration among charities and businesses before disaster strikes, says…
By Brennen Jensen
Contributor
The Importance of Using Data Over Anecdotes
NEW BOOKS Good Stories Aren’t Enough: Becoming Outcomes-Driven in Workforce Development, by Martha A. Miles, argues that nonprofit managers need to base their decisions on data rather than anecdotal evidence. Illustrated with examples from nonprofit organizations that are “outcomes-driven” —…
By Anne W. Howard
Contributor
How Nonprofit Groups Responded to the 2005 Hurricanes
NEW BOOKS Giving in the Aftermath of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes: Report on the Foundation and Corporate Response, by Loren Renz and Steven Lawrence, with contributions from Jessica Diaz, provides the results of a survey of 906 community, corporate, and independent foundations. Sponsored by the…
By Anne W. Howard
Contributor
Physician Makes ‘House’ Calls to Patients on the Street
I grew up on a farm in Hanover, Pa. My father was a doctor and my mother was a nurse, and when I look back on my childhood, it was great. I can’t imagine anything better. My father was a family practitioner, and I can remember riding with him in his Volkswagen Beetle when he made house calls. He…
American Charities Snagged by New Russian Law
Several dozen foreign nonprofit groups remain barred from working in Russia while authorities consider whether to allow them to operate, in keeping with a new law that even a Kremlin adviser criticized last week for its red tape. At least 57 nonprofit groups from countries in the Asia Pacific,…
By Bryon MacWilliams
Contributor
Charities Account for 5.2% of the Economy, Study Finds
Nonprofit organizations accounted for 5.2 percent of the nation’s economic output and paid 8.3 ALSO SEE: Table: Size And Finances of Nonprofit Groups: A Snapshot Tables: The Nonprofit World: Its Size and Scope percent of all wages and salaries in the United States in 2005, according to a new report…
By Harvy Lipman
Contributor
Two Kansas Churches Accused of Playing Politics
By Elizabeth SchwinnAs the election season wrapped up, a nonprofit watchdog organization accused two Kansas churches of breaking federal law by engaging in political activities. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether the…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
IRS Approves Unusual Investment Option
By Elizabeth SchwinnStanford University has secured a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that allows its donors to invest their contributions along with the institution’s endowment. Donors have good reason to want Stanford’s endowment managers to invest their gifts: Over the 10-year period…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Illinois Hospital Appeals Property-Tax Decision
By Elizabeth SchwinnIn a legal battle being watched by nonprofit hospitals around the country, an Illinois medical center is appealing the state’s decision to revoke the organization’s exemption from property taxes. The State of Illinois last month upheld a 2003 county ruling affecting the status…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor