Philanthropy’s $60-Billion Behemoth
By committing the bulk of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Warren Buffett is expected to increase the foundation’s spending power by at least $31-billion in coming years. If all the money Mr. Buffett pledged were handed to the foundation today, it would more than double the size…
Alliance of Chicago Community Health Services: Appointed Fred D. Rachman, an attending physician in pediatrics at Children’s Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago) and chief medical officer of the Alliance, also to be chief executive officer. Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers…
American Cancer Society (Atlanta): Appointed Aurelia Stanley, national vice president of human resources, to be chief diversity officer, a newly created position. American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar (Richmond, Va.): Appointed Anedra Wiseman Bourne, public-relations manager at the…
PRESS CLIPPINGS The actress Angelina Jolie has donated more than $4-million since 2001 to Pakistani earthquake victims and other charitable causes, reports Forbes magazine (July 3). The article about Ms. Jolie, part of the magazine’s coverage of 100 ascendant celebrities, says that her charitable…
By Nicole Lewis
Contributor
Tax-Exempt Organizations Registered With the IRS
By Elizabeth SchwinnMore than a million charities and private foundations were registered with the Internal Revenue Service as of September 30, 2005, according to figures released by the tax agency, up from roughly 800,000 in 2000. The number of groups classified under Section 501(c)(3) of the…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
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…
Video Games Play Budding Role in Touting Charity Work
DISPATCHES By Ian Wilhelm Stacey Peña leads a truck convoy filled with rice and beans through a white desert, hoping the rough terrain doesn’t puncture a tire. She scouts ahead for broken bridges and land mines as she tries to reach a refugee camp filled with starving people who have fled their…
New Head Embraces Challenges at Arab-American Charity
NEW ON THE JOB By Peter Panepento A billboard in the heartland state of Missouri carries a message that cuts directly to the issue that confronts Nidal Ibrahim as he begins work as executive director of the Arab American Institute. “Who would you rather buy your gas from?” the advertisement asks in…
By PETER PANEPENTO
Contributor
‘Town & Country’: Examining Philanthropy
PRESS CLIPPINGS A narrow focus, trusted managers, and transparency are key ingredients to running a successful foundation, says the actor Michael J. Fox in the second annual issue of Town & Country (June) dedicated to the “power of philanthropy.” Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 30, Mr.…
By Nicole Lewis
Contributor
‘The Nation’: Controversy at Ford
PRESS CLIPPINGS After the Ford Foundation was accused of anti-Jewish sentiment three years ago, the grant maker made a number of questionable concessions to avoid increased scrutiny by members of Congress, says an article in The Nation (June 5). In 2003, a Jewish news service published a series of…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
‘BusinessWeek’: Gateses’ School Grants
PRESS CLIPPINGS Despite several setbacks Bill and Melinda Gates have experienced as their foundation seeks to overhaul America’s high schools, the billionaire philanthropist and his wife plan to learn from their mistakes and stay the course, writes BusinessWeek (June 26). Since 2000 the Bill &…
By Nicole Lewis
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in advocacy, fund raising, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and other areas. Corporate giving. The Points of Light Foundation (Washington) has presented its annual Awards for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs, which honor companies that…
Foundation Investments Grew by 8% in 2005, New Study Finds
The endowments of the nation’s foundations achieved an 8.1-percent gain on their investments last year, according to an annual study by the Commonfund Institute. That represents the second consecutive year in which foundations’ investments grew at a lower rate than the previous year. In the 2004…
By Harvy Lipman
Contributor
Charities Say House Bill Would Restrict Work in Gaza
Charities that provide aid in the Palestinian territories worry that new restrictions being considered by Congress could put a severe strain on their work. Legislation approved by the House of Representatives last month and pending in the Senate would bar the U.S. government from giving funds to…
By Caroline Preston
Contributor
IRS Raises Fees It Charges for Nonprofit Applications
TAX WATCHBy Elizabeth SchwinnBeginning July 1, the IRS will raise the fees it charges charities to apply for tax-exempt status, the revenue service has announced. Organizations seeking first-time rulings that they qualify as charities generally will pay $750, up from the previous rate of $500. A…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Senate Urges Investigation of Pay at Smithsonian
TAX WATCHBy Elizabeth SchwinnA key lawmaker has asked the Smithsonian Institution’s internal watchdog unit to look into executive pay and perquisites throughout the nonprofit museum. Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, asked the inspector general’s office at the museum to expand its…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor