Massachusetts Lawmakers Review Church Disclosure
The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would require churches to file annual financial reports with state authorities in the same manner as other charities. Churches would also have to file lists of real-estate holdings. Charity leaders say the proposal -- SB 1074, also known as…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Tax Agency Issues Drafts of Forms for Charities
The Internal Revenue Service has released draft versions of revised forms important to charities and has asked nonprofit organizations to comment on its ideas. The draft of a revised Form 990-EZ, which is used by small charities, adds questions about their overseas activities, in an effort by the…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Bits: Democracy Collaborative Launches Community-Wealth.org
Community-Wealth.org, a new Web site created by the Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland, provides news, articles, and other information about economic-development organizations, financial institutions that specialize in neighborhood development, local land trusts, cooperatives,…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Web Site for Donors Receives Big Grants
A Washington organization that uses the Internet to match American donors with grass-roots social and economic-development projects in the developing world has received two large grants to expand its operations. GlobalGiving has received $1.5-million from the Omidyar Network, the philanthropy in…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
New York Charity Seeks to Spur Community Debate
The Community Service Society, a New York advocacy group, is starting a new Web site, Turnstile, which it hopes will bring together community activists, policy advocates, and members of the public to debate important social and economic issues facing the city. Each week Turnstile -- which is…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
U.S. Agency Pulls Grant From Abstinence Group
The Silver Ring Thing, a nonprofit organization in Sewickley, Pa., that stages youth-oriented events nationwide to promote sexual abstinence, has had its federal funds suspended in response to charges that it used government money for religious activities. In a letter to the charity, Harry Wilson,…
By BRENNEN JENSEN
Contributor
AIDS Organization Sues Over U.S. Prostitution Policy
An international aid charity is suing the U.S. government over an anti-prostitution policy that has prompted both protest and support from nonprofit groups. DKT International, in Washington, has sued the U.S. Agency for International Development and Andrew Natsios, its chief administrator, for…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Building a consulting business
Q. I’m looking to start a fund-raising consulting business. I have more than 10 years of experience with nonprofit groups, focusing on foundation relations, grant-proposal writing, prospect research, special events, and annual campaigns. Where do you suggest I advertise? How should I get started?…
By Rebecca Gardyn
Contributor
Nonprofit Group Issues Tips on Accountability
In an effort to help the charitable world do a better job of regulating itself, Independent Sector, a Washington coalition of charities and foundations, has created a nine-item “Checklist for Accountability.” The checklist calls on nonprofit groups to: Develop a culture of accountability and…
By BRENNEN JENSEN
Contributor
Big labor’s split causes confusion, opportunity for charitiesThe labor movement is in the midst of a divorce, and the effects of the breakup are likely to be felt in many parts of the nonprofit world as unions encourage charity workers to join their ranks. In July, three of the nation’s largest…
By Jennifer C. Berkshire
Contributor
New Charities That Aid Service Members and Their Families: A Sampling
Name Year founded Mission How much it has raised since its creation America’s Heroes of Freedom Washington 2002 Organizes events for service members and families, and donates clothing, toiletries, phone cards, and other items to wounded service members. Also plans to build a museum and education…
Actors’ Fund of America (New York): Appointed Ina Sorens Clark, senior director for external affairs at IFP/New York, an independent-film production group, to be chief development officer. Alzheimer’s Association (Chicago): Appointed Harry Johns, executive vice president of strategic initiatives at…
Foundation leaders spin tales from their families’ lives as a way to share values and traditionsAs a boy, William C. Graustein heard plenty of family stories -- up-by-your-bootstrap, ALSO SEE:A Tale With Many Meanings American success tales about his father, aunts, and uncles. Children of a German…
By Darlene M. Siska
Contributor
Action Center for Educational Services and Scholarships (Boston): Appointed Bob Giannino-Racine, vice president of business development and government relations at Jumpstart for Young Children (Boston), to be executive director. Alliance to Save Energy (Washington): Appointed Brian T. Castelli, an…
Grant Maker’s Guide to Supporting Advocacy
Advocacy Funding: The Philanthropy of Changing Minds, discusses why foundations support efforts to influence public policy and provides advice for determining whether financing advocacy work is right for an organization. Drawing from interviews with a wide range of institutions, the guide describes…
By Caroline Preston
Contributor
Americans Reward Companies That Do Good, Study Finds
2004 Cone Corporate Citizenship Study: Building Brand Trust, says that a growing number of Americans take into account a company’s support of social issues in deciding whether to invest in it or buy its products. Produced by Cone, a Boston marketing firm, the report suggests that 8 in 10 Americans…
By Caroline Preston
Contributor