Payroll-Deduction Plan Rejected As Political
The IRS has ruled that a charity broke the law when it administered a payroll-deduction plan that allowed its employees to contribute voluntarily to a political-action committee. Under federal law, charities must not participate in a political campaign in behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Court Freezes Assets of California Charity
A federal court in San Diego has ordered the temporary freezing of assets held by a charity established by Xelan, an investment company, after the U.S. Justice Department accused the nonprofit group of being an abusive tax shelter. According to court documents, the Xelan Foundation, in San Diego,…
By Ian Wilhelm
Contributor
Accountability Law Spurs Charities to Make Changes
Almost half -- 48 percent -- of nonprofit organizations that responded to a recent survey by Grant Thornton, an accounting and business advisory group, said they had voluntarily made changes in their operations as a result of the 2002 federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act that was designed to improve…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
The Tech Museum of Innovation has presented its annual awards honoring the creative use of technology to benefit society in the areas of economic development, education, the environment, equality, and health. Among the winners, who received $50,000 each: International Development Enterprises, in…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Free Software Offered to Filter Out Spam
Mailshell, a San Francisco software company, is working with the nonprofit site TechSoup.org on a campaign to help charities fight unwanted e-mail messages. The effort will culminate in Mailshell’s giving copies of its spam-filtering software free to American and Canadian nonprofit organizations…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Colleges and Schools Send E-Mail Appeals
In a survey of college and private-school fund raisers, conducted by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, in Washington, about half of the 510 respondents said their institutions had started making annual-fund appeals via e-mail. The study found that e-mail solicitations still make…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Software Company Expands Its Reach
Kintera, a San Diego company that provides Web-based software for nonprofit organizations, has signed an agreement with Intuit to acquire American Fundware, which makes accounting software designed for charities and government agencies. Intuit, a Mountain View, Calif., company that produces…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Humanitarian Groups Rethink Operations After Apparent Death of Iraq Worker
Last week’s news of the apparent killing of Margaret Hassan, a CARE official in Iraq, left many humanitarian workers not only mourning her death but also pondering its implications for how they must operate in the future. Mrs. Hassan, 59, was abducted last month from the office where she worked as…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Charity Leaders Debate How to Handle Increased Government Scrutiny
Chicago
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Charities Bask in Record Voter-Turnout Numbers, Weigh Next Steps
The vote is in: Charity and foundation efforts to get people to the polls for this month’s presidential election were a success. So say many nonprofit officials who credit an unprecedented amount of philanthropic money and activity aimed at voter registration and mobilization for helping lead…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Experts Offer Advice to Inexperienced Human-Resources Managers
Set up a private office, get to know the organization’s leadership, find support with professionals at other nonprofits, and other tips from experienced leaders.
By Jeffrey Klineman
Contributor
A growing number of small nonprofit groups are making personnel efforts more professionalThe work was piling up on Audrey Alvarado. As executive director of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations, in ALSO SEE:The Buddy SystemOnline Resources for ManagersExperts Offer Advice to Inexperienced…
By Jeffrey Klineman
Contributor
By Jeffrey Klineman The following resources can help nonprofit groups create their first human-resources department: American Society for ALSO SEE:The Buddy SystemHuman Resources From ScratchExperts Offer Advice to Inexperienced Human-Resources Managers Training and Development. The society offers…
By Jeffrey Klineman
Contributor
Resources to Help Charities Prevent Violence
IN THE TRENCHES Critical Incident and Violence Intervention League. Intended for employees of the National Institutes of Health, ALSO SEE:Keeping Workers Safe this Web site includes helpful information for supervisors on the topic of violence on the job. Specifically, it provides advice on how to…
Advice for Nonprofit Groups on Implementing a Merger
The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook, Part II: Unifiying the Organization After a Merger, by La Piana Associates, provides guidance on how nonprofit organizations can best integrate their employees, programs, and operations after a merger. Written by David La Piana and other members of the consulting…
By Caroline Preston
Contributor
Report Assesses Child Well-Being
2004 Kids Count Data Book ranks states according to 10 indicators designed to assess child well-being. Produced annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, in Baltimore, the report gives Minnesota and New Hampshire the highest ratings, while Louisiana and Mississippi receive the lowest scores. At…
By Caroline Preston
Contributor