Americans Have Growing Interest in Charity Involvement, Polling Expert Says
By Elizabeth Schwinn Atlanta New polling data suggest that charities have an unprecedented opportunity to recruit new volunteers and new donors, according to the head of one of the nation’s biggest public-opinion research companies. A majority of those surveyed last year by Yankelovich Partners,…
Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory (Lafayette, La.): Appointed Don Hill, ticket-services and communications manager at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (Little Rock), to be executive director. American Cancer Society-Memphis Chapter: Appointed Aggie Alexander, a fund-raising consultant in…
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…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
Charity Leaders Share Their Strategies for Recruiting the Best Volunteers
VOLUNTEERISM By Marilyn Dickey Four years ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana matched 300 boys and girls with volunteers who served as their mentors, friends, and role models. Although that seemed impressive, twice that many youngsters were still waiting to be matched with volunteers. The…
By Marilyn Dickey
Senior Editor, Copy
Working for a Nonprofit in the United States
A candidate from abroad may be especially well suited to a U.S.-based nonprofit with an international mission.
By Alison Stein Wellner
Contributor
Q. I’ve spent almost 30 years as a lawyer in private practice. I’ve done a lot of pro bono work for charities and am interested in devoting the next decade in service to a philanthropic organization. My questions: Is there a registry of charities that have legal departments? Are there training…
By Alison Stein Wellner
Contributor
We use the term ‘philanthropy’ as frequently as possible in our work out of the conviction that it conveys a strong, positive message regarding the nature of our endeavor.
By Alison Stein Wellner
Contributor
How Nonprofit Employees Are Getting Free or Low-Cost Training, Thanks to a Few For-Profit Sponsors
TOOLS AND TRAINING By Eman Quotah The five employees in TeamChild’s Seattle office knew they could work more efficiently by sharing their electronic files and database records. But no one at the legal-advocacy group, which serves Washington State’s troubled youth, had the skills to make it happen.…
By EMAN QUOTAH
Contributor
Writing Speeches for Charity Leaders
Presenting an organization’s mission in a moving and memorable way is almost certainly one of the major responsibilities of a charity’s senior staff.
By Alison Stein Wellner
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in advocacy, fund raising, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and other areas. Arts. The American Symphony Orchestra League (New York) and the MetLife Foundation (New York) have presented the 2003 MetLife Awards for Excellence in Community…
Examples of Youth-Led News-Media Programs
What Works in Youth Media: Case Studies From Around the World, by Sheila Kinkade and Christy Macy, profiles organizations in seven countries that give young people the opportunity to develop leadership and journalism skills as they produce radio programs, television shows, newspapers, and…
By Jessica Kronstadt
Contributor
Proof Positive: Developing Significant Volunteer Recordkeeping Systems, by Susan J. Ellis and Katherine Noyes Campbell, gives advice on how to collect and maintain information about volunteers. Ms. Ellis, president of Energize, a training, consulting, and publishing company in Philadelphia that…
By Jessica Kronstadt
Contributor
Things to Think About When Considering Joining a Board
The Business Professional’s Guide to Nonprofit Board Service, by Charles F. Dambach, Oliver Tessier, and Carol E. Weisman, offers advice on joining nonprofit boards. Mr. Dambach, senior consultant at BoardSource, in Washington; Mr. Tessier, executive director of the Support Center of Washington;…
By Jessica Kronstadt
Contributor
A Look at Investments, Borrowing Trends, and Charity Views on Finances
Investments held by private and community foundations performed better than two major stock-market indicators last year, but still declined nearly 9 percent in value, according to a new study by the Commonfund Institute, an organization in Wilton, Conn., that provides financial information to grant…
By NICOLE WALLACE, Michael Anft and Brad Wolverton
Study of Charity Businesses Finds That Many Earn Profits
A new survey of 72 nonprofit organizations that run 105 business ventures found that more than two-thirds of the ventures make a profit or break even. Of the profitable ventures, 45 percent made money within their first year of operation, and 12 percent did so within two years. Another 12 percent…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Barnes Audit Details Management Troubles
An extensive audit of the Barnes Foundation, made public this month, reveals details of some of the financial and management troubles in the past decade that helped deplete the art institution’s endowment. The foundation, housed in an estate in suburban Philadelphia, is seeking a court’s permission…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor