‘Bloomberg’: A List of ‘Masters of the Loophole’
Two trusts-and-estates lawyers who specialize in helping charity donors hold the dubious distinction of being included in Bloomberg Personal Finance magazine’s “Loophole Hall of Fame” (November). The lawyers, Conrad Teitell and Douglas K. Freeman, were featured along with nine other prominent…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
‘Worth’: Buffett’s Generous Sister
Warren Buffett is known worldwide for his billions, but his sister, Doris Buffett Bryant, is making a name for herself for quite another reason: her philanthropy, administered through her low-key and “charmingly eccentric” Sunshine Lady Foundation, Worth magazine reports (October). Ms. Bryant, 71,…
By Thomas J. Billitteri
Contributor
Technology Bits: California Puts Data On Line; Shopping Site Offers Bonus
* The California Attorney General’s Office has added to its Web site a searchable data base of Forms 990 filed by non-profit organizations in the state. The Form 990 is the informational tax return that charities are required to file with the I.R.S. To get there: Go to…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Conferences Focus on Technology
Several forthcoming conferences will discuss the future of technology use by non-profit organizations. * The National Charities Information Bureau is holding an invitation-only conference entitled “E-Philanthropy: Technology and the Nonprofit Community” on October 22 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Web Site Provides Assistance With Special Events
A new Web site helps non-profit organizations automate many of the tasks that go into organizing special events. Non-profit organizations can use seeUthere.com to send invitations and reminders about events, tally R.S.V.P.'s, sell tickets, and accept donations. The seeUthere.com service is designed…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Internet Helps Radio Station Set Fund-Raising Record
With the help of the Internet -- and some snazzy prizes -- WAMU, a Washington public-radio station, had its most successful fund-raising campaign ever. During a one-week membership drive this month, the station raised $1,147,690. Of that total, $367,000 came in through WAMU’s Web site. The station…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Charity Receives Grant to Build New Technology Web Site
Compumentor, a non-profit organization in San Francisco that helps other charities make better use of technology, has received a $150,000 grant from the Surdna Foundation, in New York, to build a comprehensive Web site on non-profit technology. One of the main goals of the site -- which is…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
America Online Starts a Site for Donors
The AOL Foundation -- the giving arm of America Online -- has started a new Web site that brings together information for donors, volunteers, and charities. The site, called Helping.org, allows visitors to learn about the activities of any of the more than 650,000 charities listed in the GuideStar…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
New Jewish Group Picks Its Top Leader
United Jewish Communities, the organization formed from three major Jewish fund-raising organizations, has named its new chief executive officer. Stephen D. Solender, who has been serving as the group’s acting president, will now become its permanent president. United Jewish Communities, in New…
Court Rejects Appeal by New Era Founder
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the founder of the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy, which collapsed in 1995 after being exposed as a pyramid scheme. Without comment, the court refused to hear an argument by John G. Bennett, Jr., that the federal judge who sentenced him to 12…
Congress Agrees on AmeriCorps Plan
Members of Congress have agreed to a compromise that would provide $423.5-million for AmeriCorps and related national-service programs in the fiscal year that began on October 1. AmeriCorps received $472-million in federal appropriations during the past fiscal year, and President Clinton had asked…
Non-profit groups rally behind museum after Mayor withholds funds and threatens to oust board over controversial art show Numerous non-profit groups and foundations have joined together to help the Brooklyn Museum of Art, which stands to lose all $7-million of its New York City aid in a dispute…
By Meg Sommerfeld
Contributor
Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service. The service reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The service cautions that it does not approve or…
American Jazz Philharmonic (Culver City, Cal.): Appointed Marilyn McAvoy, director of development at the Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles), to be director of development for this group and its summer educational program, the Henry Mancini Institute. Asia Society (New York): Appointed Michele Cohn…
The following awards have been presented for work in philanthropy, fund raising, volunteerism, and non-profit management: Arts and humanities. President Clinton has announced 11 recipients of the 1999 National Medal of Arts, including Irene Diamond, an arts patron and philanthropist and former…
Pennsylvania Court Says Groups Owe Local Amusement Tax
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania says two organizations that sponsored professional golf tournaments do not qualify as charities under state law and must pay a local “amusement tax” of $83,200 on revenues generated at events held in 1996 and 1997. A lower court had ruled that the two groups…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor