Virginia McKnight Binger, a Minnesotan worth $450-million, was a “near miss” on the latest Forbes magazine list of the 400 wealthiest Americans (October 12). Mrs. Binger might have had an easier time making the list were she not so generous. Mrs. Binger, whose father, a chief executive of 3M, set…
By Thomas J. Billitteri
Contributor
‘Smart Money’:Fund-Raising Aggravation
Pressure tactics. Punishment. Persistence. Those words may sound like suitable strategies to use against a recalcitrant foreign enemy, but Smart Money magazine (October) uses them to describe what it calls “the modern-day rules of engagement when it comes to fundraising.” “Polite persuasion has…
By Thomas J. Billitteri
Contributor
Report Sees Tough Times for Hospitals That Merge
After a short period of financial improvement, non-profit hospitals will face a “bumpy road” over the next five years, says a new report from Moody’s Investors Service, a major bond-rating service. In the long run, however, the financial picture should brighten as many hospitals adjust to a wave of…
By Thomas J. Billitteri
Contributor
In Unusual Move, Hawaii Seeks to Remove Trustees of Embattled Bishop Estate
Hawaii’s Attorney General has asked the state probate court to take the drastic step of removing all five trustees of the state’s wealthiest charity for numerous breaches of their fiduciary duty. Attorney General Margery S. Bronster says such a highly unusual move is required because trustees of…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
California Community Foundation
World-Wide Web site: http://www.calfund.org Created: Site went on line in October 1995 and was completely overhauled in November 1997. Usage: Between 2,700 and 3,300 people use the site each month. Cost: $6,400 to overhaul the site; $27,000 budgeted this year to maintain it. Highlights: The site…
The Christian And Missionary Alliance
World-Wide Web site: http://www.gospelcom.net/cmalliance Created: November 1997 Usage: About 7,500 pages are viewed each month. Cost: About $70,000 to create and maintain the site this year. Costs include computer equipment, software, and the salaries of one full-time and one part-time employee.…
World-Wide Web site: http://www.pbs.org/weblab/living Created: July 1998 Usage: More than 15,000 visitors since July. Cost: The charity received $12,000 from Web Lab, a non-profit group that experiments with new uses of the Internet, to create and maintain the site. Highlights: The “Shared Voices”…
Family That Stages Annual Christmas Show Gets ‘Points of Light’ Award
Following are the people and organizations that have most recently been named to receive President Clinton’s Daily Points of Light Award. The awards, which are given to those who have done exemplary volunteer work, take their name from President Bush’s description of people who do community service…
Non-profit groups broaden their view of what the Internet can do for them As their initial fascination with the Internet has faded, non-profit groups are changing the way they use its vast capabilities. What many charities first saw as simply a way to showcase their efforts -- much like an…
By Jennifer Moore
Contributor
Following are summaries of recent reports by the National Charities Information Bureau. That private organization reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The organization does not approve or disapprove of charities, and…
* Independent Sector, a coalition of major charities and grant makers, has published an analysis of proposed regulations issued by the I.R.S. that explain how the service will enforce a law designed to punish charity officials who receive or bestow inappropriately lavish salaries or perks. The…
By Grant Williams and Jennifer Moore
Allentown College of Saint Francis de Sales (Center Valley, Pa.): Appointed Lina M. Striglia, former director of college communications at Muhlenberg College (Allentown), to be director of public relations. American Baptist Homes Foundation of the West (Oakland, Cal.): Appointed Marilyn D. Fravel,…
IRS Says Property Value Set When Option to Buy Expires
The I.R.S. has ruled that a gift of property that comes with the donor’s right to purchase the land back must be valued after, not before, the option expires. In 1993, a corporation granted a tract of valuable land to the charity but retained an option to repurchase the tract for a nominal amount…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Lamar Alexander Proposes Double Charitable Deduction
Lamar Alexander, the former Tennessee Governor who is again likely to be a Republican Presidential candidate, wants to create an enhanced charitable deduction for donors. Mr. Alexander wants to double the deduction that taxpayers could claim annually if their charitable gifts for the year exceeded…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Senate Panel Wants IRS to Review Health Clubs
The Senate Appropriations Committee wants the Internal Revenue Service to make sure that charities that run health clubs or provide “fitness services” do not compete unfairly against businesses. But the panel’s wishes have drawn criticism from nine Senators who warn that the government could…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in philanthropy, fund raising, volunteerism, and non-profit management: Arts. The Business Committee for the Arts (New York) and Forbes magazine have announced the recipients of the 1998 Business in the Arts Awards: -- The Founders Award went to the…