As Schools Gain Internet Access, Charities Post Lesson Plans on Web Sites
SUSAN GRAY As more and more schools and libraries gain access to the Internet, a growing number of non-profit groups are using the medium to get their messages across to schoolchildren around the world. Environmental groups and museums have been among the leaders in the effort to develop…
Federal program spurs grant makers to help tap the Internet for education SUSAN GRAY Under a sign that says “The Future Starts Today,” seventh graders at Summers Middle School here work at five computers donated by I.B.M. as part of its $35-million “Reinventing Education” program. Their teacher,…
Following are summaries of recent reports by the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Philanthropic Advisory Service and the National Charities Information Bureau. Those two private organizations report on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and…
Abilities of Florida (Clearwater): Appointed Richard E. Barnard, executive analyst at Profit Counselors (Sarasota, Fla.), to be vice-president and chief operating officer. Abilities of Florida provides employment and housing services for disabled people. Alaska Public Radio Network (Anchorage):…
The following awards have been presented for work in philanthropy, fund raising, volunteerism, and non-profit management: AIDS. The National AIDS Fund (Washington) has presented its 1997 Circle Awards for philanthropic leadership in the fight against AIDS to four companies: -- May Department Stores…
New Law Clarifies Rules on Sponsorships
The I.R.S. plans to use a new tax statute to resolve some cases involving corporate sponsorships of non-profit events. The statute, which takes effect January 1, clarifies when a charity can avoid income taxes on revenue it receives from companies’ sponsoring of such events as non-profit football…
By Stephen G. Greene and GRANT WILLIAMS
Study Links Tax Breaks With Increase in Giving
To the question of whether tax breaks affect charitable giving, new research offers an updated answer: Yes, especially for high-bracket taxpayers. Charity officials for years have wanted to know whether tax deductibility increases the overall level of donations or merely affects the timing of…
By Stephen G. Greene and GRANT WILLIAMS
Court Backs IRS in Revocation Case
In a long-awaited decision, the U.S. Tax Court has ruled that the Internal Revenue Service was right to revoke the tax-exempt status of an Indianapolis health charity that had a contract with a controversial fund-raising consultant, the Watson and Hughey Company. The court concluded that part of…
By Stephen G. Greene and GRANT WILLIAMS
Volunteer-Summit Group Wins 350 Commitments to Help Kids
America’s Promise, the national charity created to encourage more people to help disadvantaged youth, has overcome a bumpy start and won commitments from more than 350 corporations and organizations toward its goal of reaching two million young people by 2000. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,”…
By DOMENICA MARCHETTI
Contributor
Year-End Celebrations of Good Works
The holiday season has prompted numerous magazines to laud philanthropists and others who have made a big difference in 1997. Town & Country (December) named a dozen people “Earth Angels” for their contributions. Among them: * The Cable News Network founder Ted Turner, whose “gift of $1-billion to…
‘Forbes’: a Suggestion for Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett is making a big mistake by waiting until he dies to give his money to charity, says Forbes (December 15). “Consider what’s happened to three of the best-known and richest foundations -- Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller,” the magazine says. “Their founders were exemplars of…
Americans will spend $244-billion in response to direct-mail solicitations, notes U.S. News & World Report in a cover article called “The Junk-Mail Deluge” (December 8). A good share of that money will go to charities, and the article explains many of the techniques that direct-mail experts use to…
Newsletter for Trustees Available Electronically
A free electronic newsletter for members of charity governing boards has been developed by two non-profit groups -- the Center for Nonprofit Management in San Francisco and the Volunteer Consulting Group in New York. Board Cafe, which is financed largely by the Charles Schwab Corporation…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
New Internet Magazine on Community Development
The enterprise foundation, a neighborhood-renewal group, has put a new on-line magazine on its World-Wide Web site to highlight people and organizations that are actively involved in community development. The December issue of horizon includes interviews with Beverly Sills, chairman of Lincoln…
Salary Raises at Foundations Keep Pace With Past Years
Salaries at U.S. foundations grew on average by 5 per cent this year -- the same rate as in the previous three years, the Council on Foundations says in a new report. According to the council’s latest compensation survey, the average salary increase among corporate grant makers was 4 per cent, also…
By Thomas J. Billitteri
Contributor
In Reversal, IRS Says Group That Urges Less Aid to Israel is a Charity
The Internal Revenue Service has given up its efforts to deny charity status to an organization that seeks to reduce the amount of federal money that goes to Israel. The I.R.S. declined to comment on its reason for deciding to grant charity status to the Council for the National Interest Foundation…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor