Audit Cites Colo. Disability Group for ‘Shameful’ Misspending
Denver officials released an audit Thursday accusing Rocky Mountain Human Services, a nonprofit contractor serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, of misusing some $1.8 million in taxpayer funds, The Denver Post and The Denver Channel report.
Budget Deal Would Block IRS From Changing Nonprofit Politicking Rules
The agreement struck this week by congressional leaders includes a temporary ban on the Internal Revenue Service using federal funds to revise rules on political spending by tax-exempt “social welfare” groups, reports The Washington Post.
Former Field Museum Worker Charged in Alleged $900,000 Theft
A woman who worked for nearly 11 years at the Chicago natural-history museum was charged with embezzlement Tuesday, days after the Field revealed a more than $900,000 fund diversion, the Chicago Sun-Times and Crain’s Chicago Business write.
Ford Foundation to ‘Reimagine’ N.Y. Building in Renovation
Foundation President Darren Walker tells The New York Times that the fund will get rid of its palatial presidential suite and “reimagine the building as a public-service facility.”
AmazonSmile Program Leaves Some Nonprofits Frowning
The online shopping site’s gigantic customer base is tantalizing for charities, but many say tiny financial returns and the company’s refusal to share data make it a dubious effort.
By Eden Stiffman
Senior Editor
Field Museum Worker Allegedly Stole $900,000 in Member Fees
Federal authorities are investigating the alleged theft by a former employee of the Chicago natural-history museum who collected money for memberships at the door, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Hedge Fund Closes Deal to Run Calif. Catholic Hospital Group
Daughters of Charity Health System announced Monday that it has finalized a $260 million investment agreement that will see a New York hedge fund take over management of its six nonprofit hospitals in the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles areas, reports the San Jose Mercury News.
For-Profit Fundraisers Keep 46% of Calif. Donations, Says Report
New figures from the California attorney general’s office show that solicitation firms pocketed nearly half of the money they raised on behalf of nonprofits last year, the Orange County Register reports.
Report Blasts British Charities on Mission Spending
Nearly one in five major British nonprofits spends less than half of its annual fundraising take on direct charitable activities, according to new research cited by The Telegraph.
Year-End at Direct-Mail Companies Show Paper Isn’t Passé Yet
For many of the companies’ clients, mail solicitations drive the bulk of their annual revenue.
By Megan O’Neil
Contributor
Pay-for-Success Financing: Anatomy of a Deal
In the second of three video briefings, experts share advice on pay-for-success financing.
Red Cross Cost-Cutting Backfired, Says Report
By closing local chapters and alienating longtime volunteers, executives at the American Red Cross have hampered the nonprofit’s ability to deliver emergency services, according to ProPublica.
By Rebecca Koenig
Contributor
Gender Gap Unchanged in Jewish Charity Leadership, Survey Finds
Male leaders at Jewish nonprofits continued to far outnumber and out-earn their female counterparts in 2014, the Forward found in its annual review of executive pay at Jewish organizations.
Tax Rules’ Impact on Giving Goes Beyond Deduction, Studies Say
Studies on wealth and altruism suggest that the relationship between taxation and philanthropy is more complex than the simple equation of getting a deduction for a donation, reports The Wall Street Journal as part of a package of giving-focused articles and advice columns.
Senator Aims to Block IRS Proposal on Optional Donor Data
Kansas Republican Pat Roberts has introduced legislation to block a planned Internal Revenue Service regulation that would allow charities to submit contributors’ Social Security numbers to substantiate donations for tax purposes, Accounting Today reports.
Donor-Advised Funds Navigate a Deluge of Year-End Gifts and Grants
As money pours into accounts and out to charities, Fidelity Charitable handles the rush by enlisting the full staff and hiring extra hands.
By Alex Daniels
Contributor