Crossing Nonprofit Borders
There has been much discussion recently about the crossing of borders. In the nonprofit world, we see another border that is being blurred: the distinction between different nonprofit segments. We recently reported that giving to human services organizations has been flat compared with other sub-sectors and their growth spurts. What can this mean?Read More Crossing Nonprofit Borders
Making the First Gift: The Power of Connection
By Heather H. Thornton I recently made a significant gift to my beloved alma mater, The University of the South. It wasn’t a large gift by any means, nor was it in support of an important campaign or a particular project meaningful to me. So why was this gift so significant, you ask?
Donor Recognition: A Look At The Perot Museum
Being in the fundraising profession, my travels always involve visiting museums and cultural institutions to see how they do things. A recent visit to Dallas included a splendid afternoon at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. A spectacular angular building rises from along the downtown expressway and draws interest with its living roof coveredRead More Donor Recognition: A Look At The Perot Museum
The Golden Age of Philanthropy?
It would be hard to argue that the 1870’s to the 1890’s were not the golden age of philanthropy in America. In a little over two decades, the number of millionaires in the United States grew from 100 to 4,047. Mega gifts from philanthropists like Andrew Carnegie, Ezra Cornell, Johns Hopkins, John Rockefeller, and JaneRead More The Golden Age of Philanthropy?
Is The Donor Universe Shrinking?
Scientists have argued for years over whether or not the universe is expanding or shrinking. With the recent arrival of the Giving USA statistics for 2013, many nonprofit leaders are asking the same question about another type of universe –the “universe” of prospective donors to our non-profit organizations. For some of these leaders, there mayRead More Is The Donor Universe Shrinking?
Giving To The Arts – What Goes Down, Must Come Up?
You know the saying that what goes up must come down. This year, we’ve learned the inverse is true when it comes to giving to the arts. What has been down is now coming up! The 2013 Giving USA results show an increase of 7.8 percent, and that’s not even the best part. In 2007,Read More Giving To The Arts – What Goes Down, Must Come Up?
Endowment Compliance Audits
Institutions which raise funds for endowments need to be mindful of complying with the donor’s intentions long after the gift was made, and often after the fundraiser who closed the gift is gone from the institution. Although agreeing to a donor’s intentions seems to be a straightforward proposition when dealing with one donor and oneRead More Endowment Compliance Audits
Watch Out For The Motive Police
I love New York: the people, the arts, and all the other things that make it a great city. But right now, I am not very fond of the 26 City Council members who recently demanded that Wal-Mart and The Walton Family Foundation stop making generous gifts to charities in the city. Sounds ludicrous, doesn’tRead More Watch Out For The Motive Police
The Dog Days of Summer Fundraising
It’s the 25th of June—summer has officially just begun—and already Atlanta temperatures have shot into the 90s. Yesterday, my car registered 113 degrees on the Friday afternoon parking lot in Atlanta that is otherwise known as Interstate 285. As I sat on the I-285 Perimeter, I was trying to think of all the things IRead More The Dog Days of Summer Fundraising
Guidelines For Board Members
An executive director was bemoaning the executive committee’s decision to develop guidelines for board engagement. He didn’t have to tell me that the board already had sufficient guidelines in its trusteeship letter of agreement. Typically, guidelines for board engagement are separate from policies governing conflict of interest, ethics, and matters of fiduciary responsibility. Board engagementRead More Guidelines For Board Members
