In this uplifting talk, Katherine Fulton describes the new philanthropy — one where collaboration and innovation allow regular people to do big things, even when money is scarce.
A little long, totally worth it.
Reposted from TED.com.
Archive for the ‘Give Page’ Category
You are the future of philanthropy: Katherine Fulton on TED.com
Monday, July 13th, 2009First Lady Michelle Obama calls on you to serve
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009First Lady Michelle Obama is calling all Americans (that’s you) to join United We Serve and volunteer this summer to be part of building a new foundation for America, one community at a time.
The program is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which sounds a little Orwellian but is actually a federal agency dedicated to fostering community service across the country.
Find a volunteer opportunity in your ‘hood at serve.gov.
Why does the United States give more aid to developing countries than anyone else?
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009In absolute numbers, the U.S. gives by far the most money in Official Development Assistance (ODA) – in 2008 it was nearly twice that of the next biggest donor, Germany. Compared to how much money we have, however, the U.S. actually gives the least of any developed country. Does this mean Americans are the least generous people of all the nations of the industrialized world? Hardly. ODA is just foreign aid give by governments under the watch of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). It doesn’t take into account private contributions from individuals, foundations, and other institutions.
American people, foundations, and institutions send more money and aid abroad than private citizens and organizations in any other developed country in the world by far. Why? It might be easier to understand by examining why people in other countries give less. In Europe – where most of our fellow developed countries are located – there are tons of big social programs based on the philosophy that the government should take care of the poor and other issues that Americans generally think should be taken care of by private individuals, religious organizations, and stuff like that. In order to pay for these big social programs, these countries have equally big taxes. Even more so, the U.S. gives tax breaks to people who give to charity – almost paying you to give money away.
Living under the assumption that the government should pay for all social ills, and having less money to give away because of higher taxes isn’t a recipe for huge private donations.
A Family Foundation is…
Sunday, July 5th, 2009A family foundation is a private organization whose funding comes from one single family.
Destroy The Rainforest To Save The Environment?
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009This write-up demonstrates an important economic and life lesson: actions with even the best intentions can have unintended consequences, so we need to really think about all the consequences and the people whom we might affect.
- Concerns about climate change have fueled a massive, global increase in demand for alternative fuels like biodiesel, which can be refined from the oil palm tree.
- Although the use of biofuels itself releases way less carbon than fossil fuels, the destruction of rainforest necessary to produce the palm oil results in much more carbon dioxide being released than the use of petroleum-based fuels.
- Even though there are laws in place to protect endangered forests, those laws are not being enforced and the majority of the forest is in danger of being irreparably destroyed and replaced by oil palm plantations.
Facts & Figures
- U.S. subsidies for biofuels are set to total $92 billion between 2006 and 2012.
- When the destruction of the rainforest is factored in, oil palms produce 10 times more carbon than petroleum.
- 98% of Indonesia’s rainforest will be degraded or destroyed by 2022 if the current rate of destruction is kept up.
Best Quote
“For the permit certification, a guy just comes to your office and you just pay him off. This is how it works.” – Ong Kee Chau, former executive at Wilmar International Ltd.
A 501(c)(3) is…
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009A 501(c)(3) is a religious, literary, charitable, educational, or scientific nonprofit organization that is exempt from paying certain taxes. The name refers to the specific section of tax law that allows this.
How can you make sure the charity you’re donating to is legit?
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009It isn’t wise to trust a stranger with anything of value, and charities are no exception. The most basic way to investigate a charity’s legitimacy is to research it–by checking the Internet, looking for mentions of your chosen organization in the news, asking for pamphlets detailing the charity’s purpose and goals, and so on. In addition, there are several web sites where you can check a charity’s legitimacy (or even just how well it’s putting donations to use).
If the organization doesn’t make its purpose clear or tell you what the money you give is actually being used for, there may be cause for concern. A legitimate charity should always be willing to provide you with more information and should never try to obtain donations by pressuring or intimidating you, so any representative of a charity who is vague or aggressive is highly suspect. The bottom line: it’s your money that’s going to the charity, so if you don’t feel comfortable with an organization you’ve chosen, you can always find another better suited to your needs and interests.
A Grant is…
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009A grant is a sum of money given to an individual or a nonprofit organization, usually to help finance some project. Grants do not need to be repaid.
Behind The Mask Lies A Friendly Face
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009Who knew that being unemployed was a superpower? This write-up describes people who have turned a frustrating, unfortunate situation into an opportunity to do something… super.
- With the current economic downtrend, many of those who have lost their jobs are taking value in what they can do as opposed to what they have and are helping out in communities, having been labeled as “real-life superheroes.”
- Some are completely dressed from head to toe in a cape and a mask while many just go out as regular citizens. Reactions from the public have been mixed; some see these superheroes as losers, but many respect them.
- Although without super powers these superheroes are somewhat limited in what they can do, many help the homeless and patrol high-crime neighborhoods.
Facts & Figures
- Estimates place the number of real-life superheroes between 250 and 300.
- The superhero movement started on Myspace as fellow comic enthusiasts joined forces.
- Homeless outreach is the most common form of help these superheroes undertake; one group raised $700 in gifts and brought them to St. Mary’s Children Hospital in New York.
Best Quote
- “The movement is growing.” – Ben Goldman, historian of real-life superheroes
Why would you donate your old car?
Monday, June 15th, 2009Donating your used car is a win-win situation, and who doesn’t like to win?
If you have a car just sitting in the driveway that may not be worth the hassle of selling, donation is a very good option. Many different kinds of charities accept cars – even if they don’t use the cars themselves, they can sell each vehicle at auction and keep the profit as a monetary donation. If you don’t want to go through a big charity, you can look around in your community and think about where a donated car could make a difference.
Not only will you get the great feeling of helping out a person or an organization in need, but there’s a simple incentive for you as well: donations to many charities are tax-deductible, which means you may be able to write off the value of your automobile donation and save money on your taxes this year!