Archive for the ‘Give Page’ Category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

They Have Less, But Give More. What We Can Learn From The Philanthropy Of The Poor…

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Americans who don’t make a lot of money tend to be more generous than those who do.

  • America’s poorest demographic is also the most generous, a reality rarely publicized. They give back a higher percentage of their earnings than their higher-income counterparts.
  • During the hardest of economic times, they cut back on their giving the least as compared with wealthier people.
  • Our nation’s most generous are also the least-educated, oldest, most religious, most likely to rent (instead of own) their homes, be on welfare, drive used cars or rely on public transportation, to be students, minorities, women, and recent immigrants.

Facts & Figures

  • The lowest-income fifth of population normally give more than their capacity, the next two-fifths give at capacity, and those above give below capacity (two to three times less than their capacity).
  • The poorest fifth of households contributed an average of 4.3% of their incomes to charities in 2007 while the richest gave at 2.1%.

Best Quote

“I believe the more I give, the more I receive… Plus, I’ve been in their position, and someday I might be again.” – Tanya Davis, a laid-off security guard and single mother on why she gives

Pros Help Nonprofits Kick It Up A Notch…

Monday, June 15th, 2009
Lawyers and business professionals are taking their big business breeding to the nonprofit world.
  • A growing number of lawyers and business professionals is flocking to the nonprofit world. Some made the move because they lost their jobs, while others are craving a career change.
  • Usually college students and recent grads seek out these nonprofit jobs, eager to work but also to learn. This new surge of professionals, armed with their experience and expertise, is extremely valuable to nonprofits.
  • Nonprofits are now prioritizing applicants with business and legal backgrounds, making them more competitive than ever.

Facts & Figures

  • Peace Corps applications are up 16% from last year, with a 50% increase among applicants over 50 years old.
  • Teach for America applications are up 42% this year, with an 80% increase among working professional applicants (rather than college students).

Best Quote

“Business-savvy volunteers are particularly good at helping nonprofits do more with less. These people are setting up credit unions, writing grants, managing resoures – it’s called indirect service.” – Sandy Scott, Director of Public Affairs at AmeriCorps

Philanthropy is…

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Philanthropy is the act of donating money, time, services, effort, and/or goods to a cause in order to promote the well-being of others while expecting nothing in return.

A Charity is…

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

A charity is an organization created by an individual or group of individuals to provide support for a philanthropic cause.  Charities can exist to support people (like the homeless), things (like the environment), and ideas (like democracy).

A Challenge Grant is…

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

A challenge grant is funding promised to an organization on the condition that it succeeds in raising a specified amount of additional money.

What does it mean when they say your donation is tax deductible?

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Philanthropy can do more than just aid a worthy cause; in certain situations, generosity can reward the giver as well. Giving to charity can actually reduce the taxes you have to pay, but there are special conditions that have to be met first.

When you donate to charity, you’re spending money, right? So no matter how much money you make, you now have less of it to use. But even though donating to charity means you’re using your own money in a way you choose, you’re not using it to buy new things for yourself, you’re using it to benefit a worthy cause. As long as you donate the money to a qualified recipient – a person or organization the government trusts to use that money effectively – you have the right to be rewarded for using your own wealth to help others. So your donation becomes tax deductible, which means you have a lower adjusted net income.

To put it simply, when you donate to charity, you’re really getting two benefits at once: you’re helping your chosen organization and you’re also reducing your own income taxes.

Don’t Give Up, Give Better…

Friday, May 29th, 2009

This article explores different strategies for giving in a changing economic climate.

  • With the wrath of the recession widespread, most people are cutting spending wherever possible, charitable giving being a popular place to start.
  • But charities are in need right now more than most and more than ever.
  • Instead of cutting charitable giving altogether, some people are reassessing which charities are most in need (prioritizing, for instance, food banks over art galleries) and directing whatever they can afford to those organizations.

Facts & Figures

  • Donors have two basic theories of giving: (1) direct service to individuals and (2) change through advocacy and public education.
  • During tough economic times, there is a shift from advocacy and public education to direct service because its effects are tangible and measurable.
  • Three techniques for giving in tough times are: (1) conversion (let the charity spend part of the pledge to an endowment immediately), (2) deferral (spread the donation out over time), and (3) triage (weed out charities no longer seen as effective).

Best Quote

“When things go down, no matter how much you have, you think you are poorer and therefore your tendency is to withdraw completely. The problem is that this is the time when you can do the most good, when you really need to give.” – Joe Briggs, retired legal-publishing executive and philanthropist

The New Face of Philanthropy Is Slightly More Feminine

Friday, May 29th, 2009

The way people spend, grow, and give their money is changing. This write-up demonstrates one way in which the face of philanthropy and finance has changed.

  • Three years ago, sisters Swanee Hunt and Helen LaKelly Hunt seeded a philanthropic challenge with $10 million, named Women Moving Millions, to raise money for programs helping girls and women.
  • Women’s charitable giving is often less publicized or done anonymously; this initiative has inspired many women to step out and give boldly.
  • The fiscal prowess and sophistication of this group has caused some people to consider if this current economic crisis might have been avoided had more women been in positions of power within the finance sector.

Facts & Figures

  • Women Moving Millions has raised $176 million for programs to improve the lives of girls and women.
  • 98 women and 2 men have joined the challenge so far.

Best Quote

“It’s about standing up for what we believe. I’ve done a lot of amazing things. I have climbed mountains and dived ocean waters. But the very best thing I’ve done is to give this $1 million gift.” – Anonymous Donor to Women Moving Millions

Why Sit On That Mountain Of Money When It Can Be Out Changing The World?

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Philanthropists are using different strategies to effect change with their money.

  • More and more philanthropists are taking on spending deadlines and sunset (aka “spend-down”) provisions to promote the urgency that is called for by their causes.
  • The current economic and political climate has people determined to make big change.
  • Ten years ago, the Beldon Fund (a New York-based environmental-policy foundation) opened its doors with a mandate to build national consensus for a healthy planet within 10 years. As promised, it closes its doors this month but will keep its site up as an example for other philanthropists.

Facts & Figures

  • 10% of active family foundations are limited-life foundations (like the Beldon Fund).
  • Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are among the leading philanthropists who have incorporated sunset provisions into projects recently.

Best Quote

“Let the next generation create new philanthropic capital for their own priorities and mission.” – Melissa Berman, President and Chief Executive of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, on the implications of philanthropists spending down

Don’t Be Evil!

Friday, May 29th, 2009

How a major corporation is using its financial might to do good and sticking to its motto: Don’t Be Evil!

  • The founders of Google have started a philanthropic foundation, Google.org, with $1 billion start-up money and a mission to address poverty, disease, and global warming.
  • Unlike most philanthropies, this is a for-profit company, which can fund start-ups, partner with venture capitalists, and lobby Congress.
  • Its founders believe the for-profit choice will augment the abilities of the foundation.

Facts & Figures

  • Google allotted $1 billion to fund Google.org’s start-up. $175 million will be disbursed within the first 2 years.
  • Google began its big philanthropic venture only 6 years into the company’s lifetime. Microsoft was 25 years old when Bill Gates set up his foundation.

Best Quote

“I think how you count profit is the issue here. Google.org is measuring return on cleaner air and quality of life. Their bottom line isn’t just financial. It’s environmental and social.” – Peter Hero, President of the Community Foundation of Silicon Valley

Comments Off
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »