Accountability

Did the NFL Back Out of a $16M Unrestricted Gift for Concussion Research?
January 12, 2016 at 12:37 pm

Three days before Christmas, Boston University was awarded a $16 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for brain-injury research. The funding was supposed to come from a $30 million unrestricted gift from the NFL, but when the study was announced, there was no mention of the league's involvment. Did the NFL back out of the deal? Or was it never involved to begin with? Here's what we know...

Your Support Staff Is Essential to Success
January 8, 2016 at 10:57 am

On Feb. 16 of this year, I will be celebrating my 40th year in the field of philanthropy. I have played many roles and have had many titles in my career. I have spent a great deal of time in the front of the organizational shop, so to speak. What I am most proud of is the fact I also have spent a great deal of time in the back of the shop. In order to succeed in the highest levels of our profession, you need hands-on experience and knowledge of both the front and back of the office...

14 Important Dates to Circle on Your Nonprofit's Calendar
January 7, 2016 at 10:25 am

A typical nonprofit organization’s calendar is always full. Meetings, campaigns and other important dates. But which should take highest priority? Here are 14 important dates that you should consider circling on your nonprofit’s calendar. They will help you strategically plan throughout the year...

FBI Investigates Sacramento Nonprofit Involved in Adult Adoptions
January 7, 2016 at 10:20 am

Adult immigrants in Northern California are being adopted by American families with the promise of gaining U.S. citizenship, KCRA Investigates has learned. Hundreds of immigrants from Sacramento to Marin County are shelling out $5,000 to $10,000 each for the chance to be adopted. Behind it all is a Sacramento nonprofit called Americans Helping America Chamber…

Fundraisers, Don’t Turn 2016 Into a Disaster
January 7, 2016 at 9:57 am

We’ve been hearing about “El Niño” for months, and sandbags, K-rail and umbrellas have been in great demand. For fundraisers, there are possible El Niño “seasons” (deviations from the normal or expected patterns) year-round. We can’t predict them all, so always being ready for the unexpected has to be more than a cliché; it must be our typical operating mode...

The 5 Best Companies for Employee Giving
January 6, 2016 at 10:56 am

Corporate philanthropy is immensely important, and employee-giving programs are just one of the many ways that companies express their cultures of corporate social responsibility. There are many different ways for a company to craft its employee-giving program, but there are some amazing programs out there that companies can learn from...

Poison Carrot: Why Monetary Incentives Don’t Work
January 6, 2016 at 10:41 am

When I started my company 27 years ago, I had the idea that giving someone a gift would make that person do what I asked. If I dangled that carrot, the horse would go for it. Now I know that idea, when applied to humans, is just as insulting and wrong-minded as it sounds...

How to Be Your Nonprofit's No. 1 Fundraiser in 2016
January 6, 2016 at 9:31 am

The new year is upon us, and many of us have made a list of resolutions in an attempt to better ourselves in 2016. Some of these resolutions are personal, some are professional. Unfortunately, most of us are going to fail in our resolution attempts. An impressive 45 percent of Americans typically make a New…

5 Things We Learned in 2015 About the Future of Philanthropy
January 4, 2016 at 10:20 am

Philanthropy isn’t what it was 50 years ago. In fact, the sector isn’t even what it was last year. From the emergence of Silicon Valley philanthropy, to the growing influence of Millennials as social entrepreneurs, to new adventures in virtual reality—2015 took philanthropy on a ride that captured headlines and our imaginations. But this new…