Accountability

Loophole Helps Charity Fool Donors
November 19, 2015 at 9:27 am

When you get a call asking for money in the name of a charity, Georgia law requires them to tell you whether they're getting paid with some of your donation. But there's a loophole to that law, one the FOX 5 I-Team discovered a local police charity knows all too well. The DeKalb Fraternal Order…

Nonprofit Blue Shield Accused of Backing Out of $140M Charity Pledge
November 18, 2015 at 9:51 am

California regulators and consumer groups say insurance giant Blue Shield of California is reneging on a $140 million charitable pledge it made to win approval for a big acquisition. State officials said last month that the San Francisco insurer had agreed to give $14 million annually for 10 years to Blue Shield’s foundation or another…

Mark Zuckerberg on Philanthropy: Move Slow, Build Things
November 18, 2015 at 9:47 am

After making their fortunes from new software or social networks, some Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have vowed to apply their skills to "hacking" philanthropy and "disrupting" old models for funding charity. Not so for Facebook CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, who isn't afraid to take a more conventional approach to giving. Local officials will gather in…

Philanthropies Rise as Source of Revenue for Pressed U.S. Cities
November 18, 2015 at 9:32 am

Flint, Mich., faces a $12 million cost to replace its lead-contaminated water system, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation will pay a third of the price. “When we saw blood levels in children exceeded safety standards, we just said we have to come to the table,” said Ridgway White, president of the foundation, which has…

How to Be a Small-Shop Nonprofit Development Director
November 17, 2015 at 9:43 am

For the most part, nonprofit organizations have been hit hard by our nation’s economic woes. They’re facing challenges in terms of donations, staffing, government and foundation funding, and organizational structure. How can you quickly make a difference while at the same time setting those important standards for your organization’s future sustainability?...

The Real Meaning of Gift Giving: Dollars or Donors?
November 16, 2015 at 10:10 am

In a perfect world, a gift is an expression of a deeper relationship. It is a tangible way of telling the other person you value them, you care about them, you love them and that they really do matter in the larger scheme of things. But in many relationships, gifts have become an obligatory transaction devoid of any real meaning. And that is why I worry about it...

Volunteer Leadership Means Big Money
November 13, 2015 at 8:36 am

Relay for Life sprang from nothing in 1985 to more than $400 million per year at its height. In spite of that gargantuan success, no other nonprofit has been able to put the volunteer-driven model to work in the same way. Why is that? Why have no other organizations been able to get volunteers to handle events in the same way or fundraise at the same levels?...

Feds: Dallas Nonprofit Spent $2M Investment on Aston Martin, Super Bowl Bash
November 11, 2015 at 9:04 am

Ellis Wamsley IV told a North Texas company that its $2 million investment would be used for economic development projects throughout the U.S. Wamsley’s nonprofit FAIM Economic Development Corp. in Dallas had promised on its website to “economically emancipate, educate and empower the community” with financial literacy education. Instead, Wamsley and his chief operating officer,…

University of Missouri President Steps Down Amid Race Controversy
November 10, 2015 at 6:00 am

Several University of Missouri organizations, including the football team and the student association, saw their demand met Monday when university system president Tim Wolfe announced he was stepping down amid a controversy over race relations at the school's main campus. Saying he takes "full responsibility for the inaction that has occurred," he asked that the…

Preparing Others for a Nonprofit Profession
November 6, 2015 at 9:31 am

When I took my first assignment in the nonprofit field at a university, I knew nothing about the profession. I was blessed to have the No. 2 in the organization spend time teaching me the ropes. As you prepare to help others in their nonprofit professions, they will seek ways to gain knowledge and experience that will prepare them for career advancements. Here are some ways that I found helped me...