Accountability

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...

The Optimism Bias and 10,000 Boxes of Napkins
November 6, 2015 at 8:59 am

Loss aversion can cause you to make bad decisions in order to preserve the status quo, which you perceive as a more positive condition than the unknown. But biases compete. The optimism bias can help you by crowding out loss aversion, helping you make necessary changes. But optimism bias can hurt you, too, by leading you to make high-risk decisions...

In Pro Sports, Fans Become Part of the Action Through Charity
November 4, 2015 at 10:08 am

When Jeff Vinik bought the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010, he wanted to connect with his new community. Born in New Jersey, he had lived most of his adult life in Massachusetts, not Florida, and as an owner, Vinik said he believed that helping the local community was not just the right thing to do,…

Hillary Clinton Demands Probe of Exxon After Oil Giant Stops Funding Clinton Foundation
November 3, 2015 at 10:26 am

Hillary Clinton now is supporting a federal investigation of Exxon Mobil Corp. following the latest disclosures that the giant oil company worked to hide the effects of climate change. Her call for an investigation comes only months after the company decided to stop sponsoring her family’s foundation. The Clinton Foundation has accepted at least $1…