Executive Issues

Nonprofits: Need Up, Giving Down
October 27, 2009

October 27, 2009, The Wichita Eagle The demand for nonprofit services is up. Donations are down. But even so, four in five Wichitaarea nonprofit groups reported in a recent survey that they are optimistic about their agencies’ prospects as the year winds down. “It says a lot about the dedication of people who work in these agencies,” said Patrick J. Hanrahan, president of United Way of the Plains, which released the survey results Monday.

Charitable Giving for U.S. Health Care Rises a Tepid $241 Million in 2008, While Canadian Charitable Giving Plunges 13 Percent, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Reports
October 26, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 26, 2009 — Confirming the full impact of the global recession, philanthropic giving for health care in the United States grew a tepid 2.9 percent -- or about $241 million – to $8.6 billion in 2008, while similar donations in Canada fell by a dramatic 12.9 percent, to total $1.07 billion, according to a new Report on Giving issued today by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP).

UCLA Report Finds Volunteerism Up, Revenues Down at Los Angeles Nonprofits
October 26, 2009

October 23, 2009 — Nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles are facing difficult fiscal challenges in the economic downturn, but many have fared better than expected in preserving staffing, programs and expenditures and have seen an increase in volunteers, according to a new report by the Center for Civil Society at the UCLA School of Public Affairs.

Recession Has Varying Effects on Charities Across Europe
October 26, 2009

October 23, 2009, The Chronicle of Philanthropy — The recession has had a widely varying effect on charities in Europe, said speakers at this week’s International Fundraising Congress in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands.

Is the Charitable Giving Cup Half Empty or Half Full?
October 23, 2009

October 22, 2009, The Jerusalem Post — For those of us working with Jewish and Israel-based nonprofits these days, we sometimes lose perspective. We are often tempted to convey provocative or inadvertently misleading approaches, prompted lately because of the shifts we are confronting as a result of the global economy; this impacts charitable giving and organizations dependent on philanthropic support.

All Together Now: Giving Circles Increase Impact
October 19, 2009

October 18, 2009, JewishPhilanthropy.com — The past year’s financial crisis calls for a reevaluation of how we fund our organizations. In the face of a reality where reputable Jewish foundations and endowments have lost hundreds of millions of dollars, we have been reintroduced to the notion that the collective power of individuals has the potential to sustain our community’s needs.

Harness the Power of 'P'
October 1, 2009

According to a recent Philanthropic Giving Index report released by The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, nonprofit organizations call the overall climate for fundraising the worst it's been since 1998. The London-based Resource Alliance and The Management Centre asked 100 leading fundraisers from around the world to provide tactics for charities to survive and thrive in the current economic climate. They commented that boards and management need to have realistic fundraising expectations; accept reduced short-term gains for long-term strength; and focus on regular giving, major gifts and bequest/legacy programs while dropping marginal activities. Most importantly, the fundraisers said to remind donors they are wanted, needed and appreciated.

Recession Delivers a Double Blow to Many Charities
September 30, 2009

NEW YORK, September 29, 2009 — For many social-service charities across America, the recession has delivered a staggering one-two punch. Sharp drops in donations and investment income have been coupled by soaring demand for their services.

The Road Ahead for New York City Nonprofits
September 29, 2009

September 28, 2009, Huffington Post — I've dedicated more than half of my professional life to public service in New York City. In that time I've served four different mayors, led the City's initial response to the onslaught of HIV/AIDS, battled rising homelessness in our shelters and assisted victims of 9/11 in the immediate aftermath of that national tragedy.