At last week’s Bridge conference, I was struck (again) by the many choices facing today’s fundraiser. Having a robust direct mail program and major gifts program, with a little planned giving and maybe an event tossed in, is no longer enough. Now, we need a website that is informative and optimized for mobile, and that has a user-friendly donation page. We have to frequently update our Facebook page and post a steady flow of videos on YouTube...
An anonymous person has donated millions of dollars to the Oakland Unified School District and dozens of nonprofit organizations to help children and low-income entrepreneurs. The people receiving a $34 million gift would like to say thanks, but it remains a mystery who the donor is. Regina Jackson from the East Oakland Youth and Development…
The job of the program person in a nonprofit is, in my opinion, one of the most critical functions in the organization. It is also one of the most thankless jobs a professional can have. I think program people are often the most misunderstood people in a nonprofit. It is no easy job to craft a solution to a need either right in your hometown or thousands of miles away. Yet, often, major gift officers think these folks can just turn on a dime and churn out a meaningful offer for a donor...
Warren Buffett on Monday donated about $2.84 billion of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. stock to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and four family charities, as part of the billionaire's plan to give away nearly all of his wealth. The 10th annual donation, Buffett's largest, comprised 20.64 million Class "B" shares of Berkshire, and increased Buffett's…
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, doesn’t trust artificial intelligence, which he once likened to “summoning the demon.” In fact, Musk distrusts it so much that, in January, he donated $10 million to the Future of Life Institute (FLI) to fund a program with the goal of making sure AI doesn’t completely overrun our…
Have I made mistakes in my past and present? You bet, but I have always cared deeply about each institution and the people I served during my tenure on staff. I constantly try to learn from others, both young and old, to perfect my craft. Nonprofit service is like golf, in the sense that you must constantly practice to become a better player. The dynamics of the nonprofit world are constantly changing and you must adapt and change to be successful...
Girl Scouts is #ForEVERYGirl. That means transgender girls, too. After a donor, who remains anonymous, asked Girl Scouts of Western Washington to ensure their $100,000 contribution would not be used to help transgender girls, the chapter of the national organization gave the money back. In one day, they've made more than double that amount through a…
Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has said he will donate his $32bn (£20bn; €29bn) personal fortune to charity. The 60-year-old nephew of King Salman is one of the world's richest people. He said he had been inspired by the Gates Foundation, set up by Bill and Melinda Gates in 1997. The money would…
The St. David’s Foundation in Austin, Texas, has announced grants totaling more than $26.8 million to local nonprofit organizations working to provide health care-related services to residents of central Texas. The grants include more than $12 million to 21 organizations awarded through the foundation's Healthy People program, which supports safety net clinics that provide a…
Americans’ donations to arts and culture rose 9.2 percent in 2014, the highest increase in nine categories tracked by Giving USA, an annual report on charitable contributions. Overall, however, arts and culture commanded a modest share of the philanthropic pie. Estimated gifts to arts and culture totaled $17.2 billion, according to the report compiled by…
