News/Stats/Studies

This week, the Washington Post launched “On Giving,” a new section devoted to coverage of corporate giving and social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, charitable actions and personal finance. The section features original Washington Post reporting and guest contributions from philanthropists, global development leaders, social entrepreneurs, academics and researchers.  

Starting at midnight on Nov. 9, nonprofits around Washington, D.C. started raising money as part of Give to the Max Day — a one-day online fundraiser created by Razoo and supported by supported by several major partners, including Care2.

At the end of 24 hours, $1,886,584 had been donated to 1,285 different nonprofits. Top nonprofits were also eligible for prize money donated by various partners and that brought the total raised to $2,034,584. Over 17,000 donors participated in the day’s fundraising challenge.

More than 12 million Americans from 44 to 70 years old would like to start nonprofits or businesses that solve social problems, according to a new study by Civic Ventures, a think tank in San Francisco. The report, which was supported by the MetLife Foundation and compiled by Penn Schoen Berland, a marketing-research firm, also found that more than half of those 12 million Americans say it is very likely they will start such an organization within the next five to 10 years.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced that it made a donation of $25,000 to USANA Health Sciences’ “Ace Out Hunger” program, a charity that raises money for some of the world’s neediest children. All of the funds raised for “Ace Out Hunger” will go to Children’s Hunger Fund, a global nonprofit organization fighting hunger in impoverished regions around the world.

Tides has launched a new Tides Fellows program focused on research-based approaches to increasing innovation and capacity in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. The inaugural cohort of Tides Fellows includes three distinguished sector leaders, who will each pursue a unique set of projects to support a broad progressive agenda.

• Anthony Jewett, co-founder of the National Center for Global Engagement
• Gara LaMarche, former president and chief executive officer of The Atlantic Philanthropies
• Sonal Shah, former deputy assistant to the president and director of the first White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

World Food Program USA has put into place a new leadership team to help expand upon the organization’s mission to build support in the U.S. to end global hunger.

The endowments of 284 U.S. colleges and universities returned an average of 19.8 percent (net of fees) in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011, a new report from the Commonfund Institute finds.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the 2011 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments found that the highest-performing endowment in FY2011 returned 31.8 percent while the lowest returned 3.7 percent.

DMW Direct, a leading direct response advertising agency, today announced that effective January 1, 2012, Debbie Merlino will be appointed President of DMW Direct Fundraising — a division of the company which serves non-profit organizations nationwide in support of their fundraising and membership-building programs. Current President Tom Hurley will continue to play a key role, serving as a Senior Advisor to the business.

A tax credit that raised $100 million last year for Michigan charities — and gave taxpayers more than $40 million in write-offs on their state returns — expires at the end of the year, and charities are pushing to make sure donors take advantage of the Credit for Charitable Gifts before it disappears on Jan. 1

More than 250,000 taxpayers claimed one or more of the three Michigan charitable tax credits in 2010.

In partnership with the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the California Endowment, and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, Grammy award-winning entertainer Lady Gaga has announced the launch of the Born This Way Foundation.

To be directed by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, the charitable organization will work to address youth issues such as self-confidence, well-being, bullying, and career development utilizing digital mobilization as a method of creating positive change.