NonProfit Pro

Vermont lawmakers looking to raise $35 million in new revenue to help close a budget gap are proposing to raise part of that money by putting a new cap on the itemized deductions taken by some income tax filers. But many of Vermont’s charitable and nonprofit groups are hoping the deduction cap passed by the House this past week can be reversed in the Senate.

Sixty-three percent of charities exceeded their fundraising goals last year, an annual survey has found. The percentage of organizations exceeding their fundraising goals in 2014 was the highest since 2007, when donations surpassed the goals of 65 percent of charities. The annual study was commissioned by the Nonprofit Research Collaborative, a group of seven organizations that conduct research on nonprofits, advise charities on fundraising or provide fundraising credentials. It was based on survey responses in January and February from nearly 13,500 charitable organizations in Canada and the United States.

Urologists noticed a bump in vasectomies at the start of March Madness, and they took action. Vas Madness was born. Urologists got a bit of data — wow, we do a lot of vasectomies during March Madness — and took advantage of the landscape represented by that data. Nonprofit income departments can do that too, if we don't get in our own way.

I know several fundraising directors who know for sure retention got worse after they introduced their loyalty programs. But they continue to run them. It would be funny if it wasn't tragic.

Recent tweets on social media for nonprofits (#SM4NP).

Statistically, more than one-third of all charitable dollars given annually in the United States is directed to religion, and research indicates that faith practitioners are the country's most generous donors.

A longtime sticking point for Washington, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) sent a letter late Wednesday to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying that the committee is reviewing the tax-exempt status enjoyed by the NFL and 10 other sports leagues and associations. Some of the other leagues that also received a letter include the NHL, various golf and tennis associations, and, yes, even the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Tim Cook is planning to give away all of his near $800 million fortune before he dies, the Apple boss said in a surprisingly frank interview. Cook, 54, who took over as Apple chief executive from Steve Jobs in 2011, told Fortune magazine that he planned to donate all of his wealth to charity after providing for his 10-year-old nephew’s education.

The Council on Foundations has scrapped plans for a philanthropy challenge in which nonprofits would vie for $40,000 in grant money by answering "rapid-fire" questions about their programs. It had planned to hold the event at its annual meeting in San Francisco next month. The contest drew criticism from a number of nonprofit leaders who felt the format demeaned the charities. Participants would have responded to questions from several judges and received coaching from foundation experts on how to pitch their ideas. The winner was to be determined by an audience vote.

Here are four fundraising questions I can't answer that have been haunting me lately.