Central Park Conservancy

Regardless of whether or not their objectives are sound from a policy perspective, and regardless of their political motivations, politicians’ influence will be felt. The challenge for nonprofit leaders is to be ready to step up and engage them effectively, protecting not only their organizations’ interests, but the interests of their clients, communities and the general public as well.

Blackbaud announced the winners of its annual Nonprofit Impact Awards. The awards honor organizations that use technology to make a positive impact on their missions, constituents and society. Seven organizations were recognized as part of this year's awards: Heifer International, the Tenement Museum, Central Park Conservancy, ANERA, St. Joseph's Indian School, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Human Rights Campaign.

Recently, the New York chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals hosted a terrific event focusing on the younger donor pipeline. Each of the three panelists bared all of the details of their young patrons' programs — from strategies, budgets (very low!) and staffing to the databases and e-mail systems they use. Here are a few takeaways: Younger donor programs are a long-range strategy. While each of the three organizations featured have specific income and membership targets for their young donor programs, they are a fraction of the organization’s overall operating budget.

Megaphilanthropy last year remained below levels seen before 2007’s economic shock, according to a new Chronicle of Philanthropy study. The top 50 donors on The Chronicle's list committed a total of $7.4 billion to charity in 2012. The median gift was $49.6 million, down significantly from 2007’s high of $74.7 million. Most of the money went to big, elite institutions. Seventy-two percent of the dollars pledged supported higher education, arts and culture, hospitals, and private foundations.

America’s billionaires gave less in 2012 than in 2011, a new Chronicle of Philanthropy tally shows. The largest gifts announced by American philanthropists in 2012 totaled nearly $5.1 billion, but $3 billion of that was from Warren Buffett’s promise in August to give stock valued at $1 billion to each of three foundations run by his children.

Without Buffett’s pledges, the biggest gifts announced in 2012 would have totaled only $2 billion — far less than 2011’s $2.6 billion.

John A. Paulson and the Paulson Family Foundation announced a gift of $100 million to the Central Park Conservancy to sustain the fundamental role of Central Park as one of New York City’s leading cultural institutions. The donation is the largest gift ever made to the Central Park Conservancy. It is also the largest gift to any public park and one of the largest ever made to a New York City cultural institution.

"Overall, we saw some very strong but very traditional campaigns — very few major risks or outside-the-box approaches," judge Dane Grams said. "Was this a wise choice? It seems like it was, as most of the results we reviewed were incredibly strong."

Announcing the 2012 Multichannel Campaigns of the Year: People for the American Way and Christian Appalachian Projects, along with Northeast Animal Shelter and Central Park Conservancy.

Announcing the full list of the 2012 FundRaising Success Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence winners.

The online component of the second annual Bid to Save the Earth auction was launched Thursday and runs through April 7. A live companion sale is scheduled for March 29 at Christie's auction house.

The event will benefit the Central Park Conservancy, Conservation International, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Oceana. It raised $2.4 million for the four organizations last year.