Nature Conservancy

A set of philanthropies created by Margaret A. Cargill, an heir to the Cargill Corporation who died in 2006, could soon become, collectively, the third-wealthiest grant maker in the United States.

The infusion of money—which could total roughly $9-billion—would come as part of a deal that is expected to enable the philanthropies to convert illiquid shares in the private Cargill Corporation, left to them by Ms. Cargill, into shares in Mosaic, a public company owned largely by Cargill, an international agricultural, food, and financial company.

As charities gear up for the third holiday fund-raising season in a down economy, nonprofits are searching for ways to unlock the Grinch-like spirit gripping many donors. But finding new approaches that produce strong results remains elusive for many groups.

An organizations seeking a new way to solicit is the Nature Conservancy — starting its online year-end campaign 15 days earlier this year. But the organization is avoiding asking for money right away, instead spotlighting what scientists say about environmental issues and other topics.

Corporate philanthropy is changing.

Companies may allow their employees to volunteer while on the clock or reward customers for their volunteerism. Many give goods rather than cash and focus more on areas in which they have expertise. And, in what is perhaps the most profound shift, some companies are thinking more long term and aligning their philanthropy with their core business strategies looking for ways to do good at the same time they improve their bottom lines.

Causes, a for-profit company that lets Facebook Inc.'s users give money to charities, raised $9 million in new funding and began selling gift cards in supermarkets as it tries to bring more philanthropy to the Web.

Causes' Facebook application connects 119 million people to a range of charities, making it easy to donate small amounts.

The Nature Conservancy and Toyota USA Foundation are expanding the Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future: LEAF program.

April 20, 2010, Press Release — Social giving tournament website www.HumanityCalls.org  will be launching its initial event, the eBay Fundraising Tournament for the Environment, on April 22. Environment focused nonprofits are invited to sign up. Dozens of organizations, including Amazon Watch, The Nature Conservancy, Light Up Malawi, Water.org and the World Wildlife Fund, have joined.


This first HumanityCalls.org tournament has been seeded with $50,000 from eBay in support of the environment, including challenges such as climate change, conservation, recycling, renewable energy and pollution. Individuals will drive-up the tournament cash pool through their own contributions, vote on the most deserving nonprofits and help engage others through Facebook and Twitter.

Earlier this year, I participated on a panel about blogging for nonprofits at the Ad Council. The room was full of nonprofit people trying to understand what blogging is, if their organizations should be doing it and how it's done. To prepare for the talk, the Big Duck staff and I reviewed dozens of sites hoping to find out how organizations use blogging to enhance their programs, advocacy and fundraising communications. We reached out to nonprofits via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail and, oh yeah, conversation. We looked at who is blogging in organizations of all sizes, how the blogs relate to their primary Web sites, who is commenting, and who is doing something fresh or unexpected.

BOWIE, MD, Jan. 11, 2010 —CDR Fundraising Group, an industry leader in integrated fundraising and marketing for nonprofits, is pleased to announce the acquisition of MINDset direct (MINDset.)  By adding MINDset’s specialized services to its capabilities, CDR Fundraising Group has significantly expanded the middle-donor, sustainer and planned-giving marketing programs it can offer its nonprofit clients.

SEATTLE, October 21, 2009 — Amazon Payments, Inc., a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), today announced that leading nonprofit organizations are accepting Amazon Payments just in time for holiday giving, making it just as easy to donate to your favorite charity as it is to shop on Amazon. Organizations such as American Red Cross, UNICEF, Greenpeace, Nature Conservancy, Feeding America, Heifer International, Autism Society of America, International Federation for Animal Welfare, Children’s Miracle Network and United Way of King County now allow Amazon customers to make donations quickly and securely using information from their Amazon.com account. Customers can visit www.amazon.com/holidaygiving from now through January 10, 2009 to learn more about “Holiday Giving with Amazon Payments.”

The economic crisis has put nonprofit organizations in a double bind. On the one hand, social-service organizations like food banks, rescue missions and health clinics have seen demand for their services skyrocket as the unemployment rate rises and Americans see their savings, home values and retirement accounts plummet. Yet while the demand for nonprofit services is rising, in a severe economic downturn it's harder than ever to raise dollars to pay for those services.