Time Inc.

By the end of 2008, some 60 percent of small-business owners like Mr. Gumas reported that the economic downturn had affected their charitable giving, according to a study whose sponsors included The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a newspaper that covers nonprofit organizations. Tough times have compelled small-business owners like Mr. Gumas to rethink long-held business practices. But many are finding creative ways to continue their support for good causes — a practice that can have positive side effects. Here are some suggestions based on the experiences of small-business owners.

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) announced that in connection with the Sept. 10, 2010, simultaneous commercial-free telecast, more than $80 million has been pledged so far to accelerate groundbreaking research and bring new treatments to patients as quickly as possible. The telecast is available online at www.su2c.org/2010show. Donations can continue to be made online at www.su2c.org and at 1-888-90-STAND (78263).

Saying goodbye after a long fund-raising career has rarely been easy.

These days, however, a growing number of fund raisers don’t face that challenge, even when they reach retirement age.

Instead, many older fund raisers are taking part-time jobs or volunteering, often at the institution where they held senior positions. And others are continuing to work full-time in new roles that demand less travel and stress.

Some of the best online fundraising campaigns have a strong offline component. Often when people "go digital," they believe they need to direct all of their efforts to the online world. We find this is not always the best way to maximize fundraising revenues.

April 21, 2010, Press Release — To help prepare their communities for, and respond to, natural and other disasters when and where they strike, the American Red Cross and Cisco today announced the creation of the largest corporate volunteer program in the history of the Red Cross. In an initiative called "Cisco's Ready," modeled after the Red Cross' "Ready When the Time Comes" training program for corporate personnel, Cisco employees around the world are undertaking emergency response training provided by the Red Cross. The announcement was made during 2010 National Volunteer Week.

Cisco employees will train for emergency response with more than 20 Red Cross chapters in the US and affiliates throughout the world. Volunteers will learn about applying essential principles to disaster response; providing mass care related to first aid, shelter, food and supply distribution; and about identifying volunteer opportunities. Trainees will qualify for Red Cross "Fulfilling Our Mission" and "Mass Care" certifications.

Simply put, charities need to change the way they think. In the past, it always has been cause first. After all, the cause is what the charity is there for, isn’t it? But that kind of one-way-street thinking now leads to a dead end.

We love this blog post, 3 Words for 2010, by fundraising consultant Sandy Rees on her Get Fully Funded blog —  and the comment that follows it.

We're calling a new rector for my church. This entails creating a detailed profile of our institution, assessing our ministries, analyzing our finances, and praying and reflecting on our next "calling." It also entails letting some ministries go.

November 17, 2009, The Wall Street Journal — It's crunch time for a tax break that lets people tap their IRAs and give the proceeds to a charity without the Internal Revenue Service claiming part of the money.

Atlanta, Ga., November 6, 2009 — Just in time for end-of-year budgeting, nonprofit employers can find salary and benefits information to make solid HR decisions for their organizations with the Opportunity Knocks 2010 Nonprofit Wage and Benefits Report. In a market where every penny has to be spent carefully and bring maximum value, nonprofits can’t afford not to know whether what they’re offering is both competitive and buys the most their money can.