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Donors

Something to Talk About

Dr. Brian C. Mitchell | Posted 05.06.2013 | College
Dr. Brian C. Mitchell

College and university officials must learn better how to communicate to audiences that are different from and react differently to the message that they deliver. Communication is the vehicle through which the case is made, relevancy is determined, and a future is assured.

What's the Future of Foreign Aid?

Marcelo Giugale | Posted 04.08.2013 | World
Marcelo Giugale

The real change in -- and the future of -- development assistance is not coming from its traditional donors but from its recipients.

Social Entrepreneurship Changes Donor & Development Cultures

Mehrunisa Qayyum | Posted 04.03.2013 | Impact
Mehrunisa Qayyum

Donor countries, like the U.S., the UK and Canada have noticed the social entrepreneurship potential. Each are revamping their donor agencies to partner with institutions that focus on working with social entrepreneurs.

10 Things New Grantmakers Should Know & Do

Tom Vander Ark | Posted 05.18.2013 | Impact
Tom Vander Ark

I recently met with a family foundation. I shared ten bits of advice for new grantmakers.

Firefighter Meets Bone Marrow Recipient He Saved Twice

The Huffington Post | Ron Dicker | Posted 02.28.2013 | Impact

New York firefighter Doug Chiz might have made his greatest rescue without extinguishing a blaze. On Wednesday, he met the woman he saved -- twice -- ...

Taking Endowment Earnings: How Much Is Too Much?

Michael Kaiser | Posted 04.06.2013 | Arts
Michael Kaiser

While reading the financial reports of numerous arts organizations recently, I have been alarmed at how many of them are taking large percentages of their endowment as income each year.

Strengthening the Middle Class in Emerging Democracies

Fron Nahzi | Posted 04.02.2013 | Impact
Fron Nahzi

The international aid community responds to familiar challenges, as they have for the past 20 years, with the same programs combining trainings and grants. One reason these programs have not yielded the intended results is that they have overlooked the importance of education.

Is Your Nonprofit Making an Impact? Prove It!: Part 1, Why Social Entrepreneurs Must Take Research Seriously, and How to Do So

Steve Mariotti | Posted 03.10.2013 | Impact
Steve Mariotti

If you're running a social enterprise and you want to raise money to fund it, you will need to design a data-collection and research strategy to show donors and peers that you're actually achieving your goals. I learned this lesson the hard way.

Jason Linkins

Sheldon Adelson Is A Low Information Billionaire, Apparently

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 12.05.2012 | Politics

Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson's involvement in electoral politics has never made a whole lot of sense -- after all, before he was bankrolling Mitt Romn...

Artists and Staff Are Family Too

Michael Kaiser | Posted 12.09.2012 | Arts
Michael Kaiser

Unhappy employees almost always lead to an unhappy family.

Romney Dooms His Candidacy by Doing the Full Murray

William K. Black | Posted 11.18.2012 | Politics
William K. Black

Charles Murray's newest book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, proves two classic truths. First, it is impossible to compete with self-parody. Second, be careful what you ask for; for you may receive it. Charles Murray asked right-wing plutocrats to drop what he derided as "political correctness" and denounce Americans who received governmental support as immoral failures. Murray is a vigorous supporter and flatterer of Mitt Romney, claiming that the fact that he became wealthy at Bain should make him a "slam dunk" for the presidency. Murray's reasoning is so crude that he announces a new doctrine -- the divine right of CEOs to govern America. But be careful what you wish for, Romney and Paul Ryan answered Murray's call of right wing plutocrats to arms.

Donor Fatigue

Michael Kaiser | Posted 11.10.2012 | Arts
Michael Kaiser

Some believe that donor fatigue is an inevitable consequence of long-term involvement with an arts organization, or other not-for-profit venture, and that these organizations must be prepared to replace their major donors regularly. I do not agree. I do not believe donor fatigue is inevitable.

The Lack of Stability of Historical Black Colleges and Universities

Robert Hoggard | Posted 11.04.2012 | Black Voices
Robert Hoggard

If HBCU's had more revenue from donors and the government, there would be more jobs because graduates of these schools are taught to be a part of economic empowerment.

My Very Secret Pleasure

Michael Kaiser | Posted 11.04.2012 | Arts
Michael Kaiser

The goal of a strong fundraising effort is to determine what a specific donor wants during the cultivation process so that it can be offered when that donor is solicited.

The Real Convention Is at Cracker Bay

Cenk Uygur | Posted 10.30.2012 | Politics
Cenk Uygur

2012-08-28-scblog2.pngOne of the reasons this Republican convention has been so deathly dull is that the real action isn't at the convention. It's at Cracker Bay. That's the name of the yacht where the Romney team just hosted top donors.

PHOTOS: Girl Mauled By Pet Raccoon Gets First Donor-Supported Surgery

Posted 10.23.2012 | Impact

After Charlotte Ponce was mauled by her family's pet raccoon 10 years ago, the brave girl is finally receiving the treatment that she deserves. The...

Obama Jilted In 'Virtually Unheard Of' Switch

Bloomberg | Posted 08.08.2012 | Politics

Goldman Sachs Group (GS) employees have changed to red from blue. Four years ago, employees of New York-based Goldman gave three-fourths of their c...

Romney's 'Culture' War Comes to Mideast

Daoud Kuttab | Posted 10.02.2012 | Politics
Daoud Kuttab

Romney, who did not mention the word Palestinians in his speech or visit the occupied territories during his trip, did not recognize what any 10th grader of international politics knows: that the occupation is preventing Palestinians from attaining their full potential, cultural or otherwise.

Unrealistic Expectations

Michael Kaiser | Posted 07.30.2012 | Arts
Michael Kaiser

If board members are not helping to raise money from their friends and associates, they are not performing one of the central responsibilities of board membership. But for many arts organizations, there is a relatively quick fix to this problem.

Senate Race Pits Former Rivals Against One Another

the Huffington Post | Nate Willis | Posted 07.09.2012 | Politics

There is more to the Indiana Senate race between Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and State Treasurer Richard Mourdock than meets the eye. The contest wi...

A Call for Video Grant Applications

Fron Nahzi | Posted 09.08.2012 | Technology
Fron Nahzi

Today's technology allows more people more opportunities to propose solutions to the world's problems. When both the donor and the applicants free themselves from the offline approach to developing and implementing ideas, it will better our society.

Implementation or the Lack Thereof

Michael Kaiser | Posted 07.21.2012 | Home
Michael Kaiser

I know asking for money can be uncomfortable; I know looking for board members or planning an institutional marketing effort can be time-consuming and challenging. But unless one acts on a board development, marketing or fundraising plan, the effort to develop it is wasted.

Elect Your Local Arts Manager!

Michael Kaiser | Posted 06.30.2012 | Arts
Michael Kaiser

It has struck me recently that people who ascend to high government positions -- as mayors, governors or even presidents -- could do worse than to learn from arts leaders and other not-for-profit executives about creating loyal families of supporters.

Dan Froomkin

RUNNING SCARED? IRS Could Make Political Groups Pay Dearly for Keeping Donors Secret -- And Out Them

HuffingtonPost.com | Dan Froomkin | Posted 03.09.2012 | Politics

WASHINGTON -- For years, the IRS has done little or nothing to check the rise of overtly political groups that claim a special tax-exempt status in or...

Board Members Need Training, Too

Michael Kaiser | Posted 01.07.2012 | Arts
Michael Kaiser

Those arts patrons, corporations and foundations that care passionately about the future of the arts in America must encourage members of arts boards to seek the training they need and must invest in the training programs required.