As fundraising guru at the University of Michigan, Groves ran the most successful capital campaign in a public university's history, raking in $3.1 billion. In fall 2008, MSU swooped in and hired Groves, hoping he could work the same magic in East Lansing. And though he now wears a Spartan-green tie and carries an "I (heart) MSU" coffee mug, Groves is blunt about the challenges MSU faces.

Full text article by Ron French is available via The Detroit News, 3/2/10.

An organization in India that provides eye care for the poor has been awarded a $1.5-million prize for humanitarian aid. Aravind Eye Care System, which performs 300,000 free or subsidized eye surgeries a year, is the winner of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, which has been awarded annually since 1996 by the late hotel magnate's foundation. The honor, which was announced on March 5, will be presented April 20 in Redwood City, Calif.

Full text article by Ros Krasny is available via Reuters, 3/5/10.

When Stephen R. Portch became chancellor of the University System of Georgia in 1994 he traveled the state, hearing the same pitch, again and again: Georgia needed a public liberal-arts college. In 1996 the regents designated Georgia College & State University, a regional institution in Milledgeville, the state's antebellum capital and home of the writer Flannery O'Connor, as Georgia's public liberal-arts college. Actually transforming it into one has been a slower process.

Full text article by Karin Fischer is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/28/10.

As the recession drives an increase in community service, baby boomers with ideas about how they want to help nonprofit and community organizations are remaking the face of volunteerism. Volunteerism among people older than 45 jumped 4.2 percent during in the 12 months that ended last September, compared with 0.7 percent for younger people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Full text article by the Associated Press is available via The New York Times, 3/4/10.

Today's development programs utilize many vehicles to reach donor and prospective donors. Fundraisers must coordinate the case for giving while recognizing the uniqueness of each channel and how it communicates your story.

A graduate of Baylor University has pledged to leave a bequest with an estimated value of $200-million to the university for the study of aging, Baylor announced on Thursday. When received, it would be the university's largest donation. The gift will finance research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work, and other university programs. The university, in Waco, Tex., said the interdisciplinary nature of the gift would contribute to a holistic study of aging, including the physical, psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the aging population.

Full text article by Kathryn Masterson is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/4/10.

Former President Bill Clinton joined United Nations officials Thursday to formally open an online effort to enlist American air travelers in an effort to fight diseases in the developing world. Through the MassiveGood program, travelers can donate $2 or more when buying flight tickets online. Several major ticket distributors and sellers such as Travelocity will offer the giving option, but it will not be available directly from an airline's Web site.

Full text article by John Heilprin is available via The USA Today, 3/4/10.

2010 Big 12 Development Conference
Unleash Your Power
March 9-11, 2010
Kansas Ciry, MO

Join consultant Joshua M. Birkholz at the 2010 Big 12 Development Conference and stop by the Bentz Whaley Flessner booth, #4.

On Wednesday, March 10, Joshua M. Birkholz will present Data-Driven Fundraising. Universities that lead in fundraising throughout the country have built their success through systematic fundraising approaches. By committing to organizational wide data integrity and implementing analytics, prospect management, and goal-oriented metrics, these nonprofits have maximized the potential of their staff to achieve fundraising success and better serve their constituents. In this session, Josh will will introduce these principles and explain how being "data-driven" can make a real difference.

A new study of Los Angeles County nonprofit groups concludes that spending on advocacy and local organizing can yield significant returns for the people and neighborhoods the organizations aim to serve. Every dollar spent by advocacy groups in the study produced $91 in benefits to local residents, according to the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, in Washington.

Full text article by Alexandra Zavis is available via The Los Angeles Times, 3/2/10.

Globalization, the rising importance of small businesses, and the growing need for new revenue are some of the trends that will force fund raisers at nonprofit hospitals and health-care organizations to change their approaches,

Full text article by Holly Hall is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 3/1/10.