A State College Begins to Transform Its Curriculum

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.

Older Workers Bring New Purpose to Volunteer Work

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.

Baylor U. to Receive $200-Million Bequest for the Study of Aging

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.

UN asks fliers to click $2 for MassiveGood health charity

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.

Getting more back from giving

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 and Other Big Changes Will Force Hospital Fund Raisers to Take New Approaches

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.

Gates Foundation survey: How 40,000 teachers would fix America's schools

Public-school teachers are more interested in principals who support them than in higher pay and in digital media over textbooks, according to a national survey of about 40,000 instructors co-sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation, which has made education improvements a cornerstone of its agenda, teamed up with textbook publisher Scholastic for the phone and online poll conducted last spring.

Full text article by Linda Shaw is available via The Seattle Times, 3/2/10.