Megachurches Add Local Economy to Their Mission

Megachurches are starting business ventures and while encouraging local economics many question the role of secular development within the community and the tax issues associated with such entrepreneurial activities.

The New York Times analyzed the public records of 1,300 churches to learn more about business practices.

Full-text article by Diana B. Henriques and Andrew W. Lehren is available via The New York Times, 11.23.07.

Religious Institutions Try New Fund-Raising Approach to Combat Resistance to Tithing

As churches find new ways to encourage their members to donate a percentage of their income, congregations are becoming increasingly resistant to the idea of tithing, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Church leaders say tithing isn't just a theological issue, but a financial one. Americans gave an estimated $97 billion to congregations in 2006, almost a third of the country's $295 billion in charitable donations, according to Giving USA Foundation. However, giving to religion is growing more slowly than other types of giving.

Full-text article by Suzanne Sataline is available via The Wall Street Journal, 11.23.07.

Donor Relations at Akron Children's Hospital

Akron Children's Hospital once a year invites local leaders to accompany doctors on their rounds, an experience that turns many of the visitors into loyal supporters.

Full-text article by Caroline Preston available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy. [subscription required]

The Christian Science Monitor's Annual Philanthropy Guide

The Christian Science Monitor has published its annual philanthropy guide in its print and online editions. Features include:

The 50 Largest U.S. Charities
Needy get a smaller slice of charity by Jane Lampman
Where are all the charitable bequests? by G. Jeffrey MacDonald
Charities get a generous return from "freemiums" by Caitlin Carpenter

Agents of Social Change

Changents, a philanthropic networking site for people in their 20s and 30s, is highlighting the new innovative ways that Generation X and Y are working to promote social change.

Deron Triff and Alex Hofmann, co-founders of the site, say that Changents, based in Alexandria, Va., and Boston, offers a place where innovators can post stories and videos to generate buzz about their projects, pick up new ideas, or even find potential donors. Readers can comment on the stories, contact the innovators, or send copies of the stories to friends or peers.

Full-text article by Sharon McLoone available via The Washington Post, 11.20.07.

Heads are turning to Facebook

Facebook has become such an integral part of some people's lives that it's replacing e-mail. It also plans to let companies target their advertisements on the site based on what its users and their friends buy and do on the Internet. If users greet marketers with open arms, Facebook could generate "the most valuable data in the history of the media world," Pali Capital analyst Rich Greenfield said.


Full-text article by Jessica Guynn is available via The LaTimes.com, 11.18.07.

Where are all the charitable bequests?

Charitable bequests are becoming rare with only eight percent of Americans naming a charity in their will. The article comments on donor motivations and tax issues as they relate to charitable bequests.

Full-text article by G. Jeffrey MacDonald is available via The Christian Science Monitor, 11.19.07.

Top 10 U.S. Social-Network and Blog Site Rankings

MySpace is the top social networking site and Blogger is the number one blog site.

Full-text article via MediaBuyerPlanner.com, 11.15.07.

London Children’s Hospital Puts Historic Records Online

London’s Great Ormond Street children’s hospital has launched a Web site, Small and Special, containing more than 50 years’ worth of patient records. The new site covers over 84,000 child patients who were treated between 1852 and 1914.

From the front page you can search by first name, surname, and approximate year of birth.

The results are in a table that shows date of admission, sex, name, diseases, and registration district. There are no hyperlinks on the table but you can choose a name and click on it for more details. Additional information includes admitting doctor, ward, and length of stay. If you register on the site (registration is free) you’ll get even more information including case notes, residence of the patient, and outcome of the disease. (Not all data is available for all records.)

With Health Costs Rising, a Tougher Sell for Hospitals

While America’s private and public medical institutions continue to have success raising money — $8 billion last year alone — fund-raisers and others say that the rising cost of health care is an issue they must address sometimes with potential donors.

Full-text article by Reed Abelson is available via The New York Times, 11.12.07.

My Network, My Cause

The research firm Datamonitor estimates that by the end of this year sites like Facebook and MySpace will have more than 230 million members. The growth in social networking has stimulated online giving. The Causes on Facebook Project allows Facebook users to set up Web pages to promote charitable or other activist goals. The Causes pages can also be used to solicit and keep track of donations.

In its first five months, Causes was downloaded by 6.3 million of Facebook’s 51 million users, with another 75,000 or so registering daily.

Full-text article by Alan Krauss is available via The New York Times, 11.12.07.

Charities Trying Mergers to Improve Bottom Line

Charities are experimenting with mergers as a way to cut costs, reduce duplication of services and increase their outreach.

Full-text article by Stephanie Strom available via The New York Times, 11.11.07.

MIT Senior Gift Campaign Illustrates Greater Sophistication

The senior class at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that this year its leaders hope to get a 55-percent participation rate among class members to start a fund to help students financially while they take on unpaid internships off campus. It will be named the Class of 2008 Externship Assistance Fund.

Full-text article by Jeff Guo available via MIT's TheTech.com, 11.9.07.

Netscape Co-Founder and Wife Give $27.5-Million to Stanford U. Hospital

Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Netscape Communications Corporation, and his wife, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, have announced a $27.5-million gift to Stanford University Hospital & Clinics in Palo Alto, California.

Full-text article by Sally Beatty available via The Wall Street Journal, 11.9.07.

Charity Begins at Home Sales

Philanthropic programs in the housing industry have builders and brokers tying in charitable giving and civic involvement to the sales of homes. Buyers are asked to pay fees that go to a 501c3 that are then distributed to organizations and host fundraisers.

Full-text article by June Fletcher available via The Wall Street Journal, 11.9.07.

Princeton Launches $1.5 Billion Campaign

Princeton University's $1.5 billion campaign,"Aspire: A Plan for Princeton," will focus on a set of priorities that includes strengthening the core Princeton experience, providing unrestricted funds through the Annual Giving program, and raising funds to enhance the University's capacities in the critical areas of engineering and the environment, the creative and performing arts, neuroscience, and national and global citizenship.

Full-text article by Cass Cliatt via News@Princeton, 11.12.07.

Southern Methodist University Receives $20 million

Harold and Annette Simmons, well-known Dallas philanthropists, will announce a $20 million gift to Southern Methodist University today to support the growing education and human development school.

It is one of the largest gifts in the university's history.

Full-text article by Karen Ayres Smith available via DallasNews.com, 11.9.07.

Donors Harvest Tax Benefits of Hot Stocks

More people are giving stock to charity in lieu of cash because of the rising value of securities and to reap the best tax result.

Full-text article by Tom Herman via The Wall Street Journal, 11.7.07.

Wealth Report: Mukesh Ambani Becomes World's Richest Man

India's Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, has become the world's richest man.

Read this 10.29.07 article about Mr. Ambani and view a list of the five richest people in the world on the Stock Market Views website.

Georgetown Coach Creates Family Foundation

Georgetown University basketball coach, John Thompson III and his wife, Monica, have created the John Thompson III Foundation.

The mission of the Foundation is to foster community-based charities that serve at-risk children and families. The primary focus is education and healthcare.

The Foundation partners primarily, but not exclusively, with non-profits in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region, that specialize in programs targeted to underserved children and families.

Full-text article by Anita Huslin available via The Washington Post, 11.5.07.

Oberlin College Receives $12M in Gifts

Oberlin College announced it received three $4 million gifts. The money will be used for a new home for jazz studies and for environmental programs.

Full-text article by Cindy Leise available via The Chronicle-Telegram, 11.5.07.

Marquette University Receives $15-Million Gift

Robert Kern, founder of Generac Power Systems, and his wife, Patricia, gave a $15-million gift to Marquette University for a new engineering building that the program’s dean said will help it better prepare students for that career.

Full-text press release available via Marquette University, 10.29.07.

Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society

The Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS Center)opened its doors in September 2007.

The PACS Center's purpose is to examine the role of philanthropy—and the voluntary and civil organizations that philanthropy supports—in meeting critical challenges in the United States and abroad.

Full-text article bt Jonathan Rabinovitz via the Stanford News Service, 10.31.07.

Updates on Higher Education Billion-Dollar Campaigns

There are 30 universities seeking to raise at least $1-billion. A complete list is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 11.1.07. [Subscription required.]