2 New Surveys Confirm Charity Leaders' Perceptions: Recession's Impact Runs Deep

Two surveys of charity officials released today show that 80 percent to 90 percent of nonprofit groups are under financial stress, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports.

Corporate Grant Making: The Chronicle's Annual Survey Predicts Decrease in 2009

Many of the largest U.S. companies plan to decrease their charitable donations in 2009, or at least keep them level with last year’s, according to the latest Chronicle survey of corporate giving. Subscribers to The Chronicle have access to a searchable database with information on giving from many of the nation’s biggest companies.

Grandkids, Grandparents Have Grand Time at UNT

One of many programs spreading through US colleges, a University of North Texas (Denton, TX) program – in which grandchildren between 7 and 12 and their grandparents attend classes, sleep in a dormitory and attend a "graduation" luncheon – was a first for Texas. About 85 people signed up.

Full-text article by David Flick is available via The Dallas Morning News, 6.27.09.

Microsoft Veterans Aim to Make Philanthropy More Personal

Microsoft veterans are launching two separate Seattle nonprofits aimed at encouraging a new generation of philanthropists by using mobile phones, social networking and online connections between donors and people in need.

Full-text article by Kristi Heim is available via The Seattle Times, 6.29.09.

Audit Rocking Kansas Higher Ed

The regents — with urging from Gov. Mark Parkinson — ordered audits of its universities, specifically to shine a light on the frequently shrouded workings of alumni associations, big-time sports corporations and inner-circle business deals.

Full-text article by Scott Rothschild is available via LJWorld.com, 6.28.09.

Corporate Philanthropy in a Changed Economy

At this month’s 2009 CECP Corporate Philanthropy Summit, attendees from FORTUNE 500 CEOs to corporate foundation presidents rolled up their sleeves to talk frankly about the new realities they face as they continue to engage in their philanthropy.

Full-text article by Elisabeth Anderson, Shannon Bond, Erica Pagano is available via OnPhilanthropy.com, 6.26.09.

Capital Campaigns in the Recession

The recession is particularly tough for nonprofit organizations that are conducting capital campaigns. Many donors are holding off on making big gifts. At the same time, access to credit is tight.

Read the transcript from The Chronicle of Philanthropy's online discussion, 6.25.09.

U. of Colorado Hopes to Raise Money by Text Message at Football Games

The University of Colorado is looking at ways to solicit donations of $5 or so through text messages at football games or other events.

Full-text article by Brittany Anus is available via DailyCamera, 6.24.09.

Foundation Endowments Dipped in 2008, but Giving Rose

Grant makers’ endowments plunged by 26 percent last year as the stock market fell to levels not seen in years, says a new report from the Commonfund Institute.

Full-text article by Caroline Preston is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6.25.09. [Subscription required.]

Study Ties Madoff Loss to Charity’s Board Size

A majority of more than 100 foundations that lost 30 percent to all of their assets in the Madoff scandal had four or fewer board members, according an analysis by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a charity watchdog organization.

Full-text article by Stephanie Strom is available via The New York Times, 6.24.09.

Harvard to Lay Off 275

Harvard University has announced that it plans to lay off 275 staff members as the college grapples with budget pressures caused by the school's precipitous endowment decline.

Full-text article is available via Boston.com, 6.23.09.

MetroMonitor: Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in America’s 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas

A new study by the Brookings Institution examines the economic recovery of the major metropolitan areas in the U.S.

More information is available via The Brookings Institution, 6.23.09.

For Colleges Needing Cash, Summer’s No Longer a Quiet Season

In recent years, empty campuses have been recognized as potential cash cows, and colleges have tried to fill those once-sleepy weeks with enrichment workshops, for-credit courses, day camps, conferences, private parties and film shoots.

Full-text article by Lisa W. Foderaro is available via The New York Times, 6.21.09.

The First Longitudinal Study of Usage by the Largest US Charities

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research recently completed one of the first statistically significant, longitudinal studies on the usage of social media by United States charities.

The new study compares organizational adoption of social media in 2007 and 2008 by the 200 largest charities in the United States as compiled annually by Forbes Magazine. For complete details on Forbes Magazine's list of the largest charities, please visit their website at Forbes.com.

For more information, please visit The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research.

Why Non-Profits Are So Good at Social Media

Online community and social media are hot areas for business these days, as companies recognize the Internet's potential to deepen customer relationships, share knowledge and strengthen teams. In the nonprofit sector, relationships have always been the key currency: the relationships with the members, donors and supporters that NGOs depend on for volunteer labor, financial support and advocacy muscle.

Full-text blog post by Alexandra Samuel is available via HarvardBusiness.org, 6.16.09.

New Business for US News

US News & World Report is on the verge of officially announcing a major expansion of its rankings website. The announcement will focus on the new "University Directory" that has been in beta. The directory has a broader focus than the rankings - with extensive listings in distance education and adult continuing education, not just the four-year residential colleges that are the focus of the rankings.

Full-text article by Scott Jaschik is available via InsideHigherEd, 6.17.09.

Studies Show Art Audience Decline

Attendance at art museums is in decline, according to separate national surveys of participation in cultural activities, The Washington Post reports.

Report Finds Most Nonprofit Web Sites Lack Information Donors Want

Want to increase the number of online donations you get and the amount given through them? Make it easy for Web visitors to find out who you are, what you do and how you spend donated funds.

This was a key finding from the recently released report "Donation Usability: Design Guidelines for Improving the Donation Process and the Usability of Essential Information on Charity and Non-Profit Websites" from the Nielsen Norman Group.

The report is available via the Nielsen Norman Group, 6.17.09.

Changing Demographics Could Be More of a Challenge to Charities Than the Recession

Fund raisers might want to be more concerned about shifting demographics than economic swings, Judith E. Nichols, deputy director for external affairs at the Brooklyn Public Library, told fund raisers recently.

Full-text blog post is available via The Chronicle's Prospecting Blog, 6.14.09.

Dartmouth College Receives $50-Million Gift

Dartmouth College has received a $50-million donation from a family that wants to keep anonymous, the college reports. The gift is the largest in Dartmouth’s history.

Full-text press release is available via The Dartmouth News, 6.12.09.

Salvation Army Struggles to Fulfill Terms of a $1.8-Billion Bequest

The Salvation Army’s plans to honor a donor’s $1.8-billion bequest for the organization to build 30 elaborate community centers throughout the country is proving to be nearly impossible.

Full-text article by Stephanie Strom is available via The New York Times, 6.14.09.

Despite Economy, U of Virginia's $3 Billion Fundraising Campaign on Track

Despite the awful economy and a sharp drop in donations, the University of Virginia's five-year campaign to raise $3 billion remains on track, according to documents and interviews with senior fundraising officials.

Full-text article by Brian McNeill is available via WSLS.com, 6.16.09.

Private Philanthropy — Another Key to Hospital Financial Stability ...

Colleges and universities have traditionally placed a much higher premium on generating both annual and planned gifts than the majority of hospitals. Rather than expounding on the many legitimate reasons why this is the case, let’s focus on steps the Board, the Executive Suite, and the Chief Development Officer (CDO) can take.

Full-text post by Jim Mahon is available via Better Hospitals - http://www.better-hospitals.com/

FIU Receives Largest Gift in University History

Long-time university benefactor Dr. Herbert Wertheim recently gave a $20 million gift to the Florida International University College of Medicine, the largest cash donation in university history. The gift is eligible for the State of Florida’s Major Gifts Challenge Grant Program, making its total impact $40 million.

Full-text press release is available via FIU.edu, 6.12.09.

Arts Groups Seek Safety in Numbers

Eleven diverse downtown NYC arts organizations have come together to forge a collective and active response to the grim economic climate. Calling themselves the Lower Manhattan Arts Leaders, they meet once a week to plan strategy and exchange ideas about helping government policy makers and grant-making foundations become aware of the vital ways in which small arts groups feed the life of a neighborhood.

Full-text article by Charles Isherwood is available via The New York Times, 6.10.09.

Prius Pushes Philanthropy

Toyota’s Prius will combine three hot areas of marketing—community service, social networking and digital outdoor advertising—with a program that lets consumers promote their pet causes via Gas Station TV.

Full-text article by Todd Wasserman is available via Brandweek, 6.13.09.

When Will It End?

If this recession turns out to be like the one in the mid-1970s, donations won't rebound until at least 2012.

Full-text article by Holly Hall is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 6.15.09. [Subscription required.]

Former Governor Pledges $100-Million to Medical Center

Bill Clements, a former Texas governor, has pledged $100-million to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and has placed no restrictions on the gift.

Full-text post is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 6.12.09.

Americans' Wealth Drops $1.3 Trillion

Fed report shows a decline of home values and the stock market cut the nation's wealth to $50.4 trillion.

Full-text article by Tami Luhby is available via CNN.com, 6.11.09.

Kiva Switches Focus to Help Small U.S. Firms Get Funding

For the last 3 1/2 years, Kiva.org, a San Francisco nonprofit, has worked with 97 microfinance partners to connect lenders in 185 countries with entrepreneurs in 45 countries. Now, the site is making a push within the U.S. to help low-income entrepreneurs get funding for their businesses.

Full-text blog post by Nick Leiber is available via Business Week/The New Entrepreneur, 6.10.09.

Lost Wealth Means Big Changes For Charities

The global economy may be close to rebounding, but the $11 billion of wealth that dissolved in 2008 will have long-lasting effects on all types of charitable organizations, speakers at the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy Conference said Tuesday.

Full-text blog post by Shelly Banjo is available via The Wall Street Journal, 6.9.09.

Despite Tough Times, Donors Keep Giving, Fidelity Finds

Some good news for the charitable-giving world: Most donors — 55% — planned to donate the same amount to charities in 2009 as they did last year, according to a recent survey conducted by the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, a charitable donor-advised-fund program established by Fidelity Investments of Boston.

Full-text article by Sue Asci is available via InvestmentNews, 6.10.09.

Webinar: Planning Your Campaign for Continuous, Not Episodic, Success

Thursday, June 11 @ Noon CT

A campaign is not a one-time event. Although development staff and leadership are usually fully occupied with the immediate demands of their institution's current campaign, they should take the time to consider that their current campaign is only the first in a series of future campaigns for their organization. The cycle of major campaigns is shaping fundraising in higher education and healthcare.

This session will focus on how first tier institutions move smoothly from campaign to campaign, using one to build the capacity for the next and to achieve higher levels of gift support. Inevitably, some campaign strategies lead to donor fatigue, institutional exhaustion, the truncation of strategic planning and vision, and leadership myopia. But this is not inevitable. Other strategies lead to optimism, expanded self-confidence, and more engaged and committed leaders, volunteers, and staff.

This Webinar will explore the skills and perspectives needed to recognize the difference between successful and ineffective strategies, as well as the importance of approaching your campaign as the next in a series, rather than simply the next campaign.

To sign up for the webinar please visit our website, www.bwf.com.

Lawrence U Receives $10 Million Bequest

Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) has received a $10 million bequest from an anonymous donor; the $10 million future gift will support the college's endowment, including the establishment of a new endowed professorship in Lawrence's conservatory of music.

Full-text article is available via The Milwaukee Business Journal, 6.8.09.

Nonprofits Learn to Stretch a Buck

Many nonprofits scrambling to cover costs has prompted organizations big and small to consider new ideas — from different ways of approaching deep-pocketed donors, to marshalling volunteers, or creating alliances with groups that in some ways may have been rivals.

Full-text article by Kari Huus is available via MSNBC.com, 6.9.09.

U.S. Charitable Giving Estimated @ $307.65 Billion In 2008

Charitable giving in the United States exceeded $300 billion for the second year in a row in 2008, according to Giving USA 2009. Donations to charitable causes in the United States reached an estimated $307.65 billion in 2008, a 2 percent drop in current dollars over 2007.

Full-text press release is available via the Giving Institute, 6.10.09.

Giving to Colleges and Other Charities Declines Nearly 6 Percent

Donations to education organizations and nearly every other type of charity faltered in 2008, as contributions declined by 5.7 percent last year after adjustment for inflation, according to the new edition of Giving USA, which is scheduled to be released this morning. It was the steepest decline in the history of the survey, which has been conducted since 1956.

Full-text article by Paula Wasley is available via the Chronicle of Higher Education, 6.10.09.

Internet Use Triples in Decade, Census Bureau Reports

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that 62 percent of households reported using Internet access in the home in 2007, an increase from 18 percent in 1997, the first year the bureau collected data on Internet use.

Full-text press release is available via the U.S. Census Bureau, 6.3.09.

More Firms Seek Public's Help in Deciding Where to Donate

Companies are turning to their customers or the public to distribute donations. Last month, Target launched a two-week giving campaign on its Facebook page asking the public to decide how 10 national charities would receive a portion of $3 million that Target spends in weekly charitable giving.

Full-text article by Lauren Ashburn is available via the USAToday, 6.8.09.

Moody's Warns of 'Sharp Deterioration' in College Finances

The latest report from Moody's Investors Service on private colleges shows that they are only now starting to feel the pinch of the recession and warns that a "sharp deterioration" is expected in the 2009 data.

Full-text article by Marc Beje is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6.8.09. [Subscription required.]

U. of Colorado Freshmen Face New $70 Fee -- for Alumni Dues

The university's Class of 2013 will pay the lifetime membership fee when they enroll and, in turn, will get alumni's help with job placement and internships.

Full-text article by Marc Beja is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6.8.09. [Subscription required.]

Consumerism and the Economy

On Sunday, May 31, Nielsen CEO David Calhoun appeared on “The Wall Street Journal Report” with Maria Bartiromo to discuss everything from television and media measurement, to how food, fuel, and fear are impacting consumers trends around the world.

Watch the video via NielsenNews, 6.1.09.

Time Spent on Facebook up 700%, but MySpace Still Tops for Video

Facebook increased nearly 700 percent year-over-year, growing from 1.7 billion minutes in April 2008 to 13.9 billion in April 2009, making it the No. 1 social networking site when ranked by total minutes for the month. See complete rankings via link below.

Full-text blog post is available via Nielsen Wire, 6.2.09.

U of Alabama System Cutting 245 Jobs

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System is cutting 245 jobs to save an estimated $15 million to $20 million a year, following the results of a performance review.

Full-text article is available via ModernHealthcare, 6.5.09. [Free registration required.]

Foundations Rethink Their Grant Making in Response to the Economy

Foundations facing increasing demand for aid at a time when their assets have sharply declined are beginning to rethink the size and the amount of grants they distribute to nonprofit groups and are giving more rather than less.

Full-text article by Stephanie Strom is available via The New York Times, 6.3.09.

FT 500 Companies

The Financial Times annual snapshot of the world’s largest companies, ranked by market capitalization, gives a remarkable picture of how corporate fortunes have changed in the past year.

Complete list is available via The Financial Times, June 2009.

Thanks for Your Generosity. Now Can You Give Again?

As colleges grapple with declining endowments and increased financial needs, a growing number are asking their most generous supporters to dig even deeper.

Full-text article by Kathryn Masterson is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6.5.09. [Subscription required.]

Rockport, Maine Takes Creative Approach to Raising Revenue

The midcoast town of Rockport recently hired a development officer. That may not sound like news, since many Maine towns have someone on staff that handles their community development efforts. But the Rockport hire is a bit unusual, in that it's aimed at attracting private donations for municipal projects.

Full-text article by Keith Shortall is available via The Maine Public Broadcasting Network, 6.2.09.

Minnesota Nonprofit Leaders Win New Law on Property-Tax Exemptions

Minnesota nonprofit leaders have won the final leg of their campaign to clarify state law governing charitable property-tax exemptions in the wake of what they considered a damaging Minnesota Supreme Court decision.

Full-text article by Suzanne Perry is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 6.3.09.

NYC Opera Posts Biggest Loss in a Decade

The New York City Opera lost $11.3-million in the 2007-8 fiscal year, leaving the 66-year-old company in its deepest financial hole since 1999.

Full-text article by Philip Boroff is available via Bloomberg.com, 6.1.09.

Patrick Rooney Chosen to Lead the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University

Patrick M. Rooney, Ph.D., has been selected as the next executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University following a nationwide search, Charles R. Bantz, Chancellor of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), announced on June 3.

Full-text press release is available via The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 6.3.09.

Update on Billion-Dollar Campaigns at 33 Universities

The universities collected a total of $403-million in gifts and pledges during the last month for which they had data available.

Full-text article by Marisa Lopez-Rivera is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 6.3.09. [Subscription required.]

The Nature Conservancy Welcomes New Chief Philanthropy Officer

Former Director of Principal and Major Gifts Rebecca Girvin-Argon brings 25 years of fundraising experience to the executive team.

Full-text press release is available via The Nature Conservancy, 6.3.09.

ConocoPhillips donates $2 million to Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University has received a $2 million unrestricted gift from ConocoPhillips, university officials announced Monday.

Full-text article by Randy Ellis is available via NewsOK.com, 6.2.09.

Philanthropists Not Cutting Back (UK)

Nearly nine in ten philanthropists at a recent forum said that they planned to increase their giving (42 per cent) or maintain their current levels (45 per cent) over the next year, regardless of the economic downturn.

Full-text blog posting by Celina Ribeiro is available via ProfessionalFundraising(UK).com, 6.1.09.

Pimco’s Gross Says Harvard, Yale May Need to Alter Investments

Yale University and Harvard University may have to cut investments in hedge funds and private equity because the risks of holding the hard-to-sell assets outweigh the returns, said Bill Gross, co-chief investment officer of Pacific Investment Management Co.

Full-text article by Sree Vidya Bhaktavasalam and Gillian Wee is available via Bloomberg.com, 5.29.09.

One Third of Bay Area Nonprofit Groups Fear Closure Within the Year

One-third of San Francisco-area nonprofit groups are worried they may have to shut down in the next year, and 34 percent say they have no more than two months’ worth of operating funds in reserve, according to a survey by the regional United Way.

Full-text article by Maria Stokes is available via Live United, 5.28.09.

Charity's Declining Fortunes

In The Chronicle's annual survey of endowments, the 60 whose fiscal year ended in December suffered a median decline of 25.4 percent for 2008­ — ­meaning that half lost more and half lost less.

Full-text article by Noelle Barton and Ben Gose is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 5.31.09. [Subscription required.]

U. of California Executives to Take 5% Pay Cuts

The president of the University of California and other senior executives, including campus chancellors, will take a 5-percent pay cut in the 2009-10 fiscal year, the president, Mark G. Yudof, announced in a letter late last week.

Full-text blog post by Charles Huckabee is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 5.31.09.