Economy:
- Giving’s Hard Times
Star Tribune: Minnesota’s philanthropies, hit by the economic downturn, are pondering how they can best help cash-strapped Minnesotans. - Tough Times Even Tighter for Charities
New York Times: If you’ve been chewing your nails, wondering what the next few months have in store for you, imagine what the mood is like for charities and nonprofit groups, which depend on the kindness of strangers to keep sending money their way. - Americans Still Giving, Despite Economic Meltdown
Associate Press: As more Americans turn to charity amid worsening economic gloom, operators of food banks and other aid groups are relying on the surprisingly resilient generosity of their neighbors and finding that even when times are tough, people still give.
Local:
- New Law Helps You Support Favorite Charity
Letter to the editor of the Hutchinson Leader from Southwest Initiative Foundation development director Marc Vaillancourt. - McKnight Awards: Game To Help
Star Tribune: Two North Side sisters who created a student garden are among several people who received 2008 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. (Other winners.) - Center City Council Wins Community Growth Options Grant
Chisago County Press: The McKnight grant provides supplemental funding to growing communities such as Center City to hire from a select pool of planning firms to provide an array of services in developing a city development plan. CGO also provides additional support services, evaluation, and workshops for city representatives. - Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten
Houston County News: With the help of Houston County Early Childhood Initiative, which was established with support of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, local school districts, and even the county, have been able to offer programs and services that cater towards infants, preschool children, and parents.
National:
- Bill Clinton Agrees To Limit Nonprofit Work
Chronicle of Philanthropy: Former president Bill Clinton has offered to limit his charitable activities and reveal the names of some donors to his nonprofit work in an effort to smooth the way for his wife to become secretary of state in an Obama administration.
> Why Blunt the Power of Philanthropy? San Francisco Chronicle column - As Women’s Incomes Rise, So Do Their Donations
New York Times: Women, propelled by increased earning power and more financial independence, are becoming a recognized force in charitable giving. - Entrepreneur Blogs About Charity’s Money Woes
San Francisco Chronicle: Like many social entrepreneurs caught in the economic crisis, Kjerstin Erickson is lying awake at night wondering if her tiny nonprofit is going to survive. But in an unorthodox move, the 25-year-old decided to blog about her charity’s financial problems – despite warnings from board members that she’ll send her remaining donors fleeing. - Foundations Urged to Provide More Data on Grants to Minority Groups
Chronicle of Philanthropy: In a continuing war of words, the Greenlining Institute shot back at The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page for its November 5 opinion article that criticized the Berkeley, Calif., organization’s efforts to make foundations provide data on the race and ethnicity of their beneficiaries.
Good post and interesting information. We work almost exclusively with churches. While across the board giving to churches is also down I do have clients that are seeing an increase in giving this year. Some are staying on track. The keys?
One, have a plan. Those that simply sit and wring their hands will get run over by this downturn.
Second, compelling vision trumps bad economy. Tell your story!
Third, do something! People give to organizations that accomplish positive things! Show off your wins.
These simple steps can make all the difference in the world in whether or not you succeed or go under.
Mark Brooks