Thursday, January 31, 2013

Donors closing wallets to Canadian charities who work with CIDA, mining companies | Toronto Star

Donors closing wallets to Canadian charities who work with CIDA, mining companies | Toronto Star

No, Minister, philanthropy is not the answer for the arts - News - Yorkshire Post

No, Minister, philanthropy is not the answer for the arts - News - Yorkshire Post: ever since the coalition Government made clear its thoughts on arts funding, the cultural community has kicked against the Big Idea.

While the cuts came as little surprise, the central notion around the cuts, that philanthropy was the way forward, was unexpected. Moneyed individuals held the key to the funding of the arts, said Jeremy Hunt, when appointed Culture Secretary in 2010.

Forbes India Magazine - Using Star Power for Philanthropy

Forbes India Magazine - Using Star Power for Philanthropy: Using Star Power for Philanthropy

Charity Cup Trust tax avoidance scheme

Charity Cup Trust tax avoidance scheme: A charity at the centre of a multi-million pound tax-avoidance scheme had been investigated by the Charity Commission, but was allowed to continue operating because it had not broken any charity laws.

The Times today revealed that the Cup Trust had enabled its donors to avoid a total of �46m in tax through gift aid incentives

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Foundation Center - Press Release - Online Resource of Mexican Philanthropy Launched

Foundation Center - Press Release - Online Resource of Mexican Philanthropy Launched: Mexico City, Mexico, and New York, NY, USA — January 30, 2013. A new searchable database of more than 22,000 Mexican philanthropies, Fondos a la Vista, has been launched by the Foundation Center in New York in partnership with the Mexico-based Alternativas y Capacidades and the Philanthropy and Civil Society Project at ITAM (Instituto Tecnol�gico Aut�nomo de M�xico). The online resource provides the Mexican public with reliable, comprehensive information about domestic donors and their philanthropic activity, including the organizations they support.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Payroll giving consultation is disappointing, says IoF

Payroll giving consultation is disappointing, says IoF: Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Institute of Fundraising, has given a lukewarm response to the government’s long-awaited consultation on how to reform payroll giving, saying it does not go far enough to address fundamental problems in the system.

The consultation, which addresses how to make it easier to administer payroll giving and drive up the amounts raised through the scheme, makes a number of suggestions, including introducing standardised sign-up forms for all donors, employers and agencies.

With Lessons for U.S., U.K. Report Eyes Nonprofit Sector Autonomy - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

With Lessons for U.S., U.K. Report Eyes Nonprofit Sector Autonomy - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Does government or corporate money make charities reluctant to speak out and advocate? That’s the concern in the U.K. Charities reportedly fear that the Tory government’s “Big Society” program of running more public services through charities will make groups wary of speaking out. The Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector laid out its concerns in the second of four annual reports examining the ability of British nonprofits to advocate on public policies. The Panel, chaired by Sir Roger Singleton, the former head of the children’s charity Barnardo’s, sees the U.K.’s charitable sector as “at risk because its necessary independence is under threat, and that that threat is greatest for organisations working with disadvantaged people.”

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Independence of charities is being undermined, says report | Third Sector

Independence of charities is being undermined, says report | Third Sector: Sir Roger Singleton, chair of the Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector, warns that voluntary sector organisations are being forced to 'toe the government's line'

The independence of charities has come under increasing threat over the past year and one of the sources of that threat is the government, according to the latest report from the Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector, published today.

Payroll giving should be opened up to private sector, says Treasury

Payroll giving should be opened up to private sector, says Treasury: The Treasury wants to scrap the requirement that all payroll giving agencies must be charities, saying that opening up the marketplace to commercial players would drive down costs and promote innovation and investment.

The change is proposed in the government’s long-awaited consultation on how to reform payroll giving, to make it easier to administer and drive up the amounts raised for charity through the scheme.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Israel Caps Pay for Leaders at Government-Supported Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Israel Caps Pay for Leaders at Government-Supported Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Israel Caps Pay for Leaders at Government-Supported Nonprofits

January 17, 2013, 10:25 am

Israel’s government is moving to limit compensation for top executives at state-supported nonprofit groups to the level of their peers at similar public institutions, reports Haaretz.

TODAYonline | Singapore | Singaporeans still charitable despite slower economy: SG Gives

TODAYonline | Singapore | Singaporeans still charitable despite slower economy: SG Gives: SINGAPORE - Singaporeans continued to give generously to charity despite the country's slower economic growth, going by the jump in donations to Singapore's largest donation portal, SG Gives.

SG Gives said it had a 37 per cent increase in total donations kast year, with almost S$400,000 raised on Dec 31 last year. The amount raised for the whole year hit S$8.5 million, compared with S$6.2 million in 2011.

Charity sector income has grown by �10bn in last five years

Charity sector income has grown by �10bn in last five years: The gross income of the charity sector has increased by over 20 per cent in the last five years, from �48.4bn in 2008 to �58.48bn in 2012, the Charity Commission's latest figures reveal.

The Commission publishes annual figures for the charity sector at the end of each year based on income reported by charities in their annual returns. The figures show a steady increase in the sector's income since 2008 despite fluctuation in the total number of charities which has resulted in an overall reduction from 168,354 in 2008 to 162,915 in 2012. This represents a 20.8 per cent income boost to the sector despite a 3 per cent reduction in the number of charities.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Radio Prague - Czechs increasingly charitable despite economic woes

Radio Prague - Czechs increasingly charitable despite economic woes: Over the past two decades, philanthropy has become an important part of Czech society, with many people being increasing generous in giving to charity. Radio Prague looks at how the gloomy economic climate affected Czech philanthropy in the past year, and how the donor culture has developed.

One Direction Stars Open Up About Their Charity Work In Ghana - Starpulse.com

One Direction Stars Open Up About Their Charity Work In Ghana - Starpulse.com: Horan reveals they visited the city of Accra in Ghana and will never forget the heartbreaking poverty he saw there.

In a series of posts on his Twitter.com page, he writes, "Just arrived back from Accra, Ghana! Best life experience ever! This Red Nose Day please get involved!... I've seen the slums right in front of me! This is no joke! They really need your help! Poverty is real!... Massive thanks to Red Nose Day for taking us to Ghana! It was incredible! Real eye-opener! We take so much for granted over here!..."

Goar: New twist on credit-seeking philanthropy: Goar - thestar.com

Goar: New twist on credit-seeking philanthropy: Goar - thestar.com: Nothing quite like this has happened in Toronto.

The city is filled with hospitals, parks, academic facilities and galleries named after wealthy magnates and well-known public figures. Now three donors are turning the established rules of philanthropy on their head. They are using their naming rights to honour a migrant caregiver.

Late last year, the trio, whose members have requested anonymity, offered a generous gift to George Brown College on condition that a room in its new waterfront campus be named after Lalaine de Vera, a Philippine nanny and elder care worker.

Chinese-Language Resources for Funders Now Available

Chinese-Language Resources for Funders Now Available: NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thanks to a partnership between the Foundation Center in New York City and the Beijing-based China Foundation Center, 31 guides widely used by grantmakers in the U.S. have been translated into Chinese. The titles are part of GrantCraft — a joint project of the Foundation Center and Brussels-based European Foundation Centre — which taps the collective knowledge of funders to share insights to help them hone their craft.

Microdonation charity hits �1m donation milestone

Microdonation charity hits �1m donation milestone: Microdonation charity Pennies has announced that it has hit its �1m target with a boost in donations coming in the week before Christmas.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Women's Institute warns against 'sticking plaster' of library volunteers | Third Sector

Women's Institute warns against 'sticking plaster' of library volunteers | Third Sector: Report by the charity says that the growth of a community-managed library network is unsustainable without systematic support

The use of volunteers as "sticking plaster" in the library service cannot continue, according to the Women’s Institute.

A report published today by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes looks at the role of volunteers in running community libraries. It says that in many cases volunteers are left without adequate support to deliver services previously supplied by members of staff.

Interview - Annie Lennox and Mitch Besser | .

Interview - Annie Lennox and Mitch Besser | .: If you thought HIV/AIDS was under control, think again. Annie Lennox did, in 2003, during a visit to South Africa. Hearing Nelson Mandela talk about HIV/AIDS and how it was affecting women and children, she was ‘outraged, angry, ashamed’. That visit set her on the path of activism, advocacy and philanthropy.
Caroline Hartnell met Annie Lennox and her husband Dr Mitchell Besser, who founded mothers2mothers, an organization that helps prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, at the UBS Global Philanthropy Forum, held in late November in Switzerland.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Back Britain's charities campaign aims to help in times of financial difficulty | Voluntary Sector Network - CAF partner zone | guardian.co.uk

Back Britain's charities campaign aims to help in times of financial difficulty | Voluntary Sector Network - CAF partner zone | guardian.co.uk: Charities play a pivotal role in the UK delivering services to the vulnerable and often providing support where there is a vacuum. And while challenges such as fundraising, attracting new donors and volunteers and making the best use of resources is nothing new, recent research by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) suggests charities are facing an exceptionally tough time.

PFRA not ready to name and shame problem chuggers

PFRA not ready to name and shame problem chuggers: Five months on from introducing its fining system for face-to-face charities, the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association is still not ready to release any results.

Despite revealing in August last year that charities had already incurred penalty points under the system within its first week of operation, the self-regulatory body is not yet ready to disclose its findings.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Kevin Curley: A seven-point plan for Nick Hurd to make sector-state relationships easier

Kevin Curley: A seven-point plan for Nick Hurd to make sector-state relationships easier: At the annual All Party Parliamentary Group on Civil Society and Volunteering bash before Christmas, Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, spoke with impressive honesty about his disappointment that he had not done more to make it easier for charities to work with the state.

This, you will recall, was one of his key objectives when he got the job in 2010. A week later, the Cabinet Office published a "progress update", called - fittingly - Making It Easier for Civil Society to Work With the State, listing 14 "actions" it is taking to support intelligent commissioning. A lot is going on but, as the minister admitted, it doesn't add up to much change.

China's Charity Sector Poised to Expand In 2013 | In Asia

China's Charity Sector Poised to Expand In 2013 | In Asia: Last November, when a new leadership team stepped forward in Beijing, they confronted a very different set of challenges than their predecessors had faced. Among the most urgent of these is the challenge of providing adequate basic social services for all of China’s 1.3 billion people, many of whom remain relatively disadvantaged, even as the country’s wealth continues to increase dramatically.

CRUK pulls Manchester Shine event due to falling participation

CRUK pulls Manchester Shine event due to falling participation: CRUK pulls Manchester Shine event due to falling participation
Fundraising | Kirsty Weakley | 10 Jan 2013

Cancer Research UK has pulled its Manchester Shine fundraising event for 2013 after attracting 2,000 fewer participants than it had planned for, and will instead hold one big event in London to be more cost-effective.

Last September 3,000 people participated in the Manchester event, raising �600,000 for the charity. Some 10,000 took part in London, raising �2.6m.

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Corporate Philanthropy in China | The Conference Board

Corporate Philanthropy in China | The Conference Board: 05 December, 2012 | (01 hr)

China is an extremely difficult environment to navigate for corporate donors. Financial and operational data of charities in China is hugely limited. Readily available data for grant makers, needed for benchmarking purposes or to help identify and vet potential domestic beneficiary or partner organizations, do not exist. What is more, the structure and regulatory environment governing the charity sector in China is vastly different from the West, making it very difficult for foreign companies to navigate it and gain comfort.

Earthquake efforts in Japan earn Lori Henderson MBE - Dundee / Local / News / The Courier

Earthquake efforts in Japan earn Lori Henderson MBE - Dundee / Local / News / The Courier: A DUNDEE woman’s services to Japan’s reconstruction following the country’s devastating earthquake have earned her an MBE.

Marc Chardon: Peering Into the Nonprofit Crystal Ball...2013

Marc Chardon: Peering Into the Nonprofit Crystal Ball...2013
The world is shrinking and philanthropic borders are broadening
Even a few years ago when a disaster occurred, it was viewed as an event that happened "over there." This has changed dramatically. Disasters are now viewed and responded to in a similar fashion regardless of where they take place. From a nonprofit perspective, the world is flattening. In addition to the shrinking of the world, we're also seeing a shift in wealth toward developing nations and the BRIC countries, which will cause nonprofits to rethink how they raise money. Essentially, it becomes critical for nonprofits to "engage donors where they are" in the world. The shrinking and the broadening will also increase competition for resources, forcing nonprofits to be very deliberate and transparent when it comes to mission delivery and supporter engagement.T

Value of charity investments rose by 11.4 per cent last year

Value of charity investments rose by 11.4 per cent last year: The value of charity investments rose by 11.4 per cent in 2012, according to figures released yesterday by market analysts the WM Company.

The WM Charity Fund Monitor, based on a survey of most major charity investment managers, uses investment data to the end of November 2012 and estimated figures for December based on the movement of the market overall.

Proposed Beijing law seeks data on charities |Nation and Digest |chinadaily.com.cn

Proposed Beijing law seeks data on charities |Nation and Digest |chinadaily.com.cn: Legislation mandates disclosure of philanthropic groups' fundraising

Beijing authorities have vowed to punish charity organizations that fail to disclose information as required, according to draft legislation.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Analysis: The year ahead - 'It's another rocky year for charities'

Analysis: The year ahead - 'It's another rocky year for charities': rom fundraising to management, six voluntary sector experts give their predictions for the coming twelve months

What does 2013 hold for the sector? Some of the challenges are already in the diary - including revised pension requirements, online Gift Aid claims and new Disclosure and Barring checks. Six voluntary sector experts assess the likely impact of these and other factors that charities will have deal with this year, such as pressure for pay rises and universal regulation of fundraising, the need to mark out a distinctive identity and opportunities to transform service provision.

Charity Commission registers the first charitable incorporated organisations

Charity Commission registers the first charitable incorporated organisations: The Lara Jones Charitable Foundation, founded in memory of an English teacher who died while backpacking in Cuba last year, is first to be approved

The Charity Commission has registered the first three charitable incorporated organisations, the new legal form for charities.

The regulator said 30 organisations had applied to it for CIO status.

Kate Middleton Pregnant; Duchess of Cambridge Donates to Charity : People.com

Kate Middleton Pregnant; Duchess of Cambridge Donates to Charity : People.com: n fact, Kate, 31, actually just gave away a package of baby clothes to one of her favorite causes. Just a few weeks before the palace announced she was expecting, the charitable mom-to-be donated a hamper of new baby products to East Anglia Children's Hospices (EACH), and now they have put it up for sale in a special auction.

Prince Harry's Charity, Sentebale, Plans On Expanding Mission To 5 Countries

Prince Harry's Charity, Sentebale, Plans On Expanding Mission To 5 Countries: Prince Harry pursuing a pretty noble mission.

He recently announced that his charity, Sentebale, which helps children in the tiny country Lesotho in southern Africa, plans on expanding to five countries and boost its fundraising goal to �8 ($13 million dollars) to do so, The Telegraph reports.

Monday, January 07, 2013

Big society is 'effectively dead', Sir Stephen Bubb tells PM

Big society is 'effectively dead', Sir Stephen Bubb tells PM: In letter to David Cameron, the head of the chief executives body Acevo writes that the government's vision for the sector has lost its way

Sir Stephen Bubb, head of the chief executives body Acevo, has warned the Prime Minister, David Cameron, that the big society is "effectively dead".

In a letter to Cameron, Bubb says that while the government can take credit for "some major achievements" since 2010, including the establishment of the social lender Big Society Capital, and reforms to inheritance tax relief and Gift Aid, "elsewhere progress has been slowed or has stalled".

Carnival time for Brazilian philanthropy | Datamonitor Financial

Carnival time for Brazilian philanthropy | Datamonitor Financial: Tax incentives for philanthropic activity offer deductible income tax allowances of 60-100% of donations to specified charitable projects managed by the Brazilian authorities. As such, philanthropy will become a key component in managing the income tax liability of Brazilian HNW individuals. Like many governments, Brazil has increased its focus on the taxation of its wealthiest citizens, and these HNW and ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals are searching for legitimate ways to reduce their obligations.

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Charities face possibility of paying more VAT on bulk mail delivery | Third Sector

Charities face possibility of paying more VAT on bulk mail delivery | Third Sector: Home �
News �
Charities face possibility of paying more VAT on bulk mail delivery

Charities face possibility of paying more VAT on bulk mail delivery

Cabinet Office launches masterclasses for voluntary sector | Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office launches masterclasses for voluntary sector | Cabinet Office: Charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises (VCSEs) will have the chance to attend a series of new practical workshops to help them capitalise on opportunities to work for government, Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd announced today.