Friday, June 27, 2014

New anti-spam rules sow confusion for business and charities | Ottawa Citizen

New anti-spam rules sow confusion for business and charities | Ottawa Citizen: Days before the federal government’s sweeping new anti-spam legislation comes into force, confusion reigns among organizations, charities and businesses that will be affected by the new rules.

Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal - Charity Commission

Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal - Charity Commission: Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal
Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal



BERNAMA - Syed Mokhtar, Tony Fernandes In Forbes Asia's Heroes Of Philanthropy List

BERNAMA - Syed Mokhtar, Tony Fernandes In Forbes Asia's Heroes Of Philanthropy List: KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary and AirAsia's head honcho, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, emerged in the Forbes Asia's latest annual Heroes of Philanthropy list.

In a statement Thursday, Forbes Asia said Syed Mokhtar had donated US$500 million (RM1.6 billion) to help tho



With A Boost From Bill Gates, Vietnam's Entrepreneurs Put Profits Into Philanthropy

With A Boost From Bill Gates, Vietnam's Entrepreneurs Put Profits Into Philanthropy: Sharing is not a strange idea for ordinary Vietnamese, but big-scale altruism is rare so far, given that serious wealth accumulation started in Vietnam only in the past two decades. Le–who holds interests in real estate development, golf courses and mining–belongs to the first generation of entrepreneurs who started businesses after the Vietnam War. He survived the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and began giving money to various charities and causes a decade ago. Now nearing age 70, he’s considering whether to devote most of his time to philanthropy.



Thursday, June 26, 2014

For Hong Kong's Nellie Fong, Charity Begins Aboard A Train

For Hong Kong's Nellie Fong, Charity Begins Aboard A Train: Fong’s goal is to reduce blindness among the poorest of the poor in China. In 1997 she started Lifeline Express EXPR 0.85%, eye hospitals on trains that travel to the most far-flung corners of China to provide free cataract operations. Doctors have performed more than 150,000 operations on the trains, while the organization also has opened 36 cataract clinics for walk-in patients, 15 ophthalmology training centers in remote villages and 80 centers for taking the exams to become an ophthalmologist. It’s brought the latest technology to rural villages, disbursed medical scholarships for overseas studies and persuaded hundreds of top doctors from around th



Queenslanders backsliding on giving to those in greater need | The Courier-Mail

Queenslanders backsliding on giving to those in greater need | The Courier-Mail: Figures compiled by QUT’s Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) show Australians gave $2.24 billion in tax-deductible gifts 2011-12 – $30 million more than previous years.



Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) - Press - AFP

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) - Press - AFP: Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)

On behalf of AFP, Mark Blumberg, a partner at Blumberg Segal LLP and Non-Profit and Charity Law expert, drafted this document to help explain Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation2 (“CASL”). CASL will be in force on July 1, 2014, with the sections related to the unsolicited installation of computer programs or software coming into force on January 15, 2015. It is a complicated piece of legislation that will apply to commercial electronic messages (“CEM”) that are either sent from, or accessed on, a computer system in Canada, unless an exemption applies.

Councils told to 'clamp down' on street fundraisers but not ban them

Councils told to 'clamp down' on street fundraisers but not ban them: Councils must “clamp down on high street harassment” by “so-called chuggers” but must do so through negotiation with charity representatives, rather than an outright ban, local government minister Brandon Lewis has said today.

Lewis today turned down a request from Birmingham City Council to impose a byelaw giving it power to control face-to-face fundraising.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Charities 'almost four times less likely to go bust than for-profits'

Charities 'almost four times less likely to go bust than for-profits': Charities and other not-for-profit entities are almost four times less likely to go bust than commercial organisations, data published by the Pension Protection Fund indicates.

The PPF levies money from employers to ensure employees in defined benefit pension schemes still receive most of their pensions in the event of insolvency.

It has published the insolvency figures as part of a consultation into how it should assess contributions.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Charity Leaders Eye U.K. for Expansion of ‘Giving Tuesday’ – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Charity Leaders Eye U.K. for Expansion of ‘Giving Tuesday’ – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The British-born founder of Giving Tuesday was in London this week to talk with government ministers about plans to launch the post-Thanksgiving philanthropic event in his native country, The Independent reports.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Commission may require charities to declare campaign spending

Commission may require charities to declare campaign spending: The Charity Commission has proposed that charities should have to disclose their campaign spending and public sector income in their Annual Returns.

But charity infrastructure bodies have said they are worried the proposals will add too much red tape.

Commission may require charities to declare campaign spending

Commission may require charities to declare campaign spending: The Charity Commission has proposed that charities should have to disclose their campaign spending and public sector income in their Annual Returns.

But charity infrastructure bodies have said they are worried the proposals will add too much red tape.

Monday, June 16, 2014

A capital route for charity (From The Argus)

A capital route for charity (From The Argus): Tens of thousands cycle the London to Brighton bike ride

4:00pm Monday 16th June 2014 in News By Henry Holloway, Reporter

The Argus: A capital route for charity A capital route for charity

The Argus: A capital route for charity
The Argus: A capital route for charity

TENS of thousands of cyclists streamed across the South Downs this weekend as they took on a 54-mile charity cycle challenge.

Charity trekker raises �800 for Kenyan orphans | Daily Burton News Headlines | Staffordshire Newspaper | Burton on Trent | Burton Mail

Charity trekker raises �800 for Kenyan orphans | Daily Burton News Headlines | Staffordshire Newspaper | Burton on Trent | Burton Mail: A SEASONED walker has raised �800 for charity, after stepping out in support of the Footprints Orphanage.

Hadfield charity celebrates raising �50k in first year - Derbyshire Times

Hadfield charity celebrates raising �50k in first year - Derbyshire Times: Glossopdale charity Mummy’s Star is celebrating having raised �50,000 to help pregnant women with cancer in its first 12 months.

The charity, the only of its kind in the UK, was launched by Pete Wallroth, of Hadfield, on June 18 last year in memory of his wife Mair, who lost her battle with breast cancer in December 2012, two months after the birth of their second child.

Friday, June 13, 2014

First Nations and Corporate CSR: In Need of Shared Assumptions - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

First Nations and Corporate CSR: In Need of Shared Assumptions - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: First Nations and Corporate CSR: In Need of Shared Assumptions

The Australian Charities Fund – Workplace Giving Month Pack

The Australian Charities Fund – Workplace Giving Month Pack: Workplace Giving Month Pack

Calgary communities plan unique ‘Neighbour Day’ celebrations for flood anniversary | Metro

Calgary communities plan unique ‘Neighbour Day’ celebrations for flood anniversary | Metro: As the one-year anniversary of Calgary’s most damaging flood approaches, people across the city are preparing to gather and celebrate the spirit of community that emerged from the destruction and displacement.

Praise for Scottish school pupils’ involvement in charity programme - Perth & Kinross / Local / News / The Courier

Praise for Scottish school pupils’ involvement in charity programme - Perth & Kinross / Local / News / The Courier: an initiative which enables young people to speak up for local charities they believe in was celebrated in Perth yesterday.

In the past six years nearly �1 million has been donated to grassroots charities through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).

Social finance loan fund to launch with �15m from Big Society Capital

Social finance loan fund to launch with �15m from Big Society Capital: Social lender Social and Sustainable Capital will launch a second loan fund for the charity sector later this year, with funding from the Social Investment Business and Big Society Capital.

Sasc was set up in 2012 to invest money in the sector, and launched its first fund earlier this year, also with backing from BSC and the SIB.

The new fund will provide secured and unsecured loans to charity sector organisations of between �250,000 and �3m.

PFRA to launch nationwide doorstep compliance regime

PFRA to launch nationwide doorstep compliance regime: The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association will introduce a compliance regime monitoring standards of doorstep fundraising around the UK within the next nine months.

It comes after a pilot in the Greater London area, between December 2013 and March this year, saw a PFRA officer shadow door-to-door fundraisers from nine organisations, including Greenpeace, Tim Lilley Fundraising and Appco.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Free summer camp for flood-affected kids

Free summer camp for flood-affected kids: When flood waters ravaged the province last summer, some children didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy the summer, and Scouts Canada doesn’t want that to happen again.

The organization is offering free 2014 summer camp spaces to youth affected, in any way, by last year’s flood.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

ACNC Launches Charity Passport | Pro Bono Australia

ACNC Launches Charity Passport | Pro Bono Australia: The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has launched its long awaited Charity Passport - a secure online system set up to save charities from reporting the same information to multiple government agencies.

ACNC Commissioner Susan Pascoe said the Charity Passport had enormous potential to create substantial time and cost savings for charities.

Adapting to Change in Israel’s Philanthropic Arena

Adapting to Change in Israel’s Philanthropic Arena: Yad Hanadiv (the Rothschild Foundation) is a private foundation dedicated to creating resources for advancing Israel as a healthy, vibrant, democratic society, committed to Jewish values and equal opportunity for the benefit of all its inhabitants. The Foundation acts in Israel on behalf of Rothschild family trusts that carry forward a 130-year tradition of philanthropy in Israel.

Sir Stuart: Commission must not fetter someone setting up a charity

Sir Stuart: Commission must not fetter someone setting up a charity: Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, has said it is not the role of the regulator to fetter those who wish to set up charities.

Etherington's comments follow Charity Commission guidance which encourages people to “think carefully” before setting up a charity and ICAEW's call for a change in the law to allow the Charity Commission to refuse a charity registration when a similar charity already exists.

Leukemia charity calls Star investigation a ‘sensationalist’ and ‘undeserved attack’ | Toronto Star

Leukemia charity calls Star investigation a ‘sensationalist’ and ‘undeserved attack’ | Toronto Star: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada is calling a recent Toronto Star investigation about spending at the charity “sensationalist” and a “very unfair and undeserved attack.”

In a response posted on the charity’s website, President Shelagh Tippet-Fagyas said the “attack” will “do nothing to deflect us from our commitment to our mandate, our donors and the families and researchers whom we support.”

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Chinese struggle to give away their riches | Money - Home

Chinese struggle to give away their riches | Money - Home: HONG KONG (CNNMoney) -

Some of China's millionaires have an unusual problem: They're having trouble giving their money away.

Paper mache pandas land in Hong Kong - Channel NewsAsia

Paper mache pandas land in Hong Kong - Channel NewsAsia: An army of paper mache pandas swarmed the arrivals hall at Hong Kong airport on Monday as part of a charity campaign to promote conservation of the endangered bears

We must grow the pool of charitable givers, says Nick Hurd | Third Sector

We must grow the pool of charitable givers, says Nick Hurd | Third Sector: The Minister for Civil Society says more must be done to increase the number of 'heroic' people who donate to charity

Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, has said that more needs to be done to expand the pool of people who donate to charity.

Speaking at a parliamentary reception to mark the launch of the report by the Growing Giving inquiry, organised by the Charities Aid Foundation, Hurd said there

Word Lens: Your New Mobile Travel Companion - The TechSoup Blog - Community - TechSoup

Word Lens: Your New Mobile Travel Companion - The TechSoup Blog - Community - TechSoup: Word Lens is one of those apps that seems, dare I say, magical. It's a straightforward translation app that translates printed materials, such as signs, menus, or books. Recently purchased by Google, Word Lens is free in a handful of languages for a limited time so stop reading this for a second and download it now!

If you are traveling internationally this summer (either for a work conference or for vacation!) or work with overseas constituents, volunteers, or staff, Word Lens is a handy tool.

Monday, June 09, 2014

Austerity heightens role of church charities in the voluntary sector | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

Austerity heightens role of church charities in the voluntary sector | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: Austerity heightens role of church charities in the voluntary sector
Hard times mean faith-based projects are increasingly the only safety net for thousands of people, says Helen Clifton

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Mich. Senate OKs Detroit Aid; Skillman Boosts Foundation Pot – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Mich. Senate OKs Detroit Aid; Skillman Boosts Foundation Pot – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Michigan senators approved a plan Tuesday to contribute $195-million in state money to a foundation-funded “grand bargain” to help resolve Detroit’s bankruptcy case, sending the measure to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk, Bloomberg reports.

Also on Tuesday, federal mediators in the case announced that the Detroit-based Skillman Foundation is giving $3.5-million to the fund, the Detroit Free Press writes. The Skillman pledge brings to about $370-million the total committed by private philanthropies to help the city ease its multibillion-dollar pension debt while averting a sale of Detroit Institute of Arts works to satisfy creditors.

Government unveils Protection of Charities Bill in the Queen's Speech | Third Sector

Government unveils Protection of Charities Bill in the Queen's Speech | Third Sector: The draft legislation would give the Charity Commission tougher powers to prevent the abuse of charities

The government has announced draft legislation designed to give the Charity Commission tougher powers to prevent the abuse of charities.

The Protection of Charities Bill, announced as part of the Queen’s Speech today, would "create a fairer society by better protecting charities in England and Wales from abuse and equipping the Charity Commission to tackle abuse more effectively and efficiently", according to a statement released by the Cabinet Office.

Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Global Donors Commit $80-Million for Wild-Cat Conservation – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Global Donors Commit $80-Million for Wild-Cat Conservation – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: Four philanthropists from around the world have pledged $20-million each to wildlife charity Panthera to fund a 10-year program to protect lions, tigers, and other species of big cats, writes the Associated Press.

Charity once the largest in UK by annual donations is dissolved in restructure | Third Sector

Charity once the largest in UK by annual donations is dissolved in restructure | Third Sector: The Gavi Fund Affiliate, part of the funding mechanism for the healthcare NGO the Gavi Alliance, had a voluntary income of �458.1m in the year to March 2011

A charity formerly listed as the UK’s biggest recipient of voluntary income has been voluntarily dissolved as part of a restructure of its parent organisation designed to save money.

The Gavi Fund Affiliate, which had a voluntary income of �458.1m in the year to March 2011, according to figures from the Charities Aid Foundation, was part of the funding mechanism for the international healthcare NGO the Gavi Alliance.

Monday, June 02, 2014

Poor positioning tops list of street fundraisers' 'most common misdemeanours' | Third Sector

Poor positioning tops list of street fundraisers' 'most common misdemeanours' | Third Sector: The PFRA publishes the latest compliance and enforcement data on charities that incur penalties for breaking its rules

The most common misdemeanours by street fundraisers in the past year were positioning themselves in the wrong place, not wearing ‘team leader’ badges and not explaining themselves to donors in clear and simple terms, according to data from the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association.

The latest compliance and enforcement data shows how street fundraisers have fared since the PFRA struck an agreement with its members in September 2012 to implement

Bill planned to protect volunteers from being sued for negligence

Bill planned to protect volunteers from being sued for negligence: Writing a blog on ConservativeHome today, Grayling said too often people who are doing the right thing in society feel constrained by the fear of ending up facing a lawsuit for negligence.

He said his proposed bill, nicknamed 'Sarah', will serve as a signpost from Parliament to courts. “It will set out very simple protections for those people who act in the interests of society, responsibly or heroically.