Be one of the first ten people to answer this question correctly to be entered in the drawing for this month’s prize, the retro 1950’s Candy Pack!

Question: What future rock and roll star joined the Army in 1958?

Know the answer?

In a gala event featuring recorded and live messages from Special Olympics leaders, Heritage celebrated 50 years of service on June 7. The event was attended by nearly 900 team members and guests, and was a celebration of how blessed we have been to serve America’s greatest charities for a half-century. We are truly grateful for the many great relationships we have with our charity partners, and look forward to another 50 years of Inspiring Hopes, Dreams and Opportunities!

To give some idea of how long Heritage has been in service, consider what the world was like when we opened our doors in 1958:

• That was the year Elvis Presley joined the Army
• The Academy Award for Best Picture went to Bridge on the River Kwai
• A first class stamp cost $0.03
• Gasoline cost $0.30 a gallon

Now that was a long time ago!

In 2006, 40% of the 1037 traffic fatalities in South Carolina involved drivers with blood alcohol contents above .08. The most publicized of those deaths was Tony Howard, who was killed by a drunk driver who had seven previous drunk driving convictions. Thanks in part to efforts by MADD, that state is strengthening its drunk driving penalties. Advocating a broader use of interlock devices for drivers after a previous DUI, MADD’s Chuck Hurley noted, “There’s a reason people continue to drink and drive…and that is because they can.” This effort has been just one more example of how MADD keeps America’s roads safe for all of us.

The Internal Revenue Service reported that for 2005, taxpayers’ tax deductible donations increased by almost $18 billion from the previous year, to $183.4 billion. The Service also reported that tax deductible donations increased by an average of $356 per taxpayer from 2004-05, up to $4432, the highest level ever, and the last year for which such data is available. Americans continue to be the most generous people in the world when it comes to helping those in need.

As readers of this space may remember, Congress changed the law governing charitable donations of cars in 2005 to increase the regulations on the value of such gifts that could be tax deductible. That change led to a 67% decrease in the number of cars donated to charities from 2004-05, and an 80% drop in the value of the cars that were donated. Charities dependent upon such fundraising programs have been forced to look to alternative fundraising efforts.

The IRS has stripped Franklin, Tennessee’s National Foundation of America of its coveted tax exempt status for failing to spend enough of its resources on charitable programs. While this particular organization was not spending its funds in the manner consistent with is stated purpose, the fundamental reasoning behind the IRS’ move is a matter of concern for all nonprofits. If the IRS begins to set standards for program spending—something beyond their Congressional mandate—then it could be a slippery slope to having many nonprofits lose their tax exempt status if they do not spend as much as IRS thinks is appropriate. THA will continue to monitor and report on this trend.

So, you have a website that can accept donations—now what? Is it raising as much money as you thought it would, need it to, or used to? Here are some keys to improving your site’s fundraising performance:

1. Make giving easy.
2. Help people get what they want fast.
3. Put your giving links and buttons in the best online real estate—the top right corner.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is actively fighting do-not-mail bills in various statehouses around the nation this election year. Those bills, which are patterned after state and federal do-not-call laws, are aimed at the elimination of acquisition direct mail and in some cases, limiting mail to established customers (donors). The DMA is asking direct marketing leaders from many sectors, including nonprofits, to help them with public appearances and statements regarding such bills. There are 14 states considering such legislation currently. THA will track this issue closely, and keep you posted if any of these bills get closer to becoming law.

A recent study of charity fraud cases found that the median loss was $100,000. Such issues harm the public’s trust in charities, and lead to greater legislative and regulatory scrutiny. The moral of the story? Hire with care, and manage your donors’ gifts like they were your money!

The US economy is not technically in a recession, but that fact doesn’t make average people feel any better when they go to the grocery store or the gas pump these days. A recent survey showed that 74% of Americans have had to make sacrifices in the last year to make ends meet, and 34% are concerned about losing their job. Further, just 4% planned to donate some of their 2008 tax rebate to nonprofits. All of these factors affect the general outlook for charitable fundraising for the year, though there will continue to be some sectors that thrive.

Did you ever wonder who designed the Special Olympics logo? Heritage did! Heritage graphic artists have decades of experience, the best equipment in the industry, and the understanding of a charity’s needs that only working with such groups for so long can give. Lots of companies can build a website or design a mail piece, but no one else knows our charity partners like we do, and has the capability and experience in creating captivating images that communicate your message so…perfectly.