Question of the Month
Be one of the first ten people to respond by clicking here with the correct answer to this month’s question to be entered in a drawing for this month’s prize, the Fairytale Brownie Sampler!
What year was Vanished Children’s Alliance founded?
Be one of the first ten people to respond by clicking here with the correct answer to this month’s question to be entered in a drawing for this month’s prize, the Fairytale Brownie Sampler!
What year was Vanished Children’s Alliance founded?
Vanished Children’s Alliance Brings Kids HomeOur featured charity partner this month is the Vanished Children’s Alliance. Since 1980, VCA has helped reunite over 30,000 families with their missing children. A brief example of their work is shown in this story.
Buffett Donates Billions to Gates Foundation
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett made headlines last month with the announcement that he would donate the majority of his $44 billion to the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett, who professes to not believe in dynastic wealth, chose to donate this money to the Gates Foundation over a period of several years, instead of leaving it all for his children. This decision closely followed Gates’ announcement that he would be leaving his responsibilities at Microsoft in 2008 to devote his time to the Foundation, which supports education and disease efforts.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett made headlines last month with the announcement that he would donate the majority of his $44 billion to the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett, who professes to not believe in dynastic wealth, chose to donate this money to the Gates Foundation over a period of several years, instead of leaving it all for his children. This decision closely followed Gates’ announcement that he would be leaving his responsibilities at Microsoft in 2008 to devote his time to the Foundation, which supports education and disease efforts.
Giving to Nonprofits Hits $260 Billion
Giving to US nonprofits hit a record $260 billion in 2005, according to Giving USA. That figure, while impressive, is slightly below the inflation-adjusted rate of 2000. Much of the giving was driven to relief efforts for natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but the plurality continued to support religious organizations. The report also showed a decline in planned gifts, contrary to all expectations.
Giving to US nonprofits hit a record $260 billion in 2005, according to Giving USA. That figure, while impressive, is slightly below the inflation-adjusted rate of 2000. Much of the giving was driven to relief efforts for natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but the plurality continued to support religious organizations. The report also showed a decline in planned gifts, contrary to all expectations.
NCCS Honors Bob Dole
The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) recently honored former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) with their 2006 International Humanitarian Award. Dole, a cancer survivor, was honored for his leadership on behalf of the disabled and advocacy of children with cancer. Previous recipients of the award include CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, former President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush, and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) recently honored former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) with their 2006 International Humanitarian Award. Dole, a cancer survivor, was honored for his leadership on behalf of the disabled and advocacy of children with cancer. Previous recipients of the award include CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, former President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush, and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
MADD Announces Media Award Winners
MADD recently recognized nineteen media outlets for their efforts in raising awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking. The Award of Excellence went to NBC’s Dateline, with other recipients for national organizations including
MADD recently recognized nineteen media outlets for their efforts in raising awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking. The Award of Excellence went to NBC’s Dateline, with other recipients for national organizations including
- Award of Excellence – Broadcast – Dateline, NBC Network
- National Television: Underage Drinking Issues – 20/20, ABC Network
- Magazine: Underage Drinking Issues-National – Ladies’ Home Journal
- Magazine: Underage Drinking Issues-Local – Wilma! Wilmington’s Magazine for Women, Wilmington, N.C.
Salvation Army Kroc Gift Bears Fruit
When the late Mrs. Joan Kroc passed away in 2004, she left roughly $1.5 billion of her McDonald’s fortune to the Salvation Army. That gift has begun bearing fruit, as witnessed in the groundbreaking of a center in San Francisco. That facility, The Salvation Army’s Tenderloin Housing and Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, is one of eight community centers planned to be developed from Mrs. Kroc’s gift. The facility will include 110 new units of transitional and permanent housing; a new youth center expected to serve 2000 people annually; a new public swimming pool; nutritional and social programs for seniors, and a worship center.
When the late Mrs. Joan Kroc passed away in 2004, she left roughly $1.5 billion of her McDonald’s fortune to the Salvation Army. That gift has begun bearing fruit, as witnessed in the groundbreaking of a center in San Francisco. That facility, The Salvation Army’s Tenderloin Housing and Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, is one of eight community centers planned to be developed from Mrs. Kroc’s gift. The facility will include 110 new units of transitional and permanent housing; a new youth center expected to serve 2000 people annually; a new public swimming pool; nutritional and social programs for seniors, and a worship center.
Gulf Coast Libraries Get Nearly $18 Million for Rebuilding
Among the damage done by Hurricane Katrina last year was the destruction of many of the public libraries in the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. While the permanent facilities are being rebuilt, the region will be served by temporary “mini-branches” and mobile units. The funding for these short-term library resources comes from grants from three groups: The Gates Foundation ($12.2 million), the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund ($5 million), and a federal grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Private efforts such as these and the relief work of a myriad of nonprofits (such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross) have far outshone governmental agencies at all levels in the wake of the hurricane, and their efforts are to be commended.
Among the damage done by Hurricane Katrina last year was the destruction of many of the public libraries in the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. While the permanent facilities are being rebuilt, the region will be served by temporary “mini-branches” and mobile units. The funding for these short-term library resources comes from grants from three groups: The Gates Foundation ($12.2 million), the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund ($5 million), and a federal grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Private efforts such as these and the relief work of a myriad of nonprofits (such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross) have far outshone governmental agencies at all levels in the wake of the hurricane, and their efforts are to be commended.
Heritage Published in DM NewsThe June 23 issue of DM News featured articles exclusively about search engine marketing, and we are grateful to share with you that one of our team members had a piece published in it. The topic was how an organization can test the Google AdWords system free before investing in it. You may view the article by clicking here. We are also pleased to report that we will have an article published in The NonProfit Times in August, which we will share with you in our next issue.
Crossfire: Threats and Opportunities in the Estate Tax Changes
A major challenge facing Congress this election year is that of the estate tax. This issue is one that nonprofits have a major stake in, due to the possible ramifications of such a change. Supporters of extending estate tax reductions beyond their sunset-date of 2010 hold that allowing wealthy families to pass along a higher portion of their estate to their heirs increases the likelihood that more will be given to nonprofits in the long-term. Opponents take the position that higher estate taxes drive will-drafters to make gifts to nonprofits so that their estate value will fall below the threshold and thus not cause tax problems for their family beneficiaries. This issue is one that we will be tracking closely and reporting on in this space as events unfold.
A major challenge facing Congress this election year is that of the estate tax. This issue is one that nonprofits have a major stake in, due to the possible ramifications of such a change. Supporters of extending estate tax reductions beyond their sunset-date of 2010 hold that allowing wealthy families to pass along a higher portion of their estate to their heirs increases the likelihood that more will be given to nonprofits in the long-term. Opponents take the position that higher estate taxes drive will-drafters to make gifts to nonprofits so that their estate value will fall below the threshold and thus not cause tax problems for their family beneficiaries. This issue is one that we will be tracking closely and reporting on in this space as events unfold.
What Attrition Does to YOUR Donor File
Have you ever considered the effects of attrition on your donor file? Put another way, what would you do if you lost 10,000 donors in a year? To see how this issue has affected one of our major partners, please click here.
Have you ever considered the effects of attrition on your donor file? Put another way, what would you do if you lost 10,000 donors in a year? To see how this issue has affected one of our major partners, please click here.
For All Your Mailing Needs
How often have you asked your donors for money to support you? And how many times have you shared with them your progress, vision and mission? How neat and cool is it when a donor or family member thanks you… So you might consider a postcard, letter, personal note that Heritage mail services can include with mass mailings for discounted rates. [more..]
How often have you asked your donors for money to support you? And how many times have you shared with them your progress, vision and mission? How neat and cool is it when a donor or family member thanks you… So you might consider a postcard, letter, personal note that Heritage mail services can include with mass mailings for discounted rates. [more..]
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By Phone: Marilyn Michie • 1-800-643-8822 ext. 1142
Article Inquiries: Stephen Dawson