Monday, July 31, 2006

License poker, says charity fundraiser

License poker, says charity fundraiser: "License poker, says charity fundraiser
Last Updated: Monday, July 31, 2006 | 9:20 AM AT
CBC News

A New Brunswick fundraiser wants the province to license charity poker games after police warned a Fredericton-area group that it could face charges for using gambling to raise money.

Paul Wentzell, chairman of the United Commercial Travellers' poker committee, said people should be allowed to gamble for a good cause."

No cheque book charity this

No cheque book charity this: "It’s a case of reverse globalisation. With perceptible regularity, Indian companies are making inroads into foreign markets. So far so good. But, perhaps for the first time, they are also demonstrating their corporate social responsibility in the markets they operate in. Consider this. After Satyam Computer Services went global, its CSR arm, Satyam Foundation, is following the parent. Having made significant presence in five cities in India — Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Bhuvaneswar and Pune — the foundation will soon be spreading wings to the US, Europe, China and Australia in a couple of quarters."

Channelnewsasia.com-Some 17,000 take part in charity walkathon

Channelnewsasia.com: "Some 17,000 take part in charity walkathon
By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 July 2006 1903 hrs
Some 17,000 people walked through the city on Saturday to raise cash for charity and celebrate National Day.

From the young to the old, they gave their time and money.

Among them was Joshua Teo, an architecture student.

He said: 'We're here to raise funds for Touch Community Services and also to raise awareness of the needs of our community. It is really a good thing we're having.'

Also joining in the 'Take The City Walk' were government officials, including the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.
"

Channelnewsasia.com-Mega donations transforming the face of philanthropy

Channelnewsasia.com: "Mega donations transforming the face of philanthropy
By Channel NewsAsia's US Correspondent Julie Donnelly | Posted: 29 July 2006 1235 hrs

WASHINGTON : Recently, there has been an explosion in large gifts from well-known figures to charity, and experts say these high-profile investments for good are transforming philanthropy.

Right now, philanthropy is hot.

Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie are focusing attention on the plight of the world's poor.

And billionaire Bill Gates recently announced he will soon leave Microsoft, the empire he created, to run the charitable foundation he started with his wife Melinda.

Now, financier Warren Buffett says he will join Gates by pledging US$30 billion - the single biggest donation in history.
"

Do more for the needy, PM tells big companies

Do more for the needy, PM tells big companies: "Do more for the needy, PM tells big companies

BY IZATUN SHARI

BANGI: The Prime Minister has called on the corporate sector to adopt the philosophy of philanthropy and corporate citizenship to help the underprivileged.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said although individual and corporate companies had done their part to contribute towards the needy, much more should be done. "

Khaleej Times Online - Six Asians, one foundation receive Asia’s premier prize

Khaleej Times Online - Six Asians, one foundation receive Asia’s premier prize: "Six Asians, one foundation receive Asia’s premier prize
(DPA)

31 July 2006


MANILA - A Philippine foundation that builds houses for the poor, a South Korean lawyer who encourages philanthropy and an Indian anti-corruption crusader were among seven winners of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Award, it was announced on Monday.

Organizers of the award - Asia’s equivalent to the Noble Prize - said the seven recipients were being recognised for continuing the ”tradition of greatness of spirit in selfless service to the peoples of Asia.”"

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story-Through donors' eyes: What donors would like nonprofit organizations to know

Charity Village®NewsWeek: Cover Story: "Through donors' eyes: What donors would like nonprofit organizations to know
Louise Chatterton LuchukBy Louise Chatterton Luchuk
July 31, 2006

This week's cover story is the final installment in a series of articles to help nonprofit organizations see the world from another perspective. The series also includes what funders, volunteers, consultants, and the media would like the nonprofit sector to know about their side of the relationship.

Nationally, more than 22 million Canadians - 85% of the population aged 15 and over - made a financial donation to a charitable or other nonprofit organization in 2004. These donors gave an estimated $8.9 billion, which works out to an average of $400 each according to the recently released 2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. In this month's story, we check in with four donors from different parts of the country to find out what motivates them to give and what advice they can offer to help nonprofits be strategic in their ask."

Friday, July 28, 2006

Charity poker games illegal, say RCMP

Charity poker games illegal, say RCMP: "New Maryland bar and a non-profit group may face criminal charges if they don't stop operating a poker fundraiser, the RCMP said Thursday.

The National Undergraduate Business Games Committee, which is raising funds for activities to improve the entrepreneurial skills of business students, says its poker game at the Village Lounge is legal because nobody is making a profit.

But RCMP Staff Sgt. Collin Farrar said that's not the case, because New Brunswick does not licence poker games to raise money for any purpose."

The Tide Online-Charity Trust Fund Board bill now before LSHA

The Tide Online: "Charity Trust Fund Board bill now before LSHA
• Friday, Jul 28, 2006

A bill for a law to establish the Charity Trust Fund Board is now at the committee stage in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The bill, according to its sponsor, Mr Adelabu Onobiyo (Alimoso 1), seeks to empower the state government to administer charities for the upliftment of the welfare of those in dire need in Lagos State.

The lawmaker explained that the bill became necessary in view of the mega-city posture of Lagos and the need to cater for the less privileged."

Thursday, July 27, 2006

UK Fundraising | News | New charity award to include training and development for charity staff

UK Fundraising | News | New charity award to include training and development for charity staff: "New charity award to include training and development for charity staff
by Howard Lake
27 Jul 2006

Charity workers will receive training and development support as part of a new charity award launched by the Centre for Strategy and Communication, a training and management consultancy for the non-profit and public sectors, to mark its 10th anniversary. "

SEE Portal - Homepage / News / News:Macedonia - Foreign Donors Pull-Out, Life-Line Identified in the EU Funds

SEE Portal - Homepage / News / News:Macedonia - Foreign Donors Pull-Out, Life-Line Identified in the EU Funds: "oreign Donors Pull-Out, Life-Line Identified in the EU Funds
Zaklina Gjorgjevic, Utrinski Vesnik
27 July 2006
The announced availability of the news pre-accession EU funda – IPA, was received by NGOs with much joy. On the other hand, it increases their fears of a pull-out or reduction of foreign aid coming into the country. Foreign representatives in Macedonia warn that it is only a matter of time before the pull-out of foreign donors, writes Zaklina Gjorgjevic in “Utrinski vesnik”.

The prognosis are dire – the smaller non-governmental organizations will cease to exist completely, and even the survival of the larger organizations is questionable. The domestic donors are seen as the last option, but such donors can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Macedonia remains in the circle of isolated countries in which the companies have not adopted the custom to promote the NGO sector and its activities. Hungary, on the other hand, has established a well-functioning system of “philanthropy of percentages”. "

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Workers abroad send poor families more money than world aid donors

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Workers abroad send poor families more money than world aid donors: "Workers abroad send poor families more money than world aid donors

£1.5bn in remittances forwarded from Britain to 50 countries

Angela Balakrishnan
Thursday July 27, 2006
The Guardian

Tony Olabowale is part of a growing army. He is one of the ethnic minority workers in Britain who sends a sizeable chunk of his salary to his family abroad - money that is providing a lifeline for poor families in the developing world. The fact that overseas remittances have become big business was revealed in the first survey of money sent from Britain conducted by the Department for International Development. For some countries remittances are far more important than the value of foreign direct investment from multi-national companies."

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

SEE Portal - Homepage / News / News:Serbia and Montenegro - Securing Funds for NGO Activities from Local Budgets

SEE Portal - Homepage / News / News:Serbia and Montenegro - Securing Funds for NGO Activities from Local Budgets: "Securing Funds for NGO Activities from Local Budgets
Gradjanske Inicijative
The survey NGO Sector in Serbia, conducted by Civic Initiatives and Federation of Serbian NGOs (FENS) at the beginning of the year, clearly demonstrates the deteriorating financial situation of non-governmental organizations in Serbia. "

Islamabad News-Code of ethics for NGOs

Islamabad News: "Code of ethics for NGOs

Asma Razaq

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to prevent donor agencies from influencing non-governmental organisations in their policy-making, the Social Welfare Ministry is in the process of formulating a ‘Code of Ethics’ for 100,000 NGOs operating in Pakistan."
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Telegraph | Money | Monday charity woes plunge Chariot into red

Telegraph | Money | Monday charity woes plunge Chariot into red: "Monday charity woes plunge Chariot into red
By Caroline Muspratt
(Filed: 26/07/2006)

Lottery operator Chariot made a loss of £7.86m last year after the disappointing launch of its Monday charities lottery."

Donating money? A guide for you

Donating money? A guide for you: "n Trichy, Sriram Srinivasan, professor of mathematics at the National Institute of Technology, helps educate the underprivileged and offers support to several children who are first-generation learners. He does much of this through an NGO (non-government organisation) funded by a group of his friends.

Meanwhile, in far-away Gurgaon, Indira Varadarajan works through the Rotary Club to help women in nearby villages learn vocational skills like tailoring, making pickles and cooking meals for corporate canteens in the

vicinity. And in Mumbai, Deepa Kshirsagar contributes regularly to Bharatiya Stree Shakti to fund the education of a girl child. She never seriously considered giving, till she saw the beneficiaries of the Bharatiya Stree Shakti outfit. Today, she funds the education of a girl child. 'Rs 1,500 a month is not a big sum, but if I skip a few unwanted indulgences, I can manage to give for this cause regularly.'"

The Jakarta Post - Study finds alms badly managed

The Jakarta Post - Study finds alms badly managed: "Study finds alms badly managed

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Frequent disasters have left the cash-strapped government lamenting a lack of funds for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

But a study suggests Islamic philanthropy is a tremendous potential funding source for such projects that is not being managed effectively.

Research by the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University's Center for Study of Religion and Culture in Jakarta has found property donations or wakaf from Muslims across the country are worth Rp 590 trillion (about US$64.7 billion) a year."

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Donations up for non-profit arts groups in 2004, says StatsCan

Donations up for non-profit arts groups in 2004, says StatsCan: "Donations up for non-profit arts groups in 2004, says StatsCan

CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, July 25, 2006

OTTAWA - Grants, subsidies and donations to non-profit arts groups in Canada were up in 2004 and provincial governments were the biggest financial backers according to new data released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday.

In total, contributions to these non-profit companies increased 5.5 per cent over 2003 and support from the government sector increased 7.2 per cent, more than twice the rate of growth in donations from the private sector."

Nation to deduct tax for donations

Nation to deduct tax for donations: "Nation to deduct tax for donations
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-22 09:28

The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation yesterday reiterated through the media their tax deduction policies for donations to charities.

It is a move that should be welcomed because the policies have not been well publicized.

However, more needs to be done to build a legal framework for donations and make it known to the public.

China enacted a law on donations to public welfare in 1999 detailing the rights and obligations of donors, beneficiaries and organizations managing donated money.

But the country has not yet set detailed rules and regulations governing the everyday aspects of welfare donations."

Germany's Hasso Plattner, Philanthropist - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

Germany's Hasso Plattner, Philanthropist - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com: "SAP founder Hasso Plattner has been an innovator in private life, too, sparking a wave of corporate giving in Germany.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Charity Times news - Majority of trustees ill equipped for role

Charity Times news - Majority of trustees ill equipped for role: "he majority of charity trustees feel they are not fully equipped for their role despite being responsible for more than £39 billion of charity cash, according to a survey for the Governance Hub.

More than 80% of trustees say they took on their role in order to contribute to a good cause, but 94% say they do not have the skills they need to carry out their job."

Reuters AlertNet - China emerges as world's third largest food aid donor

Reuters AlertNet - China emerges as world's third largest food aid donor: "In the same year it stopped receiving food aid from WFP, China emerged as the world’s third largest food aid donor in 2005, according to the latest annual Food Aid Monitor from INTERFAIS, the International Food Aid Information System."

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Sarah Boseley: on Bill Gates tackling poverty and disease in Africa

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Sarah Boseley: on Bill Gates tackling poverty and disease in Africa: "Wealth and experience

Bill Gates is the world's richest man, pledged to tackle poverty and disease in the planet's poorest continent. But what happens when the awkward billionaire faces the sick and poor of the townships - and the brighter warmth of Bill Clinton's mission? Sarah Boseley reports "

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Bloomberg.com: Muse-Tate Tightens Art-Buying Rules After Charity Commission Rebuke

Bloomberg.com: Muse: "Tate Tightens Art-Buying Rules After Charity Commission Rebuke

July 19 (Bloomberg) -- Britain's Tate, whose Tate Modern museum draws 4 million visitors a year, said it will give up some autonomy to a regulator and start disclosing the cost of buying art after being rebuked by the Charity Commission.

The Tate exceeded its legal powers when it purchased a work from Chris Ofili while the artist was a member of the board, the commission said. There were ``serious shortcomings in the processes for managing conflicts of interest and inadequate recording of decision-making,'' it said in a statement."
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The Korea Times : Big-Name Local Businesses Active in Support for Arts

The Korea Times : Big-Name Local Businesses Active in Support for Arts: "Corporate Sponsors of Arts Suggest Tax Cut


By Seo Dong-shin
Staff Reporter

Businesses have expanded their financial contributions to the arts for three consecutive years, according to a report by the Korean Business Council for the Arts released Wednesday.

Saying the trend reflects the businesses' ``great interest'' in development of art and culture despite difficult business conditions, Park Young-ju, chairman of Eagon Industrial Co. and president of the council, called for tax cuts for such activities."

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Buried treasure

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Buried treasure: "Buried treasure

The government is keen to spend the estimated £1bn of unclaimed assets held by UK banks on tackling problems in deprived communities. Is the proposed creation of a social investment bank the most effective way to do this? "

Monday, July 17, 2006

ABC News: South African Organization Turns Philanthropy On Its Head

ABC News: South African Organization Turns Philanthropy On Its Head: "South African Organization Turns Philanthropy On Its Head
Jacob Lief Mimicks African Philosophy As Guiding Light




By CHARLOTTE SECTOR

July 17, 2006 — Jacob Lief's sense of community has taken a life of its own.

Inspired by the African concept of Ubuntu, the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity, Lief co-founded a South African organization that focuses on the community. That means having parents, teachers, students and leaders involved in day-to-day planning and weighing in on all decisions. As a result, the simple school program has evolved over the past eight years to reflect local needs."

Mercury: Chan to give to charity

Mercury: Chan to give to charity: "Chan to give to charity

June 29, 2006 Edition 1

HONG KONG: Action film star Jackie Chan announced yesterday he had bequeathed half of his fortune to charity .

The exact amount involved wasn't clear, because Chan declined to reveal his net worth."

Small steps, big differences - In Depth - theage.com.au

Small steps, big differences - In Depth - theage.com.au: "hink philanthropy and the image is often of upper-crust old women dishing out father's inheritance over crustless sandwiches. That's all changing. As Claire Halliday discovers, the new breed of philanthropists do much more than just signing cheques.

Ully Merkel has never had a million dollars in her bank account. She doesn't know much about new hospital wings, and doesn't sit on several boards, where fine ports and aged cheeses are served with discussions about where to bequest the next sizeable chunk of cash.

Merkel, 30, sees her involvement with the Anna Wearne Trust — set up in 1997 after her friend, Anna Wearne, died in a car accident at the age of 23 — as a good example of the changing face of philanthropy."

Most generous person in China

Most generous person in China: "Most generous person in China
By Qing Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-17 11:10

Huang Rulun is the most generous person in the country, having donated 161 million yuan (US$20 million) last year.

That's what the China Philanthropy Times concluded when it ranked the president of Century Gold Resources Group at the top of this year's China Charity Ranking.

But people may feel puzzled when they look at two other such lists: One is Hurun Report's 2006 China Philanthropy List, on which Huang is ranked third, with his beneficence jumping to 447 million yuan (US$56 million); the other is Forbes Chinese Mainland Charity Board, where Huang still leads, but his donation is listed as 158 million yuan (US$19.8 million"

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Unclaimed cash should fund charity bank, says commission

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Unclaimed cash should fund charity bank, says commission: "nclaimed cash should fund charity bank, says commission

Phillip Inman
Tuesday July 11, 2006
The Guardian

A new financial institution using billions of pounds of 'orphan assets' could help charities operating in some of Britain's poorest communities, a government-backed group will say tomorrow.

The Commission on Unclaimed Assets, set up last December with the backing of Gordon Brown, will say that a fund of at least £400m and possibly several billion pounds should be made available for groups working to tackle poverty to buy IT services or financial advice."

allAfrica.com: South Africa: Philanthropy is Alive in SA -- Now Let's Make It Thrive

allAfrica.com: South Africa: Philanthropy is Alive in SA -- Now Let's Make It Thrive: "South Africa: Philanthropy is Alive in SA -- Now Let's Make It Thrive

Business Day (Johannesburg)

July 8, 2006
Posted to the web July 10, 2006

TAMLYN STEWART
Johannesburg

THE world's two richest men have joined forces in a philanthropic effort to support education and fight disease and poverty.

Local philanthropists will be hard-pressed to come close to matching the sums of money they will spend in SA. Besides, philanthropy does not seem to be very fashionable in SA: the new rich seem more intent on getting a Louis Vuitton bag and the right pair of matching shoes."

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Leaving it behind - INQ7.net

Leaving it behind - INQ7.net: "Leaving it behind

By Michael Tan
Inquirer
Last updated 11:48am (Mla time) 06/30/2006

Published on Page A15 of the June 30, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

“YOU can’t take it with you.” No matter how wealthy we are, we will all leave the world as we entered it: penniless.

So we try to console ourselves that at least we can leave the fruits of our labor to our children. But last Wednesday, I wrote about a trend toward “mega-philanthropy” where very rich American businessmen are leaving the bulk of their wealth to charity rather than to their children, and they’re doing this even before they die."

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Money matters

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Money matters: "Money matters

The British, he says, are embarrassed about their wealth and reluctant to give it away. The head of the Institute of Philanthropy tells Annie Kelly about his plans to introduce the UK's new rich to the joys of charitable giving

Wednesday July 5, 2006
The Guardian

Salvatore LaSpada is a man with a mission. Two months ago the Philadelphia-born Italian-American arrived in the UK as the new chief executive of the Institute for Philanthropy. His task? To infuse Britain's richest people with the 'joy of giving'.

'This is something I'm going to be going on and on about,' he says, sitting in the institute's wood-panelled office in an imposing 19th-century mansion by the Thames. 'Because giving money, however small, is a joyful activity and people should be proud of any contribution they can make.'"

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | 'His approach to philanthropy is similar to his approach to stocks - he wants it to make a huge difference'

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | 'His approach to philanthropy is similar to his approach to stocks - he wants it to make a huge difference': "His approach to philanthropy is similar to his approach to stocks - he wants it to make a huge difference'

The Sage of Omaha expects a nuclear catastrophe, but is still looking to the future

Andrew Clark in New York
Friday June 30, 2006
The Guardian

If anything gives the world's second richest man sleepless nights at his home in Omaha, Nebraska, it is the certainty that a nuclear holocaust will wipe out the planet. Warren Buffett is convinced the world will end in catastrophe - the only variable in the equation is when the big bang will happen.

The 75-year-old billionaire is fond of explaining that as the population rises, the number of 'bad guys' goes up. By all the laws of probability, one of them will eventually get hold of an atom bomb."

U.K. Faces Of The Week: June 26-30 - Forbes.com

U.K. Faces Of The Week: June 26-30 - Forbes.com: "U.K. Faces Of The Week: June 26-30
Chris Noon and Parmy Olson 07.01.06, 12:01 AM ET

Blair Joins Gates-Funded Supergroup To Monitor Africa Aid

Whither Bono? Grizzled Irish singer and political activist Sir Bob Geldof, Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and Nigeria's President Obasanjo are the merry men enlisted by British Prime Minister and sometime-axeman Tony Blair into a supergroup that will track aid promises made to Africa. The Ghanaian UN wallah will chair the panel--to be funded by billionaire Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) founder Bill Gates--that will keep an eye on debt and trade. It is believed that Peter Eigen, founder of global anticorruption watchdog Transparency International, will also sit on the Africa Progress Panel to be unveiled at a speech at Kings College London on Monday."