Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Charity Commission shelves public benefit assessments for hospitals and health charities - Third Sector

Charity Commission shelves public benefit assessments for hospitals and health charities - Third Sector: "Tests on a sample of organisations cancelled because of lack of resources
The Charity Commission has scrapped plans to carry out public benefit assessments on private hospitals and other health charities, because of concerns over whether it has the funding to do so.
The commission announced in December that it would carry out a round of assessments on sports charities and charities working for 'the advancement of health', to test whether they could demonstrate they had charitable purposes and operated for the public benefit, as required by the Charities Act 2006."

JK Rowling gives �10m to MS charity - Telegraph

JK Rowling gives �10m to MS charity - Telegraph: "The author of the Harry Potter series, whose mother Anne died from complications related to MS at the age of 45, said she had been looking for a long time for a way to 'give something back' to the city of Edinburgh.
The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at Edinburgh University will also focus on other degenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Motor Neurone Disease."

Giving birth to civil society

Giving birth to civil society: "BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Lu Zhao has discovered his own way of keeping a smile on his face - by helping others.

'I smile all the time, because philanthropy makes me happier and younger, ' said Lu."

Monday, August 30, 2010

Column : Philanthropy beyond philanthropy

Column : Philanthropy beyond philanthropy: "Philanthropy around the world is changing. Today’s leading philanthropists—from Pierre Omidyar to the Liechtenstein royal family—are approaching their philanthropy with an investment mindset. But instead of merely financial returns, they are evaluating overall societal returns associated with their activities. India can benefit from this next generation philanthropy as it transforms itself from a developing country into one of the world’s largest economies. Philanthropic investing can provide capital and expertise to the social entrepreneurs that will help drive this historic transformation."

Lessons in charity: India Inc says no to Buffett, Gates - Corporate Trends - News By Company - News - The Economic Times

Lessons in charity: India Inc says no to Buffett, Gates - Corporate Trends - News By Company - News - The Economic Times: "t is said that if India’s richest 100 donated their fortunes the way Warren Buffett and Bill Gates did — over $250 billion — a quarter of the Indian GDP would be generated. But all said and done, the question of what the wealthiest Indians are giving now still remains a mystery. Most of them aren’t telling, and outsiders can’t pierce the veil! Yash Birla, the scion of the Birla empire, is known in the industry as a true ‘giver’. Yash says, “Keep in mind that there’s always a higher purpose for your income.” Yet another philanthropist who would divulge just as much!"

Cantonese opera stars, great crowd turn benefit into a huge success

Cantonese opera stars, great crowd turn benefit into a huge success: "VANCOUVER — Two of the most celebrated Cantonese opera artists in Asia and a packed house helped transform a charity event hosted by the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation on Saturday into a stunning triumph for all.

More than 1,000 people attended the inaugural Cantonese Opera Charity Show at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts."

Philanthropy here gets professional - August 28, 2010

Philanthropy here gets professional - August 28, 2010: "PHILANTHROPY in Singapore has reached an exciting phase of growth, as new trends and concepts could add breadth and depth to giving here. It is the beneficiary of Asia's strong growth, rising prosperity and the speed with which knowledge and information spreads today, both philanthropists and observers in the sector say. For a start, pockets have grown deeper. 'There has been a definite rise in the number of high net worth individuals in Asia, and with that we've seen a rising number of people keen to give from that wealth they've achieved,' says Cynthia D'Anjou-Brown, HSBC Private Bank's senior adviser on philanthropy and governance."

Charity Commission's Faith and Social Cohesion Unit puts resources online - Third Sector

Charity Commission's Faith and Social Cohesion Unit puts resources online - Third Sector: "Charity Commission's Faith and Social Cohesion Unit puts resources online
By Sean Lightbown, Third Sector Online, 27 August 2010
Soon-to-be-closed section makes guidelines available
The Charity Commission’s Faith and Social Cohesion Unit, which closes at the end of this month, has made a range of resources for faith-based charities available online."

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Travel Biz Monitor :: ITB Asia 2010 attracts over 25 speakers to address Association Day

Travel Biz Monitor :: ITB Asia 2010 attracts over 25 speakers to address Association Day: "TB Asia 2010, which will be held from October 20-22 at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre, has attracted over 25 speakers to address Association Day, a specialist forum which will be held on October 20-21. This forum is dedicated to understanding and growing the association meeting sector in Asia. ASAE, The Centre for Association Leadership and Suntec Singapore are key collaborators. Association Day is supported by International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau."

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Conference aims to discuss Guam's nonprofit issues | guampdn.com | Pacific Daily News

Conference aims to discuss Guam's nonprofit issues | guampdn.com | Pacific Daily News

News - Local News: Towcester and NN12 (NN12)

News - Local News: Towcester and NN12 (NN12): "Towcester Tea Rooms Thames River Challenge Beats Fund Raising Target"

More want to give to charity

More want to give to charity: "MORE Singaporeans here are planning to donate to a charitable cause in the next six months, a new survey has shown.

Out of 400 Singaporeans polled in a global MasterCard survey on their plans for charitable donations, 57 per cent are looking to donate to charity in the near future, up from 54 per cent when the same survey was conducted at the end of last year, and 47 per cent in mid-2009."

Navca members express concern about National Citizens' Service - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Navca members express concern about National Citizens' Service - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: "Over half of Navca’s members are unsure about or don’t want to play a part in implementing the coalition’s new National Citizens’ Service, a volunteering scheme for young people.
Navca received responses from one in three of its 370�members on their views on the coalition’s Big Society agenda, which include community bids to take over local state-run services, creating a generation of new community organisers and development support for civil society organisations."

Monday, August 23, 2010

Channel NewsAsia - More in Singapore looking to donate to charity - channelnewsasia.com

Channel NewsAsia - More in Singapore looking to donate to charity - channelnewsasia.com: "SINGAPORE: As the economy picks up momentum, more consumers in Singapore are opening their hearts and looking to open their wallets to charitable causes.

The latest survey by MasterCard Worldwide found that 57 per cent of consumers surveyed in Singapore were planning to make a charitable donation in the next six months.

MasterCard said the proportion was 54 per cent at the end of last year and 47 per cent in mid 2009."

TheSpec - Canada will match donations

TheSpec - Canada will match donations: "OTTAWA - The federal government moved yesterday to kick-start giving for Pakistan flood relief by offering to match private donations, dollar for dollar.
Donations for flood aid made between Aug. 2 and Sept. 12 will be matched by federal money with no upper limit, Government House leader John Baird said."

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Commission pleads with Treasury for access to its own reserves - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Commission pleads with Treasury for access to its own reserves - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: "he Charity Commission is lobbying the Treasury to allow it to spend �1.5m in reserves that the Commission has accumulated in recent years.

The Commission says that access to these reserves would help to soften the impact of the budget cuts that are sure to come in the spending review, but to date the Treasury has refused to allow the regulator to use the money."

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

eBay Founder Steps Up India Philanthropy - India Real Time - WSJ

eBay Founder Steps Up India Philanthropy - India Real Time - WSJ: "Omidyar Network, the philanthropic investing firm of eBay Inc. founder Pierre Omidyar, plans to plough as much as $200 million into India in the next five years. The organization’s target: businesses and non-profits that can make a “social impact” and improve life for people on the lowest economic rungs."

Legal fears delay Northern Ireland charity legislation - Third Sector

Legal fears delay Northern Ireland charity legislation - Third Sector: "Introduction of Charities Act delayed after lawyers claim discrepancies over the definition of public benefit

The implementation of Northern Ireland's Charities Act will be delayed, and the legislation might be rewritten, after lawyers warned it was open to legal challenge because it combines Scottish law with legislation that applies to England and Wales."

Quebec donations down

Quebec donations down: "Quebecers did not hesitate to open their wallets to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, the Indian Ocean tsunami or the Saguenay floods.

But that generosity has not materialized in the wake of the devastating floods now playing out in Pakistan."

Monday, August 16, 2010

toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio

toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio

Philanthropy rising in S'pore

Philanthropy rising in S'pore: "Philanthropy rising in S'pore

SINGAPORE - IF YOU want to smell like roses and help the world's less privileged people, part with some of that extra money and give it to Lee Poh Wah.

'Philanthropic money is like manure. It smells if you have too much of it in the bank,' said the 40-year-old chief executive officer of the Lien Foundation, one of Singapore's most high-profile philanthropic organisations."

Friday, August 13, 2010

Singapore Charity Sector Texting for Transparency | Pro Bono Australia

Singapore Charity Sector Texting for Transparency | Pro Bono Australia: "Singapore's charity regulator has introduced an SMS system to allow the public to check on the bona fides of a charity soliciting donations.

The Commissioner of Charities (COC), Low Puk Yeong recently introduced the system and detailed the service in his annual report to the Singapore Government this week.

Yeong says that to enable the public to continue to donate with confidence, the COC introduced an SMS service to allow members of the public to send a query via text message to check whether an organisation has a permit to solicit donations in public."

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Will an Indian Billionaire Take the Pledge? - The Wealth Report - WSJ

Will an Indian Billionaire Take the Pledge? - The Wealth Report - WSJ: "A March 2010 study by Bain & Company found that Indians collectively donate 0.6% of their country’s GDP to charity. While higher than other emerging markets like Brazil (0.3%) and China (0.1%), the amount of collective donation still pales in comparison to Western nations like Canada (1.3%) and the U.S. (2.2%).

Just 10% of charitable giving in India comes from individuals or companies, compared to 75% in the U.S., the Bain & Co. study reported. India’s biggest donor: the government."

Individual donations surge

Individual donations surge: "The Commissioner of Charities' latest annual report, released on Tuesday, showed that individual donations reached $240 million, up from $211 million in 2008 - a 13.7 per cent increase. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

INDIVIDUAL tax-deductible donations to charities rose last year, despite the economic recession.

The Commissioner of Charities' latest annual report, released on Tuesday, showed that individual donations reached $240 million, up from $211 million in 2008 - a 13.7 per cent increase.

Public generosity also extended to foreign causes, said the report."

CCVO_Weathering_the_Storm_FINAL.pdf (application/pdf Object)

CCVO_Weathering_the_Storm_FINAL.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Monday, August 09, 2010

Who should regulate Africa's non-government agencies? | Katine | guardian.co.uk

Who should regulate Africa's non-government agencies? | Katine | guardian.co.uk: "Who should regulate Africa's non-government agencies?

The debate over who should keep tabs on NGOs begs the question: to whom should they be accountable? Uganda's Katine project is an example of how to listen to the voice of the poor - wannabee donors take note"

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

B.C. federal tax collector was in on charity tax fraud scheme

B.C. federal tax collector was in on charity tax fraud scheme: "VANCOUVER - A federal tax collector from B.C.is one of the people implicated in a multi-million-dollar charity fraud tax scheme recently busted by the Canada Revenue Agency, according to internal government documents obtained by The Vancouver Sun.

On April 8, the CRA sent out a news release announcing that, as a result of its investigation, three people from Victoria were being charged with tax evasion after allegedly selling $7.6 million in charity receipts for as little as one-tenth of their face value.

- Sent using Google Toolbar"