Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Will there be a rethink on the issue of donated stock? - Third Sector

Will there be a rethink on the issue of donated stock? - Third Sector: The ASB has had a rethink about several aspects of its new framework for financial reporting, says Ray Jones of the Charity Commission. Maybe it will look again at a new proposal that will cause particular trouble for charities

While many of us have spent recent weeks preparing for a new accounting framework in July 2013, the Accounting Standards Board seems to have been doing a bit of rethinking.

The AFP Blog

The AFP Blog: Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of attending the Institute of Fundraising’s (UK) annual conference in London. Part of the great experience I had there was meeting with leaders of different fundraising organizations from around the world.

RNLI charity swim area 'known to be dangerous for swimming' - Third Sector

RNLI charity swim area 'known to be dangerous for swimming' - Third Sector: A total of 25 swimmers had to be rescued during an event organised by the RNLI

An RNLI volunteer has criticised the organisation of a fundraising swim for his charity after 25 people had to be rescued from the sea

An RNLI volunteer has said a fundraising event for his charity in which 25 swimmers had to be rescued from the sea should not have been held where it was.

Op-Ed: Business is big enough

Op-Ed: Business is big enough: There's another important reason why private philanthropy should be considered as part of the solution. The tenor of our times, with public sector restraint now becoming the order of the day, combined with the ongoing re-evaluation of the role of the state in our lives, makes it exceedingly difficult for governments to fund such infrastructure or programs, especially on their own. The leadership and leverage provided by private support are now increasingly essential to making public dreams come true.

TELUS answers the call for community giving

TELUS answers the call for community giving: One of TELUS' more unique programs is its community boards, the only program of its kind in Canada.

Now in 10 cities across Canada, it's a giving program that targets lesser known charitable organizations by handing the decision making over to a board of local leaders who know their communities best.

"With the boards we try and focus on non-mainstream organizations, the smaller ones that don't have the marketing machines to raise the funds they need," says Carter.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Matching gifts come at a price | Story & Education Stories | The Australian

Matching gifts come at a price | Story & Education Stories | The Australian: But with UQ having often to offer matching funds to lure donations for building projects, the academics union is warning that faculty operating budgets and teaching are paying the price.

[HERI Report] Time to declare dual missions: stockholder and social responsibility : Business : Home

[HERI Report] Time to declare dual missions: stockholder and social responsibility : Business : Home: However, there are still differences between East Asian and Western countries. First, stakeholders‘ engagement in the civil society is relatively weaker in East Asia. It is a contrast to Western countries where there is a strong presence of NGOs and business has more frequent interactions with the civil society to collect opinions. This is the reason why East Asian corporations should make greater efforts to listen to their stakeholders and reflect their opinions to management.

On the other hand, there is a consensus in East Asia that a corporation in the end belongs to the society, so businesses in the region are active in corporate philanthropy and volunteering.

S. Korea's top 10 conglomerates cut philanthropy | YONHAP NEWS

S. Korea's top 10 conglomerates cut philanthropy | YONHAP NEWS: EOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top 10 conglomerates have reduced the amount they have given in charitable donations, despite posting solid profit gains in recent years, the country's financial watchdog said Tuesday.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Half of the public cannot name a local charity, survey finds - Third Sector: Nearly two-thirds of respondents to Attitudes to Giving survey said their giving had stayed at the same level over the past two years

Almost half of respondents to a recent survey on giving were unable to name a local charity in their area.

Attitudes to Giving, a survey by the market research company ActionPoint Marketing Solutions, canvassed the views of 420 people from different age groups, income levels and ethnicities in spring this year.

Hyundai boss to give $462m to charity

Hyundai boss to give $462m to charity: Chung Mong-Koo will donate shares worth 500 billion won in Hyundai Glovis - a Hyundai Motor subsidiary - to help children from poor families, the company said in a statement.

The money will be donated to a charity group founded by Hyundai, it said, adding the sum was the largest personal donation ever made in South Korea.

Shenzhen 'most charitable city' - China.org.cn

Shenzhen 'most charitable city' - China.org.cn: Shenzhen is the most generous city on the mainland, according to a ranking of Chinese cities' philanthropy, which was released on Friday in Wuhu, a city in Anhui province.

The ranking was made using what is known as the China City Philanthropy Index, on which Shenzhen scored 130.5 points out of a possible 160 points.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Household names blur the fine print

Household names blur the fine print: ome charities are more transparent than others, writes Anne Davies and Natasha Wallace.

Each year, Australians dig deep in their pockets for charity, often spurred into action by the familiar face of a sporting figure lending their star power to an important cause.

Charity golf tournaments - passion for sports and good causes

Charity golf tournaments - passion for sports and good causes: Golf tournaments for charity are becoming increasingly popular as fundraisers. Golf is a sport with both highly passionate and casual fans, and this can bring great awareness to your charity. Putting on a charity tournament gives golfers a chance to enjoy their game while giving sponsors of the event a chance to advertise, and even the golf courses they are played on have the opportunity to promote themselves.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Turkish charities succeeding in Somalia, leader of German charity says

Turkish charities succeeding in Somalia, leader of German charity says: Aid associations from Turkey, Germany and Arab countries carried out especially successful aid campaigns in the region, Rath said. He also praised the establishment and success of the Turkish field hospital built in Mogadishu.

In India, charity begins – and stays – at home - The Globe and Mail

In India, charity begins – and stays – at home - The Globe and Mail: While these temples are so fabulously rich they make the Vatican look like a pawnbroker’s shop, anyone running a charity in India has a hard time. An acquaintance who runs a home for destitute widows outside New Delhi struggles to persuade affluent Indians even to pay for cows so that she can provide the widows with milk.

The culture of philanthropy has yet to take root in India. You hear all the time about weddings that cost as much as the American defence budget, but hardly ever about charity balls or fundraising dinners.

TheRecord - Ethel's Tray Race

TheRecord - Ethel's Tray Race: Twenty-three teams representing restaurants from around the region asked residents to open their wallets for a good cause: The 10th annual Ethel’s Tray Race, a friendly relay hosted every year by Ethel’s Lounge in Uptown Waterloo.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Charities to be fined for flouting street fundraising rules - Third Sector

Charities to be fined for flouting street fundraising rules - Third Sector: Public Fundraising Regulatory Association announces penalty points system for organisations whose fundraisers are guilty of aggressive behaviour or working outside an assigned area

The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association, which regulates street fundraising, has announced plans to fine charities and agencies that do not adhere to new rules.

The PFRA Rule Book (Street), published yesterday, includes the PFRA’s interpretation of the Institute of Fundraising’s code of practice on face-to-face fundraising and additional rules put in place by the PFRA.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Acevo sceptical over David Cameron's proposal to extend National Citizen Service - Third Sector

Acevo sceptical over David Cameron's proposal to extend National Citizen Service - Third Sector: Volunteering scheme for school leavers should be available to all 16-year-olds, Prime Minister says in response to last week's riots

The chief executives body Acevo has urged caution about David Cameron’s plan to extend the National Citizen Service in response to last week’s riots in cities across England.

In a speech on Monday, the Prime Minister said: "In response to the riots, I will say this. Let’s make the National Citizen Service available to all 16-year-olds as a rite of passage.

MIT Graduate Making a Difference in Rural India - International Business Times

MIT Graduate Making a Difference in Rural India - International Business Times: Digital Green, an agricultural non-profit organization that he founded in India 2007, has so far produced more than 1,700 such videos and screened them to tens of thousands of farmers in rural India.

The genesis of Digital Green was a trip to India, in 2006, on a project to launch a biodiesel undertaking in Maharashtra.

Trickery in the name of philanthropy - People's Daily Online

Trickery in the name of philanthropy - People's Daily Online: nd we tend to believe that such scandals, embarrassing as they are, will do a great service to public welfare and Chinese charity at large, as well as to government authorities associated with philanthropic institutions.

Approached properly, this could well turn out to be a well-timed opportunity not just for the innocent to prove their innocence, but also for charities to win back public confidence and government offices to rethink and, in an even better scenario, redefine their relationship with such establishments.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

gulfnews : Khalifa's charity initiatives lauded

gulfnews : Khalifa's charity initiatives lauded: "Dubai: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was honoured on Tuesday night as Islamic Personality of the Year for his humanitarian and charitable initiatives to people in distress.

Shaikh Khalifa was honoured by the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) on Tuesday."

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Compensation: The Inside Scoop

Compensation: The Inside Scoop: "If you’re working at a Canadian nonprofit, chances are your compensation is modest compared to others working at for-profit companies.

But how does your remuneration stack up against others in similar positions within the sector? Were you aware that new survey data shows, for example, that organizations focusing on arts and culture programming are paying the best overall? Or that non-management employees at stand-alone organizations reported better compensation than those at organizations operating under an umbrella or brand?

These are just some of the findings in the comprehensive 2011 Canadian Nonprofit Sector Compensation and Benefits Study carried out by CharityVillage� working with The Association Research Centre, Inc. The full report was released on August 8."

Are the rich poor … at giving?

Are the rich poor … at giving?: "This is not 1970. But if you ask around, some people act as if it is. Korea is not a poor, developing country. It is, in practical terms, a first-world nation. Wealth, infrastructure, the welfare state, and the like are now close to or on par with other industrialized nations, proportionate to Korea’s size and population. The question is: when will Korea act the part it wants to play?"

HMRC decides that Roman Catholic mass donations can use gift aid - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

HMRC decides that Roman Catholic mass donations can use gift aid - Civil Society - Finance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: "HMRC has confirmed that Roman Catholic mass offerings are eligible for gift aid.

Until now it has been assumed that mass offerings for a particular intention could not be given with gift aid because the payment was made in return for what was considered to be a private benefit."

Monday, August 15, 2011

Big 'arigato' from Japanese philanthropist | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

Big 'arigato' from Japanese philanthropist | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "MANILA, Philippines -- Saying he owes a debt of gratitude to a Filipino he met 43 years ago, Katsutoshi Shimizu wants to pay back to the Filipino people in a big way.

The 73-year-old Japanese is shouldering the construction of up to 30 schoolhouses in remote villages in the Philippines, with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)."

PHOTOS: ‘Over the Edge’ of a skyscraper for charity | Seattle's Big Blog - seattlepi.com

PHOTOS: ‘Over the Edge’ of a skyscraper for charity | Seattle's Big Blog - seattlepi.com: "On Saturday, Superman proved he is able to leap from tall buildings in a single bound — especially when doing it for charity.

Nearly 200 people accompanied Craig Norris —pictured above, who dressed as Superman— and one at a time conquered their individual fear of stepping off the roof of a really tall building."

Charity meals take a new meaning in post-Mubarak Egypt | Oman Observer

Charity meals take a new meaning in post-Mubarak Egypt | Oman Observer: "CAIRO — Street charity banquets, a time-honoured feature of the month of Ramadhan, are evolving into a new kind of activity this year. Until last year, senior politicians and businessmen from Hosni Mubarak’s National Democratic Party would host the largest banquets to provide free meals to the poor and those who could not be at home to have a fast-breaking meal with the family."

Romania charity’s efforts rewarded - Your Pictures - Peterlee Mail

Romania charity’s efforts rewarded - Your Pictures - Peterlee Mail: "Romanian children have had their efforts recognised.

Hartlepool-based European Children’s Help Organisation (Echo) have been given an award by Swedish charity Star of Hope Romania in recognition of their 10-year collaboration providing aid to the eastern European country."

Charitable giving in short supply in Mexico - The Washington Post

Charitable giving in short supply in Mexico - The Washington Post: "The numbers point to a sizable charity gap. Mexico has the lowest taxes and second-highest income inequality among the 34 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which gathers data on the world’s leading economies, and yet it also has had some of the weakest levels of charitable giving."

Friday, August 12, 2011

Mona Mowafi: 'Our Egypt' for a New Era

Mona Mowafi: 'Our Egypt' for a New Era: "The emerging psychology of 'Our Egypt' is transcending the political sphere and is prompting innovation in economic and social development as well. One sign of progress is a growing willingness to invest in sustainable development rather than relying on pure charity. Marwa El-Daly, an emerging leader in social enterprise and development in Egypt, conducted a comprehensive study of Egyptian philanthropy in 2005 and found that $1 billion was given annually by Egyptians to Egyptians, but 90% of this money was given as direct charity rather than on projects that focus on permanently uplifting people out of poverty. This, she notes, was partly a consequence of rampant corruption and lack of confidence in institutions. Egyptians came to understand that if they did not oversee giving with their own eyes -- providing money, food or clothing to a poor person they knew personally, for example -- then the likelihood of their money being stolen or misdirected by corrupt practices was almost guaranteed."

Global Debate On Future of Philanthropy & International Development | Pro Bono Australia

Global Debate On Future of Philanthropy & International Development | Pro Bono Australia: "A global initiative that aims to find new forms of collaboration between philanthropists and international development experts, with the aim of improving human wellbeing, has been launched in the UK.

The Bellagio Initiative: The Future of Philanthropy and Development in the Pursuit of Human Wellbeing has been launched as millions of ordinary people and many philanthropic organisations around the world donate funds to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the urgent food crisis in the Horn of Africa."

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Slums to cities: street art's Pied Piper - CNN.com

Slums to cities: street art's Pied Piper - CNN.com: "For the past seven years he's been traveling to some of the world's most dangerous slums documenting the people he meets with his camera. He then posts his work on walls around the cities he visits.

Now he's in Hong Kong, bringing his images of slum life to the busy streets of one of Asia's financial hubs. One of the world's wealthiest cities may seem an incongruous setting for Ashton's work -- but that's what he wants."

National Audit Office investigation into Compact delayed - Third Sector

National Audit Office investigation into Compact delayed - Third Sector: "Report on implementation of public-voluntary sector agreement unlikely to be ready by Christmas, and might not be made public

The National Audit Office investigation into the Compact has been delayed by five months and may not be made public.

The spending watchdog’s investigation was announced last year as part of a series of measures that Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, said would provide an 'unprecedented level of scrutiny of the Compact'."

TSRC - Mapping the big society

TSRC - Mapping the big society: "Mapping the Big Society

Implicit in the idea of the 'big society' is the view that communities will be the first port of call in responding to social needs. But there are concerns that this will be much easier in some communities than others. Part of the role of TSRC is to assemble evidence on the distribution, resources and capacities of the third sector. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how our quantitative work contributes to a better understanding of the sector's contribution, and provide insights into the baseline from which “Big Society” policies have commenced."