Small Rutland, Vt., gets creative and smashes US blood-donation record on 3rd try (12/18/13 5:42 pm)

Small Rutland, Vt., gets creative and smashes US blood-donation record on 3rd try (12/18/13 5:42 pm): After Rutland's 11th annual Gift of Life Marathon collected 2,337 pints of blood Tuesday, the regional Red Cross said it's unlikely to undertake another such drive because of the difficulty of staging it. Rutland required some 300 Red Cross staffers from New England and New York, 200 volunteers and thousands of donors.

"We had agreed that this would be the last time we went for a national record," said Steve Costello, one of the main organizers of the Rutland drive, which broke the previous one-day U.S. record of 1,968 pints set by Manchester, New Hampshire, in 2011.

Lottery Winner Gives Away 40 Million | The Province

Lottery Winner Gives Away 40 Million | The Province: If you were a $40M lottery winner would you give it to charity? Well Canadian Lottery winner Tom Crist from Calgary, Canada says he doesn’t need his $40 million prize, but he knows who does: cancer charities. The 64-year-old Calgary man has pledged to donate the entire record jackpot away to charity. It is in honor of his wife of 33 years, starting with a $1.2 million donation to the cancer center where she was treated before her death last year, the CBC reported. Its the largest prize ever won in the Calgary lottery. Giving it to cancer charity is in turn giving to to almost everyone. Tom Crist you are a good man!

$38-Million Lottery Winner Giving Prize to Charity – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

$38-Million Lottery Winner Giving Prize to Charity – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: A wealthy Calgary businessman who won a $37.6-million lottery jackpot is donating the entire haul to charity, the CBC reports.

Charity fundraising is still 70% short: United Way - The China Post

Charity fundraising is still 70% short: United Way - The China Post: Due to an economic downturn and a crowding-out effect from fundraisers for overseas disaster relief efforts, however, only around NT$30 million has been received so far, according to United Way of Taiwan Secretary General Chen Wen-liang.

Indian Billionaire Nandan Nilekani And Wife Rohini Donate $8 Million To Economic Think Tank - Forbes

Indian Billionaire Nandan Nilekani And Wife Rohini Donate $8 Million To Economic Think Tank - Forbes: Billionaire Nandan Nilekani and his wife Rohini who feature on the cover of Forbes India’s recent philanthropy issue for their philanthropic work have written a check for $8 million to the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India’s oldest economic think tank that was set up in 1956 at the behest of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister.

India leads world in heart of giving, report says - The Times of India

India leads world in heart of giving, report says - The Times of India: Indians are large-hearted when it comes to contributing to charity, volunteering time or helping strangers.

Corporate Philanthropy in Vietnam: Promise Among Challenges | In Asia

Corporate Philanthropy in Vietnam: Promise Among Challenges | In Asia: Giving in Vietnam is strongly rooted in its culture and tradition. Tax breaks for rich people who helped the poor were implemented as far back as the 15th century. Today, the public discourse is full of references to community spirit and the philanthropic impulses of Vietnamese. In addition to quoting the musketeers line, “One for all and all for one,” in his address earlier this year to the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung used one of my favorite phrases, “whole leaves wrap torn leaves.”

Acevo membership down but calls to crisis helpline up

Acevo membership down but calls to crisis helpline up: And Acevo’s membership dipped by 14 per cent over the year but only 1 per cent of those leavers that notified their reason for leaving said it was because they were critical of the organisation.

The report states that the fall in membership - from 1,749 to 1,520 - “reflects both the changes to our sector and the pressures our members are experiencing. Those CEOs who left Acevo membership did so for a variety of reasons, such as moving on from their roles, retiring, or in some cases their organisations going out of business.

“Of those who notified us of their reason, 1 per cent left because they were critical of Acevo.”

Canada Post says stamp hike won’t hit charities as hard as they fear | canada.com

Canada Post says stamp hike won’t hit charities as hard as they fear | canada.com: About 90 per cent of what charitable organizations send out through Canada Post falls under the category of “standard addressed” or “unaddressed” Admail. The cost of Canada Post’s Admail service for packages under 500 grams is not affected by the latest announcement on price increases. This includes the donor envelopes inside these mail-outs, which often have paid postage on them.

Even so, some charities are concerned about their non-Admail correspondence. For instance, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute said the stamp price hikes will affect about 20 per cent of their direct mail. That institute spends $120,000 annually on mail-outs.

Fundraising Fever: Legacy income in The Netherlands 2003-2012

Fundraising Fever: Legacy income in The Netherlands 2003-2012: Legacy income in The Netherlands 2003-2012
In my next post I'll show you the growth figures from non-legacy fundraising income in The Netherlands. Right now I'll zoom in on legacy income. First we'll look at the available figures from the CBF from the last 10 years.

3rd Annual Fundraising Growth Analysis | Reinier Spruit |

3rd Annual Fundraising Growth Analysis | Reinier Spruit |: It’s that time of the year again. Rankings are everywhere. Today we’re looking at a growth ranking of the 224 largest Dutch fundraising non-profits. The data (2007-2012) are provided with the courtesy of the Central Bureau of Fundraising, who will publish their annual report this week.

MPs hear from charities that pay both high and low salaries

MPs hear from charities that pay both high and low salaries: A charity chief executive whose pay is capped at �32,000 yesterday told a committee of MPs that his charity was unique and that they should not insist that all charities follow suit.

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, CEO of Mary’s Meals, was giving evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee investigation into sector pay, along with Martyn Lewis, chair of NCVO and Caron Bradshaw, CEO of CFG.

Capping charity chiefs' pay would do 'irreparable damage' to the sector, evidence to MPs' inquiry says | Third Sector

Capping charity chiefs' pay would do 'irreparable damage' to the sector, evidence to MPs' inquiry says | Third Sector

Charity Commission doesn't know how much money it needs

Charity Commission doesn't know how much money it needs: The chief executive of the Charity Commission was unable to tell MPs how much money the regulator needs to carry out its statutory duties, despite warning its current budget was not enough.

Sam Younger, chief executive of the Commission appeared yesterday before the Public Accounts Committee to discuss the critical National Audit Office’s report into the body’s fitness to regulate, and once again said that it was stuggling with the financial pressures of having its budget cut.

Further budget cuts for Charity Commission

Further budget cuts for Charity Commission: The Charity Commission’s budget for the next two years has been trimmed again following the Chancellor’s autumn statement with the regulator’s annual budget now set at �20.2m by 2015/16.

An additional 1.14 per cent will be cut from the regulator’s budget for 2014/15 and 2015/16 meaning that it will receive �230,000 less in 2014/15 and �220,000 less in 2015/16.

This means that the Commission has seen a budget cut of almost 50 per cent in real terms since 2007/08 when it received a settlement of �32.6m from the government.

Canada Post Will Still Deliver Partially Eaten Rice Krispie Squares | Agents of Good

Canada Post Will Still Deliver Partially Eaten Rice Krispie Squares | Agents of Good: Canada Post’s news about phasing out door to door delivery and the massive increase in the cost of a stamp made me immediately think about moments—and stories—like this.

And I have a few immediate reactions for charities. Note that this is not a detailed post about the operational, budgetary or practical implications of the Canada Post announcement. This is my emotional reaction.

Scottish charity figures create Yes campaign group

Scottish charity figures create Yes campaign group: A group of almost 100 charity sector employees, trustees and volunteers have clubbed together to form a campaign group in favour of Scottish independence.

The members of Third Sector Yes have stressed that they are all operating in an “entirely personal capacity” and are “completely independent of any political party or campaign”, so as not to offend charity campaigning laws.

Ecuador shuts down nonprofit environmental group - WTOP.com

Ecuador shuts down nonprofit environmental group - WTOP.com: QUITO, Ecuador (AP) -- President Rafael Correa's government has shut down a nonprofit environmental group that opposes Amazon rainforest oil drilling, alleging it was involved in disturbing public order.

A Fundraising Korea; how South Korea is developing its fundraising and civil society | nfpSynergy

A Fundraising Korea; how South Korea is developing its fundraising and civil society | nfpSynergy: It is in this context that I went to Seoul last week to give two days of talks and seminars on fundraising and branding. The interest in my talks was astonishing, particularly given they were first mooted in early October. Both days sold out with over 500 people attending the first day’s conference.

The South Koreans are very interested in how we do fundraising and charities in the UK. In part, this is because we are a country of a similar size and population and with limited natural resources of our own. It is also because they see the UK as having a lot from which they can learn. They are sending over study groups and arranging visits like mine.

Charity Commission to take a closer look at charities with pension deficits

Charity Commission to take a closer look at charities with pension deficits: The Charity Commission is planning to scrutinise charities with pension deficits as it increases its accounts monitoring and review work for the year 2013/14,and takes a “tougher stance” on non-compliance issues.

Canada Post Five-Point Action Plan - Postal Rate Increases not all bad news | Primedata

Canada Post Five-Point Action Plan - Postal Rate Increases not all bad news | Primedata: Canada Post released it’s Action Plan at 3 PM today and I know that you depend upon the mail as an important part of your business activities so I’ve compiled this short summary for you. I’ve also attached the full Action Plan document for bedtime reading.

In short, Canada Post is adapting to the dropping Lettermail (First Class) volumes and is trying to adjust to the change in mail use. Personal letters, bills and statement v

Brazil: A Great Potential in Fundraising - Resource Center - AFP

Brazil: A Great Potential in Fundraising - Resource Center - AFP: The AFP First Course in Fundraising, paired with the AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course, is sweeping the world. A modified version is now offered in Nicaragua, Egypt, Hong Kong and Brazil! For the first time ever, a combined version of the two courses was translated to Portuguese and offered in Brazil in the Summer of 2013. The need for fundraising education drove Custodio Pereira, general director of Faculdade Santa Marcelina, to work with AFP to conceptualize the material, scout supporting partners, work with a translator and ultimately educate 22 budding fundraisers.

More corporate support heading Down Under | Fundraising & Philanthropy Australasia Magazine

More corporate support heading Down Under | Fundraising & Philanthropy Australasia Magazine: New research has revealed American companies plan to up their overseas corporate giving and 70% are donating to the Asia-Pacific region, Liz Henderson discovers.

Of the large American companies that give overseas, 86% plan to either maintain or increase their giving in the next financial year and 70% have a funding focus in Asia and the Pacific region.

These findings were revealed in Giving Beyond Borders: A Study of Global Giving by US Corporations, a report from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy which looked at the corporate philanthropy of the top 100 companies on the 2012 Fortune 500 list.

Charity lotteries raised almost �155m for good causes in 2012/13 | Third Sector

Charity lotteries raised almost �155m for good causes in 2012/13 | Third Sector: Figures from the Gambling Commission show that the amount has risen by 50 per cent in the past two years

The amount of money raised for good causes through charity lotteries has grown by 50 per cent over the past two years, figures from the Gambling Commission show.

Data from the regulator shows that charity lotteries raised almost �155m for charities in 2012/13, up from �103.5m in 2010/11. They raised �132.1m in 2011/12.

Will Investing in MENA Technology Fuel Philanthropy? | Mehrunisa Qayyum

Will Investing in MENA Technology Fuel Philanthropy? | Mehrunisa Qayyum: Back in September, Mashable partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations to embrace this discussion of technology and philanthropy in the "Social Good Summit." But, while combing through the tweets, not much discussion about how "Social Good" has taken root in the Arab World. This was odd since philanthropy in the MENA region is as old as the MENA region itself. Technology, on the other hand, has made more inroads further East.

Philanthropy during the curfew - Daily News Egypt

Philanthropy during the curfew - Daily News Egypt: Many Egyptians complain about having to stay at home during curfew and being idle and bored. However, one group of socially active youth called Mashroo3 Kheir decided to make good use of those unexploited hours. The project requires little time and effort on the part of volunteers, but it is very beneficial to others. The Facebook-launched initiative is called Kheir fel Hazr initiative (which translates to doing good during curfew).

UK has most regular donors in developed world, finds CAF

UK has most regular donors in developed world, finds CAF: A greater proportion of Britons donate to charity in an average month than nationals of any other developed country in the world, according to a global survey of generosity released by the Charities Aid Foundation.

More than three-quarters of Brits told the CAF World Giving Index survey that they give to charity in an average month, the highest proportion in the developed world.

Hong Kong Seafarers' Mission celebrates 150 years

Hong Kong Seafarers' Mission celebrates 150 years: The Mission to Seafarers in Hong Kong celebrated its 150th Anniversary of providing welfare services to seafarers and held a charity gala dinner entitled ‘Celebrating our Past, Present and Future’ at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers on Wednesday 13 November.

Still time to cut 2013 tax liability | CityNews

Still time to cut 2013 tax liability | CityNews: Give generously. The new First-Time Donor’s Super Credit, available between 2013 and 2017, is for cash rather than in-kind donations, as long as you or your spouse have not donated in the prior five years. The regular calculations change from 15% to 40% on the first $200 and from 29% to 54% for those over $200 but not over $1000.

Funders & Doers: Teaming up for disaster relief, #GivingTuesday & Beyond | Adnan Mahmud

Funders & Doers: Teaming up for disaster relief, #GivingTuesday & Beyond | Adnan Mahmud: The trouble is, most of us tend to remember to give only after disasters and during the holiday season -- especially with the growing popularity of the "Giving Tuesday" movement, observed Dec. 3 this year. But for the millions of people in need locally and globally, access to medical care, housing, food and water aren't only problems once or twice a year. Poverty doesn't take a day off.

We needs more funders. We need more people to give and we need existing philanthropists to stretch their wallets a little bit more. All of us can do better by giving actively, as much as we can, and not just when we're prompted to by a major tragedy or a date on the calendar.

Introducing Giving Tuesday, a day devoted to philanthropy | Metro

Introducing Giving Tuesday, a day devoted to philanthropy | Metro: CanadaHelps president and CEO Marina Glogovac, one of the 15 founding partners of Canada’s Giving Tuesday, said the timing of the event was perfect.

“There are different months in Canada focused on different charitable sectors,” said Glogovac. “But in terms of consumer awareness, I think it’s a good day to kind of add something that says we shop, we get deals, we spend money to get what we want, and we also should remember that we should give back.”

Runners reach new heights in charity race up city's tallest tower | South China Morning Post

Runners reach new heights in charity race up city's tallest tower | South China Morning Post: Blind teenager Choi Lok-sze and amputee Fung Kam-hung were among some 1,000 charity fun-runners who tackled the 2,120 gruelling steps of Hong Kong's tallest tower yesterday morning.

How to learn data analysis: Focus on the business | CoolData blog

How to learn data analysis: Focus on the business | CoolData blog: There are three required elements for pursuing data analysis. The first and most important is curiosity, and finding joy in discovery. The second is being shown how to do things, or having the initiative to find out how to do things. The third is a business need for the work.

My correspondent had the first element covered. As for the second element, I suggested to him that he was more than ready to obtain one-on-one training. All that was missing was defining the business need … that urgent question or problem that data analysis is suited for.