Inspirational young cancer survivor honoured as Great Kid

Inspirational young cancer survivor honoured as Great Kid: As one of 16 recipients of this year’s Great Kids Awards, given annually by Alberta Government’s Human Services, Olivia moved beyond her cancer battles to give to others, raising money for charity with her 20 cousins.

Their tight-knit group called “Can Change Cousins” participates in regular charity drives, collecting bottles and other recyclables to donate to those in need.

Need for Global Philanthropy Extremely Urgent - Report | Pro Bono Australia

Need for Global Philanthropy Extremely Urgent - Report | Pro Bono Australia: Many global high net worth individuals describe the worldwide need for more philanthropic giving as ‘urgent’, according to the Individual Philanthropy Index from BNP Paribas Wealth Management.

More than 400 High Net Worth Individuals, with assets above $US5 million, replied to a survey conducted by Forbes Insight. The answers were analysed using three main criteria: giving, innovat

Small donations scheme raises a fraction of original Treasury estimate

Small donations scheme raises a fraction of original Treasury estimate: Only �7m has been claimed under the gift aid small donations scheme in its first year of operation, just a fraction of the original government estimate, according to figures released today by HM Revenue & Customs.

Philanthropist just keeps on giving

Philanthropist just keeps on giving: Lawrence went on to combine her passion for arts and for giving, becoming a generous philanthropist. The gallery of the Victorian College of the Arts bears her name, and her bequest continues to support women, students and artists.

An indigenous ceramics award, a craft program for women in Dandenong and performing arts for children are among the activities supported by the Margaret Lawrence Bequest. Yet we know little about her.

Striking the Balance

Striking the Balance: For many years Israel was rightly accused of receiving donations from abroad but not giving. This picture has changed drastically, especially in the last decade, and today philanthropy in Israel is beginning to thrive. Israeli donors are taking responsibility and becoming involved in promoting social change.

15,000 charity staff paid over �60,000 a year, official review finds - Telegraph

15,000 charity staff paid over �60,000 a year, official review finds - Telegraph: 15,000 charity staff paid over �60,000 a year, official review finds
Thousands of charity workers are paid more than �60,000 a year – far higher than previously thought – according to an official review of pay in the voluntary sector.

Charity in Beijing brings classical music to migrant children - CCTV News - CCTV.com English

Charity in Beijing brings classical music to migrant children - CCTV News - CCTV.com English: Classical music, a pastime typically reserved for society’s most privileged. And yet, a charity in China is defying the stereotype, by introducing it to the children of migrant workers, one of the most underprivileged groups in China’s urban areas.

Oxfam and YMCA to boycott Help to Work programme | Third Sector

Oxfam and YMCA to boycott Help to Work programme | Third Sector: group of 30 charities plan to withdraw from a new government scheme in which the long-term unemployed will lose benefits unless they commit to options including six months of voluntary work

A group of about 30 charities and voluntary organisations, including Oxfam, the Conservation Volunteers and YMCA England, have said they will boycott a new government scheme in which long-term unemployed people will face losing their benefits if th

Have you felt the talent shiver? | Third Sector Careers Blog | Third Sector blogs

Have you felt the talent shiver? | Third Sector Careers Blog | Third Sector blogs: Through my work I’m lucky enough to see this shiver quite regularly, and to see the very real impact fresh talent can have when given the space and opportunity to prove itself. I’ve seen a graduate take over and turn around a failing outreach team, successfully delivering the contract and reporting to commissioners – all while less than six months out of university. Last year, a Charityworks trainee delivered a very challenging operational placement in a homelessness team with such skill and tenacity that in a matter of months she was outperforming her more experienced colleagues, and at the end of the programme was nominated as the charity’s Employee of the Year.

Jack Ma Tries to Spark New Era of Charity for Chinese Billionaires - China Real Time Report - WSJ

Jack Ma Tries to Spark New Era of Charity for Chinese Billionaires - China Real Time Report - WSJ: ack Ma, co-founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, is pouring much of his personal wealth into the creation of one of Asia’s largest philanthropic trusts, highlighting what many see as the dawn of a new era of giving among China’s freshly minted billionaires. The charitable trust will be funded by about $3 billion in share options.

Institute of Legacy Management consults on merger with IoF

Institute of Legacy Management consults on merger with IoF: he Institute of Legacy Management is consulting members over a merger with the Institute of Fundraising.

ILM's membership of 500 specialist legacy fundraisers and managers will be asked to support the proposal in a special vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting in early June.

Charitable donation tax credit calculator

Charitable donation tax credit calculator: For donations made after March 20, 2013, qualifying first time donors may receive an additional federal tax credit of 25% on the first $1,000 of monetary donations, over and above the amounts provided in the first calculation below. For details, go to First-Time Donor's Super Credit.

Brighton charity to teach Brazilian slum-dwellers photography (From The Argus)

Brighton charity to teach Brazilian slum-dwellers photography (From The Argus): A charity is calling for support as it aims to target the forgotten favelas, or Brazilian slums, at this summer's football World Cup in Brazil.

Brighton-based group Wembley to Soweto, which runs photography courses for disadvantaged youngsters, will travel to South America this June to work with those in the country's poverty-stricken make-shift towns.

Anti-bikie laws hurting charity - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Anti-bikie laws hurting charity - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Spokesman Michael Beatty says there has been a huge slump in numbers this year.

"So far we've only got 28 and there's only a week left to go, and we think it's a result of people's perceptions of the legislation that they're going to be targeted by riding with a large number of fellow motorcyclists," he said.

"The legislation doesn't say that at all. It only targets outlaw motorcycle gangs."

Jet Li charity accused of misusing earthquake donations｜Society｜News｜WantChinaTimes.com

Jet Li charity accused of misusing earthquake donations｜Society｜News｜WantChinaTimes.com: News
Society

Jet Li charity accused of misusing earthquake donations

Staff Reporter
2014-04-24
11:46 (GMT 8)

Jet Li speaks at a launch event for lifestyle company Taiji Zen, a joint venture between Li and Alibaba founder Jack Ma, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Sept. 20, 2013. (Photo/Xinhua)

Jet Li speaks at a launch event for lifestyle company Taiji Zen, a joint venture between Li and Alibaba founder Jack Ma, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Sept. 20, 2013. (Photo/Xinhua)

A charity founded by Chinese action star Jet Li has come under scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating 300 million yuan (US$48 million) in donations from the 2013 Lushan earthquake in Sichuan province, reports the entertainment website of Hong Kong's Phoenix Television.

Analysis: The risks of charity work in dangerous zones abroad | Third Sector

Analysis: The risks of charity work in dangerous zones abroad | Third Sector: Recent high-profile kidnapping incidents have highlighted the hazards faced in many countries. Sam Burne James reports

In January this year, there were two international incidents in which charity workers were kidnapped. Five employees of Medecins Sans Frontieres were kidnapped in Syria, and more than 50 local workers for the landmine clearance charity the Halo Trust were captured in Afghanistan.

Canadian Philanthropy Tax Breaks Going Unclaimed

Canadian Philanthropy Tax Breaks Going Unclaimed: A mere 39 percent of Canadians are aware of the tax benefits associated with including charitable donations in their will, according to a poll by Scotiabank.

Scotiabank's annual Investment Poll reveals that one in five Canadians with a written will intend to leave some of their estate to charity. 60 percent of those questioned said their primary motivation was to give something back to society. 20 percent said that they had no dependents and wanted their money to go to a good cause, and 12 percent said that it was for the tax breaks.

FRSB calls for new rules on asking elderly and vulnerable for donations

FRSB calls for new rules on asking elderly and vulnerable for donations: The Fundraising Standards Board has recommended the Institute of Fundraising develops additional guidance for fundraisers asking elderly and vulnerable people for donations.

It made the recommendation following a complaint against the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, which provides free vet care, by the family of an elderly woman with schizophrenia, who has since died.

Canadian Charity Law

Canadian Charity Law: Here is an updated version of the Blumbergs Charity Legal Checklist.

Donations to foodbank appeal surge after critical Mail article

Donations to foodbank appeal surge after critical Mail article: The Trussell Trust’s Easter Appeal raised more than �50,000 in two days after a backlash on social media to a Mail on Sunday article criticising the charity.

A reporter for the Mail on Sunday had obtained food vouchers from Nottingham Citizens Advice Bureau by claiming to be unemployed as part of an investigation into abu

Canadian charity, Part 2: Sector faces challenges � Philanthropy North Carolina

Canadian charity, Part 2: Sector faces challenges � Philanthropy North Carolina: Canada’s charitable and nonprofit sector historically has “invested poorly in skills, human beings, and technology,” and charities now “need to step back and make longer-term investments to survive and thrive,” said Michael Johnston, founder and president of Hewitt and Johnston Consultants, a fundraising consulting firm in Toronto.

“There’s such short-termism in Canadian charities to go after money in single donations,” he said. “But the donor expects more.”

Craig Montford Named Recipient of AFP Greater Toronto Chapter’s 2014 New Fundraising Professional Award | AFP Greater Toronto Chapter - Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter

Craig Montford Named Recipient of AFP Greater Toronto Chapter’s 2014 New Fundraising Professional Award | AFP Greater Toronto Chapter - Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter

Canada Revenue Agency expands investigations of tax shelters | Toronto Star

Canada Revenue Agency expands investigations of tax shelters | Toronto Star: As many as 12 charity tax shelter promoters are under criminal investigation in a widening probe of schemes that saw donors contribute h

Nova Scotia government reviewing how non-profit groups are funded - News - Prince George Citizen

Nova Scotia government reviewing how non-profit groups are funded - News - Prince George Citizen: HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's community services minister says her department is conducting a review of discretionary funding for non-profit organizations.

Joanne Bernard says she wants to ensure taxpayers and the people served by the various organizations are getting the best service possible.

Global Digital Fundraising - a world of opportunity | nfpSynergy

A free resource from nfpsynergy



Global Digital Fundraising - a world of opportunity | nfpSynergy: Global Digital Fundraising - a world of opportunity
Free ReportApril 2014

Global communication has created possibilities and connections, but also some problems. It has, however, opened up new opportunities for non-profits everywhere to engage with their communities and key audiences. We know digital fundraising is an area for growth, but what does this mean for non-profits in different environments? What are they doing in very diverse cultures and developmental stages? Is this an area they should be investing in?

Axing charities regulator to cost ACT not for profits as much as $2m

Axing charities regulator to cost ACT not for profits as much as $2m: Moves by the Abbott government to axe the newly created independent regulator of Australian charities could cost non-profit organisations in the ACT as much as $2 million each year.

ACT Treasurer Andrew Barr and federal MP for Fraser Andrew Leigh will renew calls for the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission to be retained on Wednesday, after government estimates showed how much funding could be saved for non-profit organisations.

Radio Prague - Czechs increasingly charitable despite economic woes

Radio Prague - Czechs increasingly charitable despite economic woes: Over the past two decades, philanthropy has become an important part of Czech society, with many people being increasing generous in giving to charity. Radio Prague looks at how the gloomy economic climate affected Czech philanthropy in the past year, and how the donor culture has developed.

Indians big donors, but only during tax-saving months - The Economic Times

Indians big donors, but only during tax-saving months - The Economic Times: According to NGOs, with growing awareness about tax benefits on donations, collections have risen significantly this year during the tax-saving months as compared to the previous years. GiveIndia's 'India tax saving challenge', a fundraiser that encourages NGOs to tap donors looking to make that final contribution, saw a 30% increase in donations during January to March in 2014 as compared to the same period last year. Also, this year's tax-saving months saw a 110% increase in donors as compared to the preceding non-tax saving months (October-December 2013).

China’s future: Enter the Chinese NGO | The Economist

China’s future: Enter the Chinese NGO | The Economist: Enter the Chinese NGO. A vast array of new non-governmental organisations are trying to meet both middle-class aspirations to participate and also society’s need for services (see article). Some 500,000 NGOs have registered over the past 25 years, a figure that some think will double over the next couple of years, as rules are relaxed. Many of these, admittedly, are quasi-state bodies, like an official youth foundation, or businesses in disguise, like private schools, but a growing number are the real deal. And a further 1.5m-odd NGOs operate without being registered, including some that the party suspects of being too independent or confrontational. They include everything from self-help groups for the parents of autistic children to outfits defending the rights of migrant workers to house-church groups looking after the elderly.

Sector 'extraordinarily disconnected' from public, CFG chair says

Sector 'extraordinarily disconnected' from public, CFG chair says: Charities are becoming “extraordinarily disconnected” from donors and supporters who do not understand the work they do, Ian Theodoreson, chair of the Charity Finance Group and chief financial officer of the Church of England, said last week.

He said this is partly because charities have deliberately misled the public about their work in order to raise more in donations.

‘Super-rich’ Africans boosting philanthropic giving across continent - Blue and Green Tomorrow

‘Super-rich’ Africans boosting philanthropic giving across continent - Blue and Green Tomorrow: The emergence of ‘super-rich’ Africans has been met with the development of western-style philanthropy, a new report has found.

The study, from the African Grantmakers Network (AGN), said that urbanisation across the continent and a corrosion of traditional norms and values were part of the reason that wealthy Africans were donating more money to social causes.

Third annual 24-Hour Charity Challenge hockey game benefits Edmonton-based Matt Cook Foundation | Edmonton | News | Edmonton Sun

Third annual 24-Hour Charity Challenge hockey game benefits Edmonton-based Matt Cook Foundation | Edmonton | News | Edmonton Sun: The third annual 24-Hour Charity Challenge hockey game — in benefit of the Matt Cook Foundation — faced off Friday at the Canadian Athletic Club (CAC) Arena and wrapped up on Saturday.

2014 will be year of growth for charity sector, NCVO forecast suggests

2014 will be year of growth for charity sector, NCVO forecast suggests: Forty-one per cent of charity leaders expect the situation to improve for their organisation in the next 12 months, compared to 25 per cent who expect it to worsen, according to data collected by NCVO.

And 49 per cent of all charity leaders expect to increase spending in the next 12 months, compared to 19 per cent which expect to decrease spending.

Nicky Morgan keeps charity tax brief following reshuffle

Nicky Morgan keeps charity tax brief following reshuffle: Nicky Morgan, the new Financial Secretary to the Treasury, is to keep responsibility for charity taxation following a Cabinet reshuffle.

Alex Swallow resigns from Small Charities Coalition

Alex Swallow resigns from Small Charities Coalition

New Report: Charity and Philanthropy in Russia, China, India and Brazil | Philanthropy In Focus

New Report: Charity and Philanthropy in Russia, China, India and Brazil | Philanthropy In Focus: One of the most significant international developments since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 has been the growing economic power of the so-called BRICs — Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Dismissed in the 1970s by many as economic basket cases, the four countries, which account for over a quarter of the globe’s land mass and more than 40 percent of its population, have, in the quarter-century since that momentous event, opened their economies to the world and emerged as dominant global suppliers of manufactured goods and services (China and India), and raw materials (Brazil and Russia).

Charity News: CHARITY SURVEY: Optimism & transparency - UK charities embracing greater transparency in response to increased media scrutiny...

Charity News: CHARITY SURVEY: Optimism & transparency - UK charities embracing greater transparency in response to increased media scrutiny...: The report released today by PwC, Charity Finance Group (CFG) and the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) reveals 9 out of 10 charity sector respondents felt that the charity sector had been subject to more scrutiny and media interest.

As a result, 49 per cent of charities said that they had taken steps to enhance levels of transparency and disclosure of financial information during the last year...

Charity to host sponsored abseil from Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage | News | NME.COM

Charity to host sponsored abseil from Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage | News | NME.COM: Glastonbury festival’s Pyramid Stage will host a charity abseiling event in aid of Somerset's SOS Africa Charity this September (20/21).

Over the course of the two-day fundraising event, teams of six will ascend the Pyramid and then free-fall abseil from its roof.

Charity Commission's financial situation is 'unsustainable', chair says | Third Sector

Charity Commission's financial situation is 'unsustainable', chair says | Third Sector: The chair of the Charity Commission has described the regulator’s financial situation as "simply unsustainable" in its response to the damning Public Accounts Committee report published in February.

William Shawcross, chair of the commission, said in a statement issued alongside the commission’s formal response to the PAC today: "If we are to fulfil all the expectations placed on us while at the same time increasing our serious case work, we must be adequately funded. Our current funding position is simply unsustainable."

Blackbaud Index – Canada reveals monthly changes in giving, both online and offline

About

About: With seed funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and additional support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Foundation Center has developed WASHfunders.org as a “one stop shop” for funding and needs-related data and information for donors, policymakers, and other stakeholders interested in water, sanitation, and hygiene.

With dynamically updated information, news, and knowledge relating to philanthropy and sustainable access to safe water, WASHfunders.org aims to facilitate better collaboration and more strategic decision-making among funders and seeks to raise awareness about water and the full WASH continuum among donors.

Using video scribing to talk about workplace giving � Guy Downes

Using video scribing to talk about workplace giving � Guy Downes: June 2014 is Workplace Giving month in Australia. I recently worked with The Australian Charities Fund to create a video scribe animation outlining the steps on how to set up a Workplace Giving program in Australian businesses.

Wildlife charity set to pop-up in Swan Walk - West Sussex County Times

Wildlife charity set to pop-up in Swan Walk - West Sussex County Times: Elephants, lions and hedgehogs will be popping-up in Swan Walk on Friday April 11 and and Saturday April 12 when a wildlife charity takes over a shop for two days.

Horsham charity Care for the Wild, based in Brighton Road, will be taking over a pop-up shop opposite Marks and Spencer, and promise something a little different for the shopping centre.

Toronto Community Foundation | FoodShare receives a $30,000 grant from KPMG

PRESS RELEASE

Toronto Community Foundation | FoodShare receives a $30,000 grant from KPMG through a private-philanthropic partnership with the Toronto Community Foundation built on the pillars of volunteerism and community leadership: FoodShare is the recipient of a Toronto Community Foundation Vital Ideas grant, provided by KPMG, through a strategic collaboration called Vital Impact: Vital Toronto. With a vision of "Good Healthy Food For All", FoodShare will use the $30,000 grant to document, scale up, and share its School Grown Social Enterprise model, a comprehensive schoolyard farming project that uses proceeds from its business operations to increase food literacy education programming throughout the city. The Vital Ideas grant program provides grants for strategic activities beyond direct programming.

Students 'voluntour' over spring break - Montana Kaimin: News

Students 'voluntour' over spring break - Montana Kaimin: News: oluntourism, or volunteer vacations, swept 13 students to serve the Vancouver, B.C. community.

Kate Christianson, a freshman at the University of Montana who went on the trip, said they served free chips, ice tea and 900 sandwiches in east Vancouver’s weekly trade market. But their main project was to build eight raised garden beds for the Surrey Urban Mission.

Canada Revenue AgencyAs a preventative measure, the CRA has temporarily shut down public access to our online service

Canada Revenue Agencyg. As a preventative measure, the CRA has temporarily shut down public access to our online service

Need for food banks is caused by welfare cuts, research shows | Society | The Guardian

Need for food banks is caused by welfare cuts, research shows | Society | The Guardian: The government's welfare reforms, including benefit sanctions and the bedroom tax, are a central factor in the explosion in the numbers of impoverished people turning to charity food banks, an academic study has said.

United Way suffers from competition for donation dollars

United Way suffers from competition for donation dollars: Increased competition for charity dollars, a decrease in corporate donations and an increasing trend toward online giving to specific causes have resulted in a drop in donations to the United Way of the Lower Mainland, says the organization’s CEO and president Michael McKnight.

Philanthropy and the Indian Businessman - V. P. Nandakumar

Philanthropy and the Indian Businessman - V. P. Nandakumar: here is an important reason for this divergent trends in philanthropy among businessmen in America and in India. In India, all citizens including wealthy businessmen are allowed to leave their entire wealth to their family. Estate duty, or the tax on inheritance, was abolished in India in 1985. In the US, if you are very rich, the estate tax has a top rate of 40%. Therefore, when an Indian businessman donates a crore, it is money that otherwise would have gone to his family. In America, only 60 percent would pass on to the family with the rest going to the government as estate tax.

'Super credit' could super charge charities

'Super credit' could super charge charities: Like other Canadian charities, the British Columbia SPCA is hoping that more people will take advantage of a new tax credit for first-time donors and be inspired to keep giving year after year.

Called the first-time donor's super credit by the federal government, the tax credit is aimed at getting new donors to give to charities by increasing the value of the federal charitable donations tax credit by 25 per cent. The credit can be applied to cash donations of up to $1,000, and can be claimed only once in any taxation year from 2013 to 2017.

Charity Commission seeks more information in 2014 annual return

Charity Commission seeks more information in 2014 annual return: Charities will have to provide more information about their activities in their annual return, including information about fundraising, payment to trustees, trading and grantmaking, the Charity Commission has said.

Voluntary sector income down 1.8 per cent, finds research

Voluntary sector income down 1.8 per cent, finds research: The voluntary sector’s income fell by �700m in real terms to �39.2bn in the year to March 2012, according to data published today in the UK Civil Society Almanac, published by NCVO and the Third Sector Research Centre.

Total sector income fell by around 1.8 per cent.

Umbrellas call on HMRC to scrap new charity tax avoidance plans

Umbrellas call on HMRC to scrap new charity tax avoidance plans: Plans to create a new definition of charity in order to prevent tax avoidance should be abandoned altogether by HM Revenue & Customs, according to a document published yesterday by the NCVO, the Charity Finance Group and the Association of Charitable Foundations.

Survey On Australian Giving Trends | Pro Bono Australia

Survey On Australian Giving Trends | Pro Bono Australia: A new survey is hoping to provide important insights into the latest trends in philanthropy in Australia.

Chenoweth Philanthropy, an independent philanthropic consulting firm, is undertaking research on giving trends to better understand how philanthropists in Australia are responding to donor trends and to what degree they are incorporating them into their own giving.

“Much is written about global trends in philanthropy, including strategic giving, scalability of programs, collaborative giving, impact investing and evaluation. There is increasing interest and effort around the question of what philanthropists are achieving, and how they might do it better,” Director Susan Chenoweth said.