Should Volunteers Be Offered Tax Incentives? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Should Volunteers Be Offered Tax Incentives? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: The term “paid volunteers” sounds like an oxymoron. However, the U.S. does provide stipends for some “volunteers” through the AmeriCorps program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. In Canada, a member of parliament has proposed a tax credit to reward volunteers for their work and to incentivize more people to volunteer. MP Jean-Francois Larose, a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), introduced the Volunteer Tax Credit bill in February and in September, Larose made what Charity Village called “an impassioned speech” in parliament. He got some expressions of support from Liberal parliament members, but members of the Conservative party “figuratively tore the bill apart.”

Arts Council England to lose one-fifth of staff

Arts Council England to lose one-fifth of staff: Arts Council England is to lose 21 per cent of its workforce and halve the number of executive directors as part of a restructure responding to government demands to cut its administrative costs in half.

Philanthropy’s rich rewards

Philanthropy’s rich rewards: In Australia, major givers are becoming more public in their philanthropy. Former chief executive of WorleyParsons John Grill this week said he would give $20 million to the University of Sydney for a project leadership centre, while Simon Mordant, the corporate adviser, donated $15 million to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Recently emerging philanthropists include Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest, businessman Greg Poche, the Maple-Brown family, as are the Macquarie Foundation, and longstanding Melbourne-based philanthropists include the Myer and Pratt families among many others

B.C. puts a cork on wine fundraisers | CTV British Columbia News

B.C. puts a cork on wine fundraisers | CTV British Columbia News: A B.C. liquor law banning charities from auctioning off donated wine has left some philanthropists with a sour taste in their mouths.

The law came to light when the Belfry Theatre in Victoria was denied a Special Occasion License for its annual wine fundraiser.

Organizers received a letter from the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch informing them that B.C.’s “laws and policies expressly prohibit organizations from soliciting bottles of liquor from individuals to be auctioned for charity.”

Charity gala raises HK$2 million for PolyU | South China Morning Post

Charity gala raises HK$2 million for PolyU | South China Morning Post: No matter their reasons for attending the Star of Renaissance Gala, everyone - from the Italian ambassador to Beijing, Attilio Massimo Iannucci, to former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen and his wife Lisa Kuo Yu-chin - were united in their desire to support a good cause: funding travelling scholarships for students of Polytechnic University's School of Hotel and Tourism Management.

Bristol University | News from the University | School of Economics, Finance and Management

Bristol University | News from the University | School of Economics, Finance and Management: One of the world’s leading experts on ‘philanthropic psychology’ appointed to top fundraising role

Press release issued 24 October 2012
An academic at the University of Bristol has been appointed as the Institute of Fundraising’s (IoF) new Chief Examiner. Dr Jen Shang is one of the few academics in the world to have researched ‘philanthropic psychology’ — the psychology behind donating money, goods, time, or effort to support a charitable cause.

Dr Shang, who will begin her role as the Institute’s new Chief Examiner from January 2013, will be responsible for maintaining and developing the academic integrity of the IoF’s professional qualifications.

Main - Side Views - The Go-To Man ― Kannan Chandran @ Wed Oct 24 2012

Main - Side Views - The Go-To Man ― Kannan Chandran @ Wed Oct 24 2012: His selfless volunteerism was not without setbacks. He has battled cancer, which he views as his greatest blessing as he learned to surrender to his Catholic faith. When faced with adversity, the optimist in Ee surfaces: he looks for lessons in the challenges, while resorting to his values and faith to stay centred.

His diverse experiences have helped shape his view of Singapore’s dynamic society. In a challenging environment driven by consumerism, Ee still maintains a simple lifestyle. He confines his monthly expenditure to $1,000 cash that his wife, Celina, draws from his bank account.

Charity Commission changes stance on transfer of assets

Charity Commission changes stance on transfer of assets: Charities seeking to transfer assets after dissolving to set up a charitable company with the same directors will now require Charity Commission approval to do so, the regulator has advised.

In a letter from the Commission's chief legal adviser Kenneth Dibble to the Charity Law Association's chair, Ann Black, Dibble said the Commission has recently dealt with a number of cases where unincorporated charities have sought to do this - usually to enable them to start trading.

Fundraising bodies show united front before sceptical MPs

Fundraising bodies show united front before sceptical MPs: The chief executives of the three main fundraising membership bodies put up a spirited defence of face-to-face fundraising before a committee of MPs yesterday – and insisted they were making progress on Lord Hodgson’s edict to sort out the confusion around their regulatory roles.

President's Challenge 2012 raised $11 million

President's Challenge 2012 raised $11 million: SINGAPORE - Singaporeans and organisations here have helped raised $11 million for President's Challenge this year despite challenging times.

This is the first year that the charity co

Turkish charities extend helping hand during Eid al-Adha (SETimes.com)

Turkish charities extend helping hand during Eid al-Adha (SETimes.com): During Eid al-Adha animals are slaughtered to symbolise the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice. Today's tradition calls for a portion of the meat to be distributed to the needy.

In the spirit of the holiday, the Turkish state and charity organisations collect aid and food donations to distribute to vulnerable populations in Turkey and abroad.

Fundraising around the world | Third Sector blog | Third Sector blogs

Fundraising around the world | Third Sector blog | Third Sector blogs: Juan Cruz Mones Cazon, development and communications director for the charity in Latin America and the Caribbean, says his colleagues in the region’s vibrant not-for-profit sector told him it would not work.

But he pressed ahead, aiming to sign up 250 regular givers in the first four months.

After three months, his team of four street fundraisers had made 900 sign ups with 60 per cent converted to regular donors.

TODAYonline | Singapore | Bull Charge crosses S$1m mark

TODAYonline | Singapore | Bull Charge crosses S$1m mark: SINGAPORE - The Singapore Exchange's Bull Charge charity run has crossed the S$1 million mark in contributions thanks to a S$150,000 donation by Thai Beverage Public Company (ThaiBev).

ThaiBev has supported the charity run since 2006 and is the biggest corporate sponsor this year.

Too many cross-border charities do not meet Scottish obligations on filing accounts, report finds | Third Sector

Too many cross-border charities do not meet Scottish obligations on filing accounts, report finds | Third Sector: The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator says charities are still unclear about how to complete their returns, despite receiving advisory letters
Click here to find out more!

Too many cross-border charities remain unclear about their filing obligations under Scottish law, a new report from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator concludes.

Ethical investment is more than beating one bastard while funding three others | Third Sector blog | Third Sector blogs

Ethical investment is more than beating one bastard while funding three others | Third Sector blog | Third Sector blogs

Arts bodies seek €10m in private funds - The Irish Times - Thu, Oct 18, 2012

Arts bodies seek €10m in private funds - The Irish Times - Thu, Oct 18, 2012: Eight arts organisations have been chosen to raise €10 million from the private sector under a new philanthropic initiative.

The Irish Film Institute, the Royal Hibernian Academy, Na Piobairi Uilleann, the Galway Arts Festival, the Model gallery in Sligo, the National Chamber Choir, the Wexford Festival Opera and the Gate Theatre have been chosen from a list of 68 organisations which will receive funding from the Arts Council through its Raise programme.

Charities' record on reserves policy is improving

Charities' record on reserves policy is improving: A Charity Commission analysis of 286 trustees’ annual reports has revealed that almost four in five charities now have a reserves policy – a marked improvement on a similar survey conducted in 2006, when only two in five charities had one.

The recent review examined the trustees’ annual reports of around 95 charities in each of three income brackets - �25,000 to �250,000; �250,000 to �500,000, and over �500,000. It found that 78 per cent contained a reserves policy statement, and a further 3 per cent stated that the trustees have no reserves policy.

The Night for Charity and Excellence in Thailand -- UBM Asia (Thailand) Pledged Itself to Both - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee

PRESS RELEASE

The Night for Charity and Excellence in Thailand -- UBM Asia (Thailand) Pledged Itself to Both - PR Newswire - The Sacramento Bee: TCEB is a public organisation established by Royal Decree in Thailand. Aimed to provide a platform that encourages knowledge exchange and networking for the exhibition industry gearing toward the commencement of ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 while doing good deeds to the Thai society, this special event has attracted over 300 industry stakeholders. A total donation of THB1,635,000 (US$53,250) collected from the industry people will be used to purchase artificial legs for the Prostheses Foundation of the H.R.H. the Princess Mother.

Gates Reorganizes Global Staff and Listens to School Critics - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Gates Reorganizes Global Staff and Listens to School Critics - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: In an interview, Jeff Raikes said the reorganization of the staff involved in grant making overseas, which employees dubbed a “global redesign,” will ensure greater collaboration among its employees and projects.

Staff members who make grants to groups that focus on advocacy and shaping public policies will now report to a single leader, as will employees in Africa, China, and India. The foundation’s global-health and global-development grant programs will work more closely together, he said

Charity food banks serving record numbers | Society | guardian.co.uk

Charity food banks serving record numbers | Society | guardian.co.uk: Record numbers of people have received emergency food from charity food banks across the UK in the last six months, the Trussell Trust reports.

The charity network said it had fed almost 110,000 people since April alone, compared with 128,697 during the whole of last year.