In The Media
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Kellogg Foundation Takes New Approach to Aiding Young People
Chronicle of Philanthropy**, 4/17/08
The changes are designed to break down divisions among departments within the organization, seek multifaceted approaches to solving problems, and sharpen the organization's focus on the vision of its founder, W.K. Kellogg, the breakfast-cereal magnate.
Nonprofits Seeking $1.5 Billion
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, 4/14/08
Minnesota nonprofits are seeking to raise $1.5 billion in capital and endowment campaigns in the coming years, according to a report the Minnesota Council on Foundations plans to release today.
Charities Seek Donors to Replace Wall Street
New York Times*, 4/14/08
Charities that benefit from the largess of Wall Street, law firms and corporations in New York have begun defensive planning for the end of this social season and next year.
Nonprofits Need Specialized Volunteers
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 4/14/08
Minnesota helps shape a plan for matching volunteers with nonprofits who can use their professional help. Some call this "smarter volunteerism."
Proposed Charities Review Standards May Get Pushback From Nonprofits
MinnPost, 4/14/08
Executive director Rich Cowles says the charities landscape has changed since the council issued its standards 10 years ago. The rewrite will take a year; the council, which plans to have a draft ready for the public in July, will hold public and online meetings with donors, nonprofits and foundations after that.
Pope Receives Handwritten St. John's Bible From Minn.
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 4/5/08
The $4 million project, funded by private donations, including from the Rauenhorst Foundation, was commissioned by St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minn., one of the largest Benedictine monasteries in the world.
Expanding Wind Energy Across Minnesota
Marshall Independent, 4/5/08
While the Buffalo Ridge has served as a shining example of the potential for wind energy, the state of Minnesota wants to see more expansion throughout the state. Cheryl Glaeser, program specialist for the Southwest Initiative Foundation, said the foundation recently received a grant to help develop community wind projects.
Power To The E-People
Twin Cities Daily Planet, 4/4/08
When used in neighborhoods, e-lists become places to receive and exchange information pertinent to a particular locality. People can subscribe to the lists, or unsubscribe at any time. E-democracy recently received a grant from the Minneapolis Foundation to help develop e-lists in high-immigrant and low-income areas.
Blandin Building The Community
Fergus Falls Daily Journal, 4/2/08
Rural communities survive — and thrive — when leaders take responsibility and deal with change effectively. Training community leaders, supporting them and providing ongoing opportunities for growth is what the Blandin Community Leadership Program is all about.
Former Senator Praises Potential Of Bio-Agriculture
Rochester Post-Bulletin, 4/2/08
Tim Penny sees great potential for bio-agriculture to re-energize rural Minnesota, including Austin's Hormel Institute. The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is partnering with banks to prioritize bio-ag jobs, which tend to pay as much or more than other jobs in the area, and is working with AgStar and the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota to determine what type of bio-agriculture and bio-business climate exists in southern Minnesota.
Foundation Leadership On Diversity Is Missing
San Francisco Chronicle opinion, 4/2/08
Thanks to Assemblyman Joe Coto's "sunshine" bill, The Foundation Diversity and Transparency Act, the public has heard more about diversity and accountability on philanthropic foundation boards in two months than it has in two decades. What foundations may fear the most is not the Coto transparency bill, but where it may eventually lead.
DECC Summit Focused On Early Care, Education, & School Readiness
Northland News Center, 4/2/08
The summit was hosted by the Northland Foundation, which advocates for school readiness of children five and under, and helps to promote the healthy social and emotional development of infants and toddlers.
Pipa Prodigy
Minnesota Women's Press, 4/2/08
In 1997, Gao was the first Chinese musician awarded an Artist Assistance Fellowship from the Minnesota State Arts Board. The same year, she won a McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians and a Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant. In 2000 she earned a LIN (Leadership Initiatives in Neighborhoods) Grant from The St. Paul Companies. In 2002, Gao was awarded a second McKnight Artist Fellowship for Performing Musicians, becoming the first musician in any genre to win the award twice. Along with performing, she is on the music faculty of Carleton College.
Expanded Definition Of Fundraisers Is Puzzling Nonprofits
MinnPost, 4/1/08
State rules say nonprofits don't have to pay sales taxes on fundraising events such as art sales or silent auctions as long as they don't exceed 24 days a year. The Department of Revenue is having internal discussions about whether or not classes held by nonprofits should count as fundraising events.
Donors' Big Gifts Come With No Name Tags
Los Angeles Times, 3/31/08
More of the extremely wealthy are keeping their generosity secret. That sometimes disappoints recipients eager for publicity, but donors often fear that a story in the paper could bring calls from other charities and scrutiny from their communities.
Training Meets Philanthropy at IBM
International Herald Tribune, 3/26/08
In July, a team of eight to 10 IBM employees will go to Ghana to help local businesses professionalize their operations. Another team will help entrepreneurs seek microloans in Turkey, while yet another will create training programs on information technology in Vietnam. The projects, which were hatched by IBM's corporate citizenship group and being coordinated through nonprofit organizations, have all the trappings of corporate philanthropy. But that is not why they were created, or how they are being used.
Anti-Poverty Foundation Picks New Top Executive
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 3/28/08
The Northwest Area Foundation, which is taking a new approach in alleviating poverty, has named a new president and chief executive officer. Kevin Walker, 43, will take over the 74-year-old foundation on May 19.
United Way Feels 'Very Good' About Collecting Record $88.4 Million
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 3/27/08
After missing its 2006 goal, the United Way of the Greater Twin Cities raised a record $88.4 million during its 2007 fund-raising campaign, up more than $3 million.
Nonprofits Improving on How They Do Business
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 3/22/08
By sharing expertise, agencies are able to improve operations, save money and help more clients.
Thoroughly Modern Do-Gooders
New York Times columnist*, 3/21/08
The new do-gooders have absorbed the disappointments of the past decades. They have a much more decentralized worldview. They don’t believe government on its own can be innovative. A thousand different private groups have to try new things. Then we measure to see what works. Their problem now is scalability. How do the social entrepreneurs replicate successful programs so that they can be big enough to make a national difference?
Nonprofits Aim to Stay Afloat in Tough Economy
Finance and Commerce, 3/28/08
Investment returns at key Twin Cities foundations – which help fund the nonprofits on the frontlines – are down while the competition for funding keeps growing. The need for food, shelter, education and other help is up and is forecasted to skyrocket in the Twin Cities' future. So what will keep Twin Cities nonprofits afloat and effective in today's choppy economic times?
School Tells Parents: Keep Your Money
Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/15/08
The public dispute follows years of disagreements between parents and ramsey school officials over how fundraising money is spent.
When a Corporate Donation Raises Protests
New York Times*, 3/12/08
A coalition of children's advocates contends that the Columbus Children's Hospital went too far by agreeing to name a new emergency department and trauma center after another locally based retailer, Abercrombie & Fitch, in exchange for a $10 million donation.
Use Your Heart And Head When Giving
Financial Times, 3/15/08
There's a trend in philanthropy to treat the act of giving as an "investment decision." This is partly because nonprofit management is taught increasingly in business schools, and partly because more wealthy donors with a business background are are becoming involved. What gets lost in all of this focus on evaluation and numbers is the grace and joy of philanthropy. Philanthropy inspires. It tells stories. It reconnects us with others and reminds us of our shared humanity.
Diversity In Philanthropy Achieved Through Leadership, Not Mandates
San Jose Mercury News opinion, 3/12/08
It is true that organized philanthropy must do a better job of recognizing the value of inclusion and diversity in its grant-making, leadership and staffing. But diversity is best achieved when it is understood, prioritized and integrated into the operations of a foundation as a tool for effectiveness in, and responsiveness to, the communities being served.
New Business-Charity Hybrid Sought
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 3/12/08
As the lines between the nonprofit and for-profit worlds blur, social-enterprise leaders continue to look for new legal structures that are better suited to such blended activities than current designations.
What Makes People Give?
New York Times Magazine*, 3/9/08
For a long time, philanthropy was mostly ignored by social scientists. It's not an especially large part of the economy, and most charities operate on a shoestring, without the resources to finance research projects. But this is starting to change.
Bottom-Line Philanthropy
New York Times*, 3/9/08
Inspired by the X Prize Foundation's sponsorship of innovations in space travel and other realms, Rafe Furst wants to establish a giant prize, as much as $10 billion, that would go to the party or parties that achieve a “cure” for cancer, as defined by the prize committee.
Moratorium On Taxing Nonprofits Proposed
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, 3/5/08
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and the state department of revenue have agreed on legislation for a moratorium that would allow nonprofits to remain exempt from paying property and sales taxes through next summer.
> Clarity Sought On Tax Exemptions For Nonprofits
MinnPost, 3/10/08
The Problem with Nonprofits
U.S. News and World Report, 3/4/08
A sobering study released yesterday, the largest survey ever of nonprofit employees, reveals surprisingly widespread dissatisfaction with the way many nonprofits are organized.
All About: Eco-philanthropy
CNN, 3/2/08
If the excessive lifestyles of the rich have been partly to blame for destroying the environment, then it seems equitable that they use their money to preserve it. But the degree to which they are actually helping does largely depend on what they do with their money. And some 'beneficiaries' of that aid are yet to be convinced.
Foundation Giving Grows Across All Program Areas, Report Finds
Philanthropy News Digest, 2/28/08
The Foundation Center report also found that grant dollars awarded by sampled foundations rose 16.4 percent overall between 2005 and 2006, following a far more modest 6.1 percent gain in the prior year; that foundations awarded a record 386 grants of $5 million or more in 2006; and that, for the first time on record, health surpassed education based on the share of grant dollars received. In addition, international giving increased 48.4 percent overall, driven by strong gains in funding for international affairs/development/peace and health.
White House And Business Leaders Are Pushing For More Effective Volunteerism
MinnPost, 2/15/08
In 2006, Minnesota's 40.4 percent "volunteer rate" — the percentage of the adults who give away their time for this cause or that — ranked third highest in the country. All that is not to say that the nation, even including Minnesota, couldn't use more volunteerism, executed more effectively. Officials at 95 percent of the nation's 1.6 million nonprofits don't think they have enough resources to meet the needs of their constituencies.
Capitalism 2.0
Forbes, 3/10/08
Do corporations exist solely to maximize their bottom lines? We don't think so.
Crunch Predicted in Nonprofit Sector
Washington Post*, 3/3/08
The nonprofit sector is facing what experts call an unprecedented crisis in leadership, with organizations across the country struggling to recruit and retain talented staff.
The Poor Give More
Conde Nast, March 2008
Surprising findings show that low-wage earners step up to the charity plate big-time.
Foundations Increased Giving by 14.6% in 2006, New Study Finds
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2/28/08
The nation's largest foundations increased their giving to $19.1 billion in 2006, rising 16.4 percent over the previous year, according to a report released by the Foundation Center.
Foundations and Charities Struggle to Deal With Housing-Foreclosure Crisis
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2/28/08
Despite the scale of the problem, which can shatter families' lives, drag down neighborhoods, and increase the pressure on social services, foundations and other nonprofit groups are only beginning to explore the roles they can play in dealing with the challenge.
> Foundations Weigh How to Allay Foreclosures
Wall Street Journal**, 2/28/08
From Local to Global, Measuring Corporate Philanthropy's Impact
OnPhilanthropy.com, 2/28/08
Stronger communities and motivated employees create a double bottom line that should encourage corporate philanthropy, even in challenging economic times; that message was clear during the day of festivities and discussion marking National Corporate Philanthropy Day.
> Model Corporate Citizens
Forbes, 2/25/08
> Companies With a Heart
Economist, 2/26/08
The Only Nonprofit That Matters
Fortune, 2/26/08
Add one part tech, one part business smarts, hold the do-gooderism. What do you get? A whole new approach to charity.
Does Economic Downturn Mean Crisis for Nonprofits?
OnPhilanthropy.com, 2/28/08
It is nearly impossible these days to avoid thinking — and worrying — about the country's recent economic struggles. The subprime mortgage crisis is a top news event, while presidential candidates pepper their speeches with solutions to turning the economy around once elected. The possibility of a significant and protracted economic downturn has created a cross-industry sense of panic, one that has not escaped the non-profit sector.
> Bracing for Tough Times
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2/7/08
> Recession-Proof Philanthropy
Chronicle of Philanthropy chat transcript, 2/19/08
> Job Hunting in a Tight Market
Chronicle of Philanthropy chat transcript, 2/26/08
PBS Nightly Business Report series: A Guide to Giving
2/25-27/08
Philanthropy is a mission, and it is also an industry. In 2005 alone, charitable contributions to nonprofits topped $250 billion. The three part series "A Guide to Giving" explores trends in personal and corporate philanthropy and also examines nonprofit accountability. Watch video of the series or read the transcripts.
California Assembly Votes to Make Foundations Disclose Key Information on Diversity
Chronicle of Philanthropy**, 2/7/08
The California Assembly approved legislation to require big foundations to disclose the composition of their boards and employees by race, gender, and sexual orientation, as well as information about the grants and business contracts they award to organizations that help specific minority groups. The bill, which now goes to the State Senate, was promoted by the Greenlining Institute, a public-policy organization in Berkeley that says foundations are too secretive about their giving and award too few dollars to organizations that are led by African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanics, and members of other minority groups.
> California Legislation Requiring Foundations to Report on Diversity, Part 1
PhilanTopic blog, 2/27/08
> Are Foundations Doing Enough for Society?
Chronicle of Philanthropy guest column, 2/21/08
Council Being Developed To Provide Services To Victims Of Domestic Violence
Bemidji Pioneer, 2/28/08
Northwoods Coalition for Battered Women will implement the Domestic Violence Interagency Council for Beltrami County as a pilot project for the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project of Minneapolis. Four DVIC sites have since been set up statewide, with Beltrami and Kandiyohi counties funded with grants from the Minneapolis Foundation.
"Big Give" Is Reality TV With A Heart
Denver Post, 2/29/08
Take the familiar reality-show competition, inject a dose of altruism, cap it with Oprah Winfrey's brand and you've got a new kind of television. "Oprah's Big Give," debuting at Sunday on ABC, is "The Amazing Race" with a charitable heart.
> Opinion: Oprah Winfrey's "Big Give" Promotes Troubling View of Philanthropy
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2/29/08
Giving Circles Mix Fun, Fundraising
USA Today, 2/26/08
According to a study by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, the number of giving circles more than doubled from 2004-2006 to at least 400. Those groups have raised $100 million to support a wide range of charitable causes since the forum started counting in 2004, the study shows.
Community Starts Private Education Foundation
Wahpeton Daily News, 2/27/08
A new education foundation in Breckenridge is seeking to independently raise money for the school district. Led by resident Ann Hiedeman, the Breckenridge 846 Education Foundation was formed not long after the levy referendum failed in November 2006. After noticing a lack of education-based fundraising, Hiedeman wanted to create one of her own "booster clubs" to increase academic rigor among students.
Blandin Foundation Brings Broadband Consulting to Rural Minnesota
Twin Cities Business, February 2008
The program offers up to 32 hours of "high-level" broadband consulting at no cost to rural Minnesota businesses.
Two Contests Spur Online Giving
Washington Post*, 2/21/08
Tech savvy and energy were enough to win the group $50,000 in one of two national contests aimed at increasing charitable giving through the use of Web-based tools. The 21 winners, announced yesterday, raised more than $1.7 million from almost 82,000 donors to benefit more than 3,000 charities, organizers said. The two contests, which ran simultaneously from Dec. 13 to Jan. 31, sought to highlight the potential of online philanthropy while "democratizing" charitable giving by encouraging donations as small as $10 from people of all incomes, organizers said.
Gates Foundation's Influence Criticized
Feb. 16, 2008
The chief of malaria for the World Health Organization has complained that the growing dominance of malaria research by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation risks stifling a diversity of views among scientists and wiping out the world health agency’s policy-making function.
A New, Improved Focus For United Way
Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial*, 2/18/08
The Twin Cities United Way is changing its ways. And, by doing so, the agency hopes to have a greater impact on the community.
Business, Philanthropy: 2 Sides of Coin
Steve Forbes in the Arizona Daily Central, 2/17/08
Business and philanthropy are not polar opposites. They are, in fact, two sides of the same coin. The moral basis of commerce is meeting the needs of other people. You don't succeed unless you provide a product that others voluntarily want in a free market.
Charities Face Postal Increases in May
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2/15/08
The U.S. Postal Service has proposed new postage rates for nonprofit organizations and other mailers to take effect on May 12. Under the proposal, postage for nonprofit standard mail, mostly letter-size pieces, will increase by an average of 0.7 percent, and nonprofit periodical mail will go up by an average of 2.7 percent.
Art Is Vital, Well Worth The Price Of A Gumball
St. Paul Pioneer Press*, 2/15/08
The Legacy Act passed by the Legislature on Thursday paves the way for voters to decide in November whether it's worth adding the price of a gumball to the price of a movie ticket to smarten ourselves up. It is. For the price of that gumball, state spending on the arts would again become adequate. When people do prosper here - when companies grow into behemoths like Target or when wealthy families start philanthropic endeavors like the McKnight Foundation - where do so many of their charitable dollars go? To art. Why? Because they know: Art is inextricably linked to our social well-being and our economic well-being.
Nonprofit Journalism on the Rise
Christian Science Monitor, 2/12/08
At a time of layoffs and budget cuts at traditional newspapers, foundations and donors are funding new journalism ventures.
New Study Sheds Light on Foundations' Charitable Expenses
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2/7/08
Nearly one-quarter of the nation’s 10,000 largest private, community, and corporate foundations did not report any administrative expenses as part of their annual minimum-payout requirement.
Complacency Is The Enemy, Stewards Say
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 2/10/08
On Feb. 13, Minnesota received its annual status report from one of the people charged with stewardship of this state, Gov. Tim Pawlenty. But the governor doesn't bear that responsibility alone. The Star Tribune editorial board heard from four foundation leaders, who say Minnesota has done well, but the state is now in a precarious spot:
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Peter Hutchinson, Bush Foundation
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Carleen Rhodes, The Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Community Foundation
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Sandra Vargas, The Minneapolis Foundation
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Kate Wolford, The McKnight Foundation
Can AgStar Save Rural Minnesota?
Twin Cities Business, February 2008
Though crop prices are strong right now, many rural communities are struggling with an aging population and shrinking services. Enter a lender to farmers on a mission to help rebuild small-town infrastructure.
St. Cloud Disaster-Relief Group Eyes Ways To Continue
St. Cloud Times, 1/31/08
Organizers of volunteer trips that helped Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in Hattiesburg, Miss., said recently that they hope to continue such trips — although how is yet to be determined.
My View: A Broad Partnership Now To Invest In Early Education Will Pay Off Later
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 1/31/08
A study by the Minnesota Department of Education found that nearly 50 percent of children entering kindergarten in the state were not prepared to learn. What can we do?
California Assembly Votes to Make Foundations Disclose Key Information on Diversity
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/30/08
The California Assembly on Tuesday approved legislation to require big foundations to disclose the composition of their boards and employees by race, gender, and sexual orientation, as well as information about the grants and business contracts they award to organizations that help specific minority groups.
> Asking Too Much
Los Angeles Times*, 1/31/08
> The Color of Charity
Wall Street Journal, 2/4/08
Charities Vie for Prizes in Online Giving Experiment
New York Times*, 1/31/08
Fledgling charities, like a year-old group that rescues abandoned dogs in Georgia, are among the leading contenders for prizes in an experimental online fund-raising contest sponsored by the Case Foundation. Meanwhile, more established nonprofit groups have struggled to attract support.
SWIF CEO Helps Kick Off Senior College '08
Marshall Independent, 1/30/08
Even with chilly temperatures Wednesday, many Senior College students came to the winter 2008 Senior College kickoff. Sherry Ristau, CEO and president of the Southwest Initiative Foundation, was the keynote speaker.
Dental Clinic Students Pair Up With Dummies
Minnesota Daily, 1/29/08
Starting this semester, University of Minnesota dental students will get a lot of face time with the simulated patients. The University School of Dentistry's new Advanced Simulation Clinic opened for classes Monday, completing another phase in the school's upgrade process. Funding for the project came from a variety of sources, including $1 million from the 3M Corporation.
Legislature Should Revisit Nonprofit Law
Mankato Free Press opinion, 1/28/08
If we are going to continue to rely on the nonprofit sector for "quality of life" issues, we must demand that the Legislature revisit the law and state our intentions more carefully.
Training Program Aims To Boost Countywide Use Of High-Speed Internet
West Central Tribune*, 1/28/08
Hoping to boost the use of high-speed Internet in business and at home, a local coalition is offering a series of classes, starting in February, to teach basic skills ranging from e-mail and Internet browsing to small-business Web design and e-commerce. This educational push is part of a countywide initiative, supported by the Blandin Foundation, to increase the use of Internet technology and help rural counties become more economically competitive.
For The Love Of Books
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 1/27/08
Afton Press cuts a wide swath with books about Minnesota history, culture and achievements. Big Minnesota corporations have their footprints all over every Afton Press book. For example, Medtronic Foundation backed the international health book, as Archer Daniels Midland Co. backed the grain book. Target Foundation underwrote the Latino book. In addition, dozens of other sponsors — companies, associations and individuals — pitch in alongside the biggest donors.
3 Twin Cities Arts Groups Get $50,000 Each
St. Paul Pioneer Press*, 1/27/08
Three Twin Cities arts organizations will each receive $50,000 grants from the Joyce Foundation to commission new works by artists of color.
Nonprofit Loan Website Faces Overwhelming Demand
New York Times*, 1/27/08
Has a charity ever announced that it had enough money? Over the last few months, some visitors to the Web site of Kiva, a nonprofit that lets users make interest-free "microloans" to entrepreneurs in low-development (that is, poor) countries all over the world, were greeted with a surprising message. "Thanks Kiva Lenders!" it began. "You've funded EVERY business on the site!!"
Volunteer Reader Gets Kids To The Next Page
Red Wing Republican Eagle, 1/25/08
One of volunteer Katie Auge's primary responsibilities in the AmeriCorps READS (Reading Early Achieves Development Success) Initiative is to train teachers, day care providers and parents in the new "Read Together, Talk Together" reading kits. The initiative is a partnership between Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, AmeriCorps, ServeMinnesota and the Early Childhood Initiative
Rosemount Athletic Complex Hops Forward
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 1/24/08
The land for the proposed fields, playground and other amenities was donated last year by Flint Hills Resources.
A New Generation, a New Commitment to Change
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/24/08
40 years ago, driven by idealistic citizens who were moved by the decade's historic, inspirational, yet often divisive struggles — civil rights, the women's movement, Vietnam, and the tragic roster of murdered visionaries — a new generation of leaders began to emerge who would not let the dream die. And during the next 25 years, the number of nonprofit groups in the United States exploded.
St. Croix Valley Community Foundation Names Leader
Stillwater Gazette, 1/31/08
When newly named St. Croix Valley Community Foundation President Jane Hetland Stevenson was offered the opportunity to lead the non-profit organization earlier this month, she had to pinch herself. Stevenson has taken over the reigns of the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation (SCVCF) from David H. Griffith, who retired after seven years as president.
> Griffith Retires; He's Credited With Local Fund's Success
St. Paul Pioneer Press*, 1/22/08
When Wall Street Catches a Cold...
PhilanTopic, 1/22/08
It would seem the only remaining question is how severe the recession will be. For U.S. foundations and nonprofit organizations, that question is far from academic.
Relatively Few Charity Dollars Go To Neediest, Study Finds
Stanford News Service, 1/16/08
Providing for the poor is the primary goal people cite for their charitable donations, but less than one third of that money actually goes to helping the neediest, according to a recent study commissioned by Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google.
Charity Begins in Washington
New York Times opinion*, 1/22/08
We'd be so much happier about all the good things America’s moneyed elite pay for if the government made needed public investments.
Here's My Check; Spend It All at Once
New York Times*, 1/20/08
The charitable world has recently detected evidence of one of its most vexing trends: the growing tyranny of donors. For about the last decade, charity experts say, donors have increasingly earmarked their charitable gifts, requiring recipients to spend the money exactly as prescribed.
Get in the Giving Habit
Wall Street Journal**, 1/20/08
You can't be a big-ticket philanthropist on an entry-level salary. But that doesn't mean cash-strapped twentysomethings can't manage some giving to worthy causes. Just start small, get in the giving habit -- and donate your time if dollars aren't an option.
For Nonprofits, Feast and Famine
St. Paul Pioneer Press*, 1/20/08
Minnesota is said to be a national leader in philanthropy, and if there was any doubt about it, large corporate and institutional gifts in 2007 cemented the state's reputation for giving until it hurts. But not all nonprofits have benefited equally, and while well-known foundations and charitable organizations found friends with deep pockets, many agencies are still scrambling to keep up with increased demands for help from the working poor.
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Some Charities Feel Pinch More Than Others
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 12/18/07
Google Offers a Map for Its Philanthropy
New York Times*, 1/18/08
Google announced a plan on Thursday that begins to fulfill the pledge it made to investors when it went public nearly four years ago to reserve 1 percent of its profit and equity to "make the world a better place." The beneficiaries of Google's money range from groups that are fighting disease to those developing a commercial plug-in car.
> $25 Million Begins Google's Charity
Washington Post*, 1/18/08
> Google: From 'Don't Be Evil' to How to Do Good
Wall Street Journal**, 1/18/08
Old Computers Made Cheaper And Better
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 1/17/08
Aging corporate computers — PCs three to four years old — are finding a new home in Minnesota's schools through a mixture of charity, entrepreneurship and bargain shopping. At one end of this recycling chain are donors such as Michael Newman of the Travelers Companies in St. Paul and Dennis Peters at the city of Blaine.
Toyota Dealers Donate 10 Cars, $300,000 To City Parks Agency
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 1/17/08
A recent McKnight Foundation grant of $150,000 was used to hire a person to figure out initial logistics, put together a board of directors and begin a fundraising plan for a conservancy. The conservancy will be an independent, nonprofit organization that will raise money and partner with the city to maintain and enhance the parks system.
Groups Create Fund To Help Duluth Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure
Duluth News Tribune, 1/16/08
Neighborhood Housing Services of Duluth (NHS), Lutheran Social Service and the Northland Foundation are working together to help homeowners who can’t make their payments and are in danger of losing their property to their mortgage lenders.
Conference Connects Small Montana Communities
Montana's News Station, 1/15/08
Nearly 150 individuals from across the state met Tuesday to get ideas on how to help revitalize their communities. The Rural Community Conference was designed by Northwest Area Foundation to provide networking opportunities and connections with organizations and agencies that will help them address those complex issues.
Understanding American Philanthropy
Wall Street Journal**, 1/15/08
What is U.S.-style philanthropy, anyway? My understanding is that it's a national sport. Americans' deep-rooted idealism and individualism leads many to believe they can change the world through individual efforts, sometimes as small as giving a buck to the homeless on the way home.
Five Foundations Focus New Program On Small Arts Groups
St. Paul Pioneer Press*, 1/14/08
The initiative, known as ArtsLab, will provide grants of up to $10,000 a year to its recipients. Along with the checks, 16 selected organizations will receive training opportunities and Internet-based seminars to help enhance the depth and stability of "smaller, innovative organizations on the cutting edge" of art in their communities.
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Partners In Arts For The Common Good
Minneapolis Star Tribune opinion*, 12/25/07
St. Peter Day Care Just Days Away From Opening
Mankato Free Press, 1/11/08
After receiving a $15,000 grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation last year, the St. Peter Early Childhood Initiative began assessing community needs through surveys and speakouts. Child care availability was the runaway favorite.
Why Donating Millions Is Hard To Keep Secret
Wall Street Journal**, 1/19/08
The rise in anonymous giving comes at a time when nonprofits are coming under increased pressure to reveal the names of some of their most generous donors. Proponents of greater disclosure by charities, including some lawmakers and consumer groups, argue that keeping givers' identities secret can mask efforts by wealthy individuals and corporations to use philanthropy as a tool of undue influence.
Melinda Gates Goes Public
Fortune, 1/7/08
Beginning in July, Bill, who is nine years older than Melinda, plans to spend more than 40 hours a week on philanthropy, leaving 15 or so for his duties as chairman of Microsoft. Friends of the couple say that he wouldn't be shifting gears if it weren't for Melinda.
Foundation Demotes Chief Executive After He Disguises His Identity
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/7/08
The Board of Directors of GiveWell, a grantmaker set up to help other donors with giving decisions, has removed Holden Karnofsky as its executive director and board secretary after he was caught last week using online aliases to promote GiveWell.
> Nonprofit Punishes a 2nd Founder for Ruse
New York Times*, 1/15/08
> GiveWell's Self-Promotion
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/2/08
> 2 Young Hedge-Fund Veterans Stir Up the World of Philanthropy
New York Times*, 12/20/07
> Doing Due Diligence On Your Donations
Wall Street Journal**, 12/20/07
Can Foundations Take the Long View Again?
New York Times*, 1/6/08
Advisers and trustees have compelled foundations to redirect their unrestricted grants to more discrete, short-term projects that would deliver a measurable bang for the buck. As a consequence, when foundations switched to project-based accounting, they forced grantees to sacrifice long-term effectiveness for short-term efficiency. The financial strain knocks many promising nonprofits out of business. Based on its data, the Center for Effective Philanthropy concluded that the present situation was limiting the effectiveness of those charitable dollars.
Nonprofit Leaders Question Presidential Contenders Before New Hampshire Primary
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/6/08
Score a home run for the Nonprofit Primary Project. Run by the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, in Concord, the project has been working for months to get the presidential candidates who have been swarming their small state to discuss the contribution that nonprofit groups make to the nation's economy.
New Leading Voices For Philanthropy
Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial*, 1/3/08
In charity, as in so much of life, there comes a time to shoulder responsibility. Thankfully, that time came early for a small group of 20- and 30-year-old Twin Cities professionals.
New Computers Aid Young Learners
Mankato Free Press, 1/2/08
A new innovation in preschool education has come to town and, judging from early responses, it's here to stay. Thanks to a grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, two area family education programs have received state-of-the-art Young Learner computer systems. Featuring software aimed at teaching 3- to 7-year-olds such fundamental concepts as shapes, colors and numbers, the Young Learner computers are produced by IBM and valued at $2,149 each.
Meeting A (Tech) Need
Marshall Independent, 1/2/08
Tracy Computer already had an established customer base when the Schmidt brothers bought it. There are few places in the area, outside of bigger cities like Marshall, where computer services are available. Financing from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Micro-Enterprise Loan Program helped the Schmidts purchase and expand Tracy Computer.
Rich Cowles: Running A Good Charity Costs Money
Minneapolis Star Tribune opinion*, 12/31/07
While the percentage of donations that go directly to the cause is important, it's not the only factor that givers should consider.
General Mills Finds Many Ways To Give
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 12/30/07
The company not only funds nonprofits; 78 percent of its employees do volunteer work.
For Modern Kids, 'Philanthropy' Is No Grown-Up Word
Washington Post*, 12/30/07
Young children and teenagers across the nation are getting involved in philanthropy more than ever, according to research and nonprofit experts, who credit new technologies with the rise of the trend. As young people increasingly become exposed to and connected with the problems of the world via the Internet and television, experts said, parents are finding new ways to instill in their children the value of giving.
Foundations Align Investments With Their Charitable Goals
Los Angeles Times*, 12/29/07
In a sharp break from past practice, major charitable foundations are initiating or strengthening efforts to harmonize the social and environmental effect of their endowment investments with their philanthropic goals.
Give Til It Helps
Los Angeles Times*, 12/24/07
If it's really better to give than receive, is generosity then better for you? The act itself has a growing list of benefits.
Higher Calling
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, 12/23/07
"Give With Faith" represents an advertising and public relations collaboration among three faith-based foundations: Lutheran Community Foundation, Minneapolis Jewish Federation and Catholic Community Foundation. Designed to raise awareness about faith-based philanthropy, the campaign encourages donors to take a closer look at how much of an impact foundations such as these have on the community.
> Three Religious Organizations Join Forces to Promote Holiday Contributions
Chronicle of Philanthropy**, 12/13/07
Nonprofit 100: They're On A Roll
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 12/23/07
Revenue grew more than 9% at the state's largest nonprofits. But so did expenses.
Emerald City of Giving Does Exist
New York Times*, 12/22/07
When it comes to corporate philanthropy, Minneapolis-St. Paul is a bastion of giving in an age when most companies are cutting back.
New Fund to Help Charities Add Efficiency by Growth
New York Times*, 12/21/07
A New York foundation that focuses largely on opportunities for low-income youths is creating a fund to help charities become bigger and more efficient.
Rethink Tax Breaks for Charitable Giving
Christian Science Monitor opinion, 12/20/07
Everyone agrees that it's good to donate to charity. Less certain is whether the U.S. government should allow tax deductions for charitable giving. The answer may seem like a no-brainer, but consider this: They don't necessarily encourage giving, and they don't always help the poor.
Governor's Homelessness Effort Gets A Boost
Minnesota Public Radio, 12/19/07
A coalition of business, nonprofit and faith leaders plan to raise $60 million to assist homeless people. Organizers of the coalition, known as HeadingHome Minnesota, say their goal is to compliment statewide and regional homeless programs already in place.
>
Private Sector Puts Weight Into Fight Against Homelessness
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 12/19/07
Rules Sought on Retailers' Ties to Charities
New York Times*, 12/16/07
Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, announced plans on Friday to introduce legislation next week to better regulate embedded giving, the fast-growing fundraising practice that involves building a gift to charity into everyday purchases.
Fathers And Kids Learn Hand In Hand
Rochester Post-Bulletin, 12/14/07
More than a dozen men attended the Men and Muffins literacy event Wednesday morning at Hawthorne Education Center. Hosted by Hand in Hand Family Literacy, a program of Parents Are Important In Rochester, the second annual Men and Muffins event was designed to get male role models involved in the lives of children, said Peggy O'Toole-Martin, Hand in Hand program manager. Using a grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, each family was given a gift bag of books and crayons at the event.
Internet Initiatives Make Everyone A Philanthropist
Christian Science Monitor, 12/14/07
The old thinking goes that to change the world, you have to give millions. But young tech-savvy philanthropists are trying to prove otherwise. Leveraging new technologies and the growth of social-networking websites, several online-giving pioneers are trying to expand the pool of potential donors by democratizing philanthropy and making it more transparent.
Philanthropy
Wall Street Journal special section**, 12/10/07
When it comes to donating to a charity, most people know the basic facts — what the charity's mission is and how much it spends on that mission. But they typically don't know the most important element: how well the charity does what it sets out to do. This Journal Report lays bare that gap between what donors do know and what they should know.
Donations To Bridge Collapse Victims Given Out Slowly, Carefully
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 10/2/07
Distributing the outpouring of donations has been slower than some would like, but there is a purpose behind the caution, experts say.
> I-35W bridge survivor vents outrage
Minneapolis Star Tribune*, 10/12/07
> Bridge Collapse Survivors Seek More Help
Associated Press, 10/14/07
Nonprofits See Job, Wage Growth
St. Paul Pioneer Press*, 10/1/07
Minnesota's nonprofits appear to be outpacing the government and corporate sectors in the state, at least when it comes to jobs and pay, according to a new Minnesota Council of Nonprofits economic report.
Private Foundations Should Consider PR
BusinessWeek, 6/18/07
Some believe that proactive media outreach is tantamount to inviting the Internal Revenue Service in for an audit, while others feel that publicity in some way diminishes the altruistic nature of giving. Yet over the last few years, a shift has begun to take place and foundations are seeing how external communications can complement and even strengthen their giving.
Giving
New York Times*, 11/13/06
Features articles on topics such as "philanthropreneurs,"
giving circles, corporate giving, celebrities and more.
>
What Is Charity? New York Times*, 11/14/05
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Around the Web
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MCF Press Releases |
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Minn. Grantmaking News |
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Philanthropy Blogs |
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Chronicle of Philanthropy |
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Philanthropy News Digest |
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Special Sections
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Emerald City of Giving
Does Exist
New York Times*, 12/22/07
When it comes to corporate philanthropy, Minneapolis-St. Paul is a bastion of giving in an age when most companies are cutting back. |
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Giving
New York Times*, 11/12/07 |
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Corporate Philanthropy
Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, 11/26/07 |
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Legislative News
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New System Will Peg Postal Rate Increases to Inflation
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 11/15/07 |
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IRS Posts Reactions to Proposed Tax-Form Revisions
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 8/17/07 |
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Big Change to 403(b) Funds
Wall Street Journal**, 7/28/07 |
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Federal Budget Situation for Charities Improves, Study Finds
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 7/2/07 |
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Change Needed In Philanthropy
Commentary by COF President and CEO Steve Gunderson, 3/19/07 |
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Many Nonprofit Groups Are Tightening Governance Policies, Study Finds
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 12/12/06 |
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What the Election Results Mean for Nonprofit Groups
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 11/8/06 |
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Trends in Philanthropy
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Giving Meets Web 2.0: Charities Use Online Social Networking To Tap New Audiences
MarketWatch, 11/16/07 |
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Macarthur Foundation Explores Virtual Worlds
Chicago Tribune*, 8/16/07 |
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Wanted: Nonprofit Leaders
Christian Science Monitor, 8/13/07 |
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Middle America Volunteers Most, Survey Finds
USA Today, 7/9/07 |
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Foundations Are Facing Up to Failures
New York Times*, 7/25/07 |
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Charity Made Efficient
Forbes, 6/25/07 |
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When Small Donors Get Together
Wall Street Journal**, 5/18/07 |
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Write a Check? The New Philanthropist Goes Further
New York Times*, 3/18/07
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The New Wave Of
American Philanthropy
NonProfit Times, 1/8/07 |
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Foundation Trend:
Less Is More
The Examiner, 3/12/07 |
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Small Family Foundations Become Growth Industry
Baltimore Sun, 2/23/07 |
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Too Much Money? These Gen X-ers Give It Away
U.S. News & World Report, 2/18/07 |
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When Philanthropy Meets Profitmaking
Financial Times, 2/16/07 |
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This Is For Charity?
Washington Post*, 1/21/07 |
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A Web Of Giving
Seattle Times*, 12/18/06 |
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How The New Philanthropy Works
Time, 10/2/06 |
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Voicing Support For Charity
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 8/3/06 |
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Virgin and Google:
But Is It Philanthropy?
OnPhilanthropy.com, 9/27/06 |
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A Look Back... And Ahead
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Fundraising Outlook Steady
Philanthropy Journal, 1/3/07
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Nonprofits Expect Increased Donations, More Scrutiny
The Examiner, 1/1/07 |
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The Year in onPhilanthropy: The Biggest Stories of 2006
OnPhilanthropy.com |
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2006 Was Landmark Year for Big Donations
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 12/30/06 |
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2006: The Year in Review
Philanthropy News Digest, 1/4/07 |
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Record-Breaking Giving
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2/22/07 |
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Fundraisers Predict Stable Giving Season
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 12/6/06 |
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Gates and Buffett
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Bulk of Buffett's fortune goes to Gates Foundation
Seattle Times, 6/26/06 |
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Gates' Next Full-Time Job:
Trying To Save
The World
Seattle Times, 6/16/06 |
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Gates Foundation Announces That It Doesn't Plan to Operate Forever
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 11/29/06 |
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Philanthropy Smackdown: Google Vs. Gates For The World Charity Championship
Slate, 9/17/06
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Bill Gates, Version 2.0:
Full-Time Philanthropist
Washington Post*, 6/16/06 |
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Buffett Wants Charities To Spend Fast
BusinessWeek, 3/2/07 |
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The Challenges Posed by an Era of Mega-Gifts
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/11/07 |
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A New Era For Supercharged Philanthropy
Christian Science Monitor, 6/28/06 |
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Even With Lots More Money, Gates Foundation Faces Big Challenges
Chronicle of Philanthropy |
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Disasters
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Donors Give More Than $27 Million to
Victims of California Wildfires
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 11/5/07 |
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Seeking More Aid, Gulf Coast Looks to Foundations
New York Times*, 11/12/07 |
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Absence of Major Disaster in '06 Affected Giving
New York Times*, 6/25/07 |
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Some Disasters
Compel Us To Give
Washington Post, 11/6/05 |
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Learning From 9/11
Chronicle of Philanthropy, 8/31/06 |
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Fast Track To Nowhere:
Few 9/11 Groups Still In Operation
NonProfit Times, 9/1/06 |
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Planning Your Giving
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Make The Most Of Your Money With A Year-End Gift
OnPhilanthropy.com, 12/7/06 |
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Yes, You Can Start Your
Own Charitable Foundation
USA Today, 6/30/06 |
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How To Be A Big-Time Philanthropist
MSNBC.com, 7/14/06
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