Philanthropy Action

Category: Philanthropy

There are 76 entries in this category.

Sep 29, 2008

Who Will Bail Out the Non-Profits?

The impact of the declining economy and shrinking financial services industry will likely be severe for many non-profits. The fall in donations while needs for services rises is yet another reason we should be questioning the existing regulations for foundation and donor-advised fund payouts. 

Jul 21, 2008

Interview: United Way of America CEO Brian Gallagher

Recently we discussed United Way’s refocusing, the meaning of accountability, and the state of philanthropy in general with CEO Brian Gallagher.

Jul 21, 2008

The Thorny Problem of Donor Intent

It may seem that honoring donor intent in all cases is the right and obvious thing to do. But the recent revelation that before her death Leona Helmsley charged her multi-billion dollar charitable trust to attend to “the care and welfare of dogs” starkly illustrates that donor intent is a thornier question than it seems.

Jul 16, 2008

An Emerging Markets Cellular Behemoth Means Opportunity

A company the size of a merged MTN and Reliance Communications would have the potential to make capital investments in infrastructure that could drive faster subscriber growth in emerging geographies. A larger and more exciting possibility is the possibility of using cellphones to dramatically lower the cost of small transactions.

Jul 03, 2008

More Young People Looking for Post-College Stints in the Volunteer Corps

More recent college graduates are applying to join volunteer organizations such as Teach for America or the Peace Corps. Yet in the last few months two relevant stories have come out about the Peace Corps specifically, both of which suggest that its historical reliance on young volunteers has played a role in the organizations’ reputation as a particularly ineffective conduit for humanitarian relief.

Jun 17, 2008

Doing the Right Thing is Not Always Easy

Message fatigue can come about for any number of reasons. For one, constant bombardment with information about how bad things are can cause people to feel that their individual actions are meaningless. Equally concerning, however, is that the information donors need to make good decisions often becomes contradictory as an issue gets more attention.

Jun 04, 2008

Lagging Donations to Burma and China: A Warning to Non-Profits?

Roughly three weeks after the cyclone and earthquake, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University estimated that donations from Americans totaled less than $60 million, compared with more than $200 million given in the week after the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. Drawing valid conclusions about the cause behind these wildly disparate totals is difficult, but two main forces seem to be at play: where the disasters occurred and the American economic slowdown. 

May 30, 2008

New and Old School Philanthropy on Display

While “new” philanthropy is confronting the challenge of public and tax policy, some “old” philanthropy approaches are showing their value. 

May 29, 2008

The AIDS Crisis and The Invisible Cure

Philanthropy Action interviewed AIDS journalist and activist Helen Epstein on her views of current treatment and prevention programs in Africa and how Western money can do better work for the African AIDS crisis.

May 22, 2008

Silver Linings and Dark Clouds Surround the Food Crisis

It seems that everyone except for the US Congress has woken up to the food crisis. The topic has made the cover of many magazines, and is featured almost daily in major national newspapers. Most debate has now turned to the causes and solutions, if any, to the situation. While there are some silver linings, the biggest dark cloud of all is centered over Washington, DC this week where the US Congress will overturn a presidential veto and pass the 2008 farm bill. 

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