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ArchiveArchive
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 26, 2008
When Do We Start Calling It Genocide?
When will we start calling the willful and purposeful actions of the Burmese government to kill hundreds of thousands of Burmese through starvation, exposure and disease genocide?
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.
May 14, 2008
Assorted Thoughts of Interest from the Council on Foundations
I heard a number of interesting things said at the Council on Foundations Summit that don’t fit into any particular category;here are three of them.
May 13, 2008
The Absence of Debate in Perpetuity
Sessions at the Council on Foundations Summit generally featured a group of panelists who agreed with each other and spoke to an audience who agreed with them.
May 08, 2008
Burma’s Recovery Can Gain from Recent Lessons in Disaster Relief
In the aftermath of the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina a number of organizations conducted evaluation studies to determine what aid organizations did well, what they failed to do and what could be done better in the future. Studies conducted by the Fritz Institute and the World Bank, to name two, provide interesting insights into the recovery process, and can help aid organizations as they engage in the current relief effort in Burma.
May 05, 2008
Human Rights and Philanthropy
The tendency in philanthropy to overstate impact plays a key role in undermining the confidence of the public in philanthropy and non-profits. Several studies have shown that such confidence is at an all-time low. When philanthropy makes assertions and promises it cannot meet, it encourages public cynicism. In the case of human rights, isn’t it enough to say that all human beings deserve to live lives of dignity without appealing to grander claims?
May 05, 2008
Recession and Donor Advisors
Donor advisory services have been growing rapidly in recent years, particularly among private banks. But many of these private banks are facing budget cuts because of turmoil in global financial markets.