- Foundations should be concerned by a recent survey that showed even the best-informed Americans still have little understanding of what grant makers do, says Joel Orosz, a professor of philanthropic studies at Grand Valley State University. His views appear on the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s blog.
- “Today’s charities are worried about tomorrow’s philanthropists,” who are more likely to support new or small charities, writes Shelly Banjo, a Wall Street Journal columnist. During a recent roundtable discussion with major donors, several of them raised this point, she says.
- While new technology developments could help grass-roots charities in Africa and elsewhere, the groups rarely know about the breakthroughs, says Joshua J. Friedman, a journalist, on PopTech. He says a new Amazon.com-like Web site will help solve this problem by creating a marketplace for socially beneficial devices and tools.
- Patrick Corvington, the new head of the Corporation for National and Community Service, could help the federal agency “turn the corner,” writes Robert Rosenthal, communications director at VolunteerMatch, on the group’s Engaging Volunteers blog. He says Mr. Corvington’s background prepares him to help nonprofit groups more effectively recruit and manage volunteers.
- The Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to making the government more open, discusses on its blog its effort to offer real-time information during the recent health-care summit between lawmakers and the president.
- Thaler Pekar, a consultant to nonprofit organizations, writes on the Foundation Center’s PhilanTopic blog about the importance of asking donors, colleagues, and others to share their stories about charities.
