Philanthropy This Week

Learn about some of the nonprofit world's most important issues from Chronicle editors and reporters. Join us for discussions with the people behind the stories and interviews with some of philanthropy's most prominent newsmakers.

Episode Archive

If there were an effective way to measure nonprofit groups based on their performance, would donors channel more of their money to the effective groups?

Jeff Mason, chairman of the Alliance for Effective Social Investing, believes they would. He describes how his group is devising a new approach to measuring nonprofit achievements. (Running time: 11:47)

Is your organization properly registered in all of the states where it raises money? Tony Martignetti, a planned-giving adviser and author, explains why you should be asking this question. Plus, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush discusses his new career in the nonprofit world. (Running time: 22:25)

A look at the charitable works of two of the world's biggest celebrities — the cyclist Lance Armstrong and Usher, the entertainer. Find out how these stars are using their fame to advance their favorite causes. (Running time: 16:08)

A look at a new study about diversity in the nonprofit world, a discussion of a major gift from the United Arab Emirates, and a conversation about how professional golf intersects with charity. (Running time: 13:08)

Ken Berger, president of the nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator, discusses his plans for improving his organization's controversial ratings system for charities. (Running time: 17:44)

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, Earth Hour, and other nonprofit groups share the keys to their use of online social networks like Twitter and Facebook. (Running time: 14:15)

Running a nonprofit organization is a difficult proposition, even during the best of times. But how can a group maintain its focus in the face of an unexpected crisis or through turbulent economic times. Mary Brown, executive director of the charity Life Pieces to Masterpieces in Washington, and Akwasi Aidoo, executive director of TrustAfrica in Dakar, Senegal, discuss how their work is gaining momentum, even in the face of difficult challenges. (Running time: 11:40)

How is the nonprofit world attempting to shape the overhaul of the health-care system? David Sloane, head of government relations at AARP, explains his organization's approach. Plus, a look at the state of donor-advised funds, a $23-billion source of money for charity. (Running time: 12:20)

How are some companies structuring their corporate giving during the recession? You can listen to an interview with Kerry Sullivan, Bank of America's National Philanthropy Executive, about her company's giving plans and get details about a new collaboration between The Home Depot and Habitat For Humanity International. (Running time: 8:22)

The Chronicle examines key topics facing the Obama administration, including its proposal to revise charitable deductions and its Social Innovation Fund. You can listen to interviews with Sandra Swirski, a principal at Venn Strategies, a political consulting group in Washington, and Andrew Wolk, founder and chief executive of Root Cause, a research group that focuses on ways to improve nonprofit efforts. (Running time: 13:16)

A look at recent fund-raising trends and an interview with the columnist Sean Stannard-Stockton about the future of philanthropy — and how the nonprofit world will likely be changed in the wake of the global recession. (Running time: 12:30)

Luis Ubiñas, president of the Ford Foundation, discusses how his organization is shifting millions of dollars into grant making by cutting its staff expenses; Alberto Ibargüen, president of the Knight Foundation, talks about a controversial approach to grant making. Plus, a look at forbidden fund-raising words. (Running time: 12:33)

A look at the Obama administration's plan for the new Social Innovation Fund and an interview with Gara LaMarche, president of Atlantic Philanthropies, one of the nation's biggest foundations (Running time: 11:27)

Robert Egger, the founder of the V3 Campaign and president of D.C. Central Kitchen, in Washington, discusses why budget deficits in 47 states are a call to action for nonprofit groups that want a bigger say in how government works.

Learn how American companies are altering their giving to nonprofit groups as the recession continues, and find out why a growing number of high-profile nonprofit executives are volunteering to take pay cuts.

Find out how current giving patterns might mirror those from the 1970s, and what they tell fund raisers about what to expect next. And get a preview of the new NBC television show The Philanthropist.

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