The Chronicle of Philanthropy | Opinion

A New Kind of IPO for Facebook’s Millionaires

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:53:00 EDT

It's time for the newly rich to lead the charge to ensure philanthropy puts more dollars and decision making into the hands of the minorities who will soon collectively become the nation's majority.

Why Watching CEO Expense Accounts Matters

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:05:00 EDT

In the midst of major leadership issues, nobody wants to spend time monitoring a chief executive's discretionary spending, but abuse of a nonprofit's checkbook can bring down a leader and damage a nonprofit's reputation.

Don’t Let Corporate Marketers Set the Charity Agenda

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EDT

The growth of cause marketing not only hurts nonprofits but also relieves governments and businesses of their responsibility to solve large-scale problems.

Don’t Let Congress Keep Stomping on Advocacy Rights

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EDT

New restrictions on nonprofit free-speech rights are a sign not just of growing power by conservatives to quash popular democracy, but also that charities and foundations aren't mobilizing to fend off threats.

End the 'Witch Hunt’ Approach at Catholic Community-Organizing Fund

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:01:00 EDT

The Campaign for Human Development, a Catholic group that provides $8-million a year to charities, has bowed too far to pressure from conservative bishops, casting out groups that have even the remotest association with organizations that oppose church teachings.

What Foundations Can Learn From Failure

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Grant makers often set impossible goals or let arrogant executives set the agenda instead of figuring out what strategies might be most effective.

Grant Makers Need to Help Fix American Democracy

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Supporting the organizations that provide accurate information and curb the undue influence of money in politics are essential for foundations of all ideological stripes.

Coverage of Community-Service Agency Failed to Offer Full Picture

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EDT

National-service advocates criticize a series of articles about the Corporation for National and Community Service and President Obama's nominee to lead the organization.

How Data Can Improve a Nonprofit’s Work

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Leadership and incentives to staff members are critical if nonprofits expect to improve their programs by measuring results.

Kony Video Is Just the Latest Social-Media Effort to Show the Power of Charity Campaigns

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Nonprofits working behind the scenes are finding new ways to spark popular online revolts virtually overnight.

Nonprofits Must Tell Donors About Solutions if They Expect to Win Public’s Trust

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT

The public has a mistrust of all things big, including nonprofits, but by pitching long-terms solutions, charities can avoid some of the skepticism.

Foundation Attention-Deficit Disorder Becomes an Epidemic

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT

The major social ills foundations seek to heal can't be solved with the ephemeral efforts that mark philanthropy today, writes a former W.K. Kellogg Foundation official.

Don’t Blame the Culture Wars for Komen’s Problems

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Poor management decisions made in the Planned Parenthood controversy offer lessons to nonprofits of all kinds, say two former charity chief executives.

The New York Times Was Wrong to Abandon Philanthropy

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EDT

As one of the last full-time reporters to cover nonprofits is reassigned to business coverage, the news media is no longer doing its job to hold charities accountable.

Nonprofit Leaders Must Take a United View That Charitable Deductions Matter

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

The attack on giving breaks stems from the belief that governments know better how to spend money than private citizens, writes the head of the Triad Foundation.

Charities Must Stand Up to States

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

Some nonprofits will face closure, or drastic cuts in aid to clients, if they keep tolerating the financial squeeze from government agencies.

Fighting Fraud and Promoting Social Equity: a Nonprofit Agenda

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

Charity and foundation leaders need to figure out how to do a better job of serving a society that is divided over class, ideology, and financial scarcity.

Grant Makers Must Heed Technology’s Impact on Their Causes

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Foundations need to understand it's not just about the cutting-edge tools or else they will end up the philanthropic equivalent of Blockbuster video.

Is Conservative Philanthropy Ignoring the Poor?

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

By focusing on short-term political advocacy, donors have sacrificed a far more important goal: long-term civic problem solving.

Charitable Deductions Are a Luxury the Rich Don’t Need

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

At a time of high deficits, a former foundation official says it's time for nonprofits to stop trying to preserve tax write-offs for giving.

Steps Charity Leaders Can Take to Avoid Getting 'Komened’

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Nonprofits need to realize that the public has lost trust in all charities and prepare to defend their operations.

Unlocking Government Aid for Religious Groups

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

A Supreme Court decision removes the roadblocks that have made it hard for federal dollars to flow to faith organizations.

Overlooked Education Gifts That Might Make a Real Difference

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

The search for innovation and sexy new projects often means that donors fail to focus on efforts like making education for the disabled more cost-efficient and dealing with the dire effects on education wrought by family breakdown.

7 Ways to Ensure Gifts for Medical Research Do More Good

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST

As donors back efforts to convert biomedical discoveries into patient therapies, it's important to look at how well grantees attract top talent and how their finances work.

Charities Suffer From a Wealth Gap, Too

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:49:00 EST

Nonprofits struggle with the same profound income inequality that individuals in this country do, with hospitals, universities, and other large institutions leading the pack in fundraising, executive compensation, and benefiting the rich over the poor.

Misplaced Giving Priorities of America’s Wealthy

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

At a time when nonprofits are closing and demand for their services is rising, why are rich donors directing their money to causes that are not urgent, such as aiding the National Zoo’s pandas?