Items relevant to more than one category may appear more than once in this summary. From the issue dated October 27, 2005 The Philanthropy 400 DONATIONS TO THE LARGEST U.S. CHARITIES grew by 11.6 percent in 2004, according to The Chronicle's annual survey of the 400 groups that raise the most money from private sources. AN ADMIRAL who raises money for the U.S. Naval Academy has to overcome the misperception that the government-supported institution doesn't need private gifts. RISING FUEL AND POSTAL PRICES are among the challenges facing officials of the nation's biggest charities. A VOLUNTEER FUND RAISER in Omaha, Carol Madson Russell has put her talents to work for an amazing number of charities, including several regulars on the Philanthropy 400 list. STUNTS STAGED by a radio disc jockey in Buffalo, N.Y., have raised millions for charities, most especially the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Western New York. A PASSION FOR ART propelled F. Terry Stent's success in attracting gifts to the capital campaign for Atlanta's High Museum of Art and Woodruff Arts Center. About Gifts and Giving A PROPOSAL TO SHIP TRASH to the place where she grew up set Majora Carter on the path to founding Sustainable South Bronx, an environmental charity. AARON DWORKIN'S EXPERIENCE as a black violinist in a mostly white youth orchestra was a seed for the founding of the Sphinx Organization, which works to improve minority representation in classical music. THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF FAZAL SHEIKH records the struggles of refugees in the far reaches of the world: a selection of his images. GOOGLE HAS PLEDGED to spend $175-million combating global poverty and environmental problems, and will put another $90-million into a new foundation. U.S. BUSINESSES have given $379-million in cash to hurricane relief and recovery, according to a Chamber of Commerce report; a second survey indicates Americans want corporations to keep up those efforts. PROTESTANTS are giving less of their income to churches and church-sponsored charities, according to a new report from Empty Tomb, a religious research and social-service group in Illinois. A RETIRED REAL-ESTATE DEVELOPER in California has given 174 artworks to New York's Museum of Modern Art. THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS received $45-million from three donors for its capital campaign; other recent gifts to nonprofit organizations and institutions. FACE OF PHILANTHROPY: A pathway in Washington is now marked with big medallions honoring people who founded charities and championed social causes. About Fund Raising THE EARTHQUAKE IN KASHMIR, following a succession of other natural catastrophes around the globe, is straining the ability of relief groups to deploy field workers and raise money. THE DE YOUNG MUSEUM, in San Francisco, shut down for five years after being badly damaged in an earthquake, is about to reopen, thanks in large measure to one indefatigable volunteer fund raiser, Dede Wilsey. UPDATE ON CAMPAIGNS for endowments, capital improvements, and other needs. INTEREST RATES for planned gifts, issued by the Internal Revenue Service. About Managing Nonprofit Groups WORD OF MOUTH, the oldest marketing tool in the book, is the latest thing in getting out a charity's message. THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE on Aging, coming up in December, will focus to a large extent on ways to attract older Americans to volunteer work and other forms of "civic engagement." A PROVISION OF A BILL in the House of Representatives could bar charities that engage in political advocacy from receiving grants under a new federal housing fund. A PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE will soon recommend changes to the tax code that would significantly restrict charitable deductions (Tax Watch). NONPROFIT HEALTH-CARE GROUPS earned 8.2 percent on their investments last year, reflecting the performance of the stock markets, said a new report from the Commonfund Institute. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE has released for comment its draft of a revised Form 990 that would, among other changes, ask for more information on compensation (Tax Watch). HAVING FIRED ITS PRESIDENT, Benjamin Ladner, American University still faces turmoil on its board and a federal inquiry into Mr. Ladner's extravagant spending and compensation. GIRLS AND BOYS TOWN enjoys almost mythic status among U.S. nonprofit groups, but its new director, Father Stephen E. Boes, says he likes a tough job -- and kids who are in trouble (New on the Job). HOW GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE can best be put to use in a nonprofit career and the role of noncash gifts in capital campaigns are among the topics covered in The Chronicle's monthly advice column (Hotline). REPORTS ON CHARITIES by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. About Technology INTERNATIONAL RELIEF GROUPS have a long way to go in making the best use of technology to manage their response to emergencies, participants at a conference in Washington were told. AMAZON.COM'S CONTEST aimed at encouraging customers to donate to charities through its Web site netted a combined $1.7-million for 10 relatively unknown nonprofit groups. About Grant Makers SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS have pledged up to $200-million for a project to create low-cost housing in New York City. RECENT GRANTS by foundations, corporations, and other grant makers. SUMMARIES OF ANNUAL REPORTS from the Ford Foundation and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Charitable Funds. Also in This Issue OPINION: Pablo Eisenberg says a controversy at American University offers a lesson for nonprofit boards of all kinds; Rebecca Sive proposes that big foundations spend everything they have on eliminating the poverty and racism exposed by Hurricane Katrina and then shut down. BOOKS: A guide to raising money, a college textbook on the nonprofit world, a handbook on social investing, and a summary of other publications on grants to arts-education projects, finding corporate grant makers, a project to help inner-city residents find work in the suburbs, and the Waltons' philanthropy. LETTERS: on who should be responsible for disaster relief, the controversy surrounding American University's recently fired president, and the challenges facing twentysomething fund raisers. PRESS CLIPPINGS: The New Yorker assesses the impact of the Gates Foundation; Alpha looks at the investment strategies of Eli Broad's foundations; Forbes reports on the IRS crackdown on the deductions businesses claim for donated patents; and Harper's casts a cold eye on local groups that raise money for public schools. PEOPLE: Appointments and promotions in the nonprofit world. AWARDS: Honors for people and organizations in philanthropy.