David H. Koch has battled prostate cancer for 15 years, so much of his giving goes to cancer research.

Jim Graham, for The Chronicle

M. Starita Boyce faced daunting challenges when she was named to a university's chief development post, but she decided to stick it out.

Peter Yates, for The Chronicle

Matthew Richter says board members never told him why they fired him from the top job at a Seattle arts center.

From the issue dated April 3, 2008 About Gifts and Giving HAVING BATTLED PROSTATE CANCER for 15 years, David H. Koch directs most of his giving to cancer research. BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA gave $240,000 to charity last year, according to Senator Obama's presidential campaign. MUSLIM DONORS and charity leaders gathered in Istanbul for the first World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, the latest sign that the Islamic world is beginning to take modern philanthropy seriously. ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY, in New York, is being sued by donors who say the college failed to keep them informed of how it was spending their $2-million gift. SPENDING MONEY ON OTHERS  — and that includes giving to charitable causes — makes people happier than spending it on themselves, according to a study published in Science magazine. PROVIDING FREE BOOKS to schoolteachers was the initial purpose behind the Book Thing of Baltimore, but now the charity gives away millions of titles to anyone who wants them (Dispatches). RECENT GIFTS to nonprofit organizations and institutions. THE FACE OF PHILANTHROPY: Casey Trees, a Washington charity, wants to turn the nation's capital back into the "City of Trees," a reputation it lost during the 20th century. About Fund Raising FINDING NEW DONORS is becoming increasingly difficult for charities as traditional methods like direct mail grow more expensive and less effective. FUND-RAISING JOBS can be hard in the best of circumstances, but some obstacles present a special challenge or a useful lesson. BEFORE GETTING STUCK in a difficult employment situation, fund raisers need to do their homework: tips on avoiding the nightmare job. SOLVING COMMON PROBLEMS: lessons from veteran fund raisers about how to overcome challenges. WEALTHY DONORS are more and more likely to do their giving online, according to a new study, but many charities risk alienating them with their careless use of e-mail to stay in touch. APPLYING FOR A GRANT is becoming a paperless process as more grant makers switch to online proposals, but many charities are unhappy about the extra time and frustration involved. CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS have been an important way for charities to multiply the value of individual donations, but the number and value of the matches appear to be declining. FUND-RAISING IDEAS THAT WORK: using the appeal of wine to woo donors, offering low-cost naming rights, putting a comic strip into an annual-fund appeal, and asking donors to give up just an hour's wage. WRITING A CHECK to an organization is one thing, says Bob Levey, but what prompts us to give to that charity a second time? INTEREST RATES for planned gifts, issued by the Internal Revenue Service. UPDATE ON CAMPAIGNS for endowments, capital improvements, and other needs. About Managing Nonprofit Groups CHARITY BOARDS that act too hastily in firing a director can jeopardize the stability and reputation of the organization. WHEN AN EXECUTIVE FIRING is inevitable, trustees can take steps to smooth the transition to new leadership. ONLY A QUARTER OF AMERICANS think charities do a "very good" job of helping people, according to survey results to be released this month. EMPLOYEE FRAUD at charities arises mostly from a lack of appropriate internal controls, according to a new study. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE will be taking a closer look at nonprofit groups engaged in business activities not related to their mission, to ensure the charities are paying appropriate tax on the income. SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN has challenged an inquiry by the Internal Revenue Service into whether the United Church of Christ engaged in improper politicking in inviting Sen. Barack Obama to speak at a conference (Tax Watch). NONPROFIT GROUPS AND CHURCHES are being asked to help publicize the government's forthcoming tax rebate among people who do not file tax returns (Tax Watch). A 2005 LAW tightening restrictions on tax deductions for the donation of used vehicles has had a largely negative impact on charities, a report from the Government Accountability Office suggests (Tax Watch). WRITE-OFFS: The IRS's "dirty dozen" includes some charity scams; the Treasury Department assesses how well the IRS monitors tax-exempt groups; and a prominent charity watchdog says foundations need to curb abuses (Tax Watch). About Technology GOOGLE has begun offering a portal for nonprofit groups that helps them adopt the search engine's tools, at no charge, for use in their operations. TEXT MESSAGING is the next big thing in the way nonprofit groups reach out to supporters, participants at the Nonprofit Technology Conference learned. A VIDEO GAME is developed by a New York human-rights group to educate young, voting-age users about issues surrounding immigration, detention, and deportation. SYNCHRONIZING DATA across software programs is the subject of a new report aimed specifically at nonprofit groups. THE PHOTO-SHARING SITE Flickr is offering 10,000 free accounts to charities. About Grant Makers FAMILY FOUNDATIONS' GIVING grew 21 percent in 2006 over the previous year, the Foundation Center has reported. THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION is spending $500,000 to examine a stock market for companies that advance social and financial goals. THE CASE FOUNDATION has named the 20 finalists for its Make It Your Own awards; the four groups to receive $25,000 grants will be chosen through online voting. RECENT GRANTS by foundations, corporations, and other grant makers. About Careers in the Nonprofit World NONPROFIT JOB SEEKERS surveyed by a Boston recruiting organization said charities need to make significant changes in the way they develop the next generation of leaders. THE COMBATIVE WORLD of Charity Navigator is a far cry from Trent Stamp's new position at the helm of the Eisner Foundation, in Los Angeles, and he is ready for the change (New on the Job). WHEN SHE STARTED WORK at a Milwaukee shelter for domestic-abuse victims, she was just helping out; 25 years later Kathie Stolpman retired as the group's executive director (Exit Interview). PEOPLE: Appointments and promotions in the nonprofit world. AWARDS: Honors for people and organizations in philanthropy. Also in This Issue OPINION: Leslie Lenkowsky considers the prospects for philanthropy in the Middle East; Mark Winne offers a new approach to fighting poverty; Charles Longsworth wonders why so many charities treat donors carelessly; and Pablo Eisenberg has high hopes for the Smithsonian under its new leader. LETTERS: on California's diversity legislation and on the necessary costs of raising money. NEW BOOKS: A guide to finding financial support and managing a project, a new approach to grant-proposal writing, a sociological look at charity ribbons, a handbook on getting donors engaged, and summaries of other publications on business ventures with social goals, how grant makers can influence public policy, and a study of so-called health-care conversion foundations.