Warren Buffett is one of the donors examined in the new book Philanthrocapitalism.

Gayle Shomer/Charlotte Observer

Gloria Pace King resigned after her $2-million pension package caused a public outcry.

Danny Bright

Jilly Stephens, head of New York's City Harvest, says her charity is taking steps to avoid fallout from the financial industry's downturn.

From the issue dated October 2, 2008 About Gifts and Giving BILL CLINTON urged participants gathered at this year's Clinton Global Initiative not to let the current economic crisis interfere with their philanthropy. "PHILANTHROCAPITALISM," signifying wealthy donors' businesslike approach to giving, is explored in a new book. ENCOURAGING VOLUNTEER SERVICE by more Americans was the focus of a conference in New York that drew more than 700 participants and both presidential nominees. TO GUIDE THEIR GIVING, wealthy donors rely not so much on information about a charity's performance as on the opinions of their own peers, a new survey indicates. SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN and his wife gave $995 to charity last year, according to tax records released last week (Tax Watch). TWO GROUPS OF LEGISLATORS have reached a compromise on competing Senate bills that would raise the amount taxpayers can deduct for the use of their vehicles in volunteer work (Tax Watch). THE FACE OF PHILANTHROPY: The International Baccalaureate organization helps schools offer students a global perspective and an emphasis on community service. About Compensation SALARIES AND BENEFITS paid to leaders of the nation's largest charities rose a median of 5 percent last year, according to the 16th annual Chronicle survey of executive compensation. THE REVISED FORM 990 released by the Internal Revenue Service this year puts a new emphasis on executive pay and will mean big changes in the way charities report such information to the public. FEMALE CHARITY EXECUTIVES are receiving roughly the same pay increases as their male colleagues, but the raises don't begin to close the persistent salary gap, according to a new report from GuideStar. PUBLIC OUTCRY over a $2-million pension package awarded to the head of the United Way of Central Carolinas led to the executive's departure and other upheavals at the organization, but it didn't stop the group's annual fund-raising drive. About Fund Raising THE CRISIS ON WALL STREET is likely to hurt not only private donations to charities but also the government support that charities receive, and it comes just ahead of the all-important holiday-giving season. INVESTMENT COMMITTEES at charities and foundations are having to make some tough calls in the face of the volatile market, but so far few organizations are panicking. THE NEAR-COLLAPSE of the insurance giant American International Group will have a huge impact on the Starr Foundation, 97 percent of whose endowment is made up of AIG stock. HOSPITALS and other health-care institutions saw a return on their investments of 8 percent last year, down from 11 percent the year before, according to a new study. DONATIONS FOR HURRICANE RELIEF this season have been far less than the amounts usually raised following a major disaster, and well below what will be needed to help victims of the storms. AN INTREPID CARAVAN of Salvation Army workers made its way to storm-battered Houston to dispense chili dogs to hungry residents coping with power outages and a shortage of gasoline (Dispatches). THE SENATE has passed a measure containing several tax breaks for charitable giving, including the extension of a provision covering contributions made from a donor's individual retirement account (Tax Watch). 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 A TEXAS JUDGE is expected to rule soon in a lawsuit against the National Heritage Foundation, a Virginia charity that promoted a controversial giving scheme that was eventually outlawed. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE will soon be sending some 400 colleges and universities a questionnaire seeking information on executive pay, endowments, and other financial matters (Tax Watch). WRITE-OFFS: The Internal Revenue Service is sponsoring a Webcast to explain the new informational return for charities; the tax agency has announced priorities for its tax-exempt division (Tax Watch). A LAWYER who used to advise nonprofit clients to avoid lobbying, Tim Delaney, has become a champion of charities' advocacy work as the new head of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (New on the Job). About Technology GOOGLE, marking its 10th anniversary, is looking for ideas that can change the world, and it will pay $10-million to try to pull the best ones off. THE MAN WHO INVENTED the World Wide Web has established a new organization to promote the use of the Web to further scientific research that can ease the world's ills. CAPITAL ONE will pay the transaction fees on charitable donations its credit-card holders make through its online giving site. FOUNDATIONS could be making more and better use of interactive Web 2.0 technology, the authors of a new report say. About Grant Makers TWO GRANT MAKERS, the Gates and Howard G. Buffett foundations, have joined in pledging $75-million to a new program to help farmers in Africa sell their excess crops to antihunger efforts. THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION handed out 25 new "genius awards," including 17 to people who work at universities or other nonprofit organizations. RECENT GIFTS to nonprofit organizations and institutions. RECENT GRANTS by foundations, corporations, and other grant makers. Also in This Issue OPINION: Bill Somerville on the tortoiselike pace of foundations' grant making; and Pablo Eisenberg on a financial scandal that has shaken a respected community-organizing group. LETTERS: on the tough questions facing philanthropy, on an unintentional swipe at arts organizations, and on the work of groups set up to help survivors of the September 11 attacks. NEW BOOKS: A guide to laws governing nonprofit associations, essays on international philanthropy, and a handbook on seeking big donors. PEOPLE: Appointments and promotions in the nonprofit world. AWARDS: Honors for people and organizations in philanthropy.