Miami University (Ohio) has sent back $5 million received from convicted Ponzi-schemer Tom Petters. It’s a tough time for most charities, and you still have to respond to the occasional stinker donor.
Read the Minneapolis / St. Paul News article.
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Miami University (Ohio) has sent back $5 million received from convicted Ponzi-schemer Tom Petters. It’s a tough time for most charities, and you still have to respond to the occasional stinker donor. Read the Minneapolis / St. Paul News article. The Wall Street Journal reports today on hospitals taking information gathered from patients and using it in hospital fundraising efforts. Certainly charities should be able to do research on potential donors, but this is going to far! Hospitals regularly gather much more information about us than other charities. Hospitals have struggled with the protected [...] “If there ever was a time to get smarter about philanthropy, this is it. Donations are down, endowments have been decimated, and state and local governments are slashing their budgets. And the number of those who need help are rising rapidly” writes editor Lawrence Rout, describing The Wall Street Journal‘s recent special report on [...] Bravo! Congratulations to these terrific individuals, innovating for the good of society. From the Encore Careers release:
Whenever you are thinking of donating or volunteering, keep our top ten tips in mind. Evaluate each proposed organization’s relationship and responsiveness to you. Are they responsive to your requests for information? Do the respect your privacy? Do they respect your wishes about mailings and other communications? Do they provide the recognition approach you want? Bloomberg.com just published an interesting article on the changing market for naming rights – in light of the current economy. It may be time to strike a better deal, while supporting a cause you care about. The Bloomberg.com article. Answer: The answer depends in part on your type of relationship with the charity (see “What types of charity relationships do you want?”). Expect less from a charity if you are a Distant giver, and much more if you are Fully Involved. No matter what type of relationship you have with the charity, it should:
What types of relationships do you want with the charities you support? Do you want to give small amounts to many causes? Or large amounts to one or two? Are you some place in between? Do you want to give from afar and stay distant? Do you want to get directly involved? Are you [...] The following Donor Bill of Rights was created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Non-Profits. Many charities have adopted this bill of rights, or something similar. Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights: I. To be informed of the organization’s mission, Continue reading “A Donor Bill of Rights” One of the themes that attendees at our classes keep raising is the heavy amount of mail they receive from charities they have donated to. Many are upset at what they consider a waste of money by the charity doing the mailing — money that was likely donated to the charity. Others just don’t want to be asked repeatedly. I tell folks that a well-run charity
I suggest they send a letter to the charity, spelling out their wishes. Ask the charity to (a) acknowledge receipt and (b) comply. If the charity fails to acknowledge or comply — drop them. The letter can also be used with charities that use email to seek donations. Note: There may already be a mailing in process when you send the letter — don’t hold a mailing you receive in the first 30 days against the charity. Here’s a sample letter Continue reading “Less Charity Mail Please – Sample Letter” |
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Copyright © 2012 Edward W. Long | The Smarter Giving Guy | All Rights Reserved |
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