Discussion Transcripts

The millennial generation — people who reached adulthood at the turn of the millennium — represent a tremendous opportunity for charities. ... (5/27/2008)

United Way of America has announced a new 10-year effort designed to significantly improve the health, education, and finances of families nationwide ... (5/22/2008)

Throughout much of the 20th century, charities and businesses relied on "interruption marketing" to spread their messages. With few ways to reach donors, supporters, and consumers, organizations found that the best methods for spreading their messages were direct mail, telemarketing, and television ... (5/20/2008)

More and more women are making big gifts to charity, but nonprofit groups still struggle with how best to obtain donations and other support from women. ... (5/13/2008)

American foundations are often criticized for failing to appoint leaders who reflect the diversity of the nation and for giving too little money to groups that serve minorities. ... (5/6/2008)

Religious organizations make up a major portion of the philanthropic landscape. But until recently, they had struggled to get recognition and support from government ... (4/29/2008)

Should you believe the hype about the predicted transfer of wealth as members of the World War II and baby-boom generations die? ... (4/22/2008)

As the economy's slump worsens, grant makers face increasing pressure to help charities weather the downturn ... (4/15/2008)

Stress is a common affliction for charity workers. Employees often have massive workloads, encounter traumatic situations while helping their clients, and earn relatively little money for their efforts. And as economic times grow more turbulent ... (4/8/2008)

The economic slowdown has many charity leaders worried about their fund-raising efforts for the rest of 2008 — and beyond. ... (4/1/2008)

As a top aide to Sen. Charles Grassley, the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Dean A. Zerbe has been a prime mover in Congressional efforts to stomp out charity abuses. ... (3/25/2008)

Events like marathons, walkathons, and bike races generate billions of dollars for large and small charities each year. In 2007 alone, 30 of the nation's largest events produced $1.6-billion ... (3/18/2008)

As the baby boomers who founded and have led many of the nation's nonprofit groups reach retirement age, who will replace them?s ... (3/11/2008)

A recent study of 72 large charities shows that direct-marketing appeals are not raising as much money as they have in years past. Slumping donations and rising postal rates are causing some experts to suggest that such efforts are getting crowded out by online appeals and other solicitations. ... (3/4/2008)

During good economic times, it is often easy for nonprofit professionals to take the next steps in their careers. But when donations lag and governments trim spending on charities, those who are looking to advance their careers find fewer options ... (2/26/2008)

The shaky economy has many charity leaders worried about how their organizations will carry out their missions and pay their bills. Some individual and corporate donors are already scaling back or canceling their gifts at a time when many charities are seeing increased demand for their services. ... (2/19/2008)

The 2008 election is already proving to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. But while the campaign is getting a lot of attention, many nonprofit leaders are unsure about what the ultimate result will mean for charities. ... (2/12/2008)

Social-networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn give charities an array of new opportunities to connect with donors, volunteers, and supporters. ...(2/5/2008)

Careers in the nonprofit sector are attractive to many people in the corporate world who are looking to use their business experience to help the greater good. ... (1/29/2008)

How do some of the nation's most-generous donors decide which charities are most worthy of their contributions? How can your organization get on their radar? ... (1/22/2008)

In the wake of several high-profile charity scandals and with observers predicting that Congress will pass legislation similar to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for nonprofit organizations, Independent Sector convened the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector to create a set of guidelines designed to help groups govern themselves. ... (1/15/2008)

What will 2008 mean for your charity's fund-raising, grant-seeking, and budgeting efforts? Will concerns about the economy and shifting demographics help or hurt your bottom line? ...(1/9/2008)

Do foundations do enough to evaluate the effectiveness of charities that are seeking grants? Are grant makers too secretive about how they award money? Where can individual donors go to get reliable data about which charities to support? ...(12/11/2007)

Many charity officials do not have significant training in financial analysis so they have trouble figuring out all the implications of the decisions they make about their programs. ...(11/8/2007)

While many nonprofit leaders say diversity is important, members of minority groups remain scarce on the boards and staffs of the nation's charitable organizations. And this state of affairs can prevent some charities and grant makers from attaining full ...(10/26/2007)

As the Internal Revenue Service moves to finish the most-extensive overhaul of the Form 990 in decades, it is making numerous changes in response to suggestions from the public. ...(10/24/2007)

As executive coaches have become popular in the corporate world, a growing number of charity leaders are seeking professional coaches of their own to meet challenges on the job. Now some grant makers ...(10/10/2007)

Why do some charities make huge progress in advancing their missions -- while others do a merely effective or mediocre job?(10/11/2007)

Despite increased scrutiny from the lawmakers and the news media, and a new wave of regulation from the Internal Revenue Service, nonprofit executives continue to reap generous pay packages, according to the Chronicle's latest survey of nonprofit compensation. Top leaders ... (9/26/2007)

Product Red, the campaign to raise money to fight AIDS in Africa, has produced $28-million for charity -- and taken marketing efforts to a new level, experts say. But amid the success has come growing concern that too many charities are engaging in marketing deals ... (7/31/2007)

Online fund raising grew by 37 percent last year, according to The Chronicle's new survey of charities that raise money via the Internet. But it remains a tiny portion of groups' overall giving, and supporters' weariness of e-mail appeals, among other factors ... (6/19/2007)

Seeking Big-Gift Fund Raisers in a Hot Market