Items relevant to more than one category may appear more than once in this summary. From the issue dated November 24, 2005 Special Report: A Boom in Volunteers BABY BOOMERS, nearing retirement, represent a wealth of experience and education that many in nonprofit and government circles hope to capture in coming years. A HOST OF TV AND MAGAZINE ADS coming next year will try to sell volunteerism to the baby-boom generation. A NEW PROGRAM IN MARYLAND aims to match baby boomers looking to share their skills with appropriate volunteer opportunities. MARC FREEDMAN, founder of a charity that promotes the involvement of older adults in solving social problems, wrote the book on rethinking aging and retirement. FOUR CLEVELAND CHARITIES are partners in a project that is experimenting with new ways to attract older, skilled volunteers to social-justice work. A HANDFUL OF GRANT MAKERS are hoping their efforts will spur more support of programs to engage older Americans in volunteerism. FEW BIG COMPANIES do much to connect retired workers -- or those about to retire -- with volunteer opportunities, a new report has found. A GUIDE TO RESOURCES lists books, reports, and a documentary on drawing baby boomers into community service. About Gifts and Giving LEADING PHILANTHROPISTS say they are often frustrated by the quality of charity boards, fuzzy mission statements, and a lack of accountability at nonprofit groups they support. CHIEF EXECUTIVES of fast-growing companies think corporate philanthropy can help attract employees but contributes little or nothing to business growth, according to a new survey. STATES ARE RANKED by the generosity of their residents in a new study from Boston College and the Boston Foundation. It differs from a rival, more-established index in that it takes cost-of-living differences into account. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY received $35-million for two buildings; other recent gifts to nonprofit organizations and institutions. A BIG NEW GRANT MAKER is making plans to support education and health programs in South Africa, but its origins are a mystery. TUFTS UNIVERSITY has received $100-million that it plans to use in an unusual way: making small loans throughout the developing world. RECENT GRANTS by foundations, corporations, and other grant makers. FACE OF PHILANTHROPY: Ten Thousand Things Theater Company, in Minneapolis, performs plays in prisons, homeless shelters, and housing projects. About Fund Raising A SHOE REPAIRMAN IN WAYZATA, MINN., has raised millions of dollars -- and a lot of attention -- for homelessness programs by holding annual "sleep outs," an idea that is spreading nationwide (Dispatches). THE HURRICANES have had little or no effect on charities' overall ability to attract donations, according to a new survey of fund raisers. THE SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE has so far prompted more than $30-million in donations to U.S. relief groups, an encouraging amount in light of all the other recent disasters donors have been asked to respond to. WINNING LARGE GRANTS from foundations or federal agencies is beyond the reach of many small charities. That's where the Grant Center, in Memphis, comes in. UNDER NEW RULES for participating in the federal government's annual charity drive, nonprofit groups will be encouraged but no longer required to check their employees against lists of suspected terrorists. POSTAGE FOR NONPROFIT MAILINGS will go up in January under a plan approved by the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors. 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 GETTING HURRICANE SURVIVORS the aid they need over the long term is straining charities in Lafayette, La., a reflection of the problems facing organizations in many other cities and towns. THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE passed a bill containing incentives for donors and provisions designed to curb overly generous charitable tax deductions. THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE is investigating a church for possibly breaking the law on political activities. AS A YOUNG MAN Steven M. Hilton did not imagine a career in philanthropy; now he has capped 22 years at the foundation started by his famous grandfather, Conrad N. Hilton, by assuming the mantle of chairman (New on the Job). Also in This Issue OPINION: Pablo Eisenberg remembers two giants of philanthropy, Waldemar Nielsen and Alan Pifer, and Leslie Lenkowsky assesses the work of Peter F. Drucker; and Marc Freedman and John S. Gomperts urge charities to tap the talents of baby boomers reaching retirement. BOOKS: A guide for "accidental techies" at nonprofit organizations; a biography of the founder of AmeriCares; and a summary of publications on evaluating corporate-citizenship practices and hiring interim executive directors. PEOPLE: Appointments and promotions in the nonprofit world.