Debra E. Blum
Contributor
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Debra E. Blum is a freelance writer and has been a contributor to The Chronicle of Philanthropy since 2002. She is based in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Duke University.
Stories by This Author
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From Our ArchiveMillionaire’s Quest to Donate Estate Raises Questions About Charities Meeting Donors’ Needs
Lowell Smith sent anonymous letters to about two dozen charities, laying out certain fundraising practices and asking the organizations to contact him through an intermediary if they believed they were doing “everything on the list.” -
Tools
During Social Distancing, Telephone Town Halls Provide Direct Line to Donors
Their popularity has been on a slow rise — an unexpected trend at a time when few households even have landline phones and federal regulations largely prohibit mass dialing to mobile phones. -
Fundraising
Nonprofits Try New Ways to Attract IRA Donations
Fundraisers are stepping up efforts to let older donors know they can give tax-free from their retirement accounts. But the mechanics of making the gifts can be complicated. -
Advice
How Charities Talk to Donors After Getting a Huge Gift
Getting a transformational contribution is a godsend for an organization. But announcing a landmark gift can make other donors think you don’t need their support. Here’s how some nonprofits handled it. -
Advice
How Do Cryptocurrency Donations Work?
Here’s a simple breakdown of the process involved in getting and using Bitcoin and other donations from digital-savvy donors. -
Advice
How to Get Ready to Accept Cryptocurrency Gifts
Four steps to prepare an organization to accept digital assets from supporters. -
News
Beyond Donations: A Sampling of Efforts to Use the Blockchain for Good
The blockchain is allowing donors to see how their support is being used and helping to support humanitarian efforts. -
News
Cryptocurrency Is Mysterious, Largely Unregulated, and Worth About $113 Billion. How Can Charities Get a Piece of the Action?
Only a few hundred nonprofits, estimates say, are set up to accept Bitcoin and other digital assets. Now is the time for organizations to decide whether, and how, they’ll start accepting such donations. -
Advice
Cryptocurrency Rules Are a Work in Progress. Here’s What to Do for Now.
A pair of tax and regulatory experts offer advice for handling Bitcoin and other currencies while the IRS plays catch-up. -
News
Recurring Donors Yield Huge ‘Lifetime Return’ for Nonprofits, Report Says
The study, drawn from data on 2.5 million online donations, also offers insights on the value to charities of Giving Tuesday donors and peer-to-peer campaigns.
