Idol Gives Back Raises over $45 Million

Posted on April 27th, 2010 by 1B

American Idol’s fundraising efforts have raised over $45 million dollars just in the past week for April of 2010. That’s an impressive amount of money and hopefully will go far to help those in need. You can still donate to Idol Gives Back and make a difference! From the site:

“Idol Gives Back, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration has raised more than $140 million to benefit charities around the world and across the United States. The two-hour fundraising event returned to FOX on Wednesday, April 21 and raised more than $45 million. Beneficiaries for this year’s event include Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.”

What a great way to help raise money for these terrific organizations. Thanks American Idol!



Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: News and Ideas

Philanthropy is About People

Posted on April 18th, 2010 by 1B

 

Helping People is the Key!

Philanthropy is about people. Make sure that you have defined the specific people to be helped by your project.

People want to help other people. It is as simple as that. Nobody wants to contribute to a poorly framed project that says “Let’s save the world’s poor.” What does it mean? Who are they? The problem seems overwhelming and unsolvable.

But if I come to you and say we have a village in Africa that needs mosquito netting to reduce the risk of malaria, now we have real people, with a real problem. It can be solved, and we know who will be helped if we do it!

Give Lots of People an Opportunity to Help

One of the most powerful things we can do in our philanthropy is to give others a chance to participate. Help other people to help other people!

The change that will come into their hearts as they contribute in meaningful ways is one of the most important things you can do to save the planet! The key here is to make their opportunity to help as direct and personal as possible.

When we organized our event to take the children to Disneyland, we invited each donor to come to Disneyland with us and to spend the day with the child they sponsored. Every year, we now have 350 adults who come to help 350 children.

Some of these adults have started similar programs in different regions. Our philanthropy is multiplying because we make sure that many people get a chance to participate in the gift of giving.

All We Need Is Someone to Say “Go!”

One of the most powerful things we can do as philanthropists—and if you have read this far, I know you are one—is to give the go sign to important and urgent projects.

When the 2004 tsunami hit Indonesia, Thailand, India, and several island nations in the Indian Ocean, we immediately dispatched an emergency paramedic team to India. We told them, “Get on the plane; we are sending you the money right now!”

Then we went out to ask for donations. We keep an emergency fund set aside for just such occasions. We then take targeted donations to replenish the fund so we can help out the next time around.

We raised so much money for the medical team that we ended up buying two fishing boats to help restore the local economy as well. People will absolutely open their pocketbooks if you have a well-framed project that helps real people and if you have already given the go sign!

Mark Victor Hansen, best known as the co-creator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” empire (which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling non-fiction book series ever), is a walking success magnet! Between his books and speeches, Mark has helped countless millions of people become their very best. Visit Mark’s 101 E-Book Library at http://www.IdeasThatCanChangeYourLife.com.

Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: People and Stories

What is Philanthropy?

Posted on April 5th, 2010 by 1B

 

In this generation, when business rules the day, it’s refreshing to witness the (re)emergence of fundamental philanthropy.

What is fundamental philanthropy?

Simply put, philanthropy is any altruistic activity performed for the purpose of creating good or improving the quality of life. Fundamental philanthropy is then described as ‘basic’ or ‘natural’ philanthropy. This type of philanthropy involves using our own ‘natural’ resources, such as talents, knowledge and opportunities to perform an altruistic act.

Fundamental philanthropy or intentional acts of kindness has become one of today’s hottest topics. Voluntary association, voluntary giving, and voluntary actions – are gaining so much attention and awareness in our culture. National magazines and local newspapers have recently made celebrities out of ordinary citizens committed to extraordinary acts of grace using nothing more than their innate abilities.

Even Hollywood is in on the movement, with the biggest and brightest stars temporarily putting away their wallets and tapping into the greatest fundraising influence possible – their famous names and faces – to shine light on important causes. Fundamental philanthropy, it seems has become more mainstream in recent years than ever before. The goal in life seems to be changing. An elemental emphasis on “philanthropy” has recently shifted to a popular focus of “social responsibility”. And the truth is, even though we may not be rich, famous celebrities, we all have something powerful that must be given to society!

Why is fundamental philanthropy so important?

Brendan Behan once said, “I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society, except that which makes the road safer, the beer stronger, the old men and women warmer in the winter, and happier in the summer.” A jolly good declaration, and one that clearly depicts the essence of that which makes charity a way of life instead of a duty.

Philanthropy, by tradition, is rich, old people donating loads of money to their pet causes. A bourgeois obligation. People like Andrew Carnegie, JP Morgan, and JD Rockefeller…they were serious philanthropists. For most of society, the assumption is that “if I’m not rich, I can’t be a philanthropist”. Simply not so. Philanthropy does not have anything to do with money. Not a single cent is required. You can put your checkbook away forever and still be a well-seasoned philanthropist.

A wise person once said, “All the money in the world doesn’t help if there isn’t anyone to do the work. The most plentiful crops will rot if there is no one to harvest the fields”. Those donations of compassion and cooperation are just as important as money because both parties are fundamental to getting the work done.

Although, it’s essential for each us to contribute, when we can, funds to further the efforts and operations of our preferred charities, it is not the only way to be charitable! It’s high time for society to get back to basics and start discovering the greatest gifts we have to offer such as our:

Skills.   Are you an experienced carpenter? Why not join a Habitat for Humanity project in your area?

Talents.  Got a green-thumb? Try extending your love of horticulture to your community with a ‘Sew a Second Row’ group!

Hobbies.   Do you love to knit? Get your Friday night knitting club to start making warming crochet caps for kids with cancer.

Knowledge.   Knowledge is power. If you know of a way to help others, offer that wisdom to individuals, groups, communities and nations.

Status.   If you’re in a position of power or influence, use it! Put your prominence to good by raising awareness to the pressing issues in our world.

The earth is ripe for change.  Fundamental philanthropy is essential to positive change. Tapping into our innate gifts is a powerful way to combine our “natural resources” with our desire to increase the well-being of society. The great news is we all have something to contribute!

***Nicole Boles is the Leading Authority on Fundamental Philanthropy. She is a Life Fulfillment Coach, speaker, and author. She has written A GENEROUS LIFE along with dozens of articles on life fulfillment topics. She helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world. For more information on Fundamental Philanthropy and Changing the World, go to: www.myideaforchange.com or www.thepowerofphilanthropy.com

Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: Promoting Change

Advantages of Charitable Trusts to Businesses

Posted on April 4th, 2010 by 1B

Businesses can gain immensely from charitable trusts, though these trusts are nonprofit organizations that are set up for the benefit of some other party. That is the reason why most businesses are setting up charitable trusts for themselves. It is not too difficult to set up a charitable trust either. A minimum amount of $100,000 worth in assets is enough to be eligible to set up a charitable trust. In addition, there are several privileges that charitable trusts have.


The following is a list of these privileges:


- Charitable trusts will not cease to function even if they have not been able to fulfill their initial goals. These trusts have what is known as cy pres, a provision that allows charitable trusts to change their beneficiary options if they are not able to meet the first one.


- Charitable trusts can remain working perpetually, which is not the case with other organizations. Most establishments have a particular tenure after which they have to either renew licenses or cease to function, but charitable trusts can go on indefinitely if they so wanted.


- Charitable trusts are given permissions to establish themselves even if their beneficiary options do not seem to be quite concrete. Even if there is just a philanthropic concept, charitable trusts are given permissions to start.


Hence, it is very easy to start charitable trusts. That is what businesses do. The charitable trusts do fulfill the noble intention of serving some beneficiary, which could be an individual, a group of persons or an establishment. At the same time, the charitable trusts help the owners to manage their resources well.


The following is a list of benefits that the owners of charitable trusts are provided by the authorities:


- Charitable trust owners are exempted from a portion of their estates taxes. These taxes can even be waived off if the established charitable trust is large enough in its scope.


- Charitable trust owners are also benefited in terms of capital gains taxes. In this way, charitable trusts help to increase the overall income of the owner of the trust.


- In case of retirement or winding up of business, the charitable trust funds can be used as a sort of retirement benefit plan for the owner. The charitable trust will continue to work as long as there are funds in it. However, it will also pay for the expenses of the owner.


- Charitable trusts are very handy if there is a sudden demise of the owner of the assets. These trusts will then appoint a living trustee – or the living trustee could be appointed during the lifetime of the owner – and this living trustee will undertake the proper disbursement of the assets among the survivors. This happens if no will is made, and in many cases, even if there is a will, the living trustee can supersede the will in some points. An advantage of this arrangement is that the survivors do not have to wait for lengthy probate periods and nor do they have to pay heavy fees for legal procedures.


That is the reason why setting up a charitable trust is a worthwhile idea when the person is still alive. It will help to improve assets during life, and will help to properly disburse assets after death. Setting up a charitable trust is easier than setting up other organizations. However, since the rules differ from one place to another, it is necessary to look into state laws before planning to go ahead with the idea of setting up a charitable trust.

Why have establish a Charitable Trust? How do you establish a Charitable Trust? Which trust should you give to? This information and more. Kip D Goldhammer owns and operates http://www.charitabletrustinfo.com Family Trusts

Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: Donations

Haiti Relief Efforts Continue

Posted on April 4th, 2010 by 1B

After such a devastating earthquake in Haiti in early January 2010, the recovery is still proceeding at a very slow pace.  The sheer numbers of displaced people has compounded the challenges, and they need all the help they can get.  

One of the more helpful sites for finding the right organization to donate to is Charity Navigator with a page dedicated to Helping Survivors of the Haiti Earthquake.  There is so much need in Haiti that there are countless organizations focused on filling that need wherever possible.

Unfortunately, there are also organizations that appear to be focused on helping, but are probably not putting donations to effective use.   Charity Navigator also provides an excellent summary of tips for making sure your funds will be used effectively, as well as what to be careful about.   It’s important to do a little research to ensure you will be satisfied with the organization’s efforts.   It’s also important to ensure we don’t contribute to scams and fraud, or become a victim ourselves. 

Tips For Funding Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

  • Avoid Newly-Formed Charities and Give To An Established Charity That Has Worked In Haiti – Establishing a new charity is hard enough, but in a crisis, the odds of succeeding are slim to none. Think of it this way: would you entrust all your savings in a financial firm that just opened, doesn’t even have stationery, and whose employees have no experience in investing money? Doubtful. Find a charity with a proven track record of success in providing disaster relief and one that has worked in Haiti. Start with the list of charities on the right and if a group you are considering supporting isn’t there, then take the time to thoroughly research it before making a gift.
  • Do Not Give To The Haitian Government – Haiti is known to be a corrupt country. And news reports post earthquake indicate that the government is pretty much not functioning. If that isn’t enough reason not to give directly to the Haiti government, then consider the fact that contributions to foreign governments are not tax deductible.
  • Designate Your Investment – Generally, it is best to trust your chosen charity to spend your donation as it sees fit. But with disaster related giving, you should specify that you want your donation only used to respond to this particular crisis.
  • Do Not Send Supplies – Knowing that millions of people are desperately in need of food and water, it is hard not to want to pack up a box of supplies and send it to Haiti. But this type of philanthropy is simply not practical or efficient. Even if mail could get to Haiti, no one is set up to receive these goods, much less organize and distribute them to the victims. Furthermore, charities are often able to partner with companies to acquire large amounts of in-kind donations such as bottled water and new clothing. Instead of boxing up and sending your old clothing, have a garage sale and turn your used goods into cash and donate that to a worthy charity.
  • Be Careful Of Email Solicitations
  • Be Leery Of People That Contact You Online Claiming To Be A Victim – Unless you personally know someone in Haiti, anyone alleging to be in this position is most likely part of a scam. Obviously, people affected by the earthquake are in no position to contact you directly for assistance.
  • Delete Unsolicited Emails With Attachments – Never respond to unsolicited emails. Do not open any attachments to these emails even if they claim to contain pictures from Haiti. These attachments are probably viruses.
  • Seek Out The Charity’s Authorized Website – Refer to our blog as to why this is important.
  • Is it safe to make a text donation? – So long as you do your homework, yes. Please visit our blog for a longer explanation.
  • Consider The Nature Of The Charity’s Work – Not every charity is responding in the same way. Some are providing medical assistance, some shelter, some food and water. Others will be more focused on either short term or long term rebuilding efforts. And some are just helping to fundraise for other nonprofits. Think about what it is you want your philanthropic investment to accomplish and then take the time to find the charities doing that work. At Charity Navigator we link to each charity’s website so that you can quickly learn more about their plans to help in Haiti.
  • Be Inspired By Social Media, But Still Do Your Homework – Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs are delivering heart-wrenching images and information about Haiti to our computers and phones. Many of them include pleas to donate. While these tools can be a powerful tool to inspire your desire to help, you should not blindly give via these vehicles. You must take the time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help to ensure that it comes from a legitimate nonprofit.
  • Avoid Telemarketers – As always, hang up the phone do your homework and give directly to a charity.
  • Do Not Expect Immediate Results, But Do Keep Tabs On What Your Donation Accomplishes- It takes time for charities to mobilize, to assess the problems that need to be addressed and to develop effective solutions. Donors need to be patient so charities will not feel pressured to plunge in and offer ineffective aid, simply to placate impatient donors. That doesn’t mean donors shouldn’t hold the charities accountable for delivering on their promises! Be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out (a) how your donation was put to use and (b) if the organization needs additional support to complete the recovery effort.

Source: CharityNavigator.org



Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: News and Ideas

Philanthropy is Hot Trend Among Tech Entrepreneurs

Posted on November 18th, 2009 by 1B

When Bill Gates recently announced that billionaires should give away the bulk of their fortunes, it made headlines around the world. While the Microsoft founder is among the world’s wealthiest individuals and perhaps the leading philanthropist of his time, he is just one of many entrepreneurs who have amassed great fortunes in the technology sector and are using their wealth and influence to bring about positive change.

Last year the Wall Street Journal (“Melinda Gates Defines a Charity’s Mission,” June 5, 2008) reported on the “growing class of people who are applying fortunes made in tech and on the Internet to trying to solve some of the world’s most stubborn problems,” including Jeff Skoll and Pierre Omidyar from eBay and Google founders Larry Page and Serge Brin. According to the article, “These new philanthropists — as you might expect — are trying to apply the same nitty-gritty analysis that many may have used to manage their businesses to difficult-to-measure social problems.”

“Philanthropy and technology can create enormous synergy, and the leaders of the tech community see a tremendous opportunity to change the world for the better,” said Mouli Cohen, entrepreneur, who founded eCast, a company that revolutionized the distribution of digital music to out of home venues worldwide and later started Voltage Capital, a private equity focused innovation fund.

Cohen’s start-ups have generated more than $3 billion in shareholder value, but the value he has created through his contributions in the philanthropic arena are perhaps his greatest source of pride. Cohen currently focuses his efforts on the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and blindness through grants to national and international organizations including Camp Okizu and the Childhood Vision Campaign. “I am personally committed to reducing the incidence of childhood blindness in third world countries and expanding the number and reach of cancer detection and treatment programs for children.”

Cohen is among the new breed of tech philanthropists whose involvement extends far beyond their checkbooks. According to Private Wealth Magazine, the confluence of wealth and technology is redefining philanthropy and ushering in an age of innovation and social change:

The entrepreneurs of the ’80s and ’90s have become the philanthropists of the new millennium, leveraging their time, energy and capital toward the social good. Today’s donors are younger, more energetic and more adept at leveraging technology, investing their capital and driving results. Frequently referred to as “venture philanthropists” or “social entrepreneurs,” they are accustomed to achieving success and not used to backing down in the face of resistance. Comfortable with their achievements and confident in their abilities, they are transitioning their passion and talent for creating wealth to its logical corollary: the distribution of wealth—“giving back,” as some would say—with the very same intensity and sense of direction as was required to create their wealth.

Gates, whose Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the world’s most generous philanthropic organization, hascalled upon his fellow billionaires to spread their wealth to the poorest nations and make a difference in fighting disease, improving access to education and championing other causes. In announcing hisdeparture from his day-to-day duties as chairman of Microsoft to focus his energies on the Foundation, Gates told reporters, “With success, I have been given great wealth. And with great wealth comes great responsibility to give back to society, to see that those resources are put to work in the best possible way to
help those in need.”

Gates’ message is clearly resonating with the billionaire set. Warren Buffett has pledged to leave the bulk of his fortune to the Gates Foundation, representing perhaps the largest charitable gift in history – estimated at$31 billion.

Although the wealthy certainly have more to give, Cohen argues that philanthropy is not solely the purview of the mega-rich. “There are opportunities for anyone with a passion for a particular cause to add value, not just in terms of monetary contributions. Organizations need tactical philanthropists’ to volunteer their time and provide intellectual and social capital to make sure the money creates the greatest possible impact.”

Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: People and Stories

Charity Navigator; Looking at the Financial Health of Charities in America

Posted on September 28th, 2009 by 1B

There are a number of different charities across the world and some of these are legitimate. To help donors find the legitimate charities services like Charity Navigator can help. This organization is a non profit independent evaluator of charities in America.

The stated goal of this organization is to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America’s largest charities.

What this organization does is to look at the financial health of charities in America. With the help of this organization donors can see what the charity goal of different charities is. You will get to see how the charities spend the money that is given. From the financial statements you will get an idea of how well organized a charity is. You also gain an insight into how they use the money for their cause.

Besides looking at the financial outlook of a charity you have the option of looking for tips about charities. From this section in the Charity Navigator you can see what criteria you should follow to choose a charity to give donations. Besides seeing how to choose a charity you will find other tips.

This section in the Charity Navigator also has good resources for you to check out. From this section you can find ways to protect yourself from online scams. Older donors will find useful information in this recourses section too. Of course using the Charity Navigator does not mean that you will be able to find all of the charities in America.

At present Charity Navigator will have information on over 5,000 different charities in America. There is information about organizations which deal in international operations. One more way that you can find what a charity is like is to look at its rank in the Navigator site. This will inform you if the charity is well run and can perform the charity of its stated purpose.

All of these information aspects aside you will get news about charity activities that are taking place around the world. These hot topics as they are known will give you an insight as to various situations that need charitable help.

You also have the opportunity of visiting a charity blog that is linked to the Charity Navigator site. From these links you can see what people think about charities and the work that they do.

With so much of information being found on the internet it is sometimes hard to find what you want. Charity Navigator is one of the ways to find information about charities. The service from this organization is a great help to all donors. The vast amount of information will let you choose what you want to see. Charity navigator will let you see the charity you want in depth and without all of the extra

Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on Charity navigator, visit his site at CHARITY NAVIGATOR

Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: Evaluation

A Rising Tide?

Posted on September 9th, 2009 by 1B

What a difference a few months make!  We’ve been too long away from writing, and the past year has presented many challenges.  But when all looked so dark and gloomy just six months ago, things are starting to look better once again.

Businesses and charities are not “out of the woods” yet by a long shot, but it appears the business cycle is improving.  The deep recession may be coming to an end and growth may return to various industrial and consumer markets across the globe.   Housing has a long way to go before any recovery is truly seen however, and millions may still face foreclosure this year. 

While the stock market makes it appear that the economy is recovering quickly, there are still millions of people struggling each day to find a job, keep their families in a home, and even find enough money for food.   We believe it’s time once again to focus on charitable giving, and to expand our focus a little.   So if you tightened your belt this past year as most of us did, perhaps it’s time to think about giving once again to your favorite cause or charity?

We will continue to look for stories across the nation about charitable giving, and ways to simply help others.  If indeed the global economy may see a recovery this year, with the ideal that “a rising tide lifts all boats,”  then now is a perfect time to help those who need it along the way.   Because as surely as the tide comes in, there are those who simply won’t be able to climb in the boat.   A helping hand can go a long way!

Sphere: Related Content

No Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized

Next Page »

Powered by Yahoo! Answers