|
Analyst Predicts Slow Recovery for Sector, Advises Engagement and Planning - There are three reasons why the charitable sector is going to take time to recover from the recession, Raymond says. First, huge increases in the federal budget deficit will be a burden on economic growth in coming years. Second, she notes that high levels of unemployment are taking their toll on giving. Her firm’s research shows that unemployment is a strong indicator of individual giving—more so than GDP or the stock market—and cites a report by the Department of Commerce that estimates unemployment will not return to previous low levels until 2013. Third, rebuilding wealth takes time, Raymond explains. She points to a report by AARP that shows that nearly half (46 percent) of its members have lost at least 30 percent of their retirement accounts in the economic downturn. Click here to read the entire article.
Nonprofits Employ Tougher Measures as Downturn Deepens - The negative effects of the economy on nonprofits has accelerated during the past six months, according to responses from nearly 100 nonprofit leaders participating in a Bridgespan study initiated in November 2008 and updated this past May.
The percentage of nonprofits that have resorted to layoffs, broad-based programmatic reductions, and reserve draw-downs has increased measurably. Nevertheless, nonprofit leaders appear to be optimistic about the future. Almost half of the respondents reported that they believed their organization would be on stronger financial footing in a year’s time. Click here to read the entire article.
Independent Sector Releases Free Workbook For Governance And Ethics - Independent Sector has released a new tool to help nonprofits, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs examine and improve their governance practices. The Principles Workbook: Steering Your Board Toward Good Governance and Ethical Practice is designed to help the nonprofit community meet its commitment to upholding the highest standards of accountability, and do so in a cost-effective way.
Independent Sector developed the Workbook in partnership with BoardSource, both in Washington, D.C., to expand and elucidate the Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations. The principles, which were developed by the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector in 2007, provide a list of 33 recommendations that organizations can use to analyze their practices. The Panel has been dedicated to finding ways to strengthen governance, transparency, and ethical standards at nonprofits and foundations since it was convened by Independent Sector in October 2004.
“Thousands of organizations across the nonprofit community have already used the Guide to make important changes to their governance,” said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “This new tool will further assist boards of directors and key staff in assessing the areas where their organizations are doing well and where there is room for improvement.”
“Nonprofit and foundation boards bear the primary responsibility for ensuring that organizations live up to their legal and ethical obligations to donors, service recipients, and the public,” said Linda Crompton, president and CEO of BoardSource. “The Workbook will further support the development of successful and effective board leaders.”
The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector initially brought together leaders from across the nonprofit community in order to develop more than 150 thoughtful recommendations, contained in its Final and Supplemental Reports, for improving government oversight and strengthening practices at organizations of all sizes and missions. It then focused on how the nonprofit community could advance the state of governance and self-regulation in its organizations, a process that led to the creation of the principles.
The Workbook is available for free download at www.independentsector.org.
|
Upcoming Events
July 15, 2009 – Toledo Area Planned Giving Council Virtual Seminar
July 22, 2009 – Directors of Volunteers In Agencies Meeting
July 23, 2009 – Association of Fundraising Professionals Monthly Meeting
July 28, 2009 – Grant Writers Networking Meeting
|
