philanthropy

Koryo Tours Helps the Blind Read in North Korea

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Charity, Charity of the Day

Charitable giving is an obvious casualty of any economic downturn. Even when people want to give - or maintain their previous rates of donation - the realities of a shrinking portfolio force themselves into the decision-making process. Of course, a rather unique charity is struggling with this issue now. Koryo Tours, which takes westerners on rare excursions into North Korea, is looking to raise a mere $6,700 for two projects to benefit the people of North Korea. One involves buying braille dictionaries (which haven't been available in that part of the world), and the other is to buy playground equipment for an orphanage in Wonsan, North Korea.

If Koryo Tours is able to raise the funds necessary for the dictionaries, which is the first priority, it will be the first time that North Korean blind children will have this type of resource available -- the books currently do not exist.

Tags: braille, dictionary, donation, donations, dprk, north korea, NorthKorea, philanthropists, philanthropy

Gates Foundation Loses Money, Keeps Giving It Away

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Big Givers

We've seen plenty of charities suffering in the recession but even the biggest, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation isn't immune. The AP reports that between January 2008 and April 2009 the foundation saw its wealth sink from $39 billion to $27.5 billion. The foundation, which was started in 1994, has given away $20.1 billion in the last decade. It paid $2.8 billion in grants and other charitable expenses last year and estimates that it will spend $3.5 billion in grants and related expenses in 2009.The foundation isn't reducing distributions in 2009 but the growth of the distributions has slowed. The foundation continues to be devoted to global health. It recently made a $10 million grant to the United Nation's World Food Program. Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes, a former Microsoft executive, said the economic crisis has caused Bill Gates to increase his focus on the foundation.

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Tags: bill and melinda gates foundation, bill gates, BillAndMelindaGatesFoundation, BillGates, charity, philanthropy

Tour India With Gandhi's Grandsons

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Charity

Go Philanthropic is offering a unique way to see India next December. You can join the grandsons of M.K. Gandhi on a one-of-a-kind philanthropic adventure. The trip, which runs from December 1-6 with an optional extension to December 11 offers an in-depth look at current social and development projects in India. The trip will support the Gandhi Memorial School project aimed at protecting children from child labor and exploitation.

Group members traveling commit to contributing $1000 per person, for a collective goal of raising $10,000 for the Gandhi Memorial School to create either a new classroom or a water well. Travelers will also see significant sights in towns including Mumbai, New Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), and Jaipur.

The trip begins with a visit to M.K Gandhi's residence in Mumbai, visits to Women's India Trust and MarketShare, organizations focused on women's empowerment, education and vocational development, the group contribution and visit to Sunanda Gandhi Memorial School in Kolhapur and a meeting with Verala HIV prevention program. The optional extension includes a visit to the Taj Mahal and a tour of Old and New Delhi including Delhi Street Walk guided by former street children now supported by important youth development programs. The experience is not voluntourism but is instead an opportunity to travel and see a place from a different angle than one might usually experience. The trip includes carbon offset and promises to be a life-changing journey.

The trip will cost around $3,300 plus the $1,000 donation for standard accommodations or there is a five-star option for around $6,000. Go Philanthropic also does custom travel for individuals, family and groups.

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Tags: gandhi, india, philanthropy, tourism

Philanthropy Not as Screwed as Financial Markets

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Big Givers

We're gripped by an unusually strong bear right now. He's squeezing financial markets viciously. And, it comes as no surprise that charitable giving is suffering. Nonetheless, philanthropy is staying ahead of investment hits. Even with stock market calamity, we're still able to find the occasional heart of gold out there.

Don't get me wrong, the situation's grim for the nonprofit sector. Craig M. Joseph of InQuest International, a full-service philanthropic consultancy, observes that the USA Giving Index – calculated by the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University – is down 35 percent from its 2007 peak. That year, $306 billion in charitable gifts were made. With the steep decline over the past two years, though, a lot of organizations won't get the funding they need.

Of course, it could be worse. If philanthropy followed the Dow, gifts would have fallen more than 40 percent to less than $184 billion – rather than the estimated February 2009 level of $199 billion. With numbers this large, $15 billion may not seem like a lot, but in the hands of an efficient charitable organization, it can change a lot of lives.

For now, the news is "less negative," but there is still a lot of pain that still has to be pushed through the markets, as much of the Wall Street calamity likely has yet to be visited upon consumers. Let's just hope that we still find some room in our wallets to support our favorite charities.

Tags: charitable, charitable contributions, charitable giving, charitable organizations, CharitableContributions, charitablegiving, CharitableOrganizations, charity, financial crisis, FinancialCrisis, giving, non-profit, nonprofit, philanthrophy, philanthropist, philanthropists, philanthropy, recession, stock market, StockMarket

Travelers' Philanthropy, Charity of the Day

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day

Visiting a foreign country, especially one in the third world, often prompts one's philanthropic desires to give back to the places they explore. It's hard to distinguish which causes are worthy of your funds and which giving opportunities truly use your funds for the project intended. Travelers' Philanthropy takes the guess work out of global giving by connecting travelers or simply interested donors to causes that positively impact local communities. Currently this organization is involved with causes in Costa Rica, South America and Africa encouraging travelers to combine their love of the global community with their ability to fund important programs and initiatives. Check out the gallery below for current opportunities and the people they impact.

Gallery: Opportunities through Travelers' Philanthropy

Mara Cheetah Conservation Project in Kenya

Infierno Community Fund, supported by Rainforest Expeditions in Peru

NatureKids, supported by Nature Air in Costa Rica

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Tags: charity, costa rica, CostaRica, dominican republic, DominicanRepublic, giving, global giving, GlobalGiving, kenya, peru, philanthropy, tanzania, travelers philanthropy, TravelersPhilanthropy

How Much Good Do NBA Player Charities Really Do?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Sports

A couple of days ago I wrote about the troubles for Le Bron James's charity foundation. It made me wonder about other NBA player foundations. The Salt Lake Tribune has a fascinating piece on NBA charities. They did an analysis of 89 stand-alone NBA player charities and found that while all together they reported revenue of at least $31 million between 2005 and 2007, only about 44 cents of every dollar raised (around $14 million of that $31 million) went to needy causes. Furthermore, the average NBA player foundation put just 51 cents of each dollar it spent toward charitable programs which is below the 65 cents most philanthropic watchdog groups view as acceptable. Some charities are well-financed and well run but many suffer from poor planning and inflated administrative costs. Part of the problem is that players put family members and friends on their boards and some hold fundraising galas that make a big splash but not a lot of money. About a third of NBA player charities analyzed instead remain funded by the athletes' own wealth. Player charities also fold because of lack of support or because athletes move on.

There are NBA charities that work. Former Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo was praised by President Bush in his 2007 State of the Union address for helping to build the first new hospital in the Republic of Congo, Mutombo's homeland, in 40 years. Some of these charities have budgets of over $1 million. Many however end up wasting money and finding themselves unsure of how to take the leap into making their charities publicly supported enterprises. Without hiring people who have experience in fundraising and nonprofit work, charities often find themselves floundering. The NBA and the NBA Players Association have begun to make education on starting foundations part of the league's annual rookie orientation.

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Tags: charity, dikembe mutombo, DikembeMutombo, nba, philanthropy

Art + Giving = Photo Mentorship

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Big Givers

It girl Alexa Chung has teamed with Ctrl.Alt.Shift and Vice mag to host a photo contest that will raise awareness about issues of gender, poverty and injustice around the world that will become a striking online photo essay.

The deadline closed yesterday, so a selection of photos is up on Ctrl.Alt.Shift -- check them out and vote for your favorite. The winners will receive mentorships with professional photogs -- an esteemed group including Nan Goldin, Alex Sturrock and Chung herself -- and the support to continue exposing injustice through their own unique lens.

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Tags: alexa chung, AlexaChung, cult.alt.shift, philanthropy, photo essay, PhotoEssay, vice

Charitable Giving's Big Spenders: Generation X

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Big Givers

A recent survey concluded that, among millionaires, GenX'ers aged 28 to 42 gave twice as much to charity as their parents last year. The survey found that, on average, members of Generation X donated $20,000 each to charity, while Baby Boomers donated closer to $10,000 per person. The younger generation was also more likely to make donations during their lifetimes, donate globally and choose foundations that would focus on family-related goals. Not surprisingly, they were also found to be more likely to make financial contributions online.

[Thanks, Ben!]

Tags: baby boomers, BabyBoomers, charity, gen x, generation x, GenerationX, GenX, philanthropy, private wealth, PrivateWealth

The Clinton Foundation, Charity of the Day

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day, Big Givers

The Clinton Foundation has recently concluded its philanthropy tour of Africa, where the former President worked tirelessly to reduce treatment costs for malaria and spoke in support of public health efforts to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among children. He also helped celebrate the opening of a $1 million, 180-bed hospital in Rwanda. The foundation's Travel to Africa Blog followed Clinton on his multiple stops throughout the continent between the end of July and August 6 and includes video of some of Clinton's speeches during his visit.

Bill Clinton established his eponymous foundation during his second term as President. The foundation has grown to support programs focused on combating climate change, HIV/AIDS and other health concerns and childhood obesity.

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Tags: africa, bill clinton, BillClinton, childhood obesity, ChildhoodObesity, climate crisis, ClimateCrisis, global warming, GlobalWarming, hivaids, philanthropy, rwanda, the clinton foundation, TheClintonFoundation

Big Givers: David Koch Gets His Own Theater

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Big Givers

This past weekend I've been reading The Billionaire's Vinegar which touches on the wine collection of William Koch but it's his brother David who has been in the news most recently. David H. Koch who is said to be the wealthiest person in New York City has, according to the NY Times agreed to contribute $100 million toward the renovation of the New York State Theater. The gift will put Koch's name on the door and will also be the largest private capital donation in the Lincoln Center's history. Koch says that he has been going to the New York State Theater for 40 years (he's 68) and he was aware the theater needed modernization. As of this fall it will be known as the David H. Koch Theater making it the same big name change of a New York institution in four months for a $100 million gift. The New York Public Library will be naming its main building after the Wall Street financier Stephen A. Schwarzman in return for his donation.

Koch has an estimated net worth of $17 billion. He will donate the money over 10 years, paying the first $15 million payment this summer and then $10 million annual payment for eight years plus a final $5 million installment. The deal does specify that the theater could be renamed for a new donor after 50 years with the Koch family retaining the right of first refusal. Koch has said he believes that a naming opportunity should last for a specific amount of time so that an institution can later pursue another round of fundraising.

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Tags: big givers, BigGivers, david koch, DavidKoch, new york, new york city, NewYorkCity, philanthropy, theater

Big Givers: David Rockefeller Announces Another Huge Donation

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

David Rockefeller is a big giver who is part of the trend of not waiting until death to announce large donations. He has just pledged $100-million to Harvard University, his alma mater. This is the third time he has dropped $100 million on a donation, in 2005 that he planned to give $100-million apiece to the Museum of Modern Art and to Rockefeller University. All three organizations will receive the money upon his death (Rockefeller is 92) but in the meantime he will be giving out an an annual payment of $2.5-million a year until he dies which works out to roughly the interest on the money. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that Rockefeller has given or pledged a total of at least $1-billion to nonprofit institutions over his lifetime.

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Tags: big givers, BigGivers, david rockefeller, DavidRockefeller, philanthropy

Big Givers: Body Shop Founder Gave It All Away

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Big Givers

Dame Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop who died in 2007, makes our Big Givers list posthumously. The Telegraph reports on the details of her estate which were recently revealed. Roddick donated her entire £51 million fortune to philanthopic causes before her death from a brain hemorrhage in September 2007. She had once referred to leaving money to your family after death as obscene and wanted her money to go toward green issues and work in developing countries. She left behind £665,747 which all went to inheritance tax because per the rules in the U.K. individuals have to pay this tax if they do not survive for seven years after making monetary gifts. She had founded The Body Shop in 1976 and sold to L'Oreal in 2006 for £625 million.

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Tags: anita roddick, AnitaRoddick, big givers, BigGivers, dame anita roddick, philanthropy, the body shop, TheBodyShop

Big Givers: Home Depot Founder Gives Millions, Gets His Name on the Door

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Big Givers

The NY Times reported a big donation on Wednesday. Kenneth G. Langone, a billionaire financier and a founder of Home Depot will be giving a $100 million donation to New York University Medical Center, which is the same amount he donated anonymously to the center in 1999. In honor of the $200 million total gifts from Langone and his wife Elaine, the university will name the medical center the N.Y.U. Langone Medical Center. They will also start a campaign to raise $1 billion for a new hospital pavilion. Langone was named chairman of the medical center's board nine years ago which led to his first donation (and the reason for it being anonymous).

In an ironic turn, former governor Eliot Spitzer's father, Bernard will be treated at the center. Langone and Eliot Spitzer have been involved in a long-standing feud and when Spitzer was seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006, Langone contributed to the campaign of an opponent, Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County executive. Langone is quoted in the TImes article as saying he hopes that Bernard Spitzer has a successful stay.

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Tags: kenneth langone, KennethLangone, medical center, new york, philanthropy

Scottish Millionaire To Give Fortune to Charity

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Big Givers

We love the stories of big donations, this one comes from Scotland. Duncan Bannatyne, a panellist on BBC One's Dragons' Den, has announced that he is setting up a foundation to give his money away. He has promised to leave most of his £200 million fortune, made through nursing homes and health clubs, to charity. The Scotsman quotes Bannatyne as saying that he believes giving away the money you make is the best reason for making it in the first place.

Bannatyne, who has six children, has also made a documentary called Britain's Rich List: Giving It Away which will show him meeting other wealthy people, finding out what they are doing with their money and persuading them to give more money to charity.

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Tags: donation, duncan bannatyne, expire-images2009-4-13, philanthropy

Herb Alpert, Music's Big Giver

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Big Givers

Eight-time Grammy winner musician Herb Alpert is giving back to the music community in a big way. Alpert, a famed trumpeter with the band the Tijuana Brass, and one of the co-founders of the A&M record label in 1962, established the philanthropic Alpert Foundation in 1988. Last November he pledged $30 million to UCLA to create the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and the LA TImes reports that he has just given $15 million to the School of Music at the California Institute of the Arts. The school will be renamed the Herb Alpert School of Music. The gift will endow faculty chairs and provide money for scholarships and music programs.

Over the past 16 years the Alpert Foundation has given grants to CalArts in order to support the Dizzy Gillespie chair in music, the Dizzy Gillespie Recording Studio, music programs, scholarships and community education programs for children. WIth the $15 million, Alpert has now given nearly $24 million to the school. The foundation has also donated $100 million to musicians, students and other programs around the country.

How does a trumpeter have so much money? Alpert and Jerry Moss sold A&M records to PolyGram in 1989 for a reported $500 million and are also said to have picked up an additional $363 million in stock and cash when they sold a music publishing company to Seagram in 2000.

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Tags: expire-images2009-4-12, herp alpert, HerpAlpert, music, music education, philanthropy, trumpet

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