Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

After Madoff, Donors Grow Wary of Giving

Monday, December 29th, 2008

But You Can Spot Red Flags Before You Write Out a Check; A Guide for Vetting Charities

BY ELIZABETH BERNSTEIN

Look Before You Give
Donors concerned about how charities are managing money should consider these steps:

• Favor groups willing to provide detailed financial information.
• See if the group has an independent investing committee.
• Determine if its investment portfolio is well-balanced.

Read the full article.

Next-Gen Givers

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Generous Gen-Xers are putting their own spin on charitable giving, combining their desire to achieve with their desire to do good.

BY SUZANNE MCGEE

The story in philanthropy this holiday season is becoming all too familiar. Individuals, foundations and corporations are all scaling back their giving, often leaving nonprofit beneficiaries in the lurch. Just last week, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropic concern, said it would slow its donations next year because of the hobbled economy and turbulent financial markets.

Behind the headlines, however, a surprisingly encouraging trend is taking hold: A new generation of donors is moving into place — an energetic and highly creative crowd that eventually could reshape philanthropy.

Read the full article.

Priorities for a New President

Monday, November 24th, 2008

Nonprofit leaders offer advice on what Barack Obama can do to aid charities and foundations

BY IAN WILHELM

As Barack Obama prepares to enter the White House, he comes to power during a turbulent period in American history, with the nation facing a financial meltdown, two wars, and an increasing number of people struggling to meet basic needs.

But nonprofit leaders see opportunities in the crisis. They say the new president should work more closely with charities and foundations to solve the country’s big problems — and help philanthropy grow during an economic downturn.

Read the full article.

What can nonprofits learn from Obama’s win

Monday, November 24th, 2008

There are big lessons for nonprofits and social entrepreneurs in President-elect Barack Obama’s election-day victory—chiefly in how to attract supporters and raise high sums of mfrom mainstream citizens, nonprofit and marketing leaders say.

Read the full article.

Lives in Philanthropy: Melissa Berman

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

By Jillian Blume

After receiving a Ph.D in English from Stanford University, Melissa Berman, President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, realized that the academic life was not for her. That decision turned out to be good fortune for philanthropy on a local, national, and global level. After working for the Federal Reserve Bank, she moved to a non-profit organization called The Conference Board. “It was my first experience with what philanthropy could do,” Ms. Berman said about serving as Senior Vice President, Research and Program Development. The non-profit was founded in 1916 around events that forecast labor unrest and management corruption, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Today, according to their mission statement, they conduct research and organize conferences in order to help businesses strengthen their performances so they can better serve society.

Read the full article.

Dealing with the Downturn

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Future Concerns, predictions, and strategies for New York’s non-profits

BY JILLIAN BLUME

Considering the shake-up on Wall Street, it’s doubtful the first thought on most people’s minds is philanthropy. Anxiety about paying the mortgage or rent and the demise of retirement funds pushes season tickets to the opera or donating money to maintain and improve our public parks to the bottom of the list. But even with the end of the year approaching, signaling the last chance to get in on those enticing charitable gift deductions, non-profit organizations are not experiencing – or expecting – “the gift of giving.”

Read the full article.

Wall Street Meltdown Will Hit Charities When Cash Is Most Needed

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

BY MARK HRYWNA

Nonprofits can expect to get hit from all sides when it comes to the most recent meltdown in the financial sector.

Douglas Bauer, senior vice president at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, calls it a “triple whammy” for nonprofits as a result of the historic collapses of some of the nation’s oldest financial service firms. The “triple whammy” is the potential decline in revenue for nonprofits from three major players - government, corporate and individual donors - all stemming from the same crisis: the housing and subprime mortgage market collapse.

Read the full article.

Goldman’s Conspicuous Compassion

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

BY KEVIN GRAY

During the boom years, Wall Street banks were among the most ostentatious purveyors of charitable giving. Now what?

Read the full article.

Parishioners Taking A Pass On Collection Plate

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

All Things Considered

HOSTED BY ANDREA SEABROOK

As credit dries up, and 401-K sinks these days, charities and churches are worried. They fear donors will pull back, as NPR’s Carrie Kahn discovered at one service today in Los Angeles.

Read the full broadcoast.

Poorest Feel Downturn as Donations Fall

Monday, October 6th, 2008

BY ROBIN SHULMAN

NEW YORK — For Citymeals-on-Wheels, a nonprofit group that delivers food to homebound New Yorkers, the Wall Street crisis already means 100,000 fewer meals will be delivered to people who need them.

One day this spring, the group lost about $500,000 it expected from employees of Bear Stearns as the firm collapsed. A few days later, $225,000 promised by a hedge fund vanished after its stock plummeted. This summer, private contributions were running 20 percent less than a year ago. And in the past few weeks, significant numbers of longtime donors have cut their giving in half, said Executive Director Marcia Stein.

Read the full article.