Philanthropy News

Corporate philanthropy and "social responsibility" may be undermining the ability of businesses to stay focused on their main goal of making profits, says an opinion article in The Washington Post.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen marked the 20th anniversary of his family foundation by committing Thursday to leave most of his $13-billion fortune to philanthropy, says The Seattle Times.

A nonprofit group started by Barnes and Noble's chairman, Leonard Riggio, and his wife, Louise, to build 100 homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina will erect its 50th house next month, according to The Wall Street Journal.

A fund-raising walkathon this weekend is expected to raise close to $3-million, but a The Bay Citizen article questions how much of that money will stay in the San Francisco area.

In a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron, several of the country’s leading arts patrons warn that philanthropic groups will not be able to make up for a planned 25- to 40-percent reduction in government arts spending, The Independent reports.

A growing number of charities are inserting small change into their mail solicitations in hopes of making an impression on potential donors, after years of decline in the practice, says USA Today.

Animal shelters and charities along the Gulf Coast are seeing a spike in the number of surrendered pets as a result of the BP oil spill, writes the Associated Press.

A Turkish aid group's May challenge to Israel’s Gaza Strip blockade was backed at the top levels of Turkey’s governing party, according to The New York Times.

Two high-profile New York nonprofit institutions are resisting the federal government’s call to return donations from Hassan Nemazee, a businessman who was convicted of fraud, The New York Times writes.

Two high-profile New York nonprofit institutions are resisting the federal government’s call to return donations from Hassan Nemazee, a businessman who was convicted of fraud, The New York Times writes.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation will spend $10-million over five years to provide emergency aid to impoverished Holocaust survivors, says The Baltimore Sun.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation will spend $10-million over five years to provide emergency aid to impoverished Holocaust survivors, says The Baltimore Sun.

With a series of large, multiyear gifts to academic institutions, San Francisco’s Jim Joseph Foundation is seeking to become a major influence on the future of Jewish life in America, writes The Jewish Week.

With a series of large, multiyear gifts to academic institutions, San Francisco’s Jim Joseph Foundation is seeking to become a major influence on the future of Jewish life in America, writes The Jewish Week.

New York arts groups are laying off workers and taking other steps to make up for money lost when the city’s billionaire mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, ended a popular grants program, The Wall Street Journal writes, while Los Angeles arts groups got a last-minute infusion of city aid.

New York arts groups are laying off workers and taking other steps to make up for money lost when the city’s billionaire mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, ended a popular grants program, The Wall Street Journal writes, while Los Angeles arts groups got a last-minute infusion of city aid.

The nonprofit group behind New York’s popular High Line park is fielding inquiries from cities eager to copy the Manhattan effort’s success, The New York Times says.

The nonprofit group behind New York’s popular High Line park is fielding inquiries from cities eager to copy the Manhattan effort’s success, The New York Times says.

The whistleblowing Web site Wikileaks has spent less than 10 percent of contributions managed by a third-party foundation, according to Wired.

The whistleblowing Web site Wikileaks has spent less than 10 percent of contributions managed by a third-party foundation, according to Wired.