Topic: Nonprofits and NGOs

Preserving the Gift of Giving

Americans donated $304 billion in 2009, down 3.6%, and this year some are pledging more. We spoke to seven philanthropists of all different incomes, from billionaires promising half their wealth via Bill Gates and Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge, to regular folks earmarking a slice of their salaries.READ»

• Now: November 2010
• Read: Decision Points
• Soar: Future of Air Transport Conference

Innovation Agents: Jessica Mayberry, Founder of Video Volunteers

Imagine giving a village full of people who have never seen a film, barely ever watched television, much less have access to a computer, a way to challenge traditional news coverage. To millions of impoverished people in India, Jessica Mayberry offers a way to do just that, by creating their own stories through Video Volunteers.READ»

The Starbucks Cup Dilemma

"When I take people out here in the winter, sometimes we just lie down on it," says Susan Thoman. She's gesturing to a mound of rich black organic matter the length and height of a warehouse at the Cedar Grove composting plant, a sprawling complex an hour north of Seattle. Sealed under Gore-Tex fabric and "blimped" with fans, the giant piles reach a toasty internal temperature of 130 degrees thanks to beneficial bacteria. They steam in the foggy air, which is scented miraculously with bark mulch, not rot, like the floor of the thicket for which the place is named.READ»

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Mobile Companies Open the Floodgates to Allow Text Message-Based Donations

Obopay and Benevity partner up to allow any registered charity to receive text message-based donations.READ»

More From Mad Men on CSR

Two years ago, Burt Cooper advised Don Draper that "philanthropy is the gateway to power." Last night, Mad Men struck again! Ad man Ken Cosgrove made the case for pro bono service. In the episode called "Blowing Smoke," the firm of ...READ»

ACCION, the World's Most Effective Non-Profit Microfinance, Thrives on Constant Innovation

"The more successful a breakthrough is, the sooner it becomes obsolete and therefore one must move to the next stage," says the former CEO.READ»

CGI: Omidyar Network, A Philanthropy That Invests in For-Profits Too

Old school charity and "philanthropy" once referred exclusively to financial contributions to nonprofits. Today, Omidyar Network (ON) takes a more innovative and inclusive approach, called "flexible capital." As a philanthropic ...READ»

Looking for a Partner: Must be Willing to Commit

Put a bunch of executives from different companies in a room to hatch plans, write checks, and plot how to move markets, and it’s a federal crime. Add some foundations, NGOs, and myriad worthy causes, and you’ve got the Clinton ...READ»

Five Innovators Heading to CGI: Naya Jeevan, A Doctor's Rx for Micro Insurance

“Excuse me, do you work with large clusters of marginalized low income populations?” Some of us arrived a day early for the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Sixth Annual Meeting. One reason to do that is to attend the CGI ...READ»

How Haystack Risked Exposing Iranian Dissidents

In 2009, Iran was in turmoil, and the Islamic Republic was blocking and monitoring sites used by opposition groups—until a team led by American IT specialist Austin Heap built a program, Haystack, and touted it as a secure and ...READ»

Urban Farming Gets a Swanky Boost from Organic Wine-Maker, Bonterra Vineyards

Bonterra Vineyards and Growing Power partner up to support healthy foods for all.READ»

How Microsoft Can Make Sure It's Not Russia's Tool

Vladimir Putin's government has been hitting protesters with phony software piracy charges -- and Microsoft's legal team lent a hand. Here's the software giant's side of the story.READ»

More Business, Less Charity

There's a new trend emerging among a small number of NGOs (non-governmental organizations, used in reference to global nonprofits). Here's what it looks like in comparison to the traditional nonprofit approach: Traditional: NGO ...READ»

What CSR and Nonprofit Leaders Are Reading - Part I

It's always fun to find out what others are reading and peruse their book shelves. Here's a glimpse at the summer reading lists of a variety of people from business, nonprofits, and corporate social responsibility.READ»

Who the Heck are the Bayaka and 7 Other Questions for Aspiring Leaders.

Scott Harrison hopes to turn charity:water into an epic brand that brings fresh water to 100 million people in need of something most of us take for granted. His journey is both inspiring and instructional for any entrepreneur.READ»

CSR: Right on Target

Today's The New York Times article, "Target's First Store in Manhattan Took a Decade of Wooing" describes how Target laid the groundwork to open a major new retail outlet in Harlem. According to the article, Target invested a decade ...READ»

Flame On! PayPal Caves to Wrath of Burning Man

PayPal's head of public relations and Burning Man veteran allows temple builders to tap account.READ»

My Favorite 17

When Fast Company invited me to be an Expert blogger on Ethonomics and Leadership two years ago, I had no idea what a great adventure this would be. In over 165 posts, including coverage of two Clinton Global Initiative annual ...READ»

When Is a Board a Board? When Is It Not a Board?

What we commonly refer to as a nonprofit "board" is the governing board of a nonprofit corporation. This board is charged by law with the oversight of the nonprofit organization. Board members have a fiduciary duty and risk legal ...READ»

Holsteins, Heroes and Heart: A Good Host Is Hard to Find

This week I embarked on what should be a simple task: finding a new web host. Like researching a new waterproof breathable jacket or non-stick omelette pan or taser to match your iPod nano, you trawl the Web, read the reviews, wonder which are bogus, glaze over at the offerings, wonder if you should be using Joomla or Wordpress, and if you need SSL and what is SSL anyway...READ»

Advance Education Reform Through Service, Creativity, and Collaboration

I recently returned from the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New York, the world's largest gathering of volunteer leaders from the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors, where we explored how to ...READ»

Help Wanted: (Nonprofit) Board Chairs

If I had a nickel for every board looking for a good board chair... Many boards are searching for board chairs. Even some nonprofits that have supportive board members are looking outside of their boards for board chair candidates ...READ»

Good Cop, Bad Cop: the Evolving Form of Business-NGO Partnerships in China

A recent trip to China to speak at the Annual Summit of China Green Companies revealed an interesting tension between NGOs, businesses, and the Chinese government: everyone agrees that better policing of environmental performance is needed. But no one can agree on exactly how this should be accomplished. READ»

Everyone Needs a Greater Purpose (Even Companies)

"Why do business people on nonprofit boards make decisions they'd never make on behalf of their companies?" This was one of the intriguing questions when Matthew Bishop interviewed Nancy Lublin. Boards must fulfill their oversight responsibilities, but that alone does not build a vibrant and robust organization.READ»

Who Is the Apple of Consumer Finance? Apple?

Who is the Apple for America's 60 million un- and underbanked? The obvious contenders are banks, alternative financial services (AFS), and nonprofits. Each has a couple Dells, an HP and perhaps even a Google. But no Apple. Could an iBank do what iTunes, iPhone and iPod have already done?READ»