Drummond Pike, founder and chief executive of the Tides Foundation, is bailing out the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (Acorn), after almost $1 million was embezzled from the nonprofit, The New York Times reported Aug. 16 (see embezzlement story). In 2000, Acorn discovered that founder Wade Rathke's brother had embezzled funds.
Rural philanthropy on the downslideThe gap between the top and bottom 10 states in terms of foundation assets is widening rapidly, says the Philanthropic Divide report, published annually by the Big Sky Institute for the Advancement of Nonprofits, the Great Falls Tribune reported Aug. 17 (see divide story). This gap nearly quadrupled from $9.2 billion in 1988 to $36.1 billion in 2005, leaving many rural areas with less foundation funding than their more urban counterparts.
Former CED president to lead Kauffman programMonica Doss, president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, based in North Carolina, will join the Kauffman Foundation as director of its FastTrac Program, WRAL reported Aug. 18 (see Doss story). FastTrac offers classes and hands-on experience to help entrepreneurs launch and develop new businesses.
Online shopping offers opportunity for givingNonprofit organizations are tapping into the potential of online shopping to raise funds, The Spokesman Review reported Aug. 17 (see shopping story). Charitable shopping-mall sites, including GoodShop.com and Giveness.com, give a percentage of proceeds from selected retailers to the charity of the customer's choice.
In brief:
* Jerry Fazio, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County in El Cajon, Calif., has stepped down to take a fundraising position with the organization, The San Diego Union Tribune reported Aug. 16.
* Melissa Brown, associate director of research at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, discusses corporate giving in a question-and-answer session reported in Crain's Chicago Business Aug. 18.
* Companies may be donating less to environmental causes because they are trying to go green themselves, Crain's Chicago Business reported Aug. 18.