At their most basic level, annual reports are meant to inform, educate, and summarize a year of hard work. When done well, annual reports can inspire, empower and captivate a nonprofit’s donors – as well as encourage them to form a deeper relationship with the organization. Annual reports are absolutely crucial for nonprofits that wish…
Increasingly, the next generation’s leaders are making their mark on the world by proposing and implementing solutions to global environmental and social problems. One great example includes the global YouthBank initiative, a network of 20 youth grantmaking committees. With its origins in Ireland (specifically the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland), YouthBank has since spread throughout…
Having just announced our 2012 round of grants, we wanted to give you some updates on the great activities our grantees are organizing around the country. Check out the organizations local to you for a little bit of Arab culture and fun this fall! Starting this week, the Arab Cultural and Community Center (ACCC) is…
Part of our CAAPtivating Reads Series by Katherine Hanway, CAAP Donor Services and Program Officer Whether you are looking for the latest tips on how to make more impact through your giving, simple definitions to complicated philanthropic terms, or ideas for how to get your whole family involved in charity, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen’s new book Giving…
Flint, Mich.-based Arab American philanthropists Mona and Saed Sahouri opened a donor-advised fund with CAAP in 2011. We recently asked them some questions about philanthropy such as what drives their giving, and how CAAP has helped impact their giving since establishing their fund. CAAP: Can you give us an example of the kind of work/causes…
More than any other innovation, the digital revolution has had the most influence on helping donors choose the causes they want to support. On the one hand, charities have more free and low-cost digital media options to market themselves and spread the word about the great work they are doing beyond their immediate network. On…
Part of a Philanthropy A-Z series Often thought of as charitable giving bank accounts, donor-advised funds allow philanthropists to channel resources through their local community foundation, financial institution, or identity-based giving program like CAAP to causes that matter most to them. A donor-advised fund requires care and cultivation to flourish – just like any garden…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCcFFDoYPk0 Psychology of personal philanthropy The more that you understand about your donor’s motivations, the more effective you will become at inspiring their generosity. A great example comes from the above video, which cites this study by Paul Slovic. He researches decision-making at the University of Oregon. Slovic’s research finds that it is difficult for…
If you’ve been paying attention to the news over the past couple years, chances are you’ve noticed that 2011/2012 have been momentous years for institution-building in the Middle East. But what role does philanthropy play amidst the tumult of the Arab Spring? Both Alliance and Effect philanthropy magazines, among others, have recently attempted to answer…
When you volunteer abroad, you have the opportunity to experience a new place, and to create a positive impact for people and the planet. As people who regularly travel while offering their time for local causes, “voluntourists” understand the reward that comes from sharing their talent and resources for the benefit of others. Habitat for…