Over the next few weeks, Philanthropy Guide will be undergoing a major facelift as Nora and I have a few bugs with the current architecture.
Posting might be rather sporadic until we migrate to a new design at the same address, so thank you for bearing with us. You can still bookmark this URL and check in very soon, because we’ll be back better than ever, with lots of enthusiasm and all the latest in the field of philanthropy.
“Sir Richard Branson has pledged $3bn (£1.66bn) over the next decade towards combating global warming.
“The billionaire said business had a duty to future generations and the money would come from the profits of his Virgin Group’s airline and train operations, making it one of the most significant investments by a private firm in green initiatives.
The funds will be invested in schemes to develop new renewable energy technologies, including new biofuels for aircraft which could cut down on damaging CO2 gases.
“As part of the investment, more than half of the profits of Virgin Trains - of which Sir Richard’s Virgin Group owns 51% - will be allocated to the environment.
“Perth-based Stagecoach, which has the remaining 49% stake in Virgin Trains, said it had no plans to match Branson’s pledge.
A Stagecoach spokesman said it had been aware of the Virgin Group’s announcement, and it hoped to pilot some of the renewable energy initiatives financed by Sir Richard.
“Announcing the investment in New York, Sir Richard said that future dividends and proceeds from the sale of assets, including shares from Virgin’s airline and train operations, would be invested in green power in an effort to wean the world off oil and coal …” The Herald
“Sir Richard’s pledge also comes soon after Sir Tom Hunter, currently the richest man in Scotland, announced he is to spend £55m on improving health and education in two African nations, as part of the Clinton-Hunter Development Initiative …” Can Branson’s billions help save us from global doom?
In the wake of international commemorations on the fifth anniversary of 9/11, I think it behoves us to bear in mind that Muslim people in general have been tarred with the same brush as a few Muslim terrorists, which is obviously like blaming all Christians for the wrong deeds of a few Christians. This report shows that ill effects are falling upon innocent philanthropic organisations because of a general ignorance of the Muslim world:
Last year, workers at a small Muslim social service agency in Virginia received a disturbing letter from their bank. After six years, Wachovia Corp. was closing the account of the five-person agency that specializes in domestic violence services and other types of immediate assistance to families of all religious backgrounds.
“We were totally shocked,” said Margaret Farchtchi, board treasurer of the Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help, also known as FAITH. “We always kept our accounts in good shape.”
But the agency also had other reasons to think that they would not be targeted. “We felt very secure because we are a local charity,” explained Farchtchi. “We don’t have donors from overseas. We thought we were out of what you might call the danger zone.”
Many people thought the same. As such, the story of FAITH illustrates the challenge now facing the Muslim community. Since 9/11, the government has frozen the assets of six large Muslim organizations and shut them down — although no one has been convicted of any crime. People, in turn, have begun donating in larger numbers to local charities, assuming these organizations to be free of international ties and safe from government interference. But the experience of FAITH suggests that there are no guarantees.
“Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, the world’s third-richest man, will give away a chunk of his fortune by matching donations to health, education and social programs in Mexico.
“Slim, who owns a telecoms and retail empire and has a fortune estimated at over $US30 billion ($39 billion), will meet all contributions dollar for dollar, his spokesman and aide Arturo Elias Ayub said.
“‘We want to offer Mexican or foreign foundations that we will match any amount they invest in social work in Mexico,’ Elias Ayub told Reuters. It was unclear how much Slim’s donations might ultimately total.
“‘The idea is social programs focused on real needs: education, health, nutrition, research,’ he said.”
In commemoration of the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Co-Op America is highlighting members of the Social Investment Forum that are helping rebuild the affected areas through community investing.
People are always coming up with clever, innovative ideas for putting their money to good use. This one, reported at Springwise, I found originally at studio51c (”created especially for nontechies in nonprofits”):
World Land Trust, which was founded in 1989 to preserve the world’s most ecologically important and threatened lands, recently created a new way for concerned citizens to help the earth. The foundation now offers carbon offsets by sms/text message.
Every time a consumer texts “WLT CARBON” to number 87050 (within the UK), World Land Trust will offset 140 kilograms of CO2 through its Carbon Balanced Program. The program regenerates rainforest, which not only helps remove CO2 from the atmosphere, but also provides habitat for endangered species. 140 kg of carbon dioxide is equivalent to the emissions produced by 16 restaurant meals, a one-way flight from London to Berlin, or average use of a tumble dryer over 2 months.
It’s difficult to think ‘philanthropy’ without thinking ’socially responsible investing (SRI)’, which is also known (particularly in Australia) as ‘ethical investment’. Recent trends suggest that both corporations and investors are increasingly discovering SRI, as this US report shows:
A study released by the Social Investment Research Analysts Network on July 11 reveals that 34 companies listed on the S&P 100, a weighted index of 100 major blue chip companies, now base their corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports on a recognized third-party standard—the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. The use of uniform reporting criteria is critical to helping SRI firms select appropriate companies in which to invest. Other indicators similarly point to corporations’ greater embrace of social responsibility: according to the same study, 79 of the S&P 100 firms now have CSR websites, up 34 percent from last year.
Australian Catholic social services such as St Vincent de Paul (’Vinnies’), and Anglican charity Anglicare join a growing number of Christian charities that are refusing to be part of the Federal Government’s new case-management program for ‘breached’ welfare recipients.
In an unusually strong stand, almost all Christian charities have either refused to join up or have exited the conservative government’s scheme, under which recipients of social security will face a new regime of penalties for not meeting certain requirements.
The Uniting Church, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Mission Australia have also refused to be involved, and the Salvation Army is reported to be considering its position. Meanwhile, conservative fundamentalist Christian church Hillsong has signed up with the John Howard government.
Stephen Crittenden: You were saying that if Vinnies accepted the government’s funding to help the people the government breached, that Vinnies would be accepting the breaching regime, and that the breaching regime was immoral. Why is it immoral?
John Falzon [from St Vincent de Paul Society]: Frederic Ozanam the founder of the St Vincent de Paul Society, put this so beautifully. Even though we’re talking about a quote that comes from more than a century ago, it’s so fitting to the current events. He said, ‘Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveller who has been attacked. It is justice’s role however, to prevent the attack.’ Now as far as we’re concerned, in 2006 in Australia it is the role of the St Vincent de Paul Society to do everything we can to prevent the attack, not to go into partnership with the attacker. … We’ll provide the charity but it is justice more than anything else, that these people have a right to, and we will not cease to clamour for justice.
Adobe Youth Voices is Adobe’s a global philanthropic initiative that empowers youth worldwide to comment on their world using multimedia and digital tools to communicate and share their ideas, demonstrate their potential, and take action in their communities. Adobe Youth Voices employs an integrated approach in and out of the classroom to show the power technology brings to learning and enable middle- and high-school aged youth to think creatively, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively—critical 21st century skills.
Adobe has organized a unique collaborative of leading youth media nonprofit organizations with strong track records, global experience, and a common vision, including What Kids Can Do, Listen Up, Arts Engine, Inc., Educational Video Center, and iEARN.
Read more and read the press release about Adobe’s foray into the world of philanthropy.
The American Institute of Philanthropy gives the following list of charities helping ‘refugees’ in Lebanon and Israel. (These people should perhaps more properly be called ‘displaced persons’ because the great majority have not left their country of origin — see the UNHCR definition of refugee. The number of such people in Lebanon ranges from between half a million and one million.)
The list is American and therefore contains US phone numbers:
We believe that philanthropy is interesting, timely and exciting, and we also believe that it makes good sense. Individuals and businesses are increasingly finding that they can be agents of change in a troubled world, and meet needs that should and can be obsolete in the 21st Century ... Read on and meet your guides
ACCRA, Sep 5 (IPS) - Delegates from both developing and developed countries have adopted the Accra Agenda For Action (AAA) as a guide to improve the way aid is given and spent. [Link]
Liberia: Nigerian Based Philanthropist Donates To Pres. Sirleaf AllAfrica.com, Washington - Sep 4, 2008 She assured the philanthropist that the government would ensure that young people benefit from the supplies. She challenged Mr. Hassan to return to Liberia ... [Link]
Fort Worth woman was arts philanthropist Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - Sep 4, 2008 By DARREN BARBEE FORT WORTH — Ann L. Rhodes, a Fort Worth philanthropist and theater patron who shied away from center stage herself, has died. She was 66. ... [Link]
Serial entrepreneur is force behind food venture Bizjournals.com, NC - 8 hours ago ... early enough to buy a $20 million mansion in Marin, score Elton John to perform at his wedding and become a deep-pocketed investor and philanthropist . ... [Link]
Now Magazine Online Heather Mills dating another millionaire? Now Magazine Online, UK - 15 hours ago The pair met earlier this year when the former model hosted an event for the millionaire philanthropist – and they've been spotted out several times since. ... [Link]
Drexel not just a street in Tucson, she's a patron saint KOLD-TV, AZ - 11 hours ago The landmarks are mostly named after Philadelphia Banker and Philanthropist Francis Anthony Drexel. But what you many not know is that his daughter, ... [Link]
National Philanthropy Day honorees announced OC Metro, CA - 12 hours ago By Susan BelknappPublished: September 04, 2008 03:10 AM The 23rd annual National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon will be held from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on ... [Link]
Weaver family getting national award for philanthropy Florida Times-Union, FL - 15 hours ago ... announced Thursday that Jacksonville Jaguars owners J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver will receive the national network’s highest honor for philanthropy . ... [Link]
News, opinion and links are provided in good faith as a service to readers of Philanthropy Guide. No endorsement of any institution, website, advertisement, seminar, person or service is implied by this website unless specifically stated.
Latest News