Where Most Needed

Harvard Business School's Modest Social Entrepreneurs

Compared with their enterprising west coast rivals, social entrepreneurs at HBS seem downright genteel.

Autism Speaks, but Not with One Voice

The Autism Speaks organization has merged several advocacy organizations under its umbrella to become a dominant fundraiser in a crowded field.  But controversial theories about the cause of the condition present a challenge to the founders even from their own daughter. 

Harvard Researchers: Back to Bigness

A historian of charities and a lawyer revive interest in charity organizations that combine national and grassroots perspectives in a federated structure. 

American Lung Association Loses Stragglers in Strategic Overhaul

A handful of chapters prefer to launch out on their own rather than accept consolidation into larger units as part of a strategic plan to encourage larger donations.    

Where Bono Blunde(red)

A bad PR week for (Product)Red orchestrated out of San Francisco raises doubts about the prospects for a long-term sustainable charity campaign (sorry, business model) based on product sales without grassroots fundraising. 

Looking at Foundations as if They Mattered

A professor sees potential in the rise of incredibly large philanthropic gestures.  But I wonder whether the Gates Foundation is already spread too thin to expect real impact. 

Fundraisers Make Sure Something is in It for Me

Savvy participants in fundraising events for medical research use their leverage to steer funding to research that benefits their own family members.

Legal Wrangling over AIDS Quilt Reflects Charity Culture Clash

Dispute stems not only from the change in AIDS, but also different styles of charity organization in different parts of the country. 

Charity Medical Research Groups Pay Biotech Firms for Research

Groups advocating for less-than-common conditions (like diabetes) use their checkbooks to relieve bottlenecks in drug development programs. 

Girl Scouts Fib about Trans Fats (Legally)

"Zero trans fat" in cookies does not mean no trans fat.  Health concerns are putting a dent in food sales for fundraising.