Where Most Needed

Detroit Zoo Director Survives Bull Charge

He confesses that an anonymous accusation that he fibbed on his résumé was correct and loses a month's pay as punishment.  But the nonprofit organization that took over the zoo from the city remains in a fight for its life without an assured funding source. 

Small Groups Push for Recognition of Slavery in Philadelphia

A tiny nonprofit and an unincorporated group kept the pressure on the National Park Service to tell the story of how President George Washington held on to his slaves in the original US capital after Pennsylvania abolished slavery. 

Levi Strauss Heirs Pursue a New Vision of Philanthropy

And yet, despite initiatives in community development, gay & lesbian rights, and immigration policy, large civic gestures still define the principal foundation of the Haas family. 

Smithsonian Fundraising Now Relies on Big Money

There was an abrupt transition in the late 1990s to an emphasis on blockbuster capital campaigns, and now extremely large gifts are the single largest source of funds for the museum.  The present board structure is ill-suited both to this kind of fundraising and to the kind of media deals that the organization now must engage in.  I offer a radical solution to bring the Smithsonian into the current century. 

Chief Justice Blocks Board Reform at Smithsonian

Documents show that recommendations of the independent review committee were watered down and that the Chief Justice John Roberts does not wish to give up his role as chancellor of the institution.  Other documents show that the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist and former Republican Senator Howard Baker were directly responsible for Lawrence Small's 45% salary increase in 2001, which was not reported to the full board. 

Smithsonian Governance Report Settles for Incremental Repairs

An outdated board structure is left intact, but it will no longer rely exclusively on the general secretary for its information.  The door closes on outside board seats for Smithsonian staff, some operating and personnel policies are updated, but a lot more is left for further study and future resolution. 

San Diego Natural History Museum Blindsided by Theft Report

Museum staff realized some items missing since 2004 couldn't be accounted for, but thought they were misplaced.

Natural History Museums Face Apocalypse

Declines in funding and a public perception of institutions as boring are leading to a crisis that threatens their extensive, behind-the-scenes scientific research. 

Creation Museum: Let There Be Loot

Having freed themselves from the bonds of both theology and science, the promoters of the museum (which is organized as a charity) seem mostly to be singing from the Walt Disney marketing hymnal.   

Museum in Transition Hit with Embezzlement

Turn-around plan hits a pothole but the new leadership maintains a confident air and are conducting an internal investigation without involving the police.