Where Most Needed

Doonesbury Plugs DonorsChoose

Product placement in a comic strip puts the focus on a well-promoted online charity venture.  But a look at the financial statements suggests that there may be bottlenecks ahead as the organization tries to scale up. 

Ford Foundation Still Driving a Fairmont

The new president of the Ford Foundation commits to continuity, while the organization remains best known for projects it sponsored a over a generation ago. 

Foundations Swimming through Apologies (Sorry)

Major foundations are stumbling over themselves to report lessons learned on disappointing initiatives, but there is a suprising sameness in What Doesn't Work. 

Harvard Business School's Modest Social Entrepreneurs

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

Minnesota Diversified Industries, Social Enterprise Pioneer, Hits Hard Times

CEO resigns who had promised expansion but delivered layoffs.  He was the second CEO in a row to have been reined in for an inappropriate management style for an agency employing people with disabilities.

Catholic & Jewish Charities Consume the Most Pork

An analysis of the New York Times' data on religious earmarks reveals details that confound stereotypes about faith-based lobbying. 

Corprate Thinking Pays Off for Executive of Winston-Salem Goodwill

IRS safe harbor rules enables the organization's board to award over a million to its retiring chief, who shut down charity projects while opening more retail stores.

Bridgespan Misses the Path to Greatness

Some major changes in the charity industry are revealed by data on 144 very successful start-ups since 1970. 

Charity Restaurants Trade Work for Food

One World Everybody Eats in Salt Lake City and SAME Cafe in Denver try out different social venture models for feeding those in need. 

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.