Where Most Needed

Doors Closing for Small Scale Advocacy Organizations

Changing priorities at two foundations affect funding for hundreds of small scale advocacy groups across the US.  It looks as though free lance advocacy is losing out to the broader strategic objectives of political campaigning.

Philadelphians Dare to Question WHYY Executive Salaries

Staff, a newspaper columnist, and a local magazine take on the CEO of the local public broadcasting outlet for excessive compensation and poor performance. 

Conservative Rabbis to Certify Labor Conditions at Kosher Slaugherhouses

After an exposé of the kosher "Jungle" of processing plants with substandard working conditions, two Conservative jewish associations work jointly to draft rules and enforceable standards for inspection. 

American Association of University Professors Fades to Gray

Torn by divergent missions of academic freedom and collective bargaining, the organization struggles for recognition among younger faculty. 

Michigan Nonprofit Association Folds into Volunteering Organization

The state embraces a model where nonprofit support is a joint responsibility of corporations, donors, and government—but working human service nonprofits have their own, separate organization.

Faculty at Ave Maria Law School Fights Founder's Flighty Vision

Conservative law professors are taking an activist approach to block the move of their school from Michigan to Thomas Monaghan's new town development, Ave Maria, Florida.

Charities Unwitting Supporters of Shock Jocks

Thanks to the Ad Council (itself a charity), charity ads fill in when commercial advertisers pull out of raunchy radio shows.

Ellen Degeneres Pigs Out on Girl Scout Cookies

Talk show host buys 1,000 boxes from an Ashtabula, Ohio troop.  Cookie season runs through April, supporting the only major charity that supports itself primarily through sale of a non-donated product.

Also: see the related article "Girl Scouts Fib about Trans Fats (Legally)."

San Diego's Huge Social Service Charity Settles with its Union

After three years, the union agrees to a small raise and no reduction in benefits, but no family medical coverage, either.

Collaboration Puts Met Opera in a Theater Near You

Magic Flute flies from radio to podcast when unions agree to revenue sharing rather than large up-front payments.