Where Most Needed

A Peek into United Way's Hidden Restructuring Program

Large and small mergers are steadily cutting the number of United Way organizations in the US, but community fears of losing out in funding allocations are the chief obstacle to administrative streamlining.

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.

Media Watchdog Double Dips from Charities

President and founder of two prominent organizations monitoring television and media, one in Washington and one in Los Angeles, claims to work full time for both of them. 

New United Way Rules Devastate a Small Service Agency

A shift of priorities to teens and consumer credit counseling leaves people with disabilities behind.  It's too bad they can't keep up in a competitive world. 

For-Profit Firm Cracks the Combination at the Combined Federal Campaign

Playing by the rules of the federal workplace giving program (similar to the United Way campaign), charity coalitions managed by Maguire/Maguire capture $60 million of the nearly $270 million given by federal workers. 

St. Louis Archdiocese to Centralize Parish Accounting

Accountability, internal control, and technology are driving a pioneering change in financial operations in the half-billion dollar church organization, but it could also limit accountability at the parish level.

Twenty Most Important Charity Stories of 2006

They may not be the stories that gained the most attention, but in my opinion are the most important stories about the charity industry in this last year. 

Breaking Ranks with the Chronicle 400

The current methodology for ranking charities overemphasizes United Way and minimizes some other fundraising powerhouses. 

Study: Large Scale CFC Campaigns Have Lower Fundraising Cost

A Where Most Needed exclusive: across all 300 local campaigns of the Combined Federal Campaign in 2005, average costs were significantly higher for small scale campaigns, although there were at least few low cost performers in all scale categories. 

Salvation Army Embezzler was a Serial Offender

And another financial manager pleads guilty to a $385,000 fraud for issuing phony rental assistance checks.