Monday, January 5, 2009

Picks of the Week: January 4 - 10, 2009

Website of the Week -- Center on Wealth and Philanthropy

The Center on Wealth and Philanthropy (CWP) is a multidisciplinary research center specializing in the study of spirituality, wealth, philanthropy, and other aspects of cultural life in an age of affluence. Founded in 1970, CWP is a recognized authority on the relation between economic wherewithal and philanthropy, the motivations for charitable involvement, and the underlying meaning and practice of care. You can sign up for CWP's e-mail newsletter, "Wealth and the Commonwealth," to stay informed about the latest news, research, and trends in the areas of wealth and philanthropy. Go to: http://www.bc.edu/research/cwp.


Publication of the Week -- Leading Up: Transformational Leadership for Fundraisers by Lilya Wagner

From the publisher: Fundraisers know that in order to be successful in their demanding profession, they have to get things done. And to get things done, they need to exercise leadership from whatever rank or position they hold--often from the middle. This concept is called "leading up." Recognizing that all fundraisers must be leaders, Leading Up teaches professionals the skills and traits they need to be successful in their philanthropic roles. Leading Up centers around author Lilya Wagner's unique model, which exemplifies the concept of leading up. Here, fundraisers will discover: how to get things done when they're not in charge; how to motivate others when they don't have formal authority; how to convince or persuade their colleagues and superiors about their need for action and involvement; and how to lead when they're not recognized leaders by virtue of power or position. Focusing on problem-solving concepts, Leading Up is packed with thought provoking questions, exercises, and practical application steps that allow professionals to practice and implement the principles they've just learned. Click here to preview this book on Amazon.com.


Trend of the Week -- Rise in Charitable Bequests

Giving USA 2008 reports that charitable bequests rose to $23.15 billion and giving from foundations, an increasingly popular vehicle for donor bequests, also rose dramatically by 10.3 percent to $38.52 billion. These data suggest the nonprofit world may be beginning to see the much-anticipated generational transfer of wealth. In addition to catching the wave of increased bequest and foundation philanthropy, organizations with effective planned and major giving strategies and knowledgeable staff could find their bottom lines less affected by the current economic slowdown than organizations that rely heavily on lower-level annual donors. Effective planned giving programs are approaching prospects earlier, when they are in their 50s and 60s, as previous Campbell & Company-sponsored research has shown that donors begin to think about their estate plans at this stage in their lives. To download other key report findings, go to: http://www.campbellcompany.com.


Resource of the Week -- NCCS FAQs

The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. The NCCS FAQs provide answers to many frequently asked questions about the nonprofit sector. More detailed technical notes are also available by clicking on the "FAQ+/KnowledgeBase" link on the margin of the page link referenced below. The frequently asked questions are organized in the following categories:

• General Nonprofit Information
• Nonprofit Funding and Finances
• Nonprofit Employment and Wages Information
• Foundation Information
• Charitable Giving
• Legal Questions

Go to: http://nccs.urban.org/resources/index.cfm.


Tech Tip of the Week -- Freeze a Formula into its Current Value in Excel

To freeze a formula into its current value:

• Select the formula
• Press F2 (Edit)
• Press F9 (Calc)
• Press Enter

Now you can copy or move the value anywhere you need it. This trick works in all versions of Excel, even 2007!

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