Individual Giving in Illinois: Implications for the Nonprofit Community - FIRST OF ITS KIND REPORT!

Learn about individual giving from this first-of-its-kind report in Illinois. Read about what motivates individuals to give, and what would motivate them to give more.

 

Foundation Giving in Illinois - NEW!

Read our fifth report on foundation giving. Learn about charitable giving from grantmakers in the state.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Funding by U.S. Foundations (pdf, 28 pages, 2007) - NEW!

Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues has released Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Funding by U.S. Foundations, a report for Calendar Year 2005. Grantmaker support for LGBTQ issues reached an all-time high of $52.8 million in 2005. Read more about current funding trends Lesbian and Gay issues.

 

Key Facts On Community Foundations (pdf, 9/06)

According to a new report, Key Facts On Community Foundations, released by the New York-based Foundation Center, community foundations make up just 1 percent of all U.S. grantmaking foundations but account for about 10 percent of giving. The report also named Chicago Community Trust 12th in total giving in 2004 among community foundations nationwide. The Chicago Community Trust gave 61.7 million dollars that year.

Foundation Center Grants to Individuals (7/06)

Comprehensive listing of 6,211 private grantmakers and public foundations in the U.S. that provide financial assistance to individuals.

Relief Donations after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (pdf, 11/05)

In the aftermath of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes, 13 million Americans made donations to relief efforts online and 7 million set up their own hurricane relief efforts using the Internet, according to this survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Giving USA 2007 (6/05)

The Giving USA Foundation provides information to help nonprofit organizations learn more about and understand factors that affect fundraising success and to contribute to the historical record about charitable giving in the United States.

Foundation Funding for Children's Health (pdf, 5/05)

Giving for children's health by the largest U.S. foundations rose by more than 50 percent between 1999 and 2003, according to this Foundation Center report.

FC Stats: Grants Stats (5/05)

The Foundation Center released statistics on grants awarded in 2003. These free statistical tables document foundation giving patterns by subject area, recipient organization type, type of support, population group served, and domestic and international focus.

Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates: 2004 Preview (pdf, 4/05)

Giving by the nation's more than 66,000 grantmaking foundations increased to a new high of $32.4 billion in 2004, according to a report from the Foundation Center. This estimated 6.9 percent rise, which reversed two years of modest reductions, was driven by a stock market recovery and higher levels of new gifts into existing foundations.

Foundation Giving Trends: An Update on Funding Priorities (pdf, 2/05)

According to this report from the Foundation Center, overall giving by the largest private and community foundations decreased 10 percent between 2002 and 2003.

Voluntary Support of Education Survey (pdf, 3/05)

According to a report from the Council for Aid to Education, charitable giving to U.S. colleges and universities rose 3.4 percent last year to a record $24.4 billion.

60 Most Generous Donors (3/05)

The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that America's 60 largest donors contributed a total of more than $10 billion to charity last year, a big increase from 2003, when the top 60 donors contributed $5.9-billion.

Forum Researchnotes: Capital Campaign Trends (pdf, 6/04)

How have capital campaigns fared in the last few years? The Donors Forum examined its GrantSource database and found that capital grants increased by 11 percent from 2000 to 2001. Read the June issue of Forum Researchnotes (pdf) to find out how arts, education, health and other organizations have fared in securing capital funding.

Forum Researchnotes: Grantmaking Trends (pdf, 3/04)

Curious about how the assets and grants of Donors Forum Members have changed in the last few years? Read the latest Forum Researchnotes to learn how much assets and grants have declined, and how foundations are allocating grants between general operating, capital and program support.

In Perspective: Current Events Impact on Local Nonprofits and Foundations (pdf, 6/03)

Local foundations and corporate giving programs have less to give and are changing the way they make grants, according to a survey by the Donors Forum. Nonprofits are also feeling the effects of the soft economy.

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

Philanthropy Trends

Foundation Giving Trends, 2008 Edition: Report Highlights (2/08)

Published in February 2008, the Foundation Center's latest report on U.S. foundation giving trends shows that the nation's largest foundations increased funding for all major subject areas in 2006. The full report is available free of charge to Donors Forum Members. Email Margo Gray to obtain a copy.

State of Philanthropy 2006: Creating Dialogue for Tomorrow's Movements (7/06)

The third biennial collection from foundation and nonprofit leaders and its aim is to create dialogue for progressive social change and increasing foundation accountability. This publication, produced by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, confronts contentious issues faced by today's nonprofit and philanthropic sectors from a variety of perspectives.

The Transformative Power of Women's Philanthropy (5/06)

This book reflects the perspectives of an array of authors working in the field of women and philanthropy. It's based on information presented at the 2005 symposium "Women and Philanthropy: Gaining Momentum." The symposium addressed topics including giving circles, women's funds, how faith affects giving, transmission of the philanthropic legacy from one generation to another and other issues that affect individuals and organizations working in and with women's philanthropy.

Preserving the Public Trust Initiative Annotated Bibliography (5/06)

The Preserving the Public Trust Initiative is designed to help nonprofit organizations - including grantmakers - take specific, concrete steps to ensure adherence to high ethical standards and strong governance principles. Download this annotated bibilography of titles available in the Donors Forum Library.

Creative Philanthropy: Toward A New Philanthropy For The Twenty-First Century (pdf, 3/06)

Helmut K. Anheier and Diana Leat advocate for the adoption of Creative Philanthropy in this excutive summary of their book. This approach encouages grantmakers to adopt practices that encourage innovative ideas and better communications between foundations and grantseekers.

Foundation Giving Trends: An Update on Funding Priorities (pdf, 3/06)

Following a two-year decline, foundation support for most major program areas rebounded in 2004, according to this report from the Foundation Center. Grant dollars awarded by the largest private and community foundations increased 8 percent between 2003 and 2004, while the number of grants increased 5 percent.

 

Snapshot of Philanthropy's Response to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes (pdf, 2/06)

Foundations, corporations, and other institutional donors committed over $490 million to relief and recovery efforts in the first few months following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to a report from the Foundation Center. This support represented 17 percent of an estimated $3 billion in private hurricane response giving.

 

Foundation Expenses & Compensation: How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending (pdf, 2/06)

The Urban Institute, the Foundation Center and GuideStar issued a comprehensive report on the factors affecting administrative expenses and compensation at grantmaking foundations. The report "cautions against constructing a 'one size fits all' approach to setting standards."

 

Key Facts on Family Foundations (pdf, 1/06)

Establishment of larger family foundations peaked in the late 1990s, according to this Foundation Center study. The report also found that in 2004 more than half of the nation's approximately 31,300 family foundations gave less than $50,000 and more than three-fourths had less than $1 million in assets.

 

The Case for Better Philanthropy: The Future of Funding for Women and Girls (pdf, 1/06)

Women & Philanthropy's report examines important issues such as the impact of globalization, the prevalence of health and wealth disparities, and changes in philanthropy and how they are influencing grants to programs serving women and girls.

Geography and Generosity: Boston and Beyond (pdf, 11/05)

This report from The Boston Foundation examines the shortcomings of the Generosity Index, widely used to rank states by their resident's charitable giving, and discusses a different methodology for measuring charitable donations relative to income.

Foundation Funding for Arts Education: An Overview of Recent Trends (pdf, 10/05)

The first in-depth study on foundation funding for arts education, released by the Foundation Center and Grantmakers in the Arts, found that giving in this area grew faster than arts giving overall between 1999 and 2003.

 

Social Justice Grantmaking: A Report on Foundation Trends (pdf, 9/05)

The largest U.S. foundations provide 11 percent of their grant dollars to support structural changes aiding those least well off economically, socially, and politically, according to this Foundation Center report.

FC Stats: Grantmaker Stats (8/05)

The Foundation Center released the 2005 statistics detailing foundation staffing and public reporting based on information from over 20,000 of the largest U.S. foundations.

Looking Out for the Future: An Orientation for Twenty-First Century Philanthropists (7/05)

This report explores long-term trends affecting the philanthropic sector and discusses the range of giving vehicles available to today's philanthropists.

Foundation Expenses and Compensation: Interim Report 2005 (7/05)

The Urban Institute, the Foundation Center and GuideStar issued this report which documents the dimensions of foundation expenses and reveals that major differences in foundations' operating styles have a great impact on their expense levels. The findings of this report are similar to those of Interpreting Form 990-PF: Looking Beyond Foundation Administrative Expenses (pdf), released by the Donors Forum in 2004. Looking at administrative expenses alone cannot reveal if foundations are responsible in working toward the public good.

Foundation Yearbook: Facts and Figures on Private and Community Foundations (pdf, 7/05)

Overall foundation giving increased 7 percent to an estimated $32.4 billion in 2004, while foundation assets rose 9.5 percent to $476.7 billion in 2003, according to this Foundation Center report.

Social Justice Philanthropy: The Latest Trend or a Lasting Lens for Grantmaking? (pdf, 4/05)

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy studied social justice philanthropy to develop a definition of the term and discuss its challenges in the future.

 

Proxy Season Preview Spring 2005: Foundations Aligning Missions and Investment (pdf, 4/05)

Published by the As You Sow Foundation, in collaboration with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, this briefing highlights issues for foundations to monitor and respond to during corporations' proxy season.

Wealth Transfer Estimates Among African American Households (pdf, 3/05)

A study from the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy sheds light on trends in African-American household income, wealth and philanthropic giving, including charitable bequests and transferred wealth.

2004 NACUBO Endowment Study (1/05)

The National Association of College and University Business Officers found that an unusually high average one-year return rate for 2004 helped boost college and university endowments, but did not erase several recent years of investment losses or negligible returns.

Black Philanthropy: Harnessing a Growing Resource (8/04)

This article highlights trends in philanthropy in African American communities and offers advice to professionals who want to tap into this under-recognized field.

Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy (pdf)

Research on the challenge of diversifying the field and meaningful grantmaking for the African American community.

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration (9/06)

A new toolkit developed by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) provides a framework to help foundations incorporate immigrant needs and contributions into their grantmaking. Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration offers a wide array of resources, including concrete recommendations, historical perspectives, profiles of promising programs, a resources section and more.

 

New Tool for Family Foundations (8/06)

The Council on Foundations has opened a new database to help family foundations deal with governance, management and legacy issues. The resource, which is open to the public, helps foundations implement the Stewardship Principles for Family Foundations. The database presents foundation interviews, sample documents and resources corresponding to each principle and practice option. The Stewardship Principles and Practice Options for Family Foundations are available online at http://bestpractices.cof.org/family/, and are available to the public. Printed brochures of the Principles for distribution to board members can be requested from the Family Foundation Services department at (202) 467-0407 or by e-mailing family@cof.org. To submit your own stories and relevant sample documents to the database contact the Family Foundation Services department or use the online submission form.

Self-Dealing: A Concise Guide For Foundation Board and Staff (2/06)

The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers offers this publication, which includes definitions of self-dealing and disqualified person; most common problem areas; penalties for violations; exceptions; recommended steps for foundations in handling self-dealing issues; and additional resources.

Foundation Communications: The Grantee Perspective (pdf, 2/06)

According to the Center for Effective Philanthropy report, the three keys to effective communication with grantees are consistent foundation communication resources; approachable, responsive foundation staff who treat grantees fairly; and helpful foundation selection and reporting/evaluation processes.

Revised Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities (12/05)

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a revised set of voluntary anti-terrorism financing guidelines to assist charitable organizations in complying with the USA PATRIOT Act. The revised guidelines replace those issued in November 2002.

 

Collaborative Governance: A Guide for Grantmakers (pdf, 12/05)

In this report, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation explores collaborative governance, which gives grantmakers the opportunity to strengthen connections between citizens and government.

 

Celebrating Philanthropy (11/05)

In honor of Celebrating Philanthropy Month in November, the Foundation Center compiled a list of links to the best online resources for affinity groups, charity monitoring services, news sources and much more.

 

Not All Grants Are Created Equal: Why Nonprofits Need General Operating Support From Foundations (pdf, 9/05)

This report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy explores the ongoing debate about whether foundations should provide operating support to pay indirect expenses such as rent or mortgage, salaries, and office supplies, which are needed to deliver on the projects.

 

Personal Strategy: Mobilizing Your Self for Effective Grant Making (12/05)

This GrantCraft guide examines how developing a personal strategy can help grantmakers resolve the more ambiguous situations that are part of their day-to-day work.

Expanding the Boundaries of Corporate Volunteerism: Retirees as a Valuable Resource (pdf, 6/05)

The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College and Volunteers of America released this report to guide businesses in helping employees and retirees navigate transitions in and between work and civic engagement.

Beyond Compliance: The Trustee Viewpoint on Effective Foundation Governance (pdf, 10/05)

The Center for Effective Philanthropy examines how trustees at 53 foundations have examined and changed governance practices in response to media and Congressional scrutiny.

 

Life Cycle of a Private Foundation (10/05)

The IRS launched an online information tool to help private foundations comply with federal tax rules and requirements. The site explains issues such as how to acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN); how to avoid jeopardizing the foundation's exemption; how political activities involvement may affect the foundation's status and how disclosure requirements must be met.

 

Unusual Grants: An Online Guide for Public Charities (9/05)

This guide from the Council on Foundations lays out the steps public charity grantmakers should follow when making conventional grants and provides guidance on topics such as grants to religious organizations, grants to non-charities and international grantmaking.

 

Celebrating Philanthropy (11/05)

In honor of Celebrating Philanthropy Month, the Foundation Center assembled a list of recommended web sites, a selection of related readings and interviews with distinguished grantmakers.

 

2005 Grantmakers Information Technology Survey Report (10/05)

A report by the Technology Affinity Group and the Council on Foundations found that most foundations haven't fully integrated technology into their business practices by accepting online grant applications or providing online donor services.

 

On the Brink of Promise: The Future of U.S. Community Foundations (pdf, 9/05)

Community philanthropy has evolved over the years, and this new report from Blueprint Research & Design and The Monitor Institute explores the opportunities and challenges the field will face in the next 20 years.

 

Evaluation as a Pathway to Learning (pdf, 6/05)

Released by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, the report includes information on evaluation techniques and explores concepts such as evaluation's link to knowledge management.

When Words Fail: How the Public Interest Becomes Neither Public Nor Interesting (pdf, 8/05)

Essayist Tony Proscio highlights examples of foundations failing to write and speak clearly, and offers suggestions for improvement.

Higher Impact: Improving Foundation Performance (pdf, 6/05)

The Center for Effective Philanthropy released a report discussing issues related to foundation impact and performance, drawing on new research, examples from foundation leaders and the perspectives of experts and outside observers.

Investing In Leadership: A Grantmaker's Framework for Understanding Nonprofit Leadership Development (pdf, 6/05)

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations published this report to inform grantmakers interested in nonprofit leadership as an organizational development strategy.

 

Stewardship Principles for Family Foundations

The Council on Foundations launched an online database with a collection of interviews about best practices, sample documents and tools from family philanthropy leaders that correspond to the Stewardship Principles for Family Foundations.

Public Policy Grantmaking Toolkit

Developed by Northern California Grantmakers, this online guide helps funders build their capacity to engage in public policy initiatives. The online toolkit presents strategies of public policy, legal parameters, and case of studies of public policy funding.

 

Funding Advocacy: The Philanthropy of Changing Minds

GrantCraft's guide explains what's legally permissible in foundation advocacy and how to work with grantees who lobby, build a constituency, prepare for opposition and measure success.

Chicago Global Donors Network

The Chicago Global Donors Network offers resources for Chicago's growing community of global donors. The site features links to resources on global giving and a list of Chicago-based organizations working internationally. Every month the site will feature an interview with a Chicago global donor. The first interview is with Peter Frankel of the Frankel Family Foundation.

Principles of International Charity (pdf, 3/05)

A working group of more than 40 U.S. charitable sector organizations and advisors developed eight fundamental "Principles of International Charity" in response to the U.S. Treasury Department's "Anti-terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best-Practices for U.S.-based Charities," issued in November 2002.

The Value of Evaluation

Associate Member Betsy Brill writes for Alliance magazine about how evaluation provides grantmakers with valuable information on the effectiveness of an initiative and can build the capacity of grantee partners.

GrantCraft: Working with the Business Sector

This guide examines efforts by independent and corporate foundations to partner with and influence the business world. Find strategies for working with companies and identify skills for promoting corporate philanthropy.

GrantCraft: Alternative Evaluation Techniques

GrantCraft's series on evaluation covers collaborative inquiry and ethnography studies as ways to improve grantee effectiveness and program impact.

Preserving the Public Trust Initiative

The Preserving the Public Trust Initiative, created by the Donors Forum, is designed to help nonprofit organizations - including grantmakers - take specific, concrete steps to ensure adherence to high ethical standards and strong governance principles. Read the principles and best practices developed by the Initiative and find tools to implement them.

The Due Diligence Tool: For Use in Pre-Grant Assessment (pdf, 65 pages, 12/04)

Grantmakers for Effective Organizations released this tool to provide program officers with a research-based methodology for conducting due diligence. It includes worksheets, checklists and interview questions.

Leveraging What You Know: Knowledge Management Strategies for Funders (pdf, 12/04)

The latest trends in knowledge management, such as technology-supported taxonomies, organizational culture assessment and effective communication, are synthesized by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.

PubHub: A Repository of Foundation-Sponsored Reports

Developed by the Foundation Center, PubHub is a free online library of electronic reports and issue briefs created by or with foundation resources. PubHub can be searched by keyword or browsed by publication year and organization.

 

GrantBenefit

GrantBenefit, a web resource from Community Foundations of Canada, helps grantmakers assess whether grants are making a difference and determine whether their foundations are making good grants. The site also offers dozens of practical tools to use in reviewing foundation activities.

Interpreting Form 990-PF: Looking Beyond Foundation Administrative Expenses (10/04, pdf)

This Donors Forum research report analyzes the administrative expenses of 100 private non-operating foundations using data from the 990-PF forms filed with the IRS as well as interviews with a representative sample of foundation directors. This report highlights how easily administrative expense data can be misinterpreted when not examined in the context of each organization's mission and grantmaking style.

 

Unlocking the Power of the Proxy: How Active Foundation Proxy Voting Can Protect Endowments and Boost Philanthropic Missions (pdf, 64 pages, 4/04)

This booklet from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is the first guide that helps foundations use their proxy vote to play an active role in the corporate-governance and social responsibility issues of publicly held companies.

 

A World of Philanthropic Opportunity: A Global Perspective on Giving (pdf, 3/04)

From the Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Associate Member Betsy Brill writes about opportunities available in international philanthropy and summarizes the necessary steps to incorporate these efforts with tax efficiency.

 

Mapping the Field of Funder Networks

Tools from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations help grantmakers connect effectively through funder networks. Includes a searchable directory of networks, maps of networks in the United States, and a series of reports highlighting survey findings and funder network accomplishments.

 

United States International Grantmaking

United States International Grantmaking seeks to promote responsible international philanthropy by easing the barriers to cross-border grantmaking, streamlining communication and reporting procedures required by the IRS, and serving as an educational and informational resource.

Staffing Grants Management: Defining the Standards for Philanthropy (pdf, 1/04)

The Grants Managers Network published this booklet, which defines the numerous roles played by grants managers and highlights the extent to which foundations have come to rely on the position to ensure a smooth and efficient grantmaking and management operation.

Grantmaking Basics

The Council on Foundations offers an interactive Grantmaking Basics online course. The site covers working with nonprofit partners; values for foundations; new staff orientations; and continuing education for grantmakers.

Supporting Endowments and Investable Assets (8/03)

Grantcraft released this guide for grantmakers about getting the most from endowment grantmaking, which can help nonprofits plan for the long term.

Tool for Assessing Startup Nonprofits: A due diligence supplement for grantmakers (pdf, 6/03)

To help funders evaluate grant applications from new nonprofits, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations developed this publication, which includes suggested interview questions and worksheets.

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy is an association of young foundation professionals working to strengthen the next generation of grantmakers in advancing effective social justice philanthropy.

Community Foundations of Illinois

This web site lists every community foundation in Illinois. The purpose of the site is to connect people to their local community foundation and educate the public about what these foundations bring to their communities.

Brief Guides to Philanthropy

The Global Philanthropy Partnership developed these guides as an overview of global issues and to help philanthropists become effective global donors.

GrantCraft

Developed by the Ford Foundation, this web site offers resources and techniques for effective grantmaking.

Building on a Better Foundation

This toolkit helps your organization think through the issues and possible solutions in promoting greater inclusion in your grantmaking.

Duties and Responsibilities of Directors and Trustees of Illinois Private Foundations

Aimed at promoting responsible oversight of private foundations, this handbook clarifies the often complex laws that affect private foundations.

A Guide to Funding Youth Development Programs

Produced by the Youth Development Task Force of the Donors Forum, this guide provides an overview of youth development and offers a set of questions and characteristics to help in the proposal review process.

Discrimination and Inclusiveness at a Crossroads

This brochure discusses discrimination law as it relates to sexual orientation and provides recommendations on integrating sexual orientation into grantmaking inclusiveness policies.

 

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

CEO Links

CEO Links is a quarterly e-bulletin for private foundation executives featuring legal and communication resources, management tools and professional development opportunities.

Corporate Currents

Corporate Currents is an issue paper providing an in-depth look at a single topic of interest to corporate members. Issued periodically, each paper contains media views, expert analysis, voices from the field and thought-provoking questions.

Family Matters

Family Matters is a periodic update of family foundation news, articles and events of interest. From the Council on Foundations

International Dateline

A quarterly review of news, interviews with notable international grantmakers, and information for international grantmakers from the Council on Foundations.

CFSource

CFSource is published for community foundations by the Council on Foundations and the Community Foundations Leadership Team. CFSource consolidates a wide variety of information for the community foundation field.

Stanford Social Innovation Review

This journal from the Stanford Graduate School of Business offers ideas for nonprofit management, philanthropy and corporate citizenship.

Global Giving Matters

The World Economic Forum and The Synergos Institute developed this electronic newsletter for philanthropists who want to make a difference with global issues such as education, the environment, HIV/AIDS and poverty.

Practice Matters: The Improving Philanthropy Project

A series of papers published by the Foundation Center offers useful advice and best practice know-how for both novice and experienced grantmakers.

Responsive Philanthropy

Responsive Philanthropy is the quarterly newsletter of The National Center for Responsive Philanthropy. .

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

Illinois Nonprofit Employment (pdf, 6/05)

This Donors Forum report describes the economic impact of the nonproft workforce, which accounts for 1 out of every 13 paid workers in Illinois.

Value of Volunteer Time (4/05)

Independent Sector estimated that the value of one volunteer hour in 2004 was $17.55. Nationally, the total value of hours volunteered was estimated to be equivalent to about $272 billion of contributed service.

Illinois Nonprofits: A Profile of Charities and Advocacy Organizations

Many nonprofits in Illinois are experiencing financial insecurity at a time when more people in the community are asking for their services, according to a report from the Donors Forum.

A Portrait of the Nonprofit Sector in Illinois (pdf, 5/03)

The growing nonprofit sector has a vital influence on the state's economy according to a report from the Donors Forum and the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at The Urban Institute.

Nonprofit Almanac

This Independent Sector survey of the nonprofit sector details the size and scope of the sector, the reach of its services and more.

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

National Survey Finds Foundation Salaries Vary - Regional Report Available (pdf, 9/06)

The Council on Foundations conducted a national survey of foundation employees from 802 foundations and giving programs, which reported salaries for 6,451 full-time staff in 35 positions. That's salaries for 53 percent of all full-time staff working for foundations nationwide. There are four sets, one each for Community Foundations, Corporate Grantmakers, Private Foundations (family and independent) and Public Foundations. Each of the four sets includes salaries for all positions nationwide and for each of the four Census regions (Northeast, South, Midwest and West).

 

Download a Free Emergency Succession Plan (8/06)

Are you prepared for an emergency change in leadership at your organization? If not, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement can help. After reviewing recent studies on executive leadership, the center found that more organizations are grappling with the issue of a vacant executive director seat, and few are ready to deal with it. In response the center has created an Emergency Succession Plan Template you can download from their Web site for free.

 

Daring To Lead 2006: A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership (pdf)

Published by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, this report is a comprehensive national study of executive leadership at community-based nonprofits. The Donors Forum partnered with CompassPoint to gather data from nonprofit executives in the Chicago region. Based on nearly 2,000 surveys from eight metropolitan areas, the report provides current data on executive turnover, compensation, career plans and retirement.

United States Nonprofit Sector (pdf, 2/06)

The U.S. nonprofit sector is the sixth largest economy in the world, when comparing its asset base to that of other countries, according to this report from the National Council of Nonprofit Associations.

 

Arts Participation in the Metropolitan Chicago Region (1/06)

Residents in the Chicago area participate in the arts at a higher rate than the national average. This paper from Metro Chicago Information Center illustrates overall cultural participation among the 6.7 million adults who live in the metropolitan Chicago region.

 

Tax Information for Charities & Other Non-Profits

The Internal Revenue Service updated the Charities and Nonprofits section of its Web site, which now includes downloadable 2005 tax forms, tips on electronic filing and information about vehicle donations.

 

Illinois Charitable Database

Search the online database (created by the office of the Illinois Attorney General) of all nonprofits registered in Illinois that are in compliance with the state's reporting requirements. The database contains contact information for each organization as well as documents, including Form AG990-IL, IRS Forms 990 and 990-PF, and audited financial statements, which are filed with the Attorney General's office.

Governance and Technology: Focus of Financial Health Study Action Steps (1/06)

Illinois Facilities Fund explores the action steps it highlighted in Getting It Right: How Illinois Nonprofits Manage for Success, a survey co-sponsored by the Donors Forum and released last fall. This article features recommendations that relate to the study's overall findings on governance and technology infrastructure.

 

Communications, Protection, Readiness: NPower's Nonprofit Guide to Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (pdf, 1/06)

NPower Network created a guide to preparing nonprofits for disasters, emergencies and business interruptions. The guide offers benchmarks for assessing a nonprofit's readiness to provide services in an emergency, sample documents for use in creating a disaster-preparedness plan, and tips on technology tools for designing and implementing such a plan.

In-Kind Donations for Nonprofits (12/05)

The McKinsey Quarterly explores the topic of in-kind donations to nonprofit organizations, which may incur unexpected costs when accepting such gifts.

Promising Practices in Revenue Generation for Community Organizing (10/05)

This report from the Center for Community Change contains examples of powerful fundraising practices for community organizing groups. The report features an analysis of income sources from over 200 community organizations; interviews with organizers about fundraising; and interviews with funders and other observers.

Building Active Citizens: The Role of Social Institutions in Teen Volunteering (pdf, 11/05)

Fifty-five percent of American teenagers volunteered last year (compared to just 29 percent of adults), and they contributed more than 1.3 billion hours of service, according to this survey by the Corporation for National and Community Service, U.S. Census Bureau and Independent Sector.

Volunteering in the United States, 2005 (pdf, 12/05)

About 65.4 million people, about 28.8 percent of Americans, volunteered at least once between September 2004 and September 2005, according to this report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Charitable Impulse (10/05)

American donors are passionate about the charities they support, but are wary of slick marketing campaigns, according to a new report from Public Agenda. The report also found that most donors are not aware of the current Congressional debate over increased regulation and reporting for nonprofits.

 

Nonprofit Governance and Accountability (pdf, 10/05)

Nonprofit boards are far more engaged and interested in good governance and accountability than has been suggested by charity watchdog groups, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins University's Listening Post Project.

 

The Nonprofit Sector and the Federal Budget: Fiscal Year 2006 and Beyond (pdf, 9/05)

Federal spending in program areas of concern to nonprofits may be reduced by up to $71.5 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars over the next five years, according to this report by Alan Abramson of the Aspen Institute and Lester Salamon of Johns Hopkins University.

 

The Source: Twelve Principles of Governance That Power Exceptional Boards (7/05)

BoardSource released this handbook, targeted to board members, chief executives and professional staff of nonprofits, to help them operate at the best of their ability. A summary is available for free; the complete printed book may also be purchased.

Generational Changes in Nonprofit Leadership (7/05)

Reports from the Building Movement Project offer insight into the differences between older and younger leaders and staff at social change organizations.

Survey on Older Americans as Volunteers (pdf, 5/05)

A survey from The National Council on the Aging's RespectAbility program found that nonprofit organizations are largely unequipped to use older Americans as volunteers, even though the growing ranks of retirement-age Americans could provide a valuable resource for such groups.

Rating the Raters: An Assessment of Organizations and Publications that Rate/Rank Charitable Nonprofit Organizations (pdf, 4/05)

The National Human Services Assembly and the National Council of Nonprofit Associations studied charity watchdog organizations and publications and found they tend to focus on financial measures rather than program results and they may use simplistic criteria.

Growth of Youth-Serving Organizations (pdf, 3/05)

Because youth-serving organizations often lack a detailed strategic plan and may be unable to benefit from economies of scale as they grow larger, their expansion is tumultuous, according to a white paper from The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and The Bridgespan Group.

Nonprofit Good Practice Guide

This free web site offers resources on good practices to assist nonprofits and foundations in improving their efficiency and effectiveness. Created by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership of Grand Valley State University.

Preserving the Public Trust Initiative

The Preserving the Public Trust Initiative, created by the Donors Forum, is designed to help nonprofit organizations - including grantmakers - take specific, concrete steps to ensure adherence to high ethical standards and strong governance principles. Read the principles and best practices developed by the Initiative and find tools to implement them.

Chicago Nonprofit Message Board

The Greater Chicago Nonprofit Gateway, an online nonprofit resource center, recently launched its Nonprofit Message Board. Chicago nonprofit professionals can join an online discussion, network and get input on specific questions.

PubHub: A Repository of Foundation-Sponsored Reports

Developed by the Foundation Center, PubHub is a free online library of electronic reports and issue briefs created by or with foundation resources. PubHub can be searched by keyword or browsed by publication year and organization.

Nonprofit Law Resource Library

Navigate the complex world of laws governing nonprofits with this site, developed by a law firm. Learn how to set up a nonprofit, find state-by-state compliance laws, explore liability issues, and much more.

NCCS Illinois Nonprofit Profiles

This database from the National Center for Charitable Statistics has tons of information about Illinois nonprofits, including the number of 501(c)(3)s and aggregated financial data.

Democracy and Society

A quarterly from Georgetown University, this publication is intended to be a venue for the exchange of ideas about crucial issues relating to democracy and the third sector.

TechFinder

The Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network and TechSoup launched TechFinder, a searchable, online directory of individuals and organizations providing technology products and services to the nonprofit sector.

Greater Chicago Nonprofit Gateway

This web site from the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University in Chicago aims to connect people in the local nonprofit field. The site has links to resources, events, publications, job postings and other services of interest to nonprofits.

Illinois Nonprofits: A Profile of Charities and Advocacy Organizations (pdf, 12/03)

Many nonprofits in Illinois are experiencing financial insecurity at a time when more people in the community are asking for their services, according to a report from the Donors Forum. The report profiles charities registered with the IRS as 501(c)3 organizations, as well as churches and advocacy nonprofits, which have not been studied in detail before in Illinois.

Applying for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status (pdf, 11/03)

Compliance Guide for 501(c)(3) Tax-exempt Organizations (pdf, 11/03)

To help charities better understand the laws conferring tax-exempt status, the Internal Revenue Service published these two brochures, which review the eligibility requirements for nonprofit status and provide details about nonprofit record keeping and disclosure requirements.

Best Practice Toolbox

To help nonprofits more effectively manage their volunteers, the UPS Foundation created this web site that includes reports on volunteer strategies, collaboration, using technology, and attracting nontraditional volunteers.

Accessible Faith: A Technical Guide for Accessibility in Houses of Worship (pdf, 56 pgs)
Illinois Supplement (pdf,12 pgs, 9/30)

The Retirement Research Foundation offers a national guide and an overview of the Illinois requirements to help religious congregations navigate building code requirements for accessibility.

Powering Social Change (pdf, 126 pages, 8/03)

Community Wealth Ventures' comprehensive overview of social enterprise in the United States includes essays from leading practitioners and funders and case studies highlighting enterprising nonprofit organizations. You can also search the Database of Social Enterprises.

The Philanthropic Capacity Building Resource (PCBR) Database 

This database lists hundreds of foundation programs that are designed to help nonprofit organizations run more effectively.

Third Sector Leadership in Chicago (pdf, 2001)

This report discusses nonprofit leaders in Chicago and looks at their organizations, their diversity, compensation and recruitment strategy.

Chicago Metropolis 2020

The site contains a variety of reports addressing the regional economy, transportation and land use, housing, community life, education and the natural environment.

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

The Philanthropic Initiative Publications

The Philanthropic Initiative, a consulting firm, publishes helpful reports on raising children with philanthropic values, evaluating your philanthropy and more.

So You Want to Give?

Published by New Ventures in Philanthropy, this booklet provides a brief summary of the options individual donors have for giving.

Starting a Private Foundation

Published by New Ventures in Philanthropy, this booklet provides basic information on private foundations, including a summary of federal and state regulations governing private foundations and the tax benefits and limitations that private foundations offer donors.

The Giving Family: Raising our Children to Help Others

Written by Susan Crites Price, this book recounts inspiring stories of children whose families have made giving to others a family value. It also offers parents dozens of simple family activities to teach children of any age how to give their time, talents and money to causes they care about.

A Plan of One's Own: A Women's Guide to Philanthropy

Published by New Ventures in Philanthropy and Giving Greater Chicago, this guide will assist and inspire women to explore and craft their own path to effective philanthropy.

A Founder's Guide to the Family Foundation: How to Use, Enjoy and Govern Your Family Foundation

Published by the Council on Foundations, this publication offers helpful advice to donors beginning to explore the philanthropic options of involving children and others in their family foundation.

Donors Guide to Legal and Financial Advisors (pdf)

This article helps educate the donor on the various types of professional advisors and the role they can play when you make a charitable gift.

Giving Circle Starter Kit (pdf)

Published by Giving New England, this kit provides the 10 fundamental steps for establishing a giving circle, a suggested calendar for the first year of the group and additional resources on this topic.

Learning to Give

This site offers lessons plans to teach children about the importance of giving. It also offers information about careers in the nonprofit sector and briefing papers for teachers.

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

The Toolkit for Giving

Published by the Donors Forum, this guide is designed to help financial advisors better understand the value of charitable planning for their clients. The toolkit includes a matrix of options in charitable distribution tools, case studies and a list of local and national resources.

A World of Philanthropic Opportunity: A Global Perspective on Giving (pdf, 3/04)

From the Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Associate Member Betsy Brill writes about opportunities available in international philanthropy and summarizes the necessary steps to incorporate these efforts with tax efficiency.

Top 10 Reasons to Discuss Philanthropy with Your Clients (pdf)

Learn how advising your clients about their giving options can help your business.

 

Planned Giving Design Center

An archive of daily news concerning charitable taxation, discussions of gift vehicles and assets, and analysis of IRS changes, court decisions and legislation.

The Best of Both Worlds: Responsible Social and Financial Investment (pdf, 8/03)

In the August/September 2003 of Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Associate Member Betsy Brill writes about the importance and implication of socially responsible investing. The article includes a roundtable discussion with five experts in the field.

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page

Metro Chicago Immigration Fact Book (94 pages, pdf, 6/03)

Compiled by the Institute for Metropolitan Affairs at Roosevelt University, this report addresses trends and conditions affecting local immigrants, such as shifts in port-of-entry neighborhoods, changing composition of immigrants' national origins and growth of the undocumented immigrant population.

Fund for Immigrants and Refugees Final Report 1997-2002 (pdf)

This final report on Fund activities includes a review of its experiences in collaborative grantmaking, some lessons learned and a complete list of grants awarded in nine grantmaking cycles.

Guidance Report: Chicago Area Immigrant and Refugee Health Initiative  (pdf, 05/00)

The Fund commissioned this report on metropolitan immigrant and refugee health needs, best practices and successful strategies for increasing access to health care.

Suburban Immigrant Communities: Assessments of Key Characteristics and Needs (pdf, 8/00)

Read about the characteristics of suburban Chicago immigrants in this report prepared for the Fund for Immigrants and Refugees.

Immigration Patterns in Chicago Suburbs  (pdf, 2001)

View a comprehensive map of immigrant settlement patterns in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Citizenship 2000 (pdf)

This Fund report takes a look at trends and continuing barriers to the naturalization process.

Need Help with PDFs? | Top of Page