Make-A-Wish Foundation

Beauty pageants? The NFL? Why are these organizations tax-exempt? A new report released by Sen. Tom Coburn breaks down the 9,000-page tax code and calls for loopholes to be closed.

There are about 1.6 million tax-exempt organizations in the United States. While many provide vital services, some take in millions of dollars but spend little on good deeds. These include celebrity nonprofits, sports leagues and country clubs, according to a new report from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma).

Content Marketing Institute and Blackbaud’s 2014 Nonprofit Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends — North America report just hit the scene. In my world, this is exciting news, as it’s the first-ever research report to benchmark what’s going on with content marketing in the nonprofit sector — the sector I’ve spent the past 10 years of my life serving.

Needless to say, I’ve been geeking out over the data, so I thought I’d offer a few thoughts and insights based on the findings …

Do you want to experience a lifetime of joy? Become a mentor today, and you will realize, although while it is better to give than receive, you will definitely receive in unexpected ways!

During the 2012-13 Oklahoma City Thunder season, Chesapeake Energy Corp. is running an advertising campaign spotlighting six Oklahoma City nonprofit organizations: the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma and Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma. Chesapeake’s “Cheering For Champions” campaign will highlight the six nonprofit organizations through TV, radio, billboard and in-arena advertisements that encourage Thunder fans to learn more, volunteer and donate.

By the end of the year, the $4.05 billion sale of Lucasfilm to Disney should be finalized. And since George Lucas owns 100 percent of his company — which has little to no debt — all that money goes to him. After that, Lucas plans to quickly put the bulk of the money into a foundation which will primarily focus on educational issues, a spokesperson for Lucasfilm tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Lovin’ Scoopful, a premium ice cream company founded by Maria Shriver, Tim Shriver and partners to benefit nonprofits that support those with intellectual challenges, proudly announces the winners of its 2nd annual Lovin’ Compassion Awards, which recognizes young visionaries from around the country who are involved in programs that foster respect, inclusion and a true personal connection for people with differences.

FundRaising Success magazine, the fundraiser's complete source for multichannel strategy and integration techniques, announced the winners in its 2012 Fundraising Professionals of the Year awards competition.

As part of our January cover story, we asked some fundraising pros to fill in these blanks: "My favorite trend right now is ______. I would like to see _____ just go away." Some of their answers were pretty surprising, with things likes mobile giving, special events and good ol' No. 10s being wished off the face of the fundraising earth.

FundRaising Success is proud to announce the members of its 2012 Editorial Advisory Board.

Thanks to a record donation of $10,569,002 to the Ressler-Gertz Foundation, actress Jami Gertz and her husband, Anthony Ressler, top the list of the 30 Most Generous Celebrities compiled by The Giving Back Fund, a nonprofit organization that tracks philanthropic giving worldwide. Although not exactly a mainstream actress, Gertz’s deep-pocketed donation has much to do with the fact that Ressler is the co-founder of Ares Capital, a Los Angeles investment firm that controls more than $40 billion in assets, which has also recently expressed interest in buying the Dodgers.