Education

(Chicago, IL) — The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation today announced grants totaling $5.6 million to ten universities in eight countries to establish new Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) programs. The programs combine training in the natural sciences, social sciences, health sciences, and management to help practitioners address global challenges such as sustainable development, climate change, and extreme poverty. The universities were selected through a competitive process that included reviews by experts outside the Foundation.

No matter what cause you raise money for, you know what the across-the-board challenges are. The economic downturn. More and more 
competition for donor dollars. Rising mail costs. The delicate balance between old and new strategies. Figuring out how much people power to devote to things that might raise some money in the future but aren't bringing in the bucks just yet. Finding, training and keeping good fundraisers. Etc., etc., etc.

April 27, 2010, Press Release — A new sociology course, “Philanthropy and Social Change,” lived up to its name this spring when its students decided to distribute $31,000 to nonprofit organizations.

The course came about after Kathy Kretman, director of Georgetown’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership, received a call from the Sunshine Lady Foundation, a private family foundation established by Warren Buffett’s sister, Doris.

April 19, 2010, Washington Post — More U.S. graduates are likely to work with aid groups and charities after an overhaul of the country's student loan program lessens their debt repayment burden, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said.

With U.S. unemployment at 9.7 percent as the country emerges from the worst recession since World War Two, Clinton said graduates could find work with aid groups at home and abroad which would improve their career prospects.

Fundraising is, by its nature, a selfless endeavor. The work is all about raising money to help others, and any good fundraiser knows the efforts are all about the donors and the missions. So when fundraisers acknowledge one of their own, it's no surprise for the honoree to credit others for his or her achievement.

November 18, 2009, The New & Advance — The Virginia University of Lynchburg is launching the biggest fundraising effort in its history Thursday in support of the ongoing restoration of its campus.

November 6, 2009,  Associated Press — Texas billionaire and two-time presidential candidate Ross Perot has pledged $6.1 million to a private foundation to pay for programs at Fort Leavenworth's Command and General Staff College.

November 13 2009, The Financial Times — The holiday season has come early at New York University’s Stern school of business, which has received a $20m gift from hedge fund founder John Paulson. Mr Paulson is an alumnus of the school, graduating with a bachelor degree in 1978.

TOWNSEND, November 13, 2009, The Boston Globe — People here knew the man drove a silver Jaguar. They knew he lunched four days a week at Cliff’s Cafe, invariably ordering in a barely audible voice: carrot sticks, soup, and a sandwich. On Fridays, he splurged on turkey subs at Townsend Pizza. He lived in the wealthier next-door town of Groton and ran the biggest game in Townsend, a plastic household goods manufacturing company.

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL, November 12, 2009 — More than 83,000 donors to the University of Minnesota gave $267 million in gifts and pledges in fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30, 2009. This follows the best year of giving to the university. The total given in FY 2008 was a historic $289 million.