Microsoft Corp.

America’s wealthy are in a less generous mood so far this year. The number of donations of $1 million or more has dropped 8 percent since the beginning of 2012 compared with the same period last year, according to a Chronicle of Philanthropy tally.

Since the start of 2012, The Chronicle has confirmed, 318 gifts of $1 million or more have been made, totaling $2.5 billion. In the first half of 2011 there were fewer such gifts, 292, but the overall total was larger, $2.7 billion.

Sage North America announced today the availability of Sage 50 Nonprofit Accounting, part of the Sage 50 Accounting 2013 product line. Formerly Sage Peachtree Premium Accounting for Nonprofits, Sage 50 Nonprofit Accountingmarks a new identity as well as a fresh approach to accounting where guidance, intelligence and trusted service and support are built-in with a comprehensive set of management tools.

Keeping with its history of being a nonprofit activist, Acteva has entered into a
collaborative alliance with TechSoup, an NPO that enables the empowerment of technology for Public Libraries and Non-Profit Organizations in USA.

Blackbaud, Inc. and TechSoup today announced that they are expanding their existing partnership through new webinars, donations and discounts, and with an additional focus on the technology needs of small nonprofits. The organizations launched a survey at www.blackbaud.com/techsurvey seeking feedback from small nonprofits with annual revenues of less than $1 million on their technology needs. The survey will remain open until April 25 and results will be available this summer.

The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) today announced the winners of its 2012 Rising Stars Awards, and its 2012 Corporate Commitment Award. The awards recognize emerging leaders in the direct and interactive marketing field who serve as mentors to others.

Skype announced an initiative to provide U.S. teachers the technology resources they need to enable learning experiences that transcend the physical boundaries of the classroom. Through a new partnership with DonorsChoose.org, Skype will donate $250,000 to teachers requesting technology materials to enable Skype video calling in their classrooms. This partnership is the latest initiative from Skype to reach its goal of connecting one million classrooms across the globe through Skype in the classroom, a free online community that helps teachers use Skype to enrich educational experiences for students. 

Microsoft Corp. announced the results of its 2011 employee giving campaign: U.S. Microsoft employees raised $100.5 million (inclusive of the company match) for more than 18,000 U.S.-based community organizations doing work in the U.S. and around the world last year. With this milestone, Microsoft employees have now raised more than $946 million for nonprofits and community organizations since the company’s giving program started in 1983.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a five-year, $30 million grant to help close the digital divide among rural populations in Vietnam by providing public libraries and post offices with Internet-equipped computers.

Building on the success of a pilot initiative, the project will be implemented by Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications with $17 million in additional support from the Vietnamese government and software from Microsoft.

Nearly 10,000 gamers participated in the Xbox 360 Gaming and Giving for Good (G3) event Saturday, Oct. 1, to kick off support for Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals gaming fundraiser on Oct. 15.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) presented its 2011 International ECHO Awards at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center during the DMA2011 Conference & Exhibition, which concludes Oct. 6.

Nonprofit winners include Ministry of Health, Heart of the City/Auckland Council, Doctors Without Borders, SickKids Foundation / Winning Charities International, Outreach International, World Jewish Congress Foundation, World Vision U.S. and The Salvation Army in Canada.