The
Careful Donor is a
weekly report from the Chronicle of Philanthropy that provides news about
giving and information to assist donors in giving wisely.
The New Tithing Group is a
philanthropic research organization committed to increasing charitable giving,
personal fulfillment, and the productivity of donations to the world's
charitable sectors.
Researching Charitable Organizations
The
American Institute of Philanthropy is a
nonprofit charity watchdog and information service. The Institute publishes the
Charity Rating Guide, which annually rates over 400 major American
charities.
American
Philanthropy Review offers
access to 17,000 nonprofit professionals through on-line discussion forums on
grantmaking and nonprofit themes, listings of relevant events, and a list of
legal, financial and professional consultants experienced in the nonprofit
sector.
The
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (formed by the merger of
the National Charities Information Bureau, the Better Business Bureau’s
Foundation and its Philanthropic Advisory Service) promotes
informed giving and enables contributors to make sound giving decisions by providing
reports on national charities and
information on local charities, and by publishing the quarterly Wise Giving
Guide.
Guidestar
is an online database providing program and
financial information on more than 850,000 U.S. nonprofit organizations. Charities can be searched
by name, subject, state, zip code, or other criteria. Guidestar
also has a tutorial for understanding IRS Form 990.
The
Internal Revenue Service’s Exempt Organization Search Page allows
for searches through its database of tax-exempt organizations, which include
charitable organizations and non-profits. It provides information on exempt
status only.
Periodicals on Philanthropy
The
Chronicle of Philanthropy, a
bi-weekly newspaper, highlights the field of nonprofits and philanthropy, and
provides information on trends in the field, grants by foundations and others,
and updates on management and technology issues.
Foundation New & Commentary
is a publication of the Council on Foundations. Published bi-monthly, it
contains case studies of foundation programs, interviews with philanthropy
leaders, and round-ups of news and trends relevant to effective grantmaking.
More
Than Money, a
journal of The Impact Project, informs wealthy individuals on how best to
contribute their time and money to promote sustainability and social issues. The
Project’s services include counseling and workshops.
Trusts
& Estates
magazine looks at
philanthropic, legal, tax and investment issues pertaining to estate planning
and wealth management.
Worth.com (Worth magazine on-line) has a large
section on philanthropy.
Professional
Advisor Support and Training Providers
Family
Office Exchange serves as
an independent advisor to families of exceptional wealth, providing strategic
advice, education on complex financial issues, and guidance on the selection of
appropriate wealth-management advisors.
The
Legacy Companies
provide training and consulting
services for estate planners, financial advisors and companies concerning
Values-Based Planning™.
The
Wealth Design Center provides
extensive and technical support services for professional financial and estate
planners.
Organizations
that Support Charitable Giving
The Association of Small Foundations (ASF)
provides
information and assistance to private foundations staffed by five or fewer
persons. Members receive a quarterly newsletter on management, policy, tax,
resource and personnel issues. ASF holds regional meetings and networking and
training opportunities.
The
Council on Foundations (COF) is a
national association of foundations and corporate giving programs that serves the
public good by promoting and enhancing responsible and effective philanthropy.
COF has a program on family philanthropy and a network for philanthropic
advisors, and provides
overall advice and resources for prospective donors, including a list of over
350 community foundations that advise donors on local and regional
issues.
The
Family Firm Institute (FFI) is
an international professional organization that provides continuing education,
networking opportunities, and research programs to family business advisors,
educators, researchers and consultants. FFI members are professionals who advise
or work in family businesses: lawyers, therapists, accountants, insurance
professionals, sociologists, educators, and other specialists. FFI also informs
the media, the public, family business owners, and others interested in learning
more about the latest trends and developments in the field of family
business.
The
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers is the member organization for regional associations of
grantmakers. The Connecticut
Council for Philanthropy is a member of the Forum. New Ventures in Philanthropy,
a national initiative of the Forum, supports coalitions located across the
United States that aim to increase philanthropy in their regions. New Ventures
provided a grant for the Connecticut Giving Project and its development of this
website.
The
Foundation Center provides
information on foundations, corporate giving, and related themes. IRS data on
private foundation and other information can be found at five Center libraries
around the country.
Helping.org provides
potential donors with news and ideas on giving and volunteering, and is another point of entry to Guidestar’s nonprofit organization database.
The
Inheritance Project, a
nonprofit consulting firm, works with heirs to enhance their understanding of
the unique challenges and opportunities that come with inherited
wealth.
The
National Center for Family Philanthropy
encourages families and individuals to create and sustain their philanthropic
missions. It is the only national resource center focusing solely on matters of
importance to families engaged in philanthropy and their effective giving. The
Center has published
The Donor Advisor: The
Critical Role of the Advisor in Family Philanthropy, an
informative article for professional advisors.
The
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy’s mission
is to make philanthropy more responsive to people with the least wealth and
opportunity, more relevant to critical public needs, and more open and
accountable to all, in furtherance of social welfare.
The Philanthropic Initiative
(TPI)
helps donors increase their impact through the development of innovative and
strategic approaches to philanthropy. TPI's consulting services for families,
foundations, corporations, individuals, and advisory institutions include:
strategic planning and facilitation; training of trustees and staff; research on
social issues of concern to TPI clients; and development, implementation, and
evaluation of programmatic initiatives.
The Philanthropy Roundtable
is a national
association of individual donors, corporate giving representatives,
foundation staff and trustees, and trust and estate professionals. The
Roundtable coordinates
meetings and conferences, provides reports, offers program and management
consultation, and publishes Philanthropy magazine.
Planned Giving Today serves as a networking, marketing, and inspirational resource for professional advisors
seeking to develop the planned giving elements of their practice or
business.
The Women’s Philanthropy Institute
(WPI) brings
together philanthropists and philanthropy professionals to educate and encourage women to increase
their charitable giving.
