3/19/10

Facebook co-founder starts philanthropic social-networking site

One of the whiz kids behind Facebook, Chris Hughes, is turning his attention to the nonprofit world.

Chris Hughes, now 26, also served as director of online organizing for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Today Hughes announced that his next project will be Jumo, a new social network set to start in the fall that will help people find causes and nonprofit organizations that they care about.

“The last thing I want to do is add yet another site to a nonprofit’s plate,” he says. “I don’t want them to have to go to yet another destination to share who they are and the work that they’re doing.”

The main objective, says Mr. Hughes, is to connect people to the issues and organizations that are likely to interest them as quickly as possible. “What I want to do is reach a point where people can’t say, 'I want to help. I don’t know any good, meaningful opportunities to do so. What can I do?’” he says. “I want to create a world where that statement is no longer possible.”

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3/14/10

Teaching kids philanthropy

Even children as young as six or seven should learn about the responsibilities of wealth. So says Bruce Bickel, senior vice-president at the wealth management unit of PNC Financial Services Group. After joining the bank, the plain-speaking U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Baptist minister built a national practice helping clients establish private charitable foundations.

Bickel also teaches wealthy families how to pass on philanthropic values to younger generations.

When should people start talking to their children about what it means to be wealthy in a society with such a large gap between rich and poor?

“Start in first grade. You want them to recognize early that wealth is a responsibility, not a right. So many families say that they're afraid their kids are going to have a poor work ethic. I encourage parents to talk with their children about the five areas of meaningful money management—earning, giving, saving, spending, and budgeting.”

3/3/10

Fund-raising efforts for Chile slow

The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that donations are trickling in for survivors of the massive earthquake in Chile—but at significantly lower levels than after the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.

The slow pace of donations is largely because the government of Chile is in a better position to deal with the destruction than the impoverished country of Haiti, said a spokeswoman from Oxfam America.

The fact that the Chilean quake happened over the weekend is also a factor in giving, according to a spokeswoman from World Vision U.S.

The Chilean government requested assistance from the United Nations, but not from international humanitarian groups.

Mercy Corps began accepting donations on behalf of Chilean relief groups Monday morning, but is “very much in a wait-and-see mode,” said Caitlin Carlson, a spokeswoman for Mercy Corps.

The American Red Cross pledged up to $50,000 from its International Relief Fund to the Chilean Red Cross—if it requests such assistance. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies gave an additional amount of roughly $279,000.