Cutbacks Hit Faith-Based Charities as Need Rises

(NEWSER) - The economic crisis isn’t just hurting Wall Street executives—it also spells dark times for the charities they once supported, the Wall Street Journal reports. The number of US nonprofits climbed from about 750,000 a decade ago to more than a million today, but watchers say 100,000 could drop off in the next year. And those that don’t shutter are facing heartbreaking cutbacks. More»

It paid $220,000 to Gingrich Communications, bought cases of books

(NEWSER) - A nonprofit charity founded by Newt Gingrich has been advancing his political causes and making payments to his for-profit businesses that it didn’t disclose on its tax forms, according to an ABC News investigation. The charity, dubbed Renewing American Leadership, paid $220,000 over the past two years to the for-profit Gingrich Communications—which went to Gingrich’s personal spokesman, Rick Tyler, who was running the charity. It also bought several cases of Gingrich's books and DVDs at full price from Gingrich Productions. More»

Experiment shows 'people are fundamentally good': founder

(NEWSER) - Last May, Panera Bread turned a St. Louis-area cafe into a nonprofit branch , where customers pay what they choose. A year later, the experiment is working out fine, the AP reports: Some 60% of customers pay the suggested price, while 20% pay more and 20% pay less. It’s the biggest-ever community kitchen—a trend in which businesses function in part as charities. More»

US nonprofits offered free ads, services

(NEWSER) - Google has launched a new and improved version of its one-stop shop for US-based nonprofit organizations. The search colossus is offering approved nonprofits free or discounted use of Google Apps, access to premium services, and grants of up to $10,000 a month in free advertising on Google AdWords, reports the Los Angeles Times . Google is also rolling out a new marketplace feature to connect nonprofits with service providers offering free or discounted services to good causes, TechCrunch notes. More»

It's the season of giving, but do your research first, writes Nicholas Kristof

(NEWSER) - Nicholas Kristof thinks it’s great that many people “will dig into their pockets for good causes” this holiday season—he just wants to make sure you know which causes are actually good. It’s dangerous to assume that all charities share your values and are using your money wisely, he writes in the New York Times . People who call you or stop you on the street to ask for donations are often paid fundraisers “who will take much of what you give"—and even if they're not, sometimes the organizations themselves can't be trusted. More»