What's new in Philanthropy

Articles of interest in philanthropy and nonprofits published in the last 10 days:

1.The Post-Jobs era: Tim Cook brings philanthropy back to Apple; Wired, September 8, 2011
Brief Introduction: Mr. Cook announced on Thursday morning in a company-wide e-mail that Apple would now honor a charitable matching program.

2. Menino set to coax nonprofits into hiring; Boston.com, September 5, 2011

Brief Introduction: To encourage job growth, Mayor Thomas M. Menino today will propose financial incentives for hospitals, universities, and other nonprofits to hire out-of-work Boston residents.

Institutions that hire jobless Bostonians would receive a $1,000 or $1,500 credit that would be deducted from the money nonprofits are asked to pay each year in lieu of property taxes. Boston’s top five employers - four major hospitals and Boston University - contributed more than $8.6 million to city coffers last year despite their tax-exempt status.

3. Pay for female nonprofit CEOs lag; Orlando Business Journal, September 8, 2011

Brief Introduction: Despite more women holding CEO positions at nonprofits, women CEOs earn 13.4 percent to 24.6 percent less than their male counterparts, according to an annual survey released Sept. 8.

4. Big Boost to African Cassava Project; The Scientist, September 7, 2011

Brief Introduction: The Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) project recently received $5.5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, $5.5 million from The Monsanto Fund; and more than $850,000 from the Howard Buffett Foundation.

Current awareness - Friday roundup

Here is a list of articles of interest that have been published within the last 7-10 days:

Topic: Economics
Nevada retains highest state unemployment rate - New York Times, July 20, 2010

Brief Intro: "Michigan had previously held the highest state jobless rate for four years running. But that changed in May, when Nevada overtook it. And according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released today, Nevada held onto that top slot with a rate of 14.2 percent in June. Michigan, by comparison, had a rate of “only” 13.2 percent."

The gender pay gap by state - New York Times, July 13, 2010
*Interactive map
Brief Intro: "For all full-time wage and salary workers across the country, women’s median weekly wages were 80.2 percent of men’s last year. But there is considerable variation among the states."

Study finds Americans' economic insecurity at 25-year high - Newsweek, July 22, 2010
Brief Intro: "Newsweek published a story today that takes a look at the findings of a recent Rockefeller Foundation study that found that Americans are less economically secure than in any time over the last 25 years".

Topic: Health
What the doctor is really thinking - New York Times, July 20, 2010
Brief Intro: "A study currently under way, called the OpenNotes project, is looking at what happens when doctors' notes become available for a patient to read, usually on electronic medical records. In a report on the early stages of the study, published Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers say that inviting patients to review the records can improve patient understanding of their health and get them to stick to their treatment regimens more closely."

In US cities, HIV linked more to poverty than race - Yahoo News (AP), July 19, 2010
Brief Intro: "The study, released Monday, suggests that HIV is epidemic in certain poverty-stricken urban neighborhoods. And, more significantly, poor heterosexuals in those neighborhoods were twice as likely to be infected as heterosexuals who lived in the same community but had more money."

Economic status may affect kids' hearing aid care - Yahoo News (Health Day), July 20, 2010
Brief Intro: "Poor children with hearing loss are as likely as other children to receive cochlear implants, but they may experience more complications afterward, a U.S. study has found."

Topic: Education
NC protesters march over school busing decision - Yahoo News (AP), July 20, 2010
Brief Intro: "About 1,000 people marched through North Carolina's capital to protest a school busing policy that they say will lead to resegregation of area schools."

NBC hosting education summit in September - Yahoo News (AP), July 19, 2010
Brief Intro: "NBC News is convening its own summit with education and political leaders in September to talk about ways to improve schools in light of statistics showing the U.S. lagging in student achievement."

Topic: Juvenile justice
Federal oversight for troubled N.Y. youth prisons - New York Times, July 14, 2010
Brief Intro: "Four of New York’s most dangerous and troubled youth prisons will be placed under federal oversight, strict new limits will be imposed on the use of physical force by guards, and dozens of psychiatrists, counselors and investigators will be hired under a sweeping agreement finalized on Wednesday between state and federal officials."

Juvenile detention center offers education to kids - The Spokesman Review, July 19, 2010
Brief Intro: "In the 2009-’10 school year, the programs at Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center and Martin Hall in Medical Lake reached more than 2,200 kids between the ages of 8 and 18. About 200 additional young people were served by the Structured Alternative Confinement School, which is for juveniles on electronic home monitoring or who are court ordered to go to school."

Second Life and Nonprofits

How many of you are aware of Second Life? If you are aware of this virtual world, do you know that many nonprofits are making use of it to raise awareness of what their organizations do and raise funds for their causes? In fact, many nonprofits can be found on a virtual island called the Nonprofit Commons (you can read more about this here).

Within this virtual world, people make use of avatars to interact with other SL residents. Nonprofits in SL connect with visitors by creating virtual representations of their organizations to inform visitors of their cause and sometimes seek contributions in the form of Linden Dollars (read more here and here). Linden Dollars have remained relatively stable at the exchange rate of L$ 250 to $1 U.S. Those organizations that collect donations in Second Life can cash out their L$ for U.S. dollars when they are ready.

So how have some philanthropic organizations taken the leap into this virtual world? Well, the MacArthur Foundation has led the charge by creating MacArthur Island. They have also held public forums to educate others of their experiences with the virtual world (read more here).

Has your organization thought about creating a virtual presence in Second Life?