"Begin to look less at yourself and more at others.
Being of service is a gift you can give yourself".

Sargent Shriver

Dear Friend,

If you are looking for an experience of how successfully to ask for money this summer, take a look at what The WOW! Institute is doing July 22nd -24th in Henniker, New Hampshire.  Celebrating its eighth year, The WOW! Institute offers a truly unique learning program focusing on the philanthropic ask and stewardship of donors.
 
As someone who has taught fundraising fundamentals for many years, I can tell you that experiential learning is by far the most effective method, and that is exactly what you will find at The WOW! Institute.  All of this is done in a spirit of fun and infinite possibilities in a beautiful setting at the right time of the year.
 
This summer, I hope you will discover the joy of learning how to ask successfully at The WOW! Institute.  For more information go to www.WOWInstitute.com.
 
Sincerely,
Douglas M. Lawson, Ph.D.

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Did you know?

 
MOVIE STARS DONATE TO BURMA RELIEF
Not On Our Watch, a non-profit founded by George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, producer Jerry Weintraub and lawyer Dave Pressman, has just given $250,000 to Save the Children; for relief efforts on behalf of families affected by Cyclone Nargis in Burma (Myanmar). In addition, Not On Our Watch will match another $250,000 given by others to Save the Children for relief work in Burma.
USA Today, May 14, 2008, p. D1
 
MICROSOFT RETIREE TO RUN GATES FOUNDATION
The largest foundation in the world, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ($38.9 billion in assets), has chosen its next chief executive, Jeff Raikes, a 27 year veteran of Microsoft who retired in January. Raikes, who oversaw rapid expansion in Microsoft's business division, will be in charge of the foundation as it doubles in size over the next several years. This growth is attributed to Warren Buffett's $31 billion pledge to the foundation.
USA Today, May 13, 2008, p. 4B
New York Times, May 13, 2008, p. A16
 
MOMA HELPS THE BLIND "SEE" ART
One of the world's great non-profit museums, the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA), has taken down the "Please Do Not Touch" sign for the blind. At MOMA, blind people are taught how to touch art and in doing so to experience it. The program, Art in Sight started in 2003 and is growing each year. We encourage other museums to learn from MOMA's program and duplicate it at their museum.
Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2008, p. D9
 
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT ESTABLISHES OPERA AWARDS
A yearly Opera Honors Awards has been established by the National Endowment for the Arts. This year the $25,000 award will be given to each of four recipients: James Levine (The Metropolitan Opera's Music Director); Leontyne Price (the Soprano); Carlisle Floyd (the Composer); and Richard Gaddes (General Director of the Santa Fe Opera). The Endowment's Chairman, Dana Gloria, calls the prize "a lifetime achievement award".
New York Times, May 14, 2008, p. B2
 
MEDICAL SCHOOL OFFERS FREE TUITION
Facing the fact that on average newly trained doctors are nearly $140,000 in debt, Cleveland Clinic's Medical School has decided to offer tuition-free education to its students. The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University is funding these full tuition scholarships through funds generated by the school's operations and its endowment. In the long run, the scholarships will be funded entirely through funds generated by its endowment.  With the need for more doctors ever growing, we hope more medical schools will find the way to follow Cleveland's lead.
Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2008, p. D3
 
CHINESE BECOMING PHILANTHROPIC THIS TIME
In Tangshan in 1976, when the last mega-earthquake hit, organized philanthropy was not a part of the Chinese response. This time, however, philanthropy is at the center of the response. As of May 14th $86 million had already been donated. From television appeals to users of China Mobile Ltd's wireless phone network who are being allowed to make financial contributions from their cell phones, Chinese people are showing their love and care for others through philanthropy. In this, the most populated nation on earth, this is a giant step we should all respond to with gratitude.
Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2008, p. A13
New York Times, May 20, 2008, p. 1
 
SENIOR CLASS GIFTS TO COLLEGES IN CASH
For years, colleges have been receiving senior class gifts of fountains, benches, and other tangible object. Today, institutions of higher education are encouraging their graduates to write checks directly to the schools instead of giving "stuff" as their class gift. Schools emphasizing this new push for cash include: Stanford University, Skidmore College and Amherst College. Other schools, noting that some students are balking at the unclear nature of the gift, are allowing students to choose where their gift goes from a list of options. Schools using this approach include the University of North Carolina and UCLA.
USA Today, May 15, 2008, p. 2A
 
ALLAN LUKS LEAVES BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
One of America's great philanthropic leaders (Allan Luks) is "retiring" from Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, after 18 years as the Chief Executive Officer. Luks has authored four books, including: The Healing Power of Doing Good and gave to the world of philanthropy the term "helper's high", which he describes as a "real physical uplift, whenever I personally help others for a sustained period". Rather than retiring at 65, Luks is moving on to a "new challenge". All of us look forward to Allan meeting that challenge.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, May 15, 2008, p. 49
 
MICROSOFT JOINS ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD
After an extended dispute, in which Microsoft refused to offer Windows to the computing and educational project, One Laptop Per Child, because One Laptop was using the Linux operating system, the two have agreed to use Windows and Microsoft is now a full partner. Since last fall, about 600,000 of the low cost One Laptop computers have been ordered in such third world countries as Peru, Uruguay, and Mexico. We hope this relation works out and that more and more inexpensive computers are made available to children in poorer countries.
New York Times, May 16, 2008, p. C1
 
HOW CAN YOU HELP THE WORLD FOOD CRISIS?
The global food crisis is growing, thanks both to the shortages of key food items and the soaring prices of food around the world. What can you do to help? There are at least five things. First, you can donate money to relief agencies such as Oxfam America (www.oxfamamerica.org); the U.N. World Food Program (www.wfp.org); and CARE (www.care.org), all of which take online contributions. Second, you can support food banks such as America's Second Harvest (www.secondharvest.org). Third, you can instruct others to donate money (www.thehungersite.com). Fourth, you can reduce your waste of food in your home. And fifth, you can buy products from companies that donate a portion of their sales to anti-hunger programs such as Chicken of the Sea and Ruby Tuesday.
U.S. News & World Report, May 19, 2008, p. 40
 
RULING FOR THE RED CROSS IN TRADEMARK DISPUTE
In 1895 the Red Cross and Johnson & Johnson signed an agreement that gave Johnson & Johnson the right to use a Greek Red Cross against a white background. Last year Johnson & Johnson sued the Red Cross for licensing this symbol to other companies. A federal New York judge ruled against Johnson & Johnson in the second round of the legal dispute.  This all but brings the case to a close. A Johnson & Johnson spokesman made it clear that beyond the dispute "the company does remain committed to the longstanding mission of the Red Cross to provide relief services".
New York Times, May 16, 2008, p. C3
 
GIVING TO THE IDEAS YOU BELIEVE IN
After retiring from Alliance Bernstein (where he was vice chairman) Roger Hertzog, over the past ten years has given away $100 million of his money to support the ideas he believes in. In New York, Hertog has supported numerous non-profits including the Manhattan Institute; the New York Historical Society; and scholarships for inner-city kids. Last year, Mr. Hertog won the National Endowment for the Humanities medal for philanthropy. Among the many ideas he gives to are scholarships for disadvantaged kids in New York, which allow children to attend private schools. This is a controversial idea, but one he believes in and therefore, one he gives to. Looking at philanthropy from an historical viewpoint, Hertog says "the thing that struck me early on was there was nothing more powerful than ideas, both for good and for ill". He is trying to give to the good ones.
Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2008, p. A9
 
DUKE LACROSSE PLAYERS VOLUNTEER 
Even though the accusations against the Duke University players two years ago were found to be false, tensions still exist in the Durham community. Duke Lacrosse players are trying to support the community by volunteering at the Durham Ronald McDonald House. Both the men's and now the women's lacrosse teams are working as volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House. One of their tasks is to assist in the fundraising for an expansion of the House and the new operating costs which will be incurred. Karen Morgan, volunteer coordinator for the house, puts this new task for the teams in perspective: "It would be a wonderful close to a horrible story".
New York Times, May 18, 2008, p. 8
 
NEWSHOUR NEEDS FUNDRAISING SUCCESS
For 25 years "NewsHour" with Jim Lehrer on PBS has had its ups and downs financially. In late April Jim Lehrer had surgery, which has kept him off the air. At the same time, the finances for the program have gone South. By the end of June, Lehrer expects to be back on air, but the journey out of this financial crisis will take much longer. One of the reasons is that corporations are cutting back drastically on sponsorships of public television programs. To fill the gap "NewsHour" is stepping up its philanthropic fundraising especially among foundations; one of which - the Starr Foundation recently made a grant of $1.5 million. We wish "NewsHour" the best in this philanthropic push.
New York Times, May 29, 2008, p. C4
 
BILLIONAIRE PUTS HIS MONEY IN REAL VALUES
Nicolas Berggruen believes in "investing in the ground, in things that will last for generations and improve people's lives". A billionaire who made his fortune through value investing, Berggruen is using his money to invest in things that will solve social problems. He is giving his money in the same direction mainly through his foundation, which is scheduled to target a wide spectrum of social issues. An example is his work on projects targeted toward reviving the decaying sections of inner-cities in the United States, as well as in nations such as India, Turkey and Israel.
Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2008, p. C3
 
ST LOUISANIMAL SHELTER WINS $1 MILLION PRIZE
Richard Thompson, multimillionaire founder of Zoo Too (www.ZooToo.com), has just given a $1 million prize to the Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Zoo Too was founded in 2007 as an online community to convene animal lovers and to conduct a national competition for animal shelters. The $1 million prize includes money, goods and services provided through Zoo Too.
USA Today, May 21, 2008, p. 70
 
AMERICAN AID GROUP ORGANIZES CHINESE VOLUNTEERS
Heart to Heart International (www.HeartToHeart.org), a small American aid group in China has become a magnet for hundreds of Chinese volunteers. These volunteers are pouring into Chengdu, after the earthquake, but do not know what to do to help. Based in Olathe, Kansas, Heart to Heart has operated in China for more than ten years, as a medical relief and education group. Heart to Heart puts Chinese volunteers quickly to work sorting donations of clothing, medicine and food as well as driving supplies into hard-hit Sichuan province. What a gift to China - volunteering in an America organized by a non-profit group.
USA Today, May 22, 2008, p. 6A
 
T. BOONE PICKENS DONATES $100 MILLION TO OKLAHOMA STATE
The largest gift to a university from a living donor has just been given by T. Boone Pickens to Oklahoma State University, his alma mater. The $100 million gift will be matched by the state because it is being given to endow chairs at the university. Pickens has already given $400 million to the university, and with the matching $100 million, it brings his total giving to $600 million. What an inspiration to other wealthy Americans who may want to match what he has done for their alma mater.
New York Times, May 22, 2008, p. A28
 
THE SOCIAL BUSINESS: AN IDEA FROM A NOBEL WINNER
Mahammad Yunus, an economist who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his creation of the Grameen Bank and using microfinance to improve the lives of poor people in Bangladesh, has come up with a new idea: the Social Business. He sees this as a way to transform capitalism from a profit motive only and charities from being only support mechanisms. A Social Business "must operate in the market place and earn the support of real customers who pay real money to buy a real product. At the same time a Social Business has a social cause, not just a financial goal". Young people today are looking for ways to make more than just money to make a difference. This new idea by Yunus just might be the way.
USA Today, May 21, 2008, p. 11A


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