EUConsult Information Service
2009 April
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News / Resources
Sector News/Resources
- New Irish charities law
The President of Ireland signed the Charities Act 2009 into law on 28 February 2009. The Charities Act means that for the first time in Ireland there will be accountability among Irish charities and protection against abuse of charitable status and fraud. Up to now there has been no organisation tasked with the specific aim of supervising the sector or with the power to maintain a Register of Charities.
- More than half of charities now feeling impact of downturn
New figures released by the Charity Commission (England and Wales) in its new research report Economic Survey of Charities reveal the deepening impact of the recession on charities in England and Wales, with more than half reporting they have been affected. In September last year, 38% of charities surveyed by the charity regulator said that they had been hit by the credit crunch; this figure has now risen to 52%*, following one of the largest representative surveys to date. The majority (64%) of charities with an annual income of over £1m say that they are concerned that their services or funding might be greatly affected.
Charity Commission / Economic Survey of Charities
- American nonprofits strained to breaking point by recession
America's nonprofits, including the safety-net or "lifeline" organizations that many depend on for food, shelter, and other basic services, are being strained to the breaking point by the recession, a new survey from the Nonprofit Finance Fund finds. The Nonprofit Survey (8 pages, PDF) of 986 nonprofit leaders from across the country found that a large number of respondents expect decreases in government funding (43 percent), foundation support (62 percent), and individual contributions (49 percent) this year. Only 12 percent expect their organizations to operate at or above break-even, while 16 percent anticipate being able to cover their operating expenses in both 2009 and 2010. Some 31 percent of respondents said their organizations don't have enough operating cash on hand to cover more than a month of expenses, while another 31 percent said they have less than three months' worth of cash on hand. Compounding the problem, 93 percent of safety-net organizations said they anticipate an increase in demand for their services in 2009.
Philanthropy News Digest / Nonprofit Survey
- First Annual Social Marketing Conference in Ireland
EUConsult Member Joe McKenna of Venture Advancement is both a supporter and speaker at the First Annual Conference in Social Marketing on which will be held at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at National University of Ireland, Galway on 15 May 2009.
The conference will explore the relatively new field of social marketing and provide a forum for those interested in the study of human behaviour change, especially as it relates to the fields of health promotion, public safety and environmental protection. Joe is interested in hearing from others who have developed social marketing projects for clients. Further information on the conference is available from:
Joe McKenna / Venture Advancement
- Building an Association of Nonprofit Analysts
New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) and Bertelsmann Stiftung will be hosting a conference in London this May, to discuss the subject of nonprofit analysis. The conference will draw together professionals from a range of fields who are interested in assessing charities and other nonprofits, and looking at their effectiveness. The conference - Valuing impact: Building an Association of Nonprofit Analysts - aims to create excitement and energy around the analysis of nonprofits as a discipline. It is hoped that it will give rise to a network of individuals from all over the world who will become the core of a new association. The conference will be held in central London on 19 May 2009.
- European conference on sustainability of nonprofit sector in the EU
This European conference introduces and compares the most successful blueprints for sustainability of the non-profit sector among the EU member states. It will take place on 4-5 May 2009 in Brno in the Czech Republic.
The aims of the conference are:
- To use the opportunity of the Czech Presidency of the EU to introduce the most successful tools already proven in the EU countries as strategic sources for sustainable financing of the non-profit sector with its complementary role in the development of Europe´s democracy.
- To compare the advantages and feasibility of the major tools in the broader context of the EU.
- To prepare recommendations for the EU Commission, as well as for the national governments to implement the best available models at their levels.
- For the Czech environment: to expose Czech policy makers and social partners to the most successful tools proven in other EU countries and to make them available for the Czech Republic's legislative reforms.
Nonprofit Sustainability Conference
- First World Homeshare Congress
The first World Homeshare Congress will take place in Paris on 3-5 July 2009. The theme of the Congress is "Homeshare: tranforming the lives of people, communities and nations". The event will give all who are interested in homeshare the opportunity to learn more about this important means of providing low cost accommodation in exchange for help. Those who are already engaged in a homeshare programme, whether as a co-ordinator or participant, will get to meet others and exchange news and views. And Homeshare International will enjoy the privilege of meeting some of those the charity has helped over the years.
- Fundraising Ireland holds first national conference
Fundraising Ireland, founded in 2007 to provide networking and development support for those working in a fundraising capacity in Ireland, has proved to be a huge success and hosted its first National Conference in Dublin in March. The theme for the day was “Survival and Growth in a Challenging Climate” and international speakers included Bernard Ross, Daryl Upsall and Jon Duschinsky. EUConsult Board Member Mary O’Kennedy is the founding Chair of Fundraising Ireland.
- Changes at Google’s philanthropic unit
(Article by Miguel Helft published on 23 February 2009)
Larry Brilliant, the executive director of Google.org, said late Monday that he would step down from managing Google’s philanthropic unit and signaled that Google.org might curtail its financing of nonprofit groups unless they are closely aligned with Google projects. Dr. Brilliant said he would become chief philanthropy evangelist for Google. Megan Smith, a longtime Google executive with experience in engineering and business development, will manage Google.org, while retaining her job as vice president for new business development at Google.
Google.org has made over $100 million in investments in three areas: global health, clean energy and access to information. They include projects like developing renewable energy that is cheaper than coal and preventing the spread of disease.
