The NonProfit Times - August 1, 2008 - (Page 18)

The economic situation in the United States is putting pressure on nonprofits to do more with less – in some case considerably less.The latest fundraising reports showed both revenue and the number of donors declining for the first time since the fall of 2001, when this sort of statistic started being tracked by Target Analysis Group. Abroad, a weak dollar against other currencies, such as the Euro, is straining the ability to fund projects. Organizations with international operations are either cutting back or dipping into a rainy day fund to keep programs open. And,it is also clear that a changing of the guard has begun in the sector. The announced retirement of several influential leaders will be bringing a younger generation to the executive suites at charities. In this 11th annual NPT Power & Influence Top 50, we celebrate some of the sector’s top executives and thinkers. These executives were selected for the impact they have now and for the innovative plans they are putting in place to evolve the charitable sector.We also offer a roll call of the executives who have shaped this listing and the sector. The executives will be honored for their work at The NPT Power & Influence Top 50 Gala next month at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. It will be a night of high level exchange between executives who can move a nation. Here’s The NPT Power & Influence Top 50, Class of 2008. T here’s nothing quite like an economic downturn to get the sector moving. During the past year retail outlets started limiting food quantities available for purchase and the price of gasoline is heading toward $5 per gallon.The government reported that more than 60,000 jobs were lost in the economy just during the month of June. Diana Aviv President & Chief Executive Officer Independent Sector Washington, D.C. She took a lot of abuse from some in the sector for trying to work with federal legislators instead of openly fighting with them. There is now no doubt that she was right because most of the threatened federal regulation has been stalled. There is still danger, but it might be under control. Kelly Browning Executive Vice President American Institute For Cancer Research Washington, D.C. Browning makes the list for his work as vice chair of the Direct Marketing Association in battling the do not mail activists. Imagine not being able to send a fundraising letter.There are actually some nonprofits funding the attempts to establish such roadblocks. Gary Bass Founder & Executive Director OMB Watch Washington, D.C. Bass is an effective advocate for strengthening government transparency and using information technologies to empower citizens and community groups to challenge unchecked institutional power. He loudly has spoken out against the erosion of the public's right to know. Phil Buchanan Executive Director Center For Effective Philanthropy Cambridge, Mass. Starting with the belief that there isn’t enough good information to inform philanthropic decision-making, Buchanan is advocating for new performance assessment tools and transparency, pushing the idea of providing good information to inform philanthropic decision-making. Elizabeth Boris Director Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Urban Institute Washington, D.C. When Congress needs the sector quantified, she has the numbers and from that mantle she espouses the importance of nonprofit advocacy and civic engagement, its importance to democracy and how it will take more money from foundations to keep things afloat. Gavin Clabaugh Vice President, Information Services Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Flint, Mich. He has spent his professional life making technology accessible to and understood by nonprofits. He has embraced the new technologies (see Gavin’s DigitalDiner) and uses his bully pulpit at Mott to emphasize technology within both the grant-making community and the sector. Paul Brest President William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Menlo Park, Calif. He’s trying to get foundations to provide more information and demand the same from grantees. He believes that most foundations are significantly underinvested in providing the infrastructure for doing evaluation and thus providing data. Better information leads to better philanthropic decisions. Kathy Cloninger Chief Executive Officer Girl Scouts of the USA New York, N.Y. Talk about changing an organization. Imagine the Girl Scouts without the uniforms.That’s shaking up a national organization if there was ever an example. Cloninger has long been a sector leader, starting locally and now internationally. 18 AUGUST 1, 2008 THE NONPROFIT TIMES www.nptimes.com http://www.nptimes.com

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The NonProfit Times - August 1, 2008 Demonstration Permits Frustrate Groups Green Universities Helping To Produce Greener Pastures Mr. Bill Doesn’t Say ‘NOOOO’ To Awareness Campaign Contents Who...When...Where...How...What? On Dangerous Ground Association Management Travel Nightmare The 2008 NPT Power & Influence Top 50 Leaderless Unusual Special Events On The Move Lost: The Donors Consistent Messaging New UK Standards Business Briefs National Movement Calendar NPT Jobs Resource Directory

The NonProfit Times - August 1, 2008

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