philanthropy

World Vision tinkers with child sponsorship model that brought in millions
(The Conversation) — World Vision is now flipping its marketing script that critics said demeaned those it wanted to help. Instead of donors choosing children to support, children are beginning to choose donors.

When it comes to global conflict, churches are the best solution we never think of
(RNS) — There is a solution that can help us connect with the needs of communities in faraway places, one that sits on many street corners in our downtowns and backroads in our country and theirs: local churches.

Amid broad drop in charitable donations, giving to God down $3 billion last year
(AP) — Giving to religion — perennially the biggest sector — is estimated to have declined by 1.5% in 2018 (a decrease of 3.9% adjusted for inflation), with a total of $124.52 billion in contributions.

Churches wipe out millions in medical debt for others
(KHN) — Churches have been teaming with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit that arranges no-strings-attached retirement of people’s medical debt, with 18 places of worship payoffs in the past 18 months alone.

During Ramadan, growing Muslim philanthropy enters the spotlight
(RNS) — Many Muslim-run charity groups are drawing a connection between their philanthropic causes, the Ramadan fast and the Islamic imperative to give to the poor.

Report: Over 1,000 charity groups are helping fund fringe anti-Muslim projects
(RNS) — More than 1,000 philanthropic foundations and charitable organizations have knowingly or unknowingly funneled nearly $125 million into dozens of known anti-Muslim groups over three years.

Rich Stearns to retire from charity behemoth World Vision
(RNS) — During his tenure, World Vision grew to collect $1 billion in annual revenue in 2017, making it No. 15 on Forbes’ list of the nation’s largest charities.

Strong link found between worship attendance and religious giving
(RNS) — Though fewer Americans are affiliating with religious institutions, charitable giving to them has remained at about a third of all giving.

Not wishy-washy
Well-intentioned, tolerant folks are properly repelled if not threatened by the murderous language that frequently finds its way into expressions of religious faith, life, and culture. Some of them believe that if they only half-believe or half-express elements of their own faith and tradition, they will help bring about a new peaceable kingdom.

World Vision, recovering from gay policy shift, tries to shore up its evangelical base
(RNS) The $1 billion relief agency has struggled since an earlier about-face on same-sex marriage, but recent moves signal a shift toward shoring up its evangelical base.

Charitable giving to religious groups is down as philanthropy improves from the Great Recession
WASHINGTON (RNS) The religious sector received 31 percent of all charitable dollars in 2013, a proportion twice as high as the second-largest U.S. sector, education.

A new look at Giving Tuesday: More give to religion than realize it
(RNS) The “Connected to Give” report also cites generosity thriving among people who claim no religious identity: 34 percent of these “nones” nonetheless give to religiously identified organizations.

Charities fight changes on tax deductions
WASHINGTON (RNS) Most Americans who file income tax returns won't be affected by proposed changes in how charitable contributions are deducted, but that hasn't stopped charitable groups from lobbying Congress to fight any change in deductions as part of the “fiscal cliff'' negotiations. By Jackie Kucinich / USA Today.

Charitable giving up, but Sandy and tax changes expected to impact year-end donations
(RNS) The recession continued to affect how much Americans gave to charity last year, and the triple whammy of Superstorm Sandy, a national election and the looming fiscal cliff may cut how much we donate in the crucial final month of 2012, experts say. By Elizabeth Weise / USA Today.
‘#GivingTuesday’ event aims to boost charities
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (RNS) In the days following Thanksgiving, there's already Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday shopping season. Now, a group of charities and corporate sponsors is urging Americans to make the Tuesday after Thanksgiving just as powerful a day of giving to those in need. By John Ostendorff / USA Today.