For National Volunteer Week, Austin DeMarco reminds us of the many benefits of giving, be it one’s time or one’s money—an act that rekindles our sense of purpose and meaning in life.
Some foundations and nonprofits have occasionally looked at national donor-advised funds with suspicion, but such skepticism is no longer warranted, as the funds are playing an important role in modern philanthropy.
To access the full article February 10, 2012; Source: South Florida Business Journal | What do you and your nonprofit do if the charitable contribution you’ve received comes from a convicted Ponzi scheme perpetrator? Eagles singer Don Henley now knows.
Henley created a nonprofit called the Caddo Lake Institute near his home in Texas to protect the wetlands and habitat of the Caddo Lake region, which is known for its wildlife diversity and internationally important wetlands that are now threatened by invasive species and environmental flows. Scott Rothstein made an ill-gotten donation of $100,000 to the institute before his $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme collapsed, in 2009. In return, the Eagles played a song for Rothstein’s wife in honor of her birthday—“Life in the Fast Lane,” probably an appropriate choice for a Ponzi schemer’s spouse. Rothstein’s case has been well-profiled in the press and was featured on CNBC’s “American Greed” last year.
Now that Rothstein gets to celebrate 50 more years of his wife’s birthdays from his residence in a jail cell, the bankruptcy trustee overseeing restitution to Rothstein’s victims is asking various entities to return some portion of Rothstein’s stolen money. In a deal with the trustee, the Caddo Institute is returning $50,000. Likewise, The March of Dimes Foundation, which received $50,000 from Rothstein, is returning $20,000.
In addition to his charitable donations, Rothstein was known for purchasing exotic cars, yachts, and such. Sometimes, high-flying spenders like Rothstein deserve a second look from the nonprofits that they support; that unexpected donation from someone who seems to have no connection to the nonprofit’s values and mission might just be a future candidate for a court-ordered settlement. –Rick Cohen
Reporting for Remapping Debate, Kevin C. Brown paints a pretty devastating picture of what he characterizes as the “two-tier morality” of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 
In nearly bankrupt Detroit, Mayor Dave Bing has proposed converting the city health department into a new nonprofit, the Institute for Population Health. How will the City Council respond? 
National Public Radio experiences decline in corporate support as L.A. Times gets Ford Grant. 
