Private foundations have been the dynamo of social change since their invention at the beginning of the last century. Yet just over 10 percent of the public knows they even exist; and for those who are aware of them, as well as even those who seek grants from them, their internal workings remain a complete mystery. Joel Fleishman knows the sector like few others, and in this groundbreaking book he explains both the history of foundations--with their fledgling beginnings in the era of the robber barons seeking social respectability--through to the present day. This book shows how, why foundations matters, and how the future of foundations can provide a vital spur to the engine of the American, and the world's, economy--if they are properly established and run.

In 19th-century Leipzig, Toronto, New York, and Boston, a newly emergent group of industrialists and entrepreneurs entered into competition with older established elite groups for social recognition as well as cultural and political leadership. The competition was played out on the field of philanthropy, with the North American community gathering ideas from Europe about the establishment of cultural and public institutions. For example, to secure financing for their new museum, the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art organized its membership and fundraising on the model of German art museums. The process of cultural borrowing and intercultural transfer shaped urban landscapes with the building of new libraries, museums, and social housing projects. An important contribution to the relatively new field of transnational history, this book establishes philanthropy as a prime example of the conversion of economic resources into social and cultural capital.

Loving Our Neighbor provides practical advice for churches, businesses, civic organizations, school groups, and individuals who need seasoned guidance in making wise and compassionate decisions when approached for financial donations. Beth Templeton is a minister who clearly understands both the heart of the charitable organization and the need for focus and planning when it comes to helping those in need. She relies on twenty-five years of experience as a nonprofit executive at United Ministries to: -Provide an understanding of the Biblical call to help -Assist others in comprehending a life of poverty -Advise the different ways to aid those battling financial hardship -Illustrate how to organize a direct ministry for a church -Facilitate others in gaining a deeper understanding of the social and economic conditions that lead to poverty Templeton shares fresh insights, thought-provoking lessons, and timeless wisdom that exemplify an organized and compassionate process that includes various approaches designed to help others decide how, when, and whom to help in times of need. Loving Our Neighbor encourages building relationships with those who can benefit from assistance, ultimately enriching their lives in countless ways.

From his humble beginnings as a Scottish immigrant to his ascension to wealth and power as a 'captain of industry, ' Andrew Carnegie embodied the American 'rags to riches' dream. Alive in the time of the Civil War, Carnegie was the epitome of a self-made man, first working his way up in a telegraph company and then making astute investments in the railroad industry. Through hard work, perseverance, and an earnest desire to develop himself in his education, culture, and personal economy, Carnegie finally made his considerable fortune in steel. What is perhaps most remarkable about this historical figure, however, was his overwhelmingly generous practice of philanthropy in his later life. In his essay "The Gospel of Wealth," Carnegie relates his ideas on the distribution of the rich's wealth to the poor in a responsible capitalistic society. In setting an example of his own beliefs, Carnegie gave away millions of dollars for the public good, demonstrating his own willingness to promote human welfare and the betterment of man.

William Jackson bestows a rich collection that presents the depth of American generosity. Drawing upon an abundant variety of genres--myths, proverbs, poems, letters, short stories, news stories, folktales, sermons, and essays--this interesting and useful collection documents the religious dimensions of American philanthropy. The Wisdom of Generosity not only chronicles the manifestations of philanthropy but also reveals philanthropy's integral connection with American history and how Americans are still striving to fulfill their original promises. This Reader offers classic yet fresh resources for reflecting on the heritage of American giving.

This book provides a powerful and clear picture of some of the outstanding programs designed and implemented in the United States to provide young adolescents with rich, meaningful, and powerful learning activities with community service. The book is comprised of two parts with 18 essays and an introduction. The essays reflect a range of experience. Part 1, ""Social Issues,"" includes: (1) ""Social Issues in the Middle School Curriculum: Retrospect and Prospect"" (James A. Beane); (2) ""Challenging Barriers: A Unit in Developing an Awareness and Appreciation for Differences in Individuals with Physical and Mental Challenges"" (Pauline S. Chandler); (3) ""Implementing an Interdisciplinary Unit on the Holocaust"" (Regina Townsend; William G. Wraga); (4) ""The Homeless: An Issue-Based Interdisciplinary Unit in an Eighth-Grade Class"" (Belinda Y. Louie; Douglas H. Louie; Margaret Heras); (5) ""Making Plays, Making Meaning, Making Change"" (Kathy Greeley); (6) ""Teleconversing about Community Concerns and Social Issues"" (Judith H. Vesel); (7) ""Using Telecommunications to Nurture the Global Village"" (Dell Salza); (8) ""New Horizons for Civic Education: A Multidisciplinary Social Issues Approach for Middle Schools"" (Ronald A. Banaszak; H. Michael Hartoonian; James S. Leming); and (9) ""Future Problem Solving: Preparing Middle School Students to Solve Community Problems"" (Richard L. Kurtzberg; Kristin Faughnan). Part 2, ""Service,"" contains: (1) ""Alienation or Engagement? Service Learning May Be an Answer"" (Joan Schine; Alice Halsted); (2) ""Service Learning: A Catalyst for Social Action and School Change at the Middle Level"" (Wokie Weah; Madeleine Wegner); (3) ""The Community as Classroom: Service Learning at the Lewis Armstrong Middle School"" (Ivy Diton; Mary Ellen Levin); (4) ""Incorporating Service Learning into the School Day"" (Julie Ayers; Kathleen Kennedy Townsend); (5) ""Science-Technology-Society: An Approach to Attaining Student Involvement in Community Action Projects"" (Curt Jeffryes; Robert E. Yager; Janice Conover); (6) ""Calling Students to Action: How Wayland Middle School Puts Theory into Practice"" (Stephen Feinberg; Richard Schaye; David Summergrad); (7) ""Our Forest, Their Forest: A Program That Stimulates Long-Term Learning and Community Action"" (Patricia McFarlane Soto; John H. Parker; George E. O'Brien); (8) ""Every Step Counts: Service and Social Responsibility"" (Larry Dieringer; Esther Weisman Kattef); and (9) ""The Letter that Never Arrived: The Evolution of a Social Concerns Program in a Middle School"" (Robyn L. Morgan; Robert W. Moderhak). (EH)

So, you want to join the Peace Corps . . . If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps, you probably have questions that run the gamut from "What is the application process like?" to "Is the Peace Corps effective as a development agency?" In this updated second edition, former Peace Corps volunteer Dillon Banerjee shares candid facts and insights about the experience in a practical question-and-answer format. With input from recently returned volunteers who served across the globe, this thorough guide presents valuable information including: - What Peace Corps recruiters look for in your application- Items you should--and shouldn't---pack for your two-year trip- Useful gadgets and technology that help volunteers stay connected from far away- Real answers to personal questions about culture shock, safety, dating, homesickness, and more Whether you're thinking of joining or have already been accepted and are preparing to leave, "The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps" will help equip you for the unique challenges and rewards of the volunteer experience, regardless of your program area or country assignment. It's essential reading for anyone interested in "the toughest job you'll ever love."

Sister Kelly has a fascinating story of how a small group of people came together to make sure that no one in their community went hungry. This is the history of Plowshares, the Community dining room for the homeless and the poor. Kelly goes on to share the stories of homeless people and how they came to be homeless. She concludes by telling what Plowshares means to the homeless.

As nonprofit organizations face heightened scrutiny by the general public, donors, regulators, and members of Congress, the Third Edition of the essential book on the basics of fundraising provides new, up-to-date and valuable information that every fundraiser needs to know. With ethics and accountability being the primary theme of the Third Edition, this practical guide will continue to provide an overview of the field and give development staff, managers, and directors a platform from which to operate their fundraising programs. The new edition also provides much needed information on giving trends, computer hardware and software available for fundraisers, cost estimates and workflow timetables, and the importance of the Internet. This primer remains a must-have for anyone new to the fundraising arena.

In Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World, author Darius Graham celebrates more than a dozen men and women that have gone beyond making a difference-rather, they are the difference. A number of these individuals suffered hardships and overcame significant adversity to use their triumphs and successes to help others. Some followed a life-long passion, and still others became so frustrated with a problem or issue in their community that they were compelled to action. Despite the different paths they took, each took a dynamic approach to serve their fellow man. On a bold and heartfelt mission, this book exemplifies the idea that nothing is impossible and that acts of generosity can and will change the world.

September 2005, in the after-math of Hurricane Katrina, we had no idea that we were about to embark on an unexpected journey. As the days, weeks and months progressed, the Thornton family, from New Orleans, told us their extraordinary story in bits and pieces. Our journey over the following months has changed our lives forever. We are telling our story through our own eyes, what we saw, heard and witnessed. It will make you laugh and cry; it will make you angry and warm your heart. Come on this journey with us and experience the joys and the heartaches, as we learned how to help others in need. Meet all the 'Angels' who helped us out along the way by giving this family 'pieces for their quilts'. A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the 'Thornton Housing Fund'. You can read more about the Thornton's and follow their progress at www.eagleswingspublications.com

According to an old saying, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." In 21 brief and insightful essays, Richard B. Gunderman shows us that the key to more rewarding giving can be found by looking beyond mere donations of money. With a more inclusive view of giving that considers the needs and opportunities of donors as well as recipients, he argues that the amount of money changing hands is an inadequate measure of benevolence, and that some of the grandest forms of generosity involve no money at all. Exploring the ethical core of sharing, examining its importance for both those who receive and those who give, here is a book to enrich our lives and deepen our understanding of what it means to share wealth.

The newest edition of this classic book shows how anyone can align and integrate values, passions, and dreams for their communities and families into their giving plans. Inspired Philanthropy explains how to make a difference by creating giving and legacy plans, tells what questions to ask nonprofits, and spells out how to partner with advisors and nonprofit leaders for inspired outcomes. In addition to overall updates to statistics, the new edition includes a discussion of the implications of the Buffett gift to the Gates Foundation; new legacy planning tools; expanded resources on youth, giving circles, and communities of color; and key questions for advisors and donors. Additional resources are available on the enclosed CD-ROM.

Praise for "Inspired Philanthropy"

"This book is a must-use for all of us who encourage people to be thoughtful in their giving and to be as generous as possible. Buy this book for your board members and your other donors. And use it yourself!"
--Kim Klein, author, "Fundraising for Social Change"

"Inspired Philanthropy has all the fuel your engine of generosity will need to assure you more purposeful and satisfying personal giving. Tracy Gary speaks to your soul, your accountant, and your lawyer. She conducts self-discovery systematically but tenderly."
--Dr. Claire Gaudiani, clinical professor, The Heyman Center on Philanthropy and Fundraising, New York University, and author, "The Greater Good"

"There is no better guide than Tracy Gary for transforming one's inner donor activist into an empowered donor leader."
--Jessica Chao, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors & Cultures of Giving Fund

"This book will make sure you continue tobreathe financially free for yourself and others for generations to come."
--Suze Orman, author, "The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom and The Road to Wealth"

"Inspired Philanthropy lets us in on the secret that giving money for social change is the most rewarding form of investment."
--Gloria Steinem, author, activist, and board of Women's Media Center

"Buy this book, but be sure to sit down with your family and community and use it to guide your check writing and volunteering."
--Ben Cohen, president and founder, Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, and former chairman, Ben & Jerry's

In July 2004, the author volunteered to work at a summer camp for Romanian orphans. "These children epitomized the word SURVIVOR. They were loving, energetic, and full of life despite the trauma of their existence. I found them needy, emotionally draining, and champions at overcoming their sorrow and loss. Etched in my heart are the stories of their lives." Journey of the Heart recounts the author's experience and the deeply moving stories of these children. All proceeds from this book will be donated to Children on the Edge.

You want to make a difference in the world, but don't know where to begin. Now you can. Here is just the guide to lots of exciting ways that are more personal and fun than merely writing a check. For every day of the year, "365 Ways to Change the World" is packed with information and ideas that don't take a lot of special skills to put into action, but will achieve something positive:
Observe a "Buy Nothing Day" Plant a "peace pole" Sew a panel for an AIDS memorial quilt Collect rainwater to water your plants
The suggestions cover twelve important areas in which you can influence change, including in your local community, as a consumer, making a cultural contribution, and addressing problems such as the environment, health, and human rights. You can go through the book day by day or use the index to flip to the issues that concern you most; to help you take action, a complementary website links straight to many of the sources listed in the book. Great to give as well as to keep, this is an inspiring, practical resource for making the world a better place -- one day at a time.

Unique in all the world, the American foundation sector has been an engine of social change for more than a century.

In this companion volume to "The Foundation: A Great American Secret," Joel Fleishman, Scott Kohler, and Steven Schindler explore 100 of the highest-achieving foundation initiatives of all time. Based on a rich array of sources--from interviews with the principals themselves to contemporaneous news accounts to internal evaluation reports--this volume presents brief case studies of foundation success stories across virtually every field of human endeavor.

The influence of the foundations on American, and indeed global society, has only occasionally come into the public view. For every well-known foundation achievement--Andrew Carnegie's massive library building program or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's public efforts to curb tobacco use--there are a great many lesser-known, but often equally important stories to be told.

The cases in this volume provide a wealth of evidentiary support for Joel Fleishman's description of, and recommendations for, the foundation sector. With lessons for grant-makers, grant-seekers, public officials, and public-spirited individuals alike, this casebook pieces together 100 stories, some well known, others never before told, and offers hard proof of the foundation sector's immense and enduring impact on scientific research, education, public policy, and many other fields. The work that foundations have supported over the past century has achieved profound results. Yet foundations are capable of more and better. This volume, a window onto great successes of the past and present, is at once a look back, a look around, and a point of reference as we turn to the future.

Words of wisdom from American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie
Focusing on Carnegie's most famous essay, "The Gospel of Wealth," this book of his writings, published here together for the first time, demonstrates the late steel magnate's beliefs on wealth, poverty, the public good, and capitalism. Carnegie's commitment to ensuring and promoting the welfare of his fellow human beings through philanthropic deeds ranged from donations to universities and museums to establishing more than 2,500 public libraries in the English-speaking world, and he gave away more than $350 million toward those efforts during his lifetime. "The Gospel of Wealth" is an eloquent testament to the importance of charitable giving for the public good.

In the history of New Orleans, there are those who make policy and those who are forced to live by policy. To help balance the scales, " Voice of the Poor: Citizen Participation Informing Public Policy for Rebuilding New Orleans" focuses on low-income residents, mostly African Americans, whose views are needed to help rebuild the shattered city in a way that will make it more sustainable, inclusive, and economically competitive than it was before Hurricane Katrina.

Through citizen participation, everyone's voice can be heard. As a result, New Orleans will become more equitable. "Voice of the Poor" offers a process for arriving at an acceptable solution for those who are interested in individual and community self-determination. Input of both current "and" displaced residents is vitally important in the rebuilding of the city. However, participation has generally been limited to those who have had the resources to return to New Orleans and continue their lives there. A variety of outlets for the participation of those who have returned have been available, and their contributions are integral in developing the plan to rebuild New Orleans.

Ironically, low-income citizens-those most impacted by the storm-have largely been excluded from this discussion. "Voice of the Poor" seeks to bridge this gap.

Many acts of charitable giving fail in their stated goals and some are actually harmful. In Taking Philanthropy Seriously, the authors explain why this state of affairs exists. They outline solutions, ranging from those that equip philanthropists to do good work to those that build a domain of philanthropic knowledge, ethical codes, and best practices. Attention is also given to considering recipients needs, frustrations, and hopes for support. Philanthropic leaders disclose instances of both good and compromised work, show how ethical concerns are secondary to "success" in philanthropy, and reveal strategies to promote effective and ethical conduct.

Contributors are Lynn Barendsen, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, William Damon, Akash Deep, Peter Frumkin, Howard Gardner, Laura Horn, Carrie James, Leslie Lenkowsky, Paula Marshall, Jennifer Menon, Sarah Miles, Liza Hayes Percer, Rob Reich, Tanya Rose, Paul G. Schervish, James Allen Smith, Nick Standlea, Thomas J. Tierney, and Susan Verducci."

There is a mistaken assumption in many social sciences that knowledge will automatically translate into action. Based on this assumption, textbooks for basic oral communication, a required course in many college campuses, attempt to ameliorate students' communicational behaviors by teaching them knowledge about communication: theories, concepts, and terms. Not only failing their attempt, these textbooks also estrange students by belaboring what is common sense in students' perception. However, in reality, numerous social problems are not because of a lack of knowledge, but because of a lack of action or a lack of practice of the knowledge. In an effort to shift attention from knowing communication to doing communication, Cases of Problematic Communication confronts its readers with realistic cases of problematic communication and offers questions to facilitate your reflection and communicational action. Promising to transform the students' learning from one of passive cognition to one of reflective action, this booklet can also serve as a resource for commercial textbooks for oral communication.

Marie Sandvik loved to preach, even as a child in Norway where she preached to sheep and imaginary people. In 1919, at the age of seventeen, she came to America to get an education, and worked her way through high school, college, and seminary. Her struggle against extreme poverty created in her a compassionate heart, and she vowed that someday she would help those who were penniless as she had been. In 1940, she converted a vacant skid row bar into a mission, moved in behind it, and ran it to help the poor, the homeless, and the hungry, and to bring God's word and love to them all. Four years later Marie was joined by Doris Nye, a young college graduate who was skilled in music and business administration. As a child, Doris daydreamed about growing up to help the poor. She learned compassion for those who were less fortunate as she accompanied her two aunts, who were medical doctors, on their rounds. Doris planned to become a missionary after she graduated from college, but circumstances put her in touch with Marie at the skid row mission. Doris quickly discovered that her calling was to work with Marie. eventually received national acclaim.