Gift Hub

Moral Compass Magnet Helmet for Social Entrepreneurs

Moral Compass in brain is disrupted by powerful magnets, scientists find. Business schools work feverishly on practical applications. The exec can now move seamlessly between the two bottomlines by switching the moral compass on and off. "You just gotta turn the magnets to half power," says Catalytic Philanthropy Advisor, Joe Steadly. "With the magnet helmet dialed in right, you get profit and virtue, but in a nice smooth sine wave, rather than the headbanging ratchety effect you normally do with two bottomlines." With helmet in place Capitalism 3.0 can move quickly to 4.0. And by the time we hit 5.0, we will all have helmets to keep our morals switched on or off in service to shareholders.

The Countess Defends Board Service

 
Rick Cohen, seconding Pablo Eisenberg, takes on all comers. College Presidents, and Executive Directors sit on corporate boards, raking in bundles. For shame! Cultural elites dancing with Business elites! If only Albert Ruesga were serving on the Board at Corrections Corporation of America. Then we would have social justice. (Albert goes by Doctor, to make people in New Orleans think he is a preacher, but he is only a PhD. in ethics.) Countess, what does a College President wear to dance with the devil at the Wealth Bondage Charity Ball? (Naked as a jaybird might work well, or with a G string, to hold the cash.)

Dante in a Dumpster in Hell

Mega-churches:

Saddleback isn't the only megachurch able to raise money. Featuring huge stages, rock bands, jumbotron screens, buckets of and oodles of money, as well as the enormity of other facilities, pastor personalities and income -- over $8.5 billion a year all told -- these churches are impressive forces flourishing at staggering rates.

Mega-Dumpsters:

The Happy Tutor and his penurious liberal arts major friends are offering courses on Dante, some in Italian, others in the vulgate. Featuring huge stages, representing every stage of hell, purgatory, and heaven, with rock banks, jumbotron screens, and oodles of money, as well the enormity of good taste, Professor Personalities, and income - over $.10, including returned bottles a year all told - these bastions of high culture are flourishing at staggering rates, if spitting into the wind, for no money counts as flourishing. 

What we have to show for the Enlightenment are brands, business logic, and the mega-churches combining the best features of each. When we finish Dante, we (educated fools) move on to Kant, before blowing our brains out.

Should College Presidents Serve on Corporate Boards?

Pablo Eisenberg says College Presidents ought to resign from Corporate Boards. The article contains stunning information on how the President of Brown has grown rich serving on the Board of, among other places, Goldman Sachs. I asked Dr. Richard ("Dick") Minim, President of Old Ivy, whether he will resign from the Board of Wealth Bondage. He said, "Far from it, Phil, as an intellectual leader, and informed citizen, I feel it is my duty to shed sweetness and light in the economic center of this great country. Where else than in Wealth Bondage can I leverage the Western Canon to greatest social effect, for the betterment of my fellow man? Plus, a spare $5 million does come in handy in refurbishing my collection of 18th Century Scottish Sermons. Pablo should stick to tennis, a game he understands."

How much giving is enough (before averting our eyes)?

Seth Godin:

The Mormon Church says, "tithe". Loosely paraphrased, they say, "10% is a lot, and 10% is enough." This is actually very smart, because they've created a difficult but achievable standard, a way to be a member of good standing in their tribe.

When my dad ran the local United Way drive as a volunteer, he pushed for one percent. "One percent isn't a lot, but it's enough."

The model here is duty. How much do I owe? How much meets my obligation? What is my fair share? tithing and taxes have that shape. What does it take to make a difference for the causes I care about? How much can I afford? Those are another way of addressing how much is enough.

Family Resources at Youthgive

Acitivities for busy parents and their children to weave giving and service into daily life.

A Defining Moment for Healthcare Philanthropy

A restrained, polite, but passionate appeal by Thomas David, Senior Strategist at Community Healthcare Initiatives. While focused on funding for healthcare initiatives, this well researched piece has implications for all foundations in this time of increased needs and reduced endowments. Now is the time to lead.

Saving the World as Buying Motive

The Robber Barons of Social Change, why Business Won't Save the World:

Ironically, in the wake of the recent economic collapse, an increasing number of such consultants are now offering their “services” to civil society. Edwards quotes a leading Indian social activist, who spoke to him anonymously out of fear of retribution from funders, who argues, “In a world falling apart with the financial crisis, the nonprofit sector is a good haven for management consultants. Lots of money to pontificate about obvious things, very little questioning of the fact that you can cover your ignorance of fields and issues through management jargon, no accountability to anyone for mistakes arising from your lack of experience or plain ignorance, and plenty of arrogance to boot.”

Detroit in a Flattened World

New Orleans after Katrina. Detroit after the financial levees broke. An act of God, in either case. Nothing humans can do but mourn the forces of nature. Time was when Detroit burned with another viewpoint.

Nonprofits - The outlook seems even worse in 2010

• Nearly 90% of nonprofits surveyed expect 2010 to be as difficult or more difficult than 2009.
• 80% anticipate increased demand for services in 2010.
• Only 18% of organizations expect to end 2010 above break-even.
• The majority – 61% – have less than three months of cash available; 12% have none.

From a survey released today by Nonprofit Finance Fund.