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VolunteerToday.com ~~ The Electronic Gazette for Volunteerism NEWS Find news you can use on a variety of topics; opportunities to raise money, changes in postage rates; statistics and facts that impact volunteer programs; and more. ~July 2003~ Topics Who’s Giving Away Money? Who is Online? Standards for Charitable Giving Strategies to Expand the Role of Religious Charities

Who’s Giving Away Money? The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported on a study on giving to charity. Here are some facts of interest. Detroit residents are the most charitable, averaging 12.5% per person annually in money given to charity. Following Detroit in giving for urban areas are New York, Fort Worth, Denver, Wichita, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Mesa, AZ, and Cleveland. Blacks are the best givers of discretionary income averaging 8.6% per person. Asian’s provide the highest amount at $11,148 of discretionary income on the average per person. People who are self-employed give 7.3% of their discretionary income to charity, as compared to 6.6% for government workers and 4.3% for those working in the private sector. Individuals living in the New England states provide less than 6% of their discretionary income to charity on average, as did Nevada and West Virginia. Utah and Wyoming residents averaged the highest average donations of 10% or more. The five most generous large counties were: Utah County, UT; Bronx County, NY; Davis County, UT; Kings County, NY; and Prince George County, MD. The five least generous counties among larger counties were: Rockingham County, NH; Tolland County, CT; Hillsborough County, NH; Middlesex County, CT; and Bristol County, MA. Return to the Menu Who is Online? The Pew Internet & American Life Project conducted a study on the “digital divide,” surveying a random sample of over 3500 households from March to May of 2002. Here are some of the results of who is using the Internet or not. 25% of Americans have no direct or indirect experience with the Internet. 80 million people do not use the Internet. But 20 percent of them live with someone who does. 17% of nonusers were once users of the Internet. 33% of those not on the Internet say the reason is the cost of computer equipment and Internet access. 27% say that people they know do not go online or use the Internet. More details on this report are available at http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=88. Look for “The Ever Shifting Internet Population: A New Look at Internet Access and the Digital Divide.” Return to the Menu Standards for Charitable Giving The team at the White House seems to be setting a good example in the “giving” department. George and Laura Bush donated 9% of their taxable income to charity, while the Cheney’s donated 13%. The Bushes gave away $69,925 and the Cheneys $945,051. The First Family gave to the Evergreen Chapel (religious services are held there at Camp David), Southern Methodist University (Laura Bush is a grad), Tarrytown Methodist Church in Austin, TX and the Combined Federal Campaign. There were no specifics about how much each organization received. Both Bush and Cheney families increased their giving from 2001. Return to the Menu Strategies to Expand the Role of Religious Charities A 27-member working group on Human Needs and Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, headed by Harris Wofford, at the request of Senators Rick Santorum (PA-R) and Joseph Liberman (CT-D) has released a report, “Harnessing Civic and Faith-Based Power to Fight Poverty.” The report makes 38 recommendations useful to Congress, federal agencies, state and local governments, and charities and foundations to help local religious and secular charities provide social – welfare service. Government agencies are urged to make clear their interpretation of applicable law regarding the effect on social service programs on the employment practices of participating religious groups. Local religious groups are urged to be open about their interpretation and application of existing laws as they impact hiring employees. Private grant makers and recipients of donations need to consider adopting common standards and principles (the report provides samples) that describes roles and responsibilities of both entities. This can reduce question and fears about where money is going by donors. Government agencies with money for social service programs need to increase the information about eligibility criteria for different faith based organizations, the standards for faith-related program content, and requirements about the separation of funds, to mention a few recommendations. These standards and more are available for $12.00. To obtain a copy, you can order by mail to: Work Group Report Orders, c/o Search for Common Ground, 1601 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009. Return to Top A Service of MBA Publishing-A subsidiary of Macduff/Bunt Associates All materials copyright protected ©2006 925 "E" Street Walla Walla, WA 99362 (509) 529-0244 FAX: (509) 529-8865 EMAIL: editor@volunteertoday.com The content of all linked sites are beyond the control Volunteer Today and the newsletter assumes no responsibility for their content.