Philanthropy Books

I recently read this book as part of a class on the intersection of religion and social work. Not a topic traditionally dicussed in our graduate schools of social work, it will grow dramatically in importance as the way social services are provided to people in need.

The book begins by defining the meaning of religiously based social work. Various entites can provide social services in a religious setting, among them local congregations, interfaith agencies, national projects such as Habitat for Humanity and sectarian agencies like Catholic Social Services, relief organizations, and religiously affiliated international organizations. The book details the purposes each of these types of organizations serve, and discusses the role that they play in the provision of social services.

Part two of the book discusses the theological bases and the historical emphases on religion in social work. It reflects upon the fact that many social services started out as religiously affiliated agencies, but as social work became a profession rather than a beneficient activity, the rift between social work and religion began to grow. The authors discuss how infrequently religion arises today in the professional educational activities of social workers, such as MSW programs and professional conferences.

The book then discusses the religiously based social services provided in two locales: Philadelphia and Greensboro. The examination of religiously-based services in two areas can serve as a jumping-off point for how other locales examine their provision of services.

The intersection of religion and social work is sure to grow in importance as the federal government continues devolving responsibility for social progams to state and local government, and permits more involvement by religiously affiliated agencies. The Newer Deal is an excellent book to consider both the good and bad aspects of this fundamental change in social work.

This wonderful book explores a new and emerging area of philanthropy. A wonderful book for anyone wanting to learn about Latino giving trends. Henry A.J. Ramos has captured the essence of Latino philanthropy.

At last, we have a book which will take the place of Mary Blewitt's dated "Celestial Navigation".

These men have co-operated to write what will become the bench-mark manual for this subject which they explain in plain simple language.

I learned Celestail Navigation using the sun and stars (I learned in that order too!) using this book and have now crossed the Atlantic three times using my sextant as my main navigation instrument - and the GPS as my back-up.

There is nothing so satisfying as checking that the GPS is reading correctly using your sextant!

If you can't find at least one grant that you meet the requirements for in this book, you didn't look at the book at all! The subject index is indespensible in narrowing down the grants. I was looking for grants for our local Humane Society, so I looked up "Animal". I found listings for twenty-eight grants geared toward Animal Care and Animal Rights. I looked up each grant by it's Accession number, read the details of the grant and narrowed it down to eight that I could submit to, add that to the seven general "Non-Profits" and I've got detailed information on fifteen grants, all in the matter of one evening of looking through this very detailed book. Listings for each grant include all contact information, web site addresses if available, email addresses and requirements/restrictions. You've heard of "How-To's", well this book is a "Where-To"!

Like I said in the review title, this book (it's the 2000 edition) isn't the freshest off the press. However, much of the information remains the same from one year to the next; this should really be considered a reference book. This is a good book to have on hand for nonprofits.

The Salvation Army in the United States has galvanized into an incredibly successful fund-raising and social work organization. Murdoch's work explores the historic origins of its social justice mission. His portrayal of the Booths, the husband and wife team who founded the Army, is largely sympathetic if sometimes critical. His thesis throughout this book, convincingly demonstrated, is that the Salvation Army's social work among the urban poor was not an outgrowth of successful evangelical work among these folks, but instead a substitute in light of a ministry that consistently succeeded among suburban English Methodists rather than those in the most impoverished parts of London. Murdoch creditably seeks to distance himself from the Salvation Army apologist biographers, yet a few of his own images--Ms. Booth preaching in the West End while Mr. Booth toils in the East End, seem a bit too literary (albeit sometimes the literary is also the true). Murdoch's treatment of the autocratic, nepotic nature of the early Salvation Army is not heavy-handed, and his appreciation of the Booths' desire to make a difference rather than merely form a denomination is well-portrayed. Throughout this work, the Salvation Army seems an interesting experiment in pure Wesleyanism, leading to unpredicted failures and unlooked for success. This book is a consistently interesting read about a people from a time which, though relatively recent, seems remote now.

As one who has been in the development profession for nearly three decades, I recommend this compendium of thoughtful, well organized information --and little known tips -- for fundraising success.

Its common sense approach will help experienced staff and boards as well as novices. Whether your nonprofit organization is planning a campaign, engaged in a campaign, or just beginning to think about raising more money, Over Goal belongs in your development library.

"Painful Decisions, Positive Results" chronicles 85 years of caring through the United Way and its predecessor organizations in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a voluntary agency recognizing that government can't do it all, the United Way and its volunteers have faced tough decisions about where and how to spend the dollars its has raised over the years: "Prevent or remediate?" "Young people or the elderly?" "Urban or suburban?" "Individuals or groups?" "Neighborhoods, cities, counties or state?"

"In eighty-five years, there has never been enough money to meet all of the health and human service needs of the Greater Cincinnati region. For United Way & Community Chest, many decisions have been painful...but, nearly every result has been positive."

Perhaps Aft's greatest contribution is to use this survey of history and look into the future for United Ways and the charitable sector.

His recommendations for moving into the 21st Century include the following: "Celebrate the fact that your decisions make a difference every day...." and "Maintain the relentless determination...'to prevent and alleviate human suffering.'"

There have been few published histories of United Way: Aft's fills that gap in a very readable way.

It has been nearly a decade since the first foreign NGO was permitted to begin famine relief operations in the DPRK. Since then the NGOs have had not only a significant humanitarian impact but a political one as well. This timely volume is filled with penetrating insights into the complex interplay between the DPRK, the NGOs, and the NGOs' home governments, and is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the Korean peninsula today.

The following review by Allen J. Casey was printed in the July 2004 issue of THE COUNCIL REVIEW, North Carolina Council of the Blind:

"Do you like political intrigue, mystery, suspense? Do you like power struggles, infighting, petty squabbles, and adults behaving like children? Do you like challenges, bold decisions, and selfless commitment? If you do, you will love 'People of Vision: a History of the American Council of the Blind'.

This fact-filled, well-researched work by James and Marjorie Megivern offers all of the above and more. So much more, in fact, that you will need to take frequent breaks to digest mentally the flood of information, and to focus clearly on the hundreds of players whose lives give the book its soul.

We are quickly introduced to the intellectual roots of the blind and visually impaired community, from Galileo who lost his vision in the old age to John Milton who created his greatest literary works after losing his eyesight. Throughout the book we experience courage in the face of painful criticism. And, we are reassured of the importance of sustaining faith in the worth of the individual.

You should not be surprised to learn that one of our own is featured in the telling of [the American Council of the Blind's] story. Theodore Bryant, a founding member of the North Carolina Council of the Blind, reflects on the expulsion of North Carolina from the National Federation of the Blind more than 40 years ago.

'People of Vision' gives considerable attention to the political struggles within the Federation leading ultimately to the formation of the ACB in 1962. It is more, however, than a series of war stories, though there are many interesting stories woven into the narrative. It lays out the development of the cooperative movement among the blind; the background of and the challenges to the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America (RSVA); the evolution of local, state, national and international organizations; the development of Braille; and, the origins of radio reading services.

While we do not live in a perfect world today, we are made aware of how far we have come from the early belief that the blindness of a child could be attributed to the sins of the parents. We learn that those who came before us wrestled not only with a disability but also with popular bias, and with public ignorance. How times have not changed!

Among the important lessons we learn is that 'People of Vision' is our history. This fact alone makes is special. It is our story. This makes it compelling reading. I will not reveal the entire plot to you. I don't want to spoil the ending.

But, I will say: If you have not read 'People of Vision', what are you waiting for?"