It’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is recognized each October. The annual observance began in 1981 as a day of unity to bring together battered women’s advocates across the country by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Domestic violence affects millions of men and women around the world. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1.3 million women and about 835,000 men are victims of physical violence from their partner each and every year. However, domestic violence expands further than just bruises and black eyes, it’s humiliation, manipulation, threats, isolation, stalking and more. 

Philanthropic Strategies During the Pandemic & Pre-Election

Today, Charity Navigator has been graciously provided with an exclusive, first-hand account of charitable planning and giving by a married couple that utilize Charity Navigator’s tools and resources to inform their giving.  As donors who look at their support as an investment in the future of causes close to their hearts, they have remained committed to philanthropy during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how they structured their investment strategy before and, now, during months of an economic recession. 

Steps in advance of COVID-19

We have taken a number of steps in advance of major events that can ensure that we could continue to donate to nonprofit organizations.

Donors are looking for tools to help guide their giving in the pandemic.

When the pandemic hit the U.S. in March 2020, nonprofits across the country immediately mobilized to provide support in innumerable ways. Donors realized that donations were needed to support COVID-19 relief efforts, in addition to the charities they were already supporting. Those who were in a position to make additional donations gave generously. 

As a grantmaker, Vanguard Charitable has the privilege of working with donors as they support charities on the current crisis's front lines. Vanguard Charitable’s donors have given in record numbers because they are uniquely positioned to spring into action, with charitable funds already primed for sending. 

Navigating Access to Breast Cancer Detection, Prevention and Treatment Amid the Pandemic

According to our June 2020 survey of Star rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 54% of respondents have cut back on program services due to the pandemic/economic shutdown. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating. 

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and 

adaptation look like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent 

economic crisis from the Breast Cancer Alliance.

There are few words more terrifying for a patient to hear than “you have cancer.” While this COVID-19 pandemic has left all of us in its wake, be it the isolation, loss of jobs, health insurance, compromised health or the loss of a loved one, there has perhaps never been a more frightening time to be grappling with a cancer diagnosis as well.

ImpactMatters and Charity Navigator have joined forces to rate nonprofit impact

Written by Tamsin Chen, Elijah Goldberg and Masha Winchell — former staff of ImpactMatters and now members of Charity Navigator’s new Impact Unit. The Impact Unit leads the development of the Encompass Rating System’s Impact & Results beacon.

An announcement...We’re excited to share two very big pieces of news today.

ImpactMatters — the organization we started five years ago to help donors find high-impact nonprofits — has been acquired by Charity Navigator. As of today, we are officially part of the Charity Navigator team, tasked with developing the Impact & Results beacon of the new Encompass Rating System.

Today also marks the very first time that Charity Navigator is rating nonprofits on their impact — something it has long hoped to do in service of its mission to “make impactful philanthropy easier for all.” These ratings were originally produced by ImpactMatters and have now been adapted for the Encompass Rating System. We are so proud that our work has catalyzed Charity Navigator’s venture into impact rating.

Embracing the Culture and Challenges in Disaster Recovery Work in Tribal Communities

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  No matter how a state may reference the day, whether it is recognized as Native American Day, First Peoples’ Day, or American Indian Day, in Indian Country, it is a day to celebrate people and communities who have responded with resiliency to European explorers' atrocities and the colonization that followed. 

Some states continue to mark “Columbus Day” for Christopher Columbus, but in 1990, South Dakota became the first state to recognize the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous people in the U.S.  The Pew Research Center says 21 states have this day as a state holiday, with 13 states and dozens of cities recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day. 

From Function to Feeling: Crafting a Values-First Story to Create a Deeper Connection with Donors

While working with purpose-driven organizations on branding and storytelling for the last twenty years here at Hyperakt, we’ve learned a lot about what lights a fire in nonprofit audiences. One of our favorite frameworks to apply to the field of mission-driven work is inspired by Simon Sinek’s golden circle: that there are three fundamental components to how you introduce yourself.  

Say it with me: “So, what do you do?” Not the most spine-tingling conversation starter, right? What about:

• “What motivates you?” 
• “What are your values?” 
• “What’s your reason for being?” 

Now we’re talking. 

Employee Giving: 4 Ways to Make the Most of Giving Programs

Corporate giving programs are a powerful resource in which businesses contribute to the charitable organizations their employees support, either through donations or volunteer hours. 

Any nonprofit can benefit from corporate giving. However, many either underestimate these programs or simply don’t know they exist. But through corporate giving, supporters can make the most of their contributions, corporations get a positive public image, and organizations receive the funds to pursue their missions!

Charity Navigator certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’

Charity Navigator has been certified as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture, for the first time this year. In order to achieve certification, 70% of employees must respond having had a consistently positive experience at the workplace, however, survey results from Charity Navigator employees hit and exceeded that benchmark. A unanimous 100% of employees responded that Charity Navigator is, in their opinion, a great place to work. 

The certification is based on direct employee feedback provided through an anonymous survey about their experience working at Charity Navigator, enabling honesty in the results. The survey and rating system used by Great Place to Work is based on over 25 years of global research in understanding employee perspective on what makes their workplace culture great and how companies can improve.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities. This month offers a time for Americans with roots in Hispanic countries and cultures to honor their heritage and to recognize the impact these cultures have had on American society as we know it today. 

Early Education Taskforce: Helping Providers Navigate the Child Care Crisis

According to our June 2020 survey of Star rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations

have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 54% of respondents have cut back on program services due to the pandemic/economic shutdown. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating. 

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and 

adaptation look like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent 

economic crisis from The Family Conservancy.

The Family Conservancy’s (TFC) work to improve the early education system has enabled them to forge close partnerships with thousands of child care providers and programs in the Kansas City Community. Over the years, these partnerships have deepened TFC’s understanding of challenges and opportunities facing the sector. 

Nonprofit Hackathons: Hacking for Social Good

If you are anything like me, the word “hackathon” makes you think of an emergent breach in security or people secretly stealing digital information from a government or business. Though this may have been how every data theft movie portrayed this idea, today, “hacking” no longer exclusively implies criminal intrusion. 

Hackathons now refer to marathon-styled events where groups of people come together to problem-solve. Most commonly held within the technology industry, these events traditionally involve computer programmers and others collaborating on software development with a specific focus on designing and building out functioning applications or programs. 

3 Reasons Wealth Screening is Critical During a Crisis

The challenges of nonprofit fundraising have been made even more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, it’s more important than ever to conduct thorough prospect research to ensure campaign success. And a key component of this research is wealth screening.

Wealth screening is research that determines a donor’s giving capacity by examining indicators like real estate holdings, stock information, past charitable giving, and other records.

Encompassing a Nonprofit's Story Begins with the Form 990

For nearly two decades, Charity Navigator has helped donors make better giving decisions and served to strengthen the sector in the process by promoting greater accountability and transparency practices. Until recently, our ratings applied to a subset of organizations that were predominantly older, larger, and better funded. This year, we set out to expand both the scope and depth of our ratings by developing a new rating system that encompasses over 150,000 charities and enables our site users to assess financial health metrics within the greater context of the organization’s overall effectiveness. 

Remote Learning in East Los Angeles during COVID-19

According to our June 2020 survey of Star rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 54% of respondents have cut back on program services due to the pandemic/economic shutdown. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating.

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and adaptation look like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis from PUENTE Learning Center.

Over the last several months, PUENTE has adapted to COVID-19 by providing high-quality distance learning, handing out laptops to families in need, and distributing free meals to our community members. Even though the way we deliver programs has changed, our mission remains the same.

6 Ways to Expand the Impact of Your COVID-19 Giving

We have seen incredible generosity since the outbreak of the pandemic. A new report on philanthropy and COVID-19 giving by Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) offers a jaw-dropping figure: Institutional grantmakers and major donors gave more than $11.9 billion in response to the global pandemic during the first half of 2020 alone. 

This amount is nothing short of inspiring. For comparison, it is 16 times more than funding for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria – combined. But now, more than any other time in recent history, philanthropy in all forms must continue to strive toward generosity that is as unprecedented as this pandemic is. 

Helping Voting and Democracy in a Pandemic

According to our June 2020 survey of Star rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 54% of respondents have cut back on program services due to the pandemic/economic shutdown. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating. 

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and adaptation look like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis from FairVote.

FairVote is a nonpartisan organization considered to be one of the leading electoral reform organizations working to give voters a stronger voice on Election Day. In a year when many people care deeply about a fair process where everyone can cast a vote that counts without compromising their health, we’ve been busy.

Tips from the IRS: Preparing for Natural Disasters Amidst Hurricane Season

As we've entered into National Preparedness Month, the Internal Revenue Service reminds people to create or maintain an emergency preparedness plan. A well-thought-out plan is a critical component for surviving natural disasters. Taxpayers, whether individuals, organizations or businesses, should take time now to create or update their emergency plans. 

 

A solid plan includes securing and duplicating essential documents, such as receipts for charitable giving, creating lists of property and knowing where to find information once a disaster has occurred. 

Labor Day 2020: 10 Nonprofits Advocating and Fighting for Workers’ Rights

For many, Labor Day means just two things: a long weekend and the end of the summer. As we prepare to trade vacations and warm weather for heading back to school and work, we celebrate this holiday with a day off. So why, then, do we call it “labor” day?

A creation of the labor movement in the late 1800s, labor unions advocated for a day off to recognize the working men and women of this country. The first Monday of September was originally decided upon as it falls directly in-between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Nationally adopted as a holiday in 1894, we continue to recognize this occasion as a tribute to the contribution workers have made to the success of this country.

Top 3 Reasons to Vote by Mail in November and Beyond

 On the fence about voting by mailing? Due to the pandemic, the number of voters who vote by mail in this November’s election is likely to greatly exceed all previous elections. Personally, I’ve been voting by mail for the past three years and can’t imagine switching back to in-person voting. Read on to discover my Top 3 Reasons to Vote by Mail in November and Beyond.

A record nine states plus the District of Columbia are automatically sending all of their registered voters vote-by-mail ballots for the upcoming election. Those nine states are California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Vermont. 

Back to school during COVID-19: How a safe, decent, and healthy home plays a role in student success

According to our June 2020 survey of Star rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 54% of respondents have cut back on program services due to the pandemic/economic shutdown. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating. 

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and adaptation look like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis from Habitat for Humanity.

Around this time last year, students, parents and teachers across the country prepared for

another school year. They purchased school supplies, set up their classrooms, packed lunches,

and everyone shared the anticipation of what was supposed to be an exciting year.

Prospect Research: Tips for Better Fundraising | Part 2

In our previous blog post, we covered the basics of getting started with prospect research, how to clean up your data, and the importance of corporate giving programs.

In this second part, we’ll offer additional tips and insights on how to successfully implement prospect research and leverage it for better fundraising.

Prospect Research: Tips for Better Fundraising | Part 1

Prospect research is a powerful tool used by nonprofit organizations to generate new insights on donors and prospects. Using this information, fundraisers can then identify who is most able and likely to donate to their nonprofit.

Portraits of Leadership: Maintaining Momentum on Nonprofit Teams During COVID-19

As a design studio that serves mission-driven organizations—from the UN Refugee Agency to Girls Who Code—Hyperakt has gotten to know an incredible array of leaders who are moving our world forward. During this year of unprecedented societal upset, we spoke with 20+ executives to capture how organizations are digging into their “why” and reinventing their “how” in a digital interview series, Portraits of Leadership. 

Culture Over COVID

1) Culture Over COVID

One of the most asked questions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic (aside from, “What have you watched on Netflix?”) has been about what our ‘new normal’ will look like. For many, 2020 on the whole has been a series of adapting to ‘new normals’. It’s also been a year of simply learning to grapple with uncertainty. Now that lots of folks have had ample time to settle into a routine of working from home, yet another ‘new normal’ (“new-new?”) rears its head: returning to offices.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion on Nonprofit Boards

Racial injustice and systemic inequality stands at the forefront of our collective thoughts, where in the midst of COVID-19, underserved communities are most closely at-risk. Now is the time to self-analyze and reflect, to find those spaces where equality can be enhanced and systemically perpetuated. No action is too small to matter or too large to fathom, and for the world of nonprofit organizations, it starts at the top.

ReWild Long Island Finds Creative, Covid-Safe Ways To Serve Its Community—Both Online And On The Ground

According to our June 2020 survey of Star rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 54% of respondents have cut back on program services due to the pandemic/economic shutdown. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating.

 

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and adaptation
look like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis
from ReWild Long Island*.

ReWild Long Island is a true self-starter organization. From its origins as a small community group in 2017, it has grown into a dedicated team of environmental activists and avid gardeners united around a shared mission: to protect and improve the biodiversity, resilience and health of regional ecosystems by adopting sustainable horticultural practices focused on native plants.

Bridges to Prosperity: A Name. A Mission.

A leader in rural pedestrian infrastructure becomes a leader in COVID-safe construction

According to our June 2020 survey of Star rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 54% of respondents have cut back on program services due to the pandemic/economic shutdown. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating.

3 Ways to Improve Engagement at Your Online Auction

With COVID-19 in full force, nonprofits have gotten creative with fundraising techniques to adhere to social distancing guidelines. With their work as important as ever, organizations don’t have the option to pause their efforts. Luckily, today’s technology simplifies the shift to online fundraising, even charity auctions!

The Encompass Rating System: At Launch, a Reflection on Why We Rate

Written by Stephen Rockwell, Chief Ratings Technology Officer at Charity Navigator. Stephen is leading the team of charity analysts, program specialists, and development engineers that will launch the new rating methodology and criteria. Read the preceding five installments here. 

Less than a week away from launching our new rating system, our team was as busy as you might think, making a number of last-minute decisions about the score visuals, naming the overall rating system and the underlying indicators, and a myriad of adjustments to the nonprofit profile pages.  Well, today is launch day, and we are immensely proud of our entire team’s achievement.  Welcome to the Encompass Rating System!

2020 and the Year of Virtual Internships: Meet the Charity Navigator Interns

This Thursday, July 30th is National Intern Day. It’s a day to celebrate and recognize our future leaders. This year’s intern class has arguably faced obstacles and challenges no other cohort has endured. 

While internships this year are virtual, the virtual work experience truly mirrors real-life scenarios that no one could have predicted. And just because this year is a virtual experience, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate our Charity Navigator interns. Our team has worked hard to give our interns projects that help make a difference, while also giving them a taste of the real world. Continue reading to learn more about each intern and how they’re making a difference at Charity Navigator!

Behind the Scenes at Charity Navigator: The Analyst Team

As the charitable sector grows and evolves, we here at Charity Navigator pride ourselves on our ability to make impactful philanthropy easier for all. We accomplish this by providing a variety of tools on our website to empower donors and to help them make informed decisions in their charitable giving. These tools span from our Ratings Profiles, Advisory System, Hot Topic lists, Giving Basket, and so much more. 

Microphilanthropy 101

Like everything in the world, nothing is certain. Weather patterns shift, the stock market fluctuates, new technology trends emerge, and consumer behaviors evolve. No industry is exempt from the precarity of change, not even philanthropy. Historically, philanthropy was an exclusive activity of the wealthy, where guests would attend high profile events to write large checks or bid on coveted items. With the introduction of the web and social media, philanthropy is now more accessible and transparent to the everyday person. While microphilanthropy used to be seen as the underdog of philanthropy, it is beginning to punch well above its weight.

Organizing “Days of Service” during COVID-19

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges, especially for organizations relying on volunteers.

If you are one of those organizations, in a normal July, you might be planning (or planning to be a part of) an annual “Day of Service” and connecting with corporate volunteers. But this year, you might be considering canceling (or vastly rethinking) these critical events.

Highlights of the New Nonprofit Profile Page

Written by Stephen Rockwell, Chief Ratings Technology Officer at Charity Navigator. Stephen is leading the team of charity analysts, program specialists, and development engineers that will launch the new rating methodology and criteria. Read the preceding four installments here. 

World Animal Protection and Its Renewed Fight to End The Global Wildlife Trade

According to our June 2020 survey of rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, almost 56% of respondents are reporting an increased demand in programs. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities in need, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating.

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and adaptation look like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis from the World Animal Protection.

What Factors of Organizational Effectiveness are Important to You?

Written by Stephen Rockwell, Chief Ratings Technology Officer at Charity Navigator. Stephen is leading the team of charity analysts, program specialists, and development engineers that will launch the new rating methodology and criteria. Read the preceding three installments here. 

4 Ways to Safely Celebrate Independence Day This Year

Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸It's that time of year again where we celebrate the birth of our country. Except this year, things are a little different -- and in more ways than one. Reopening states have been put on pause as COVID-19 cases have surged. That’s why it’s more important than ever to wear a mask, stay home if you can, and celebrate the Fourth of July as safely as possible.

The New Virtual Classroom: The Cathedral Arts Project, educating and inspiring during the Coronavirus pandemic

According to our June 2020 survey of rated nonprofits, 72% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, almost 56% of respondents are reporting an increased demand in programs. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities in need, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating.

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and adaptation looks like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis from The Rev. Kimberly L. Hyatt, President & CEO, Cathedral Arts Project in Jacksonville, Florida.

COVID-19 Isn’t Just an Inconvenience for Children with Disabilities – It’s a Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of our youth’s daily lives, but the effects are especially acute for over 7 million U.S. children living with disabilities. While all children have had to cope with the isolation from their friends (and forced sheltering in place with their family members), adapting to online learning, and missing major milestones like prom and graduation, COVID-19 brings more than an inconvenience to physically-challenged children (and their caregivers) – it may actually threaten their safety and well-being.

Changing the World Begins With Changing the Way We See Each Other

“Animals.”

“Invaders.”

“An infestation.”

Refugees have had every cruel, dehumanizing label thrown at them. They’ve been scapegoated, demonized, and politicized. This is what inevitably happens when you reduce a person to an abstraction. It’s true for every form of violence and oppression—whether we’re talking about the refugee crisis in the Middle East or systemic racism in the United States.

This is the way things are. But it’s not the way things have to be.

The Importance of Research: Ensuring Your Support Goes Where You Intend

With the COVID-19 pandemic came an outpouring of philanthropic giving.  It is possibly one of the few silver linings to occur during a very difficult time.  Similarly, during the last three weeks, as our nation has been reckoning with racial injustice, there has been another significant wave of giving.  Americans are reaching deep into their pockets to support nonprofits of all sizes fighting for equality.

Blood Donation Makes Me Feel Alive: A Dedicated Donor Shares his Special Relationship with the American Red Cross on World Blood Donor Day

A Message from the American Red Cross:

Sunday, June 14, was World Blood Donor Day, and the American Red Cross is especially grateful to the blood donors who help to ensure a diverse blood supply is available for patients battling cancer, sickle cell disease, those involved in car accidents or undergoing planned and unexpected surgeries. Patients in need across the United States depend on the generosity of blood donors to ensure their needs are met as we all navigate the uncertainties of COVID-19.

During this time, the Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelets. If you are healthy, feeling well and eligible to donate please help us ensure blood is available for patients in need by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule an appointment to give.

­­Adapting in the Face of COVID-19: CorpsAfrica Finds Innovative Ways to Respond to New Demands In A Crisis

According to our survey of rated nonprofits, 83% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 50% of respondents are reporting an increased demand in programs. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities in need, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating.

Today, we are honored to share a first-hand account of what innovation and adaptation looks like during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis from Liz Fanning, Founder and Executive Director of CorpsAfrica*, a human services and development nonprofit headquartered in New York City, serving communities in four African nations.

Providing a Window into the Mission - Visual Explorations

Written by Stephen Rockwell, Chief Ratings Technology Officer at Charity Navigator. Stephen is leading the team of charity analysts, program specialists, and development engineers that will launch the new rating methodology and criteria. Read the preceding two installments here.

As Charity Navigator evolves the rating system, we are considering ways to improve the visual interface of not just the ratings, but also the website. I came into the organization with a deep appreciation of the history of Charity Navigator, but also dissatisfied with a rather dated website design built with older technologies.  Therefore, we are evolving all three aspects of how we deliver the product at the same time: the ratings methodology and visual design, the website user interface and design of a nonprofit profile, and the underlying technologies that power both ratings and the website. We believe that we will deliver a much better experience that paints a more complete picture of the important work in which nonprofits engage the users and donors who rely on Charity Navigator.

The Global Pandemic and the Environment: Unexpected Effects, Cautions and Reminders

COVID-19 shocked the world, forcing us inside for months. While cases have declined in many areas, data shows that the virus is still deadly and continues to spread. Economies aren’t built to withstand the repercussions of a pandemic. U.S. government leaders and healthcare advocates have had to balance the need for the country to get back to work, in order to prevent a spiral into a deep economic depression, while instituting new, stringent health and safety measures for businesses. In the past two weeks, thousands have taken to the streets to protest against police brutality and to honor the #BlackLivesMatter movement—an international human rights campaign against violence and systemic racism toward Black people. The cause is so important that people are willing to risk exposure to the virus.

Black AIDS Institute: Resilient, Focused and Determined

According to our survey of rated nonprofits, 83% of organizations have suffered financially due to the pandemic. Additionally, 50% of respondents are reporting an increased demand in programs. To overcome this disruption and to continue to serve communities in need, many nonprofits are adapting and innovating.

We are honored to showcase the Black AIDS Institute (BAI) (★★★) in our Innovation Series. The series provides an opportunity for nonprofits to share how they have delivered on their missions during the COVID-19 pandemic.  BAI’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Raniyah Copeland, and Director of Development, Aaron Chandler, provides a behind-the-scenes look at their ‘new normal.'

How to get an Internship at a Nonprofit

There’s no denying that the job market is a little scary right now with the unemployment rate almost at 15% in the United States. Chances are you know someone who received an amazing full-time or internship offer months ago, but it ended up being rescinded due to the coronavirus pandemic. Though unfortunate, it’s no surprise companies had to ensure the safety of their employees and the health of their organization first. 

Preserving Your Mental Health During Times of Crisis: Tips from a Psychologist

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  In our effort to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health afflictions, I sat down (virtually) with Dr. Julie Lehane, a licensed psychologist, who shared easily-adaptable activities and behaviors that we can incorporate into our daily lives to help reduce anxiety while improving our overall mood. (You can listen to our conversation here.)

The Death of Conventional Fundraising

We live in a world of information overload, where our attention is constantly being seized by promotions, sales pitches, and newsletters. Inboxes have been embedded with smart technology, filtering mass emails into folders called "promotions", and telephone recognition software is making it harder for conventional fundraising phone banks to get through.

A Quick Look at Zakat — Islam’s Obligatory Alms on Wealth

This year, the holy month of Ramadan in Islam, which concludes with a period of giving, is more poignant than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged businesses and industry, leaving millions struggling to survive financially. As unemployment numbers increase, and as social services are strained, zakat this year will undoubtedly impact the lives with a greater appreciation for many Muslims. In today’s blog, Zakat Foundation of America (★★★★) explores the origins of zakat, the role it plays in Islam, and the impact it has on society.