Ellen Annala has less than a year to lead United Way of Central Indiana through a multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign and launch a five-year strategy. At the same time, the not-for-profit’s board has its own challenge: finding someone to take over when Annala retires April 1.
Charitable giving grew 4 percent nationally in 2011, but the increase was less than 1 percent after adjusting for inflation, according to a report released Tuesday by the Giving USA Foundation and The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
The agreement to sell the organization’s items online and in stores is part of a multiyear partnership in which Indianapolis-based Finish Line has agreed to lend support to Special Olympics.
United Way of Central Indiana is projecting that its 2011 annual campaign will raise a record-breaking $40.6 million, topping the previous high of $39 million in 2007.
Spurred by fundraising campaigns by local television stations, more than $1 million has been raised to help victims of last week’s devastating tornadoes in southern Indiana. In addition to doing a good thing, the stations are getting a marketing boost from their efforts.
Researchers say the study was the first to examine return-on-investment from donating merchandize vs. liquidating or destroying it.
Nationwide, Americans gave $346 billion to charitable causes in 2011, an increase of 7.5 percent over the previous year. Hoosiers gave $6.4 billion last year, a bump of 6.4 percent from the previous year, according to Atlas of Giving.
The company's G-Team helps raise small amounts of money for specific projects, but its real attraction is the potential exposure to thousands of Groupon users.
United Way of Central Indiana hopes to raise a record $39.2 million in its next campaign, which would surpass its 2007 fundraising level.
In a promotion fit for the economy, United Way of Central Indiana will try to lure donors by offering them access to discounts from national and local retailers.
The not-for-profit announced Wednesday morning that it has eliminated nearly $2 million in debt from six different creditors and has launched a fundraising campaign.
United Way of Central Indiana will reserve about $2.65 million, or nearly 7 percent of the $38.2 million it raised in its annual campaign, to cover uncollected pledges from Hoosiers who lose their jobs.
Johnson Grossnickle and Associates in Greenwood announced Wednesday that firm veteran Angela White will replace co-founder Ted Grossnickle as CEO.
Eli Lilly and Co. plans to give $2.5 million toward a new fundraising campaign by the Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based education reform group.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy says the center underestimated drops in charitable giving during the recession.
Projects involving youth received the biggest chunk of money this year from the Golden Eagle Environmental Grants program.
Gift from USA Funds will allow organization to help more high-achieving, low-income teens prepare for college.
The Cincinnati, Ohio-based grocer announced Wednesday a new three-year, $3.8 million investment that will support library grants, schools and a literacy initiative across Indianapolis.
Gleaners Food Bank plans to buy a refrigerated truck to supply more fresh produce, dairy and meat to central Indiana pantries, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Kraft Foods.
The grant from JPMorgan Chase Foundation clears the way for construction of the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center.
