Three Degrees of Separation

Three quick strikes and we're out (just like the Yankees):

1. The Urban Institute has a wildly interesting new study about what's really going on between charities and their boards. They took the time to survey over 5000 charities of all sizes. Among their findings: Board members aren't actively involved in governing their organizations, most board members are white, many trustees are doing business with their non-profits, very few charities are actually loaning money to trustees, and giving CEOs a vote on the board is a bad idea.
   
2. The Washington Post reports that the U.S. Senate is actively pushing the Smithsonian to hire some new leaders, to move on from the cesspool of excess and corruption that brought down the previous leadership. I'm glad they're concerned now. Might have been nice if the three Senators that serve on the organization's board had given a damn a few months ago about making sure donor money was being spent appropriately.
   
3. Jean Chatzky of Money magazine has a nice story in this month's issue about how donors and volunteers can make the most of their time and money. Sure, I'm quoted, but that doesn't mean it isn't a quality piece, with good advice in it for those who seek to do more than just assuage their own guilt with their gift.