Charity Governance

A MEDIA SURGE WHEN THE WHIP COMES DOWN: MORE LESSONS IN SETTING COMPENSATION

DATELINE: July 22, 2008

Yeah, baby, when the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
(I'll be running this town, I'll tell you)

Rolling Stones, When the Whip Comes Down from Some Girls

Talk about a surge.  It seems like the entire staff of the San Diego Union-Tribune has been covering what is a clear crisis for the Southeastern Economic Development Corp (SEDC).  For the last six days, the newspaper has posted at least one article each day, with graphs, charts, and supporting documentation also posted on the newspaper’s Web site.  Reporters Helen Gao, Matthew T. Hall, Jeff McDonald, and Jeanette Steele have all contributed to the overall story.

So here are the facts:  SEDC is charged with handling redevelopment of a 7.2 square mile area east of downtown San Diego.  Government officials have raised a series of questions about...

DOING GOOD MAY NOT BE ENOUGH: WHEN A NONPROFIT RELIES ON TAXPAYER MONEY, IT HAD BETTER KNOW THE RULES

Dateline: May 14, 2007, Chicago

Steve Bailey of the Boston Globe used his May 11, 2007 column to lament the closure of Environmental Careers Organization, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that channeled students and professionals to careers focused on protecting the environment.  The organization had been around for over 35 years, placing more than 10,000 people, according to Bailey.   ECO’s 2005 Form 990 indicates that  ECO received $377,908 in direct public support and over $13.4 million in program service revenue, including government fees and contracts.

Bailey is disturbed by the closure, which apparently stems from an investigation...