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E-Newsletter -- August, 2004
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In This Issue:
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What Pitt is Doing Right -- and Wrong -- In Getting $350 Million in NIH Grants |
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Special Events and AV Needs |
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IRS to Investigate Nonprofit Executive Compensation |
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Alpha Center Receives $850,000 Federal Grant |
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Please Share With a Colleague! |
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Featured Links:
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What Pitt is Doing Right -- and Wrong -- In Getting $350 Million in NIH Grants
The June 28 issue of The Wall Street Journal featured a page one story on the University of Pittsburgh's success in attracting $350 million a year in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Pitt uses several successful grantsmanship techniques -- internal peer review and networking, to name just two.
However, there are troubling signs on the horizon for Pitt. NIH funding is not expanding as it did in recent years, and there's more competition for the available funds. Pitt has invested over $200 million in a building it expects to be supported by grant-funded projects. That's a large commitment to make when talking about grants, and especially when speaking of grants from one predominant funder.
Also, there is the ethical issue of Pitt paying bonuses to scientists for securing grants -- a practice frowned on by fund raising professional societies.
We've compiled a brief analysis of the good and bad points on our web site. How does your grants development program stack up?
Special Events and AV Needs
Special Events Galore!, a newsletter published by Stevenson, Inc., recently published a set of tips we developed for intelligent basic use of audio/visual (AV) equipment in special events and presentations.
We've posted the tips on our web site, along with a link to Stevenson, Inc., the publisher. The tips are simple, but often overlooked. It's amazing how often the simple things make or break an event!
IRS to Investigate Nonprofit Executive Compensation
On August 10, the Internal Revenue Service announced a new enforcement effort to identify and halt abuses by tax-exempt organizations that pay excessive compensation and benefits to their officers and other insiders.
As part of the Tax Exempt Compensation Enforcement Project, the IRS will contact nearly 2,000 charities and foundations to seek more information about their compensation practices and procedures. The IRS said the enforcement project will consist of examinations as well as other contacts. Because part of the project’s objective is to gather information regarding current practices, contact by the IRS should not necessarily imply improper activity by an organization.
US. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), chairs the Senate Finance Committee and has been spearheading the drafting of new nonprofit accountability legislation. He welcomes the IRS announcement, though considering the IRS action overdue.
Alpha Center Receives $850,000 Federal Grant
Congratulations to the Alpha Center of Sioux Falls, SD, which applied for and received a three-year, $850,000 grant from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
This SPRANS (special projects of regional and national significance) grant will fund outreach abstinence education efforts and curriculum materials for schools and communities in eastern South Dakota. Project staff and volunteers will team with school teachers and administrators to deliver abstinence education and facilitate the adoption of abstinence education curricula in schools.
Please Share With a Colleague!
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Use the link on the newsletter, or have your colleague submit their e-mail address on the home page of our web site. It's that easy!
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