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Most older Americans give money to charity and volunteer, study finds

October 29, 2009

Seventy-six percent of Americans over age 50 say they donate money to causes they support, and 53 percent said they do volunteer work, a recent survey shows.The volunteerism and charitable gift survey was conducted by The Hartford Financial of a

Seattle-based philanthropy network adds two outposts

Group's newest chapter opens in New York City; others are in the works

October 29, 2009

Clay Holtzman

Despite the recession's blow to many portfolios, the downturn hasn't slowed down a Seattle-originated initiative to help financial advisers better guide their clients in philanthropic giving."The interest from advisers remains high; the capacity

Arc of Spokane helps clients, including model, pursue dreams

Nonprofit here that serves developmentally disabled plans move next summer

October 29, 2009

David Cole

Kelli Higgins wants to pursue a career in modeling.The 31-year-old Spokane Valley resident loves having her picture taken, has a defined sense of style, likes to hit the mall to shop for clothes, and enjoys the popular TV show "America's Next Top

In-kind donations take on larger role during recession

As money flow dries up, some companies boost noncash contributions

October 29, 2009

Deirdre Gregg

Last year alone, Portland-based Columbia Sportswear Co. donated about 6,400 pounds of shoes—some of which otherwise might have been scrapped—to nonprofits including Seattle-based World Vision and Portland-based Mercy Corps.Shoes, gear,

Nonprofit executive pay might fall

Big sums paid to top talent under more scrutiny now due to recession concerns

October 29, 2009

Clay Holtzman

Anxiety over the recession and big payouts on Wall Street are spilling over into the charity sector, putting pay for top talent under pressure—and under the microscope—for the first time in years.While nonprofit executive salaries in a

Preparers here advise clients to plan for big tax changes

Businesses, individuals urged to strategize to reduce exposure to hikes

October 29, 2009

Mike McLean

Tax professionals here are urging their clients to forge tax strategies now for changes ahead.The health-care legislation Congress is busy working on now likely will be funded in part by higher tax rates on individuals and businesses in upper of

Encouraging donations

Though seeing steep cuts in other funding, nonprofits say fundraising is improving

October 29, 2009

Jeanne Gustafson

Nonprofits here say fundraising efforts so far this year have been encouraging—and in some cases tremendous—despite the continuing recession. That, they say, is very good news, considering that social-service needs are rising in the down

Health insurance fraud isn't confined to public markets

University report finds problem is pervasive in private-insurance sector

October 29, 2009

A recent report from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, in Washington, D.C., challenges the notion that fraud is a problem only in public health insurance markets and finds that fraud is a systemwide and

Benefit of dialysis for nursing home seniors questioned

Suffering from treatment might outweigh plusses, Stanford research finds

October 29, 2009

Older Americans living in nursing homes experience a significant decline in their ability to perform simple daily tasks—such as feeding themselves, getting dressed, or brushing their teeth—after starting dialysis, say researchers at the a

Premiums for some health plans exorbitant, study finds

Workers in certain states shell out thousands more than the national average

October 29, 2009

One in 10 enrolled workers in Alaska, Indiana, and Minnesota were in health insurance plans costing $20,000 or more—at least $7,000 more than the national average—for employer-based health insurance premiums that covered their families in