The Folies Bergère opened in 1869 in Paris, France as a music hall for operettas, pantomime and political meetings. The hall was a categorical failure until the 1870s when it began to stage vaudeville—shows that featured a snake charmer, acrobats, trained elephants, a boxing kangaroo and the world’s tallest man. The public was allowed to drink and socialize in the indoor garden and promenade of the theater, and the Folies soon became synonymous with the carnal temptations of the French capital. In 1886 the Folies Bergère underwent new management, and the first revue-style music hall show, the “Place aux Jeunes,” was staged on November 30. The elaborate show featured scantily clad chorus girls with spectacular costumes and sets. Following the taste for striptease, the Folies was quickly established as the premier nightspot in Paris with as many as 40 sets, 1,000 costumes and a backstage crew of approximately 200 people. And now that we’ve got your attention, check out these five nonprofit headlines from the news this week.
2017 has been a year filled with natural disasters—tragedies that implored donors to contribute to disaster relief, charities and nonprofit organizations. Yet that did not hinder #GivingTuesday from reaching a new record this week. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the 2017 #GivingTuesday Data Project reported $274 million raised from more than 2.5 million contributions—a 55 percent increase from last year. Click on the link above from The NonProfit Times to read more about the fundraising platforms and various campaigns that contributed to the success of this year’s #GivingTuesday.
2. From Partnership to Entrepreneurship
Nonprofit organizations that engage in partnerships are provided an opportunity to widen the scope of their impact. According to Forbes, nonprofits that work with companies in different regions are able to solve new problems for underserved populations by facilitating stronger community infrastructures and cultivating entrepreneur-friendly environments. As partnerships are nurtured, new entrepreneurial opportunities are created and future business leaders emerge as a byproduct of those philanthropic ventures. Is your nonprofit considering potential partners? Check out the link above to discover three factors by which to evaluate candidates.
3. Corporate Arts Giving is on the Rise
According to a recent study by CECP, titled Giving in Numbers, support for culture and arts is on the rise. The study, which evaluated corporate giving and employee engagement data from the world’s largest companies, reported giving to culture and arts programs had increased by 48 percent between the years 2014 and 2016. The study also cited research on the positive impact of the arts in terms of improving health, safety and well-being. An article from Inside Philanthropy suggests these findings help to reinforce the marketing strategies of arts organizations that are leveraging their community impact when appealing to donors and future employees. Curious how the arts can affect your organization’s balance sheet? Follow the link above for further analysis of the study’s findings.
4. Nonprofits Responsible for Decreased Crime Rate?
Marked by all-too-frequent mass shootings and acts of violence, it is no secret that the United States faces many challenges. Yet, according to Nonprofit Quarterly, the past two decades have seen a remarkable decline in crime. And it is nonprofit organizations that may have contributed largely to that decline. Research suggests that while not every nonprofit plays a role in reducing violence, the organizations that focus on summer jobs for teenagers, in-school programming, behavioral therapy and tutoring can have a direct impact on crime rates. That being said, it is possible that these community-based organizations are vital to the effort to control violence within the communities they serve. Does your nonprofit have a strategy in place to help foster members of its community and curb violence? Explore the link above to find evidence of the potential organizations have to build stronger communities and reduce violent crime rates.
5. How National Nonprofits Meet Local Needs
Nonprofit organizations are oftentimes evaluated more on the happenings of the local level rather than what is occurring nationally. So how can national nonprofits meet the needs of their communities in a way that mollifies local factions? According to Forbes, organizations that have hundreds of offices around the country operate in a way that is similar to franchises. This level of autonomy can present both challenges and benefits to the nonprofit—while the fairly decentralized structure requires extra diligence in terms of consistency, communication and quality control, the flexibility helps to meet the needs of local supporters. Is your national nonprofit working to better address local impact? Click the link above to discover three takeaways to help your organization stay connected with the communities it serves.
That’s it for this week’s Friday Five! We’ll be daydreaming about Paris during La Belle Époche—a time of such sweet joie de vivre, new forms of entertainment and the perfection of champagne. See you next week!
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