Monthly Archives: May 2022

64% of American donors diversified their giving strategy to include new charities

MALVERN, Pa., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1 in 3 (37%) American donors (defined as those who donated to charity in the past 12 months) gave half or more of their charitable contributions to disaster relief efforts in the last year, such as the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, COVID-19 relief, and relief in the wake of natural disasters like wildfires or other crises. The online survey of more than 1,300 American donors conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Vanguard Charitable, a leading nonprofit that administers donor-advised funds (DAFs), also found that 64% of American donors gave to a charity that they had never donated to before, with the top reason for doing so being a reaction to a recent local, national, or global disaster (42%).

"From COVID-19 to a devastating humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, we've seen donors respond to disaster relief needs in inspiring and meaningful ways," says Rebecca Moffett, president of Vanguard Charitable. "In fact, this data reflects that disaster relief support is an integral part of the giving landscape, often increasing total generosity as donors look to give when and where support is needed most. And because the money in donor-advised funds has already been set aside for charitable purposes, donations from DAFs tend to be more responsive in moments of crisis, and more resilient during moments of economic uncertainty."

The survey found that the top reasons American donors who gave to disaster relief in the past 12 months did so were:

Enhanced giving through disaster relief support

The survey found that donors who contributed to disaster relief efforts gave more overall, meaning that disaster relief giving did not take away from, or occur in place of, ongoing giving.

Enhanced giving through disaster relief support is evident in the story of Razom for Ukraine, a nonprofit that amplifies Ukrainian voices with a mission of building a more prosperous Ukraine.

"It has been incredible to witness the global response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine," said Dora Chomiak, president of Razom. "We have historically been an all-volunteer organization with about 4,000 donors and $150,000 in annual revenue. Since the war started, our organization has witnessed a surge in donations, receiving more than $50 million in funding from over 125,000 donors, driven significantly by donor-advised funds. DAFs offer a fast and effective way for us to receive donations and deploy them quickly to procure life-saving tactical medical supplies and deliver them to Ukrainians in hot spot areas, as Razom is one of the few organizations that is on the ground in Ukraine. We have seen tremendous generosity from Vanguard Charitable donors in every single state across the United States, representing over 5% of our recent funding, but we must keep going and not lose momentum as this unjustified war continues."

Vanguard Charitable donors have taken an active role more broadly in responding to a wide range of disasters and crises. Vanguard Charitable donors have granted more than $138 million to organizations focused on disaster relief efforts over the past 12 months.

Direct Relief, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency medical assistance and disaster relief in the United States and internationally, has benefited from Vanguard Charitable donors' increased focus on disaster relief giving.

"As Direct Relief has responded to disasters of increasing scale and frequency in recent years, donor-advised funds like those sponsored by Vanguard Charitable have proven to be powerful, essential catalysts for individuals to participate in the humanitarian response activities that are so critical to people whose lives are upended," said Thomas Tighe, president and CEO of Direct Relief. "Charitable giving is such a deeply personal act of generosity, and DAFs provide a safe, easy, efficient mechanism that has democratized philanthropy and allowed people to make their own decisions at their own pace.The spike in disaster giving from DAFs that Direct Relief has witnessed, including for Ukraine, has been hugely consequential in Direct Relief's response. We have been able to deliver more than 350 tons of urgently needed medical material as well as over $10 million in emergency funding for local partner organizations doing essential work at high personal risk."

Other key survey findings:

As the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, climate change, and other disasters, sustained short- and long-term philanthropic giving will remain a critical component to safeguarding and revitalizing our communities. In an effort to support donors in their charitable missions, Vanguard Charitable launched the updated Nonprofit Aid Visualizer (NAVi) for Hunger & Homelessness in 2021. NAVi is a free, interactive web-based tool that better connects donors with nonprofits operating in geographic areas struggling with homelessness and hunger.

For more information about Vanguard Charitable or giving through donor-advised funds, please visitwww.vanguardcharitable.org.

Survey method:

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Vanguard Charitable from April 7-11, 2022, among 2,067 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,341 donated to charity in the past 12 months. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Katie Miller at [emailprotected].

About Vanguard CharitableVanguard Charitable is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that fulfills its mission to increase philanthropic giving by administering a donor-advised funda tax-effective way to consolidate, accrue, and grant assets to charity. Since it was founded by Vanguard1in 1997 as an independent 501(c)(3) organization, Vanguard Charitable has granted more than $14 billion to charity. More information is available atwww.vanguardcharitable.org/giving-with-vc/how-it-works.

1Although Vanguard provides certain investment management and administrative services to Vanguard Charitable pursuant to a service agreement, Vanguard Charitable is not a program or activity of Vanguard. A majority of Vanguard Charitable' s trustees are independent of Vanguard.

SOURCE Vanguard Charitable

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National Grid (NYSE:NGG) -1.4% in Thursday's trading after the U.K. electricity and gas utility company reported better than forecast full-year operating profit but warned that rising inflation and a cost of living crisis poses a "significant' challenge.

The U.K. electricity and gas utility company said FY 2022 underlying operating profit rose to 3.99B ($4.93B) from 2.69B in the prior year, driven by the acquisition of Western Power Distribution, and beating the market consensus of 3.85B provided by the company.

FY 2022 pre-tax profit from continuing operations more than doubled to 3.44B ($4.25B) from 1.66B a year earlier.

National Grid (NGG) reiterated its financial outlook for the five-year period through FY 2026, and forecast broadly flat earnings for FY 2023.

The company delivered "another strong set of results," Jefferies analysts said, according to Bloomberg, driven by higher revenues in British electricity transmission and reduced impact from COVID-19 compared to the previous year.

National Grid's (NGG) price return shows a 4% YTD gain and a 14% increase during the past year.

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National Grid warns on cost-of-living challenges after strong profit (NYSE:NGG) - Seeking Alpha

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There is a lot of volatility in the ASX share market right now. Could it be a good time to buy the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)?

This exchange-traded fund (ETF) is about the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO). That comprises 300 of the biggest businesses on the ASX. Its provided by the fund management business Vanguard, which prides itself on giving investors very cheap investment funds.

The lower the cost of an ETF, the more of the return that is left in the pockets of investors. That means that the net returns over time can be stronger.

Over the last month, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF has dropped by 6.4%. It has also fallen by 7.3% since the start of the year. Thats better than some of the other popular ETFs on the ASX. For example, the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS) has fallen by 17% since the start of 2022 and Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) has dropped by around 25%.

Of course, looking at returns over the past five years shows a different picture, with the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETFs gain of 22% being dwarfed by that of the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (up 68%) and the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (up 101%).

Ideally, we want to buy assets at a cheaper price rather than a higher price. So, a decline in the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF would be useful for investors that want to buy units of the ETF.

It may not be that surprising that the ASX is outperforming in an inflationary and rising interest rate environment.

Some of the businesses that are, in theory, meant to perform positively with inflation are commodity companies. Some of the biggest businesses on the ASX are resource shares, so they are benefiting from the higher commodity prices. Examples include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL), Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM), and South32 Ltd (ASX: S32).

Rising interest rates could be a benefit to banking shares, which also represent a large part of the ASX 300. Some of the biggest banks on the ASX are Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

So, a lot of the ASX is seeing positive factors for earnings and the share prices.

The VAS ETF is a solid investment to own for the long-term in my opinion. Its cheap fees and useful diversification is a good way to get exposure to ASX shares and it pays a decent dividend yield.

However, with how the ASX 300 is being supported by many of the above names Ive mentioned, I think it could prove to be a better idea to look at some international diversified ETFs, such as the NDQ ETF, that have fallen harder and offer exposure to plenty of the worlds best businesses.

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Is it a good time to buy the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF? - The Motley Fool Australia

By: Ariana Ceballos

The White House, in a Monday press release, announced its initiative partnering with twenty internet providers to reduce prices on high-speed internet. This proposal will bring relief to millions of families, especially those in the low-income range that struggle to afford essential resources for their households.

The cap on prices for high-speed internet falls under the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP); the White House website states that nearly 40% of households in the country qualify for ACP. Households within ACP earn an income that is below or at the Federal Poverty Level, or have a member that is a part of a program like Medicaid, Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. This new addition to ACP is great as households will no longer need to worry about additional bills or struggle to provide family members with a resource many employers and schools require.

In a CNBC report, Lauren Feiner describes how low-income households qualifying for the ACP can receive up to $30 per month off of their internet bills. and $75 per month off on Tribal Land according to the White House press release.

By implementing a cap on these prices, households will not need to worry if they cannot meet payments on time and receive a certain fee. This initiative allows for the internet to be more accessible for people that struggle to make ends meet. With worries like rent and expenses on food, doubts about internet accessibility can be put to rest, as the program now turns it into a necessity being provided by officials.

Twenty internet providers have signed onto the plan. According to Ayana Archie of NPR, these providers are national companies like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon, as well as regional companies, such as Hawaiian Telecom and Jackson Energy Authority in Tennessee. Internet access has become a necessity in the country, and more than ever, the range of providers participating in the program stresses this. Especially with the rise of online learning and remote work during the pandemic, the need for internet access is great, so this program goes a long way into giving people the necessary tool for navigating numerous other aspects of their lives. The same NPR report includes a quote from AT&T CEO John Stankey, Its time for every American to experience the social, economic, health, employment and educational benefits of universal scaled access to the internet.

Archie states that organizations such as United Way and Goodwill will also assist with outreach and enrollment, showing how neighboring organizations are willing to help make people aware of this opportunity. People who are eligible for ACP will become more aware of the aid that they can receive from the program. As someone who has grown up with internet access and relies on it to hear about news, Im glad to hear that this, once seen as a privilege, is becoming more common.

During and after the pandemic, many workforces and educational places have become dependent on online resources. Without a doubt, it is vital that people who cannot afford internet access have a fair opportunity to access it.

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Student Opinion: The Biden Administration and Cable Companies Working Together to Bring Internet to Millions of Households - The Peoples Vanguard of...

Ismaila Uba Misilli writes that Muhammadu Yahaya is being rewarded for hard work

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.

Aristotle, Greek Philosopher

The utility of the above summation by the great Aristotle emphasizes the need for political leaders to, above all, recognize the prime essence of performance and excellence for posterity while in public office rather than being consumed by the flame and obsession of politics. This is indeed the disposition of Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Dan Majen Gombe). It is a well known fact that everywhere in the world, awards are given to individuals who have distinguished themselves either as leaders or professionals in their chosen fields of endeavours. Since coming into office, Governor Yahaya has received so many awards and recognitions, including that of Business Day, Blueprint and Daily Independent newspapers.

However, two of the most recent awards bestowed on him readily come to mind. These awards are the ones by Leadership newspaper which he personally received and recognized the Gombe State Governor as the 2021 Leadership Governor of the Year and Vanguard newspaper which declared Inuwa Yahaya as its 2021 Personality of the Year under governors category. Both high profile recognitions came almost in quick succession in brazen admittance of Governor Inuwas giant strides in the social, economic and infrastructural development of the state. So what are these clinical deliverables that the two national dailies saw in Governor Inuwa Yahaya to warrant the honours? For Leadership newspaper, the award was premised on the governors leadership acumen which has always been tailored towards repositioning Gombe State on the path of sustainable economic growth, rebuilding the states decrepit infrastructure, constructing roads which spread across the state, providing job opportunities for youths and women as well as empowering the people of the state with his agricultural transformation agenda. Leadership newspaper recalled that on assuming office on May 29, 2019, Governor Yahaya was not new to the challenges facing the state, having meritoriously served as the states Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development. He left no one in doubt that he already had his job well cut out for him: to propel Gombe State towards the path of rapid development. The cumulative effect of Governor Yahayas prudence, leadership character and credibility is the coming of various development partners to the state, and the results are so far remarkable. Gombe is now the best state in the ease of doing business in Nigeria and has been adjudged the safest and most peaceful state in the North-East geopolitical zone. As for Vanguard newspaper, the tabloid recalled that after about 25 years of existence, Gombe State, the Jewel in the Savannah, is now clearly set on the path of a new dawn under a transformational leadership of Governor Yahaya. The current administration which ushered in the new era is barely two and half years old when the impact of transformational leadership began to gain traction while Vanguard Newspapers findings show strong foundation for a sustained growth across the socio-economic landscape of the state in the medium and long term. Vanguard maintained that most governance analysts have often excused many governments failures on the premise of the impact of COVID-19 on the national and sub- national economies, but Gombe seems to have created a different narrative; that challenges berth creativity and ultimately superlative performance. According to Vanguard Newspaper, Governor of the Year awards go to few selected state governors that managed to distinguish themselves in the circumstances of the operating environment. Vanguard Newspaper findings show that upon assumption of office, the administration was confronted with a treasury in distress, burdened with about N124 billion in Loans/Bonds, Pension/Gratuity arrears and contractors liabilities. The fiscal stress could be gleaned from the recurrent obligations amounting cumulatively to about N900.4million monthly to service the liabilities. But the administration has gone ahead to demonstrate determination to achieve positive results. It is the usual practice for new administrations in Nigerias governance space to abandon uncompleted projects inherited from previous administration, especially if the new administration is not an extension of the previous. But Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya chose the road less travelled. Determined to salvage and possibly turn-around the tax payers money into viable assets, the administration embarked on completing those projects. Already, the Mega Motor Park is costing the state about N3billion to complete and when Vanguard Newspaper visited the location, extensive work was ongoing to get the park ready for commissioning. The project was one of the several of such that compelled the current administration to draw up a well thought out robust financial plan to deal with the fiscal implications. Prior to the advent of the current administration, the 11 local government areas of the state had to borrow N1.3billion monthly to pay salaries. The Yahaya administration had, within the first three months of its coming into office, stabilised the LGAs financially and are now able to pay their salaries and pensions as at when due on their own. Governor Inuwa Yahaya also believes a good network of roads is critical to the economic revival and development of the state. Being an agrarian state in spite of the ongoing ambitious work to industrialize the state, we have come to see a new Gombe where the various parts are now well linked up via good roads, starting from the initial Network 11-100 Project, (100 kilometers of roads in each of the 11 local governments) to the mega revolution in the construction of over 150 other strategic roads across the state till date. Some of the road projects include: the 25km Billiri-Gujba road, the 15km Sabonlayi-Ayaba road, the 15km Ladongor-Fubawure road, the 17km Kumo-Kalshingi road, the 10km Kutare- Mona road, the 10km Kundulum-Mallam Inna- Kurba road and the16km Marraraban-Jarkwami- Daniya roads as well as the Industrial Cluster road networks. These projects have since been completed and are being enjoyed by the people.

The Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya administration also initiated and completed the 15.2km Jabba- Garin Wada, the 21km Degri-Talasse and 16km MalalaDukkuyel regional roads with the same funding. These are aside the township road projects in Gombe metropolis. The government has also succeeded in ensuring the total overhaul of our 114 Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs, across 114 wards in the state just as the ongoing N1.8 billion General Hospitals in Bajoga, Kaltungo and Kuri is commendable. So also the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project/ World Bank, NEWMAP/WB, erosion control project for N2.9billion has already been completed and has greatly assisted in reducing the menace of erosion and flooding in the state capital especially in the Gombe State University to Mallam Inna area. Thus the performance award bestowed on Governor Inuwa Yahaya by both the Leadership and Vanguard newspapers is most auspicious in proper evaluation of not only the merit behind the awards but also the implication for the greater good of Gombe State.

Misilli is Director-General (Press Affairs) Government House, Gombe State

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