NY Times Annual 'Giving' Section

It's back, and bigger than ever. I'm talking about the New York Times' annual Giving section. This year's installment weighs in at 40 pages -- 22 of which are devoted to advertising (proof, as if it were needed, that philanthropy is big business) -- and boasts 33 contributors, including the likes of Stephanie Strom, Robin Pogrebin, Geraldine Fabrikant, Claudia H. Deutsch, and Jennifer 8. Lee.

The scope of the coverage is equally impressive, with articles on the spend out-vs.-perpetuity debate ("How Long Should Gifts Just Grow?"), philanthropy and Web 2.0 ("My Network, My Cause"), Ruth Lilly's eye-opening $100 million gift to the Modern Poetry Association ("A Windfall Illuminates the Poetry Field, and Its Fights"), the potential of so-called prize philanthropy ("Win Fabulous Prizes, All in the Name of Innovation"), and the growth of the nonprofit blogosphere ("In the Fund-Raising Game, Blogs Cut Both Ways" -- What? No PhilanTopic?!).

As always with the Times, the writing and editing are first-rate, and the whole package is reason enough to pick up a copy of today's paper, regardless of where you may live.

-- Mitch Nauffts