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  3. Back in 2000, inspired by a desire to help those in need, Megan and Dennis Do

Back in 2000, inspired by a desire to help those in need, Megan and Dennis Do

游客2023-12-12  29
问题    Back in 2000, inspired by a desire to help those in need, Megan and Dennis Doyle of Minneapolis decided they wanted to do more than just volunteer or write a check. Instead, they took $30,000 of their own money and started a nonprofit called Hope for the City. The organization collects corporate overstock and distributes it to nonprofits in the Twin Cities, nationwide, and internationally to 26 developing countries. Today the nonprofit has a $900, 000 operating budget and a 25,000 sq.ft. warehouse to store the donated items and has distributed nearly $380 million of in-kind merchandise since its inception. "This makes us feel like we’re a part of something a lot bigger than just the two of us," says Dennis, 54, who is CEO of a local commercial real estate firm.
   The Doyles are not alone in their desire to give back. There are more than 1 million 501 (c) (3) charities like theirs, up nearly 70% from the 614,000 that existed a decade ago, according to Tom Pollak, program director with the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. Organizations dedicated to education, disaster relief, job development, the environment and AIDS are among today’s "hot causes, " says Phyllis McGrath, president of Philanthropy Management, a Fairfield, Conn., consulting firm that works with nonprofits nationwide.
   Fueling this growth are several factors: baby boomers with a social-entrepreneurship mind-set and added time in their lives to give back to their communities, such tragic events as Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina, and greater numbers of wealthy individuals with the funds to launch their own nonprofits. But starting a nonprofit is a Herculean effort, requiring patience and determination.
   It may take at least six months to a year and as much as 30 to 40 hours a week to get an organization off the ground, McGrath says. Hiring an attorney experienced with nonprofits to handle statewide and federal applications is key. The 501 (c) (3) designation comes from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), and nonprofits are expected to provide the government with such information as a mission statement, an idea of who will be assisted and by what methods, anticipated budget and board of directors, says Andrew Grumet, a lawyer representing nonprofits with the Manhattan firm Herrick, Feinstein, LLP. Accountants familiar with nonprofits can advise on how much of an investment can be made without affecting personal wealth. But even with the best of intentions, nonprofits have a high failure rate : only one-third survive beyond five years, says Stan Madden, director of the Center for Nonprofit Studies at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in Waeo, Texas.
   The best approach is to start with a business plan. Research other organizations in the field to make sure there is no other group addressing the same cause. Consult with other charities to determine that there are constituents who can really use your services. As McGrath notes, "Consider a realistic and doable niche that your organization can uniquely fill. "
   That is just what Beth Shaw, 41, did. The owner of a $4 million company that trains yoga fitness instructors worldwide, Shaw used her knowledge of the market to launch Visionary Women in Fitness, which provides scholarships to underprivileged women so that they can train to become instructors. With a budget of just $30,000, the nonprofit, based in Hermosa Beach, Calif., is able to help 15 to 20 women a year learn a skill that can get them an entry-level job.
   "I have two homes and a successful business, so many young women out there have nothing," says Shaw, who has donated $50,000 of her own money since she launched the charity in June 2004. "This was the time in my life to step up and start giving back. "   [br] Which of the following is INCORRECT about Hope for the City?
选项 A、It’s a nonprofit organization collecting corporate excessive supply.
B、It’s a nonprofit organization distributing donated items to other nonprofits.
C、It was initiated by individuals desiring to do more than donating money.
D、It’s a nonprofit organization with few opportunities of secure investment.
答案 D
解析 细节题。文章第一段指出，Megan and Dennis Doyle of Minneapolis decided they wanted to do more than just volunteer or write a cheek. 由此可知，非营利性慈善机构“城市希望”的发起人，明尼苏达州的米根·道勒和丹尼斯·道勒构夫妇不想仅仅局限于参加志愿活动或捐赠钱财，[C]符合事实，故排除。在第一段中同时提到，The organization collects corporate overstock and distributes it to nonprofits in the Twin Cities，nationwide，and internationally to 26developing countries．由此可知，[A]、[B]符合事实，故排除。在第一段中，关于此慈善组织的发展情况，文章指出：Today the nonprofit has a $900,000 operating budget and a 25,000sq.ft. warehouse to store the donated items and has distributed nearly $380 million of in-kind merchandise since its inception．由此可知，“城市希望”已经发展为工作预算高达90万美元，储物仓库广至25,000平方英尺，货物总值几近3.8亿美元的大型慈善机构，因此[D]表述该组织获得慈善资金投入的机会很少，与事实不符，故[D]为答案。  
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