As assets shrink, charitable givers pull back on donations to popular funding accounts

As charities prepare for year-end donation drives, the worst recession in decades has given pause to the philanthropist next door.

Billionaire charged in insider trading case is sued in NJ by victims of Sri Lankan rebels

NEW YORK — A billionaire hedge fund manager charged in a $25 million insider trading case was sued by victims of violence in Sri Lanka who say he helped finance separatist rebels notorious for suicide bombings.

Violinist Joshua Bell gives charity concert for Jewish History Museum in Poland

WARSAW, Poland — The U.S. violin virtuoso Joshua Bell helped raise funds Wednesday for a Jewish History museum in Poland with a charity concert at Warsaw’s Opera House.

Wisconsin priest auctions off late mom’s silver pieces from 1700s to raise money for homeless

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A Wisconsin priest is auctioning off his late mother’s collection of old silver pieces to raise money for a homeless shelter.

Massachusetts-based Shakespearean theater needs $2.3M to survive until next year

LENOX, Mass. — A nonprofit consultants’ report says a Shakespearean theater in Massachusetts needs to raise $2.3 million to continue operations until next year.

White House says Obama to donate entire $1.4 million Nobel cash award to charity

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will donate the $1.4 million cash award that comes with the Nobel Peace Prize to charity.

Obama awarded Nobel Peace Prize in stunning decision seen as early vote of confidence

OSLO — President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to build momentum behind his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

Recession delivers a jarring one-two punch to many charities: donations down, demand up

NEW YORK — For many social-service charities across America, the recession has delivered a staggering one-two punch. Sharp drops in donations and investment income have been coupled by soaring demand for their services.

Michael Jackson’s crystal-studded boots fetch €10,000 at event chaired by sister Janet

MILAN — Crystal-studded boots that Michael Jackson intended to wear on his planned comeback tour fetched euro10,000 ($14,650) at a celebrity fundraiser chaired by his sister, Janet.

Tenn. coach Bruce Pearl apologizes for joke linking player’s rural hometown to Ku Klux Klan

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl apologized for a joking remark that linked the rural home of one his players to the Ku Klux Klan.

Conn. homeowners’ property seized by city in landmark ‘05 Supreme Court case still undeveloped

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Weeds, glass, bricks, pieces of pipe and shingle splinters have replaced the knot of aging homes at the site of the nation’s most notorious eminent domain project.

San Francisco banker teams up with journalism school, public broadcaster on news venture

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco investment banker is teaming up with the University of California’s journalism school and public broadcaster KQED to create a nonprofit news organization that he says will fill a gap in local coverage left by newspaper cutbacks.

APNewsBreak: Once tens of millions of dollars in debt, Oral Roberts says it’s now debt-free

TULSA, Okla. — Oral Roberts University, which was once tens of millions of dollars in the red after a financial scandal tarnished the Tulsa evangelical school, is finally debt-free, school officials said Wednesday.

Airline ticket buyers will get a new way to spend a little more, for charity

MINNEAPOLIS — Travelers who buy airline tickets already wrestle with add-ons like cars, hotels, or planting a tree to make up for the jet fuel planes burn. Soon, they may be able to donate to fight AIDS in developing countries, too.

US postal museum in DC receives $8M for larger gallery; businessman also loans rare stamps

WASHINGTON — The National Postal Museum has received an $8 million donation to build a new street-level gallery in Washington, D.C.

Illinois pastor swims English Channel to raise money to build school in Angola

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Twenty-one miles and nearly 14 hours later, a northern Illinois pastor has fulfilled his goal of swimming the English Channel to raise money for a school in Africa.

Muslim charities see boost in donations with new accreditation program that aims to ease fears

DETROIT — As the Islamic holy month of Ramadan winds down, Rami Nashashibi sees a promising fundraising trend for the Chicago charity he runs.

Police: Finn Caspersen, former Beneficial Corp. CEO, found dead in RI of apparent suicide

WESTERLY, R.I. — Finn M.W. Caspersen, a former chief executive of the financial services firm Beneficial Corp., has been found dead after what Rhode Island police say is an apparent suicide.

Special school makes NY harbor its classroom while awaiting a waterfront home

NEW YORK — In 1790, the state of New York set aside Governors Island, off the tip of Manhattan, for the benefit of education. For more than two centuries, however, it was in military hands, guarding the country’s most important harbor.