Go Brazil! If you’re keeping tabs on total growth in number of billionaires, Brazil beat out its BRIC compatriots—China, Russia and India– this year.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2012/03/09/why-brazil-leads-the-brics-with-new-billionaires/

The rising cost of getting a college degree has put attending a traditional four-year college or university out of reach for many people -- and a handful of experts have recently made headlines by saying that a college degree simply isn't worth the massive debt a young person typically incurs in its pursuit. 

http://career-advice.comcast.monster.com/salary-benefits/salary-information/100k-jobs-no-degree/article.aspx

Forbes Magazine has released its 2012 list of the world's richest billionaires....Among the 1,153 billionaires on the list are six people who call Massachusetts home.

http://www.boston.com/business/gallery/massachusetts_billionaires_forbes/?p1=News_links

If we were holding a contest for “most depressing headline,” this one from Reuters might be in contention: “U.S. investors lack interest in companies doing good.” This was apparently the prevailing sentiment at a meeting of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, who met in New York City on Monday, which was International Corporate Philanthropy Day.

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/philanthropy/19889-is-corporate-philanthropy-hampered-by-shareholders.html

As the United States and Canada emerged from the Great Recession, charitable pledges to nonprofit healthcare organizations slowed in fiscal year 2010, jeopardizing the ability of healthcare systems in both countries to generate philanthropic funding necessary to meet their long-term, construction, equipment and patient needs.

http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/post-recession-charitable-pledges-hospitals-slow-jeopardizing-future-fundraising

Howard Stevenson has a new primer on fundraising based on his long experience as a donor and his involvement in raising over a billion dollars for a number of non-profits. He says that successful fundraisers need to think like entrepreneurs undefined someone who “is in the pursuit of opportunity beyond resources they control.”

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2012/03/08/fundraising-non-profit

You know you like your cup of Joe in the morning. But are you ready for a cup of Hugh? We are, of course, talking about actor Hugh Jackman, who recently launched a coffee and tea company that raises money for charity. Philanthropy is the driving force behind Jackman’s involvement in the coffee world. In a telephone interview he talked about being inspired by the late Paul Newman and his company, Newman’s Own, which has donated millions to charity. But it’s not the only reason.

http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-08/ae/31136574_1_coffee-business-drink-coffee-great-cup

Speakers at the second session of the concluding day of the 12th Jeddah Economic Forum discussing Arab philanthropy said yesterday that Saudis need to focus more on philanthropy and also invest in charities locally rather than directing their contributions overseas. Zakah also received attention from the speakers with calls to invest the SR125 billion Zakah in sustainable development programs.

http://arabnews.com/economy/article584186.ece

This database contains information on the 7,066 Massachusetts state employees who earned at least $100,000 in 2011. All but one of the 50 highest paid were employed by the University of Massachusetts. You can search by last name, job title, or department using the search box below.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/specials/mass_state_salaries_2011/

Warren Buffett’s annual shareholder letter is an eagerly anticipated treat for the financial community, and as usual, the 81-year-old Oracle of Omaha did not disappoint. In his characteristically good-humored, plainspoken style, Buffett surveyed the 2011 performance of Berkshire Hathaway, the investing conglomerate he’s run for over 40 years, and offered some broader thoughts on the U.S. economy.

http://business.time.com/2012/02/27/warren-buffett-on-succession-stock-buybacks-and-avoiding-gold/