"Philanthropy has been late to the game of blogging, hardly a surprise in a field that has operated on personal relationships and reputations earned over decades," the New York Times reports. "But just as charities have learned in recent years to use e-mail blasts to solicit support, their executives are getting used to a digital world in which there are fewer secrets than in the past.

"According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the number of blogs on philanthropic issues that the journal follows has soared to 160 from 100 in March. As the number of blogs has grown, so has the range of topics they cover: what began as material geared to industry insiders can be used by donors researching the performance of charities."

Says one key observer: "Information is power, and good blogs empower donors. I think good blogs scare the hell out of lousy charities, because they understand that they serve as a clearinghouse for truth and transparency."

One example: The Agitator

But is there a blog that'll tell you if the kid selling cookie dough at your door will really deliver the sweet, delectable goods?

Thank you very much for providing the info about The Agitator. I checked it out and it's good, solid criticism. But it's not negativity; it's the kind of critical thinking many philanthropies and their boards need in order to keep their head above water and out of the sand. Their taken-for-granted donor base is aging out. Platitudes just don't cut it anymore.