Our weekly round-up of interesting and outlandish information, collected from the corners of the charity sector.

Stuck in the Middle-ton with you

Kate Middleton, this column’s second favourite duchess; right after Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (obviously) has graced the cover of UK Vogue this week.

While the actual photos are probably behind some sort of paywall thing, here’s a link to the Mail's glowing, dare Diary say almost 'sycophantic', coverage. Doesn’t she look majestic and rustic, all at the same time? Oh yes, Britain’s monarchy is in safe hands, not to mention good genes, for years to come.

While the sales for this particular issue of Vogue have been nothing less than majestic (love a Royal pun) there’s a sting in this otherwise whimsical tale: not a penny of any of this will be going to charity! To make matters worse (or better, depending on how big a republican you are) Vogue didn’t pay the Duchess of Cambridge for her time, either.

“Monies from the sales of the June centenary issue of Vogue will not be going to charity,” said a Vogue spokesman.

Fie and blast! Diary hears you say. And well you may, because let’s be honest, there’s going to be monies. Many, many monies.

This seems to be a big thing, out there in the world of the press. The Daily Mail appears livid.

Diary is a bit baffled as to why, to be honest. While obviously this column advocates more money going to charity - helping charities is, in a very (very, very) roundabout way, Diary's raison d'etre - we can't help feeling that the newspapers have misunderstood the Vogue business model. Which is, briefly. Produce glossy magazines full of glossy people wearing glossy clothes. Provide people with copies of those magazines. In exchange obtain money. Keep it.

Diary can't help noticing that the Mail also publishes a lot of glossy snaps, and hasn't exactly been forthcoming with its own hard-earned.

Anyway, speaking of things which may or may not have raised money for charity, this column is eager to hear from anyone at Macmillan about how much the May bank holiday orgy fundraiser raised. Don’t make Diary slip in an FOI request…

Abs and their labs

Casting our eye further afield this week, we find ourselves in New York City and an animal rescue charity’s campaign to ‘save badass dogs from idiot humans’.

The (and no, Diary’s not making this up) Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue charity has devised a genius solution to the problem of getting unwanted dogs in loving homes. They’ve teamed up with Buzzfeed and some super jacked dudes.

Ogle away at your leisure here. Finished? Ok, good. Yes, the gents in these pics are objectively attractive but, if this column could be overly picky for one second, that one guy with long hair has bushier eyebrows than the Maltese terrier he’s skateboarding with!

Anyway, Diary digresses. For millennia (probably) men have walked dogs in parks in an attempt to meet ladies who might later take them home for some heavy petting. It's about time the favour was returned.

Survey silly season

Finally this week, let’s talk relatively pointless popularity contests for a minute. No, not the police and crime commissoner elections. This is the big stuff - the 50 Most Influential Fundraisers survey.

Good segue that…

This annual poll, held by Fundraising Magazine - one of Diary’s somewhat more grown-up sister publications – is open for voting and a number of the usual names have begun cropping up, along with a few bright eyed newcomers… and Lord Grade.

While it’s all well and good to actually vote according to your beliefs and not make a mockery of the whole thing, this column can’t help but be amused by some of the less serious nominations that have come in.

One joker gave his vote to ‘Fundy McFundface’. His reason: “In the spirit of Fundy McFundFace and ridiculous polls.” Cheers fella, you know who you are.

While we’re on the topic of things which end in ‘mc…face’, Diary would just like to make everyone aware of a petition it is starting to get Sir David Attenborough to change his name to ‘Boaty McBoatface’ after Boaty McBoatface changed its name to his…

Some underemployed, beleaguered ballot stuffer also voted nine times for one of Diary’s fundraising reporter colleagues. It’s good to see that young man finally getting the kind of respect and adulation he deserves...