Tuesday, February 7, 2005: Volume #2, Issue #60
The VERB Weekly Email Digest
Edited by Sophy Pich, VERB Project Associate

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In This Week's Issue

1. Announcements
• Grantseeker Training Program
• CAN Policy Days
• CFBCI Conference Calls
2. Promising Practices
• IRS Releases Proposed E-filing Regulations
3. News
• the Next Generation of Hmong
• Homeless Tribe Faces New Foe
• Laotian-Americans Lobby Congress on Human Rights Issues for Hmong
• Report Finds Disparities Among Asian-American Ethnic Groups
• No TB in Georgia's Hmong Refugees
• Immigrants Learn About Police, Rules
• Koreans Often Struggle
• Vietnamese Award Resurrects the past
• Theories Abound in Hmong Violence
• Diversity Conference Has to Turn Some Schools Away
• Officer Straddles Two Worlds
• 'Laotian Madonna' Mixes Old and New to Maintain Cultural Ties
• Tran Is First and Doesn't Forget It for a Second
4. Funding Opportunities
• Dollar General Literacy Foundation
• Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation
• The Art Institute of California
• VSA Arts
• Fannie Mae Foundation
• National Gardening Association and Gardener's Supply Company
• CIRCLE
5. Resources
• Resource website for Wisconsin based organizations
• The Association of Consultants to Nonprofits

I. Announcements

The Foundation Center Free Grantseeker Training Program

1627 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-1708
Phone: 202-331-1400 Fax: 202-331-1739
URL: http://www.fdncenter.org

The Foundation Center - Washington D.C. in cooperation with The D.C. Mayor's Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Chinatown Service Center, and Youngberg & Associates invites you to a

Free Grantseeker Training Program

LEARN TO:

• Search the foundation center's database of 80,000 grantmakers and 500,000 grants
• Identify potential funders for your nonprofit
• use the foundation center library-learning center

Tuesday, February 8, 2005, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Chinatown Service Center
900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (inside the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church)
4th floor
Washington, D.C.

THIS PROGRAM IS FREE BUT SPACE IS LIMITED

Please rsvp by February 7 to the Mayor's Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (202) 727-3120 or to Dory Peters at dory.peters@dc.gov

Free parking in the lot behind the church (access through K Street from 9th Street). Also accessible by Metro (Gallery Place or Metro Center)

Serving the Information Needs of Grantseekers and Grantmakers

Headquarters: New York City. Field Offices: Atlanta / Cleveland / San Francisco / Washington Dc

Francey L. Youngberg
Youngberg & Associates
7505 Elba Road
Alexandria, VA 22306
(703) 660-9166 telephone
(215) 895-9853 fax
francey.youngberg@verizon.net

***

Just a reminder that next TUES, FEB 8, is the EARLY BIRD DEADLINE to register for CAN Policy Days, which take place in Sacramento Tues-Wed, March 8-9. If you haven't done so yet, WE URGE YOU TO REGISTER NOW so you can take advantage of the Early Bird rates:

• $69 for CAN Members ($89 after next Tues)
• $109 for non-members ($129 after next Tues)

Register online now

***

The U.S. Department of Labor's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) is delighted to announce a three part conference call series which will cover some basic elements of the Department's "Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA)" and program design. Through this conference call series, Department staff will explain elements of the U.S. Department of Labor's SGA through reviewing the "Grant for Small Faith-Based and Community Organizations" which was competed last year. There are no current DOL grants open for competition. However, the Department does anticipate releasing a similar "grant for small faith-based and community organizations" sometime this spring.

The conference calls are free. Any faith-based or community organizations are welcome to attend on a "first come-first served" basis. A toll-free conference call phone number will be distributed the Monday before each call to the CFBCI email list. (Please do not reply to this email with questions about call-in numbers.) However, mark your calendars today! Only 150 lines are available for each conference call. All conference calls will be recorded and will be posted on www.dol.gov/cfbci within two weeks.

Conference Call #1:
Understanding the Basic Elements and Requirements of a U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Small Grassroots Solicitation for Grant Applications.

Tuesday, February 8
11:00 a.m. PST, 12:00 PM MST, 1:00 p.m. CST, 2:00 PM EST

This conference call will review the components of 2003 DOL "Grant for Small Faith-Based and Community Organizations."

Conference Call #2:
Designing Budgets for U.S. Department of Labor Solicitation for Grant Application.

Tuesday, February 15
11:00 a.m. PST, 12:00 p.m. MST, 1:00 PM CST, 2:00 PM EST

This call will review components of DOL budget expectations when applying for a grant.

Conference Call #3:
Program Design and Outcome Measures.

Tuesday, February 22
11:00 a.m. PST, 12:00 PM MST, 1:00 p.m. CST, 2:00 p.m. EST

This call will review components of two sample program designs from 2002 and 2003 grantees.

You can view or update your subscriptions, password or e-mail address at any time on your User Profile page

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II. Promising Practices

IRS Releases Proposed E-filing Regulations

Ready or not, e-filing is coming. On January 12, 2005, the IRS published proposed regulations on required e-filing. The proposed regulations provide two thresholds for determining whether a corporation or tax-exempt organization must file electronically: (1) the number of returns the organization files with the IRS annually and (2) asset size. Of course, filers who do not meet these criteria are still welcome to submit their returns electronically.

Number of Returns Filed Annually

The proposed regulations apply only to entities that file at least 250 returns during a calendar year. The term returns includes income tax, excise tax, information, and employment tax (including Form W-2) returns. Thus, a nonprofit that files a Form 990 and Forms W-2 for each of its 249 employees would fall into this category. Asset Size

If a corporation or exempt nonprofit files at least 250 returns a year, its total assets determine whether it will be required to file electronically. Here is the schedule for tax-exempt organizations:

• 2006-organizations with total assets of $100 million or more must file their tax year 2005 Forms 990 electronically.

• 2007-organizations with $10 million or more in total assets must file their tax year 2006 Forms 990 electronically. Private foundations and charitable trusts of all sizes must file their tax year 2006 Forms 990-PF electronically.

The IRS anticipates that as many as 10,000 tax-exempt nonprofits will be required to e-file their 990s in 2007.

Read on: http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/e_file_regs.jsp

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III. News

The Next Generation of Hmong
OSU Daily Barometer
January 31, 2005

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Homeless Tribe Faces New Foe
Atlanta Journal Constitution
February 2, 2005

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Laotian-Americans Lobby Congress on Human Rights Issues for Hmong
Green Bay Press Gazette
February 3, 2005

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Report Finds Disparities Among Asian-American Ethnic Groups
San Jose Mercury News
February 3, 2005

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No TB in Georgia's Hmong Refugees
Atlanta Journal Constitution
February 3, 2005

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Immigrants Learn About Police, Rules
The Capital Times
February 4, 2005

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Koreans Often Struggle
Long Beach Press-Telegram
February 4, 2005

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Vietnamese Award Resurrects the past
Toronto Star
February 5, 2005

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Theories Abound in Hmong Violence
Pioneer Press
February 5, 2005

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Diversity Conference Has to Turn Some Schools Away
WBAY
February 5, 2005

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Officer Straddles Two Worlds
Minneapolis Star Tribune
February 6, 2005

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'Laotian Madonna' Mixes Old and New to Maintain Cultural Ties
New California Media
February 6, 2005

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Tran Is First and Doesn't Forget It for a Second
Los Angeles Times
February 6, 2005

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   Dollar General Literacy Foundation

   The Dollar General Literacy Foundation strives to increase the functional literacy of adults by providing grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to the advancement of literacy within Dollar General's market area. The Foundation provides funding for adult basic education, GED preparation, English for speakers of other languages, and family literacy. Nonprofit organizations in the company's 30-state market area are eligible to apply.

   For a market area map, visit http://www.dollargeneral.com/ourstores/map.aspx.

   Deadline: April 8, 2005

2. (National)
   Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation

   The Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation was established to help empower America's youth. The goal of the Foundation is to be a major force in improving education by focusing on preparing students for the demands of today's global society. In addition, the Foundation is committed to investing in health-related organizations and cultural programs that impact a diverse population of youth. Nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. are eligible to apply.

   The next application deadline is April 1, 2005

3. (California)
   The Art Institute of California - San Francisco

   Design classes at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco are now accepting applications for pro-bono design services provided by students. The design services for accepted projects will be provided at no charge through the school's Community Arts Resource Exchange (C.A.R.E.) program, which gives students opportunities to apply their design skills to projects that support the community. The school is accepting projects for its upcoming Spring and Summer quarters.

   Nonprofit groups may apply for assistance with logo development, poster and brochure design, identity campaigns, flyers, advertising, postcards and other marketing collateral material, as well as multimedia and web design projects.

   To apply, representatives from nonprofit groups must fill out a C.A.R.E. Project Request Form, available online. The form also is available from Dan Soine, Director of Public Relations, The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, 1170 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, tel. 415-276-1030 or by e-mail at dsoine@aii.edu. The school reviews requests to determine feasibility and whether they will match with upcoming class projects.

4. (National)
   VSA arts

   VSA arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the participation of people with disabilities in the arts and society, has announced its 2005 Call for Children's Art, inviting children of all abilities in grades K-12 to submit visual artwork.

   Entitled "Art is...," the Call for Art is designed to raise awareness of the importance of the arts and arts in education for students of all abilities. Children are invited to explore these questions as they create their artwork: What does art mean to you? Why is it important? Where can you find art and where does it come from? What is art all about?

   All entries should be submitted to a VSA arts affiliate on or before May 5, 2005. In May, two pieces of art from each state will be selected for possible participation in a national touring exhibit that will debut in Washington, D.C.

   Deadline: May 5, 2005

5. (National)
   The Fannie Mae Foundation

   The Fannie Mae Foundation Fellowship Program supports the professional development of senior public and nonprofit officials committed to affordable housing in the United States.

   The Fannie Mae Foundation partners with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University to offer the program. Since 1996, the foundation has annually sponsored up to thirty-five fellowships for elected and appointed officials, as well as senior managers in the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

   The three-week (June 12-July 1, 2005) summer program is intended to enhance the management and decision-making skills of accomplished leaders experienced in managing housing and community development programs. The program curriculum focuses on organizational strategy; political management; policy development; management control and operations; and management of human resources.

   The program is taught by Kennedy School faculty. In addition to participation in the Program for Senior Executives, Fannie Mae Foundation Fellows attend special sessions that address housing issues, trends, policies, and successful models of public/private housing partnership.

   Fellowship funds cover the cost of the admission deposit, program tuition, and room and board for the session.

   Deadline: April 1, 2005

6. (National)
   National Gardening Association and Gardener's Supply Company

   Through the Healthy Sprouts Award program, the National Gardening Association and Gardener's Supply Company have partnered to support schools and community organizations that use gardens to teach about nutrition and explore the issue of hunger in the United States.

   Each of twenty-five selected programs will receive an award package of seeds, tools, garden products, and educational resources for growing a vegetable garden. Five of these programs will also receive $500 in cash and a $200 gift certificate to the Gardener's Supply Company catalog. The selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden and nutrition education and hunger awareness. At least 10 percent of the food produced from the program should be donated.

   Deadline: March 31, 2005

7. (National)
   CIRCLE

   CIRCLE requests proposals for research that is conducted by young people. Teams that include youth researchers may apply to investigate a community issue of their choice.

   Deadline: March 31, 2005

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V. Resources

Resource website for Wisconsin based organizations

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The Association of Consultants to Nonprofits works to develop, strengthen, and promote its members as providers of best-practice consulting services to the nonprofit community.

Based throughout the Chicago metro area, ACN member consultants perform many specialized services in the not-for-profit sector. We provide expert and experienced consulting to nonprofit organizations in Chicago and, indeed, around the world.

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If you wish to contribute to the VERB Weekly e-Digest, please send all materials to sophy@searac.org