Tuesday, February 14, 2005: Volume #2, Issue #61
The VERB Weekly Email Digest
Edited by Sophy Pich, VERB Project Associate

Note: Documents on this page or in this section may be in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. In order to read them, you require Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is downloadable free from Adobe.

In This Week's Issue

1. Announcements
• 2005 Grant Opportunities Notebook
• Conference Call Series
• Foundation Center Training Courses
• Curriculum Development for Adults
• Grant Proposals Workshop
• Call for Reviewers
2. Promising Practices
• The Basics of Online Fundraising
3. News
• Exotic Tastes, Familiar Brands
• Check It Out: Paine Art Exhibit Puts Faces on Refugees
• Fears of Tb Have Put Hmong Refugees' Lives on Hold
• Kelly Aide Said to Be Subject of an Fbi Probe
• a Church Reborn
• Family Crosses Language Barrier
• Today Starts a New Year for Asian-Americans
• Minn. Police Officer Guilty in Gun Case
• Hmong Youths to Lend a Hand
• Refugee Begins Trip Home
• Tet: a Celebration of Rebirth
• Go-Getting Vietnamese Embrace Their Rat Race
• San Jose Exhibit Honors Vietnamese `Boat People'
4. Funding Opportunities
• The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
• The Miss Foundation for Women
• MetLife Foundation
• Human Health Services
• Human Health Services
• National Transitional Jobs Network
5. Resources
• The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy
• The CharityChannel

I. Announcements

2005 Grant Opportunities Notebook

WHO: Faith-Based and Community-Based organizations interested in this year's federal funding opportunities from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

WHAT: A guide to this year's federal funding opportunities for faith-based and community organizations across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This notebook was developed by the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in partnership with the Administration on Children and Families, the Health Resources Services Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Included in the notebook is information on approximately 40 grants in the following areas: Community Development, At-Risk Children and Youth, Senior, Health, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health programs. The block and formula grants that are HHS funds and administered by State and/or local governments are listed in the Partnership Opportunities section. Also included is information on the Compassion Capital Fund, how to be a grant reviewer, how to make a Freedom of Information request, and web resources for organizations interested in federal funding. We strongly encourage everyone to download a copy of the 2005 Grant Opportunities Notebook. Unfortunately, our office will not be able to distribute printed copies this year.

CONTACT: The notebook is downloadable in PDF format at www.hhs.gov/fbci. Click on the "New Information" tab in the yellow column. (An Adobe Acrobat reader is required.)

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Conference Call Series on Understanding Grants and Program Design for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration Grants for Small Grassroots Organizations

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

This call will review components of DOL budget expectations when applying for a grant. The discussion will include topics like what an organizations must do to prepare a budget, what are acceptable items, and what are non-allowable items. The call will also review what faith-based organizations need to know when seeking to partner with the federal government.

When: Tuesday, February 15, 2005, 2:00 p.m. EST

Please dial: 1-800-659-6183

Conference Leader: Dori Rutherford

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The Foundation Center Training Courses

CA, DC, IL, NC

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02/16/2005 Curriculum Development for Adults: Expanding Computer Training Through Community Volunteers. Open to the Public. Morning. Location: Chicago, IL. Registration: Required. Host: CTCNet. Contact: Ellen Garza. Phone: 773-737-2500 Ext. 258. Email: ecgarza@ctcnet.org

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Great Grant Proposals Workshop

In this two-session class, co-sponsored by Writing for Community Success and Media Alliance, participants will learn to sell their organizations and programs to foundation and corporate funders with a well-crafted grant proposal. The class includes extensive handouts, discussions, hands-on exercises, homework, and personalized feedback, plus an optional email follow-up review. Other important tips for getting proposals funded will also be discussed. The workshop sessions will be held on Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 31, in San Francisco, CA. Visit the above website to register.

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Call for Reviewers

Compassion Capital Fund Grant Reviewer

WHO: All those interested in being a grant reviewer.

WHAT: An opportunity to review Compassion Capital Fund grant applications for FY 2005.

WHEN: All applications must be in by February 28, 2005.

CONTACT: To register, head to . To register to review grants for the Child Care Bureau, Children's Bureau, Family and Youth Services Bureau, or Head Start Bureau, see . (Application deadlines vary.)

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II. Promising Practices

The Basics of Online Fundraising

Posted by: brandiellerbee on Friday, February 4, 2005

From PNNOnline

As Americans migrate in increasing numbers to the Internet, online fundraising campaigns are gaining ground in the nonprofit sector. Organizations can now employ the Internet as a tool to create long-lasting e-relationships with donors and constituents. Once an organization has developed an online relationship with its constituents, it's time to make that first "ask." Consider these approaches to ensure each online campaign is as effective as possible.

Determine Objectives An organization must clearly understand its strategic objectives before launching an online fundraising campaign. Setting objectives sharpens messages while also establishing standards for measuring results.

For instance, a nonprofit's goal might be to improve awareness and acquire new donors among younger supporters ages 28-40. This campaign might include four different emails, executed over a 12-week period. The objective of the first communication might be to engage this demographic with an informational update on the organization's activities while the second mailing might be an invitation to a special event for younger supporters. The third might include a fundraising appeal followed by a reminder to those who have not yet donated.

Segment Your Email List to Target Specific Audiences Improve response rates by segmenting an email file based on factors such as constituent interests, donation history or any other defining characteristic. Use this information to target donors with specific messages. Following are a few techniques for gathering more information about donors and prospects:

• Regularly ask constituents to volunteer information about themselves, which will enable more personalized communications.
• Conduct "profiling drives" of existing donors, offering them the opportunity to receive personalized information that matches their specific interests.
• Ask donors and prospects for ZIP code information, which can be used to send communications about events or news in their communities.

Read on: http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=5739

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III. News

Check It Out: Paine Art Exhibit Puts Faces on Refugees
Oshkosh Northwestern
February 7, 2005

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Check It Out: Paine Art Exhibit Puts Faces on Refugees
Oshkosh Northwestern
February 7, 2005

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Fears of TB Have Put Hmong Refugees' Lives on Hold
Kansas City Star
February 7, 2005

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Kelly Aide Said to Be Subject of an Fbi Probe
Minneapolis Star Tribune
February 8, 2005

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A Church Reborn
Louisville Courier-Journal
February 8, 2005

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Family Crosses Language Barrier
Salem Statesman Journal
February 9, 2005

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Today Starts a New Year for Asian-Americans
Chicago Daily Herald
February 9, 2005

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Minn. Police Officer Guilty in Gun Case
Kansas City Star
February 9, 2005

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Hmong Youths to Lend a Hand
Wausau Daily Herald
February 11, 2005

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Refugee Begins Trip Home
Los Angeles Times
February 12, 2005

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Tet: a Celebration of Rebirth
New California Media
February 12, 2005

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Go-Getting Vietnamese Embrace Their Rat Race
San Francisco Chronicle
February 13, 2005

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San Jose Exhibit Honors Vietnamese `Boat People'
San Jose Mercury News
February 13, 2005

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

   The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes seeks nominations for its 2005 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet. Each year, ten winners each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education.

   Nomination deadline: April 30, 2005

2. (National)
   The Ms. Foundation for Women

   The Ms. Foundation for Women supports the efforts of women and girls to govern their own lives and influence the world around them. The Foundation's Safety Program aims to end violence against all women and girls by supporting community-centered strategies that engage survivors and marginalized communities to actively change the conditions that give rise to violence, in order to prevent violence before it starts.

   Support is provided for community-centered strategies with a violence prevention agenda connected with an analysis of race, class, gender, age, and sexual orientation; and program activities that actively work to transform traditional gender roles for both women and men. Nonprofit organizations working in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories are eligible to apply.

   Deadline: April 1, 2005

3. (National)
   MetLife Foundation

   Libraries for the Future, with support from MetLife Foundation, is sponsoring a national book and film discussion series for teenagers and families, especially immigrant families, that will take place in public libraries. Public libraries are invited to submit proposals to receive a $5,000 grant.

   Deadline: March 4, 2005

4. (National)
   Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (AFI)

   WHO: Nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations; State, local, or Tribal government agencies applying jointly with a nonprofit; Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) or Low Income Credit Unions, in collaboration with a community-based anti-poverty organization.

   WHAT: AFI is a Federal grant program that explores ways to help low-income people become economically self-sufficient. AFI provides grants of up to $1,000,000 to nonprofit and government agencies that provide financial education to clients and assist them with saving money in Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for the goal of acquiring one of three long-term assets (a first home, post-secondary education, or small business capital).

   AWARD AMOUNT: Approximately $18 million dollars will fund between 50-60 awards. There is a cost matching requirement of 50 percent.

   CONTACT: For a link to the full program announcement, head to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2004-ACF-OCS-EI-0027.html

   For additional information on the program, please contact the Office of Community Services at (202) 401-4626 or email AFIProgram@acf.hhs.gov or head to the AFI website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding/

   The website includes general information about asset building, details about the AFI program, information for applicants, resources for Grantees, and links to other resources.

   WHEN: Applications due March 15, June 15, and November 1, 2005. (See program announcement for more details.)

5. (National)
   Child Health Practitioner Support Program

   WHO: Public and non-profit private entities, including tribal, faith-based and community-based organizations.

   WHAT: To assist child health practitioner organizations to support their members to provide high quality coordinated, comprehensive care for all children. The organization must identify specific areas of concern of their members, prioritize those areas, and propose targeted responses to meet those areas of concern.

   AWARD AMOUNT: Approximately $600,000 dollars will fund up to 2 awards.

   CONTACT: See the Announcement

   WHEN: Applications due April 5, 2005

6. (National)
   National Transitional Jobs Network

   Cities, counties, states, CDCs, and nonprofit organizations are invited to apply to receive eighteen months of technical assistance to establish innovative jobs programs for residents with barriers to work. Transitional Jobs are time-limited, subsidized jobs that combine real work, skill development, and support services to help participants overcome substantial barriers to employment.

   A consortium of organizations that includes the National Transitional Jobs Network, the Center for Employment Opportunities, the Transitional Work Corporation, and the National League of Cities is seeking proposals from entities operating within a city or other defined region with a population of 50,000 or more to receive expert assistance in designing local Transitional Jobs programs. Project recipients can expect ongoing support and technical assistance from national experts and opportunities for cross-site exchanges with other selected entities and well-established Transitional Jobs programs.

   Interested entities may participate in a conference call on Tuesday, February 22, at 3:00 p.m. EST, to learn more about the Transitional Jobs model and application process. To register for the February 22 conference call, contact Laura Zusman at the National Transitional Jobs Network, (312) 660-1345, or e-mail lzusman@heartlandalliance.org.

   The National Transitional Jobs Network has also announced that it will be hosting its Fifth Annual Transitional Jobs Conference, "Transitional Jobs: A Critical Reentry Employment Strategy," May 5-6, 2005, at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C. For conference information, see: http://www.transitionaljobs.net/Events.htm

   Deadline: March 15, 2005

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V. Resources

Formed in January 2002 with a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to the Research Foundation of the State University of New York, the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy was created:

"To engage and inform government, religious and civic leaders about the role of faith-based organizations in our social welfare system by means of nonpartisan, evidence-based discussions on the potential and pitfalls of such involvement."

The CharityChannel community is comprised of nonprofit sector professionals from around the world who volunteer their time, advice, information, tips and articles for the benefit of the community.

CharityChannel directs (or "channels") this information through our vast network, approves, edits and/or packages it up, and directs it back out to you by way of: Forum discussion lists, e-newsletters, updated news links, book reviews, interviews, job postings, consultants listings and product/service listings.

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