Monday, May 9, 2005: Volume #2, Issue #73
The VERB Weekly Email Digest
Edited by Sophy Pich, VERB Project Associate

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In This Week's Issue

1. Announcements
• National Congress of Vietnamese Americans
• Transform Your Board
• Raising More Money: May and June Seminars
• Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits
• Take the California Budget Challenge!
• PRSA Media Relations Workshop
• 2005 Collaborating For Success National Conference
• The 23rd Tutor Mentor
• Earned Income: Assessing Your Nonprofit's Revenue Options
2. Promising Practices
• True Sustainability
3. News
• Watson Institute's Commemoration of Three Anniversaries
• Race Issues Smolder
• A Journey from War to War
• Hmong Group to Start Soccer Team
• Waiting for a Brighter Day
• Life in a Refugee Camp
• Ex-Cop Sentenced to 30 Days for Loaning Out Gun Used
• Vietnam Dodges Sanctions for Religious Freedom Violations
• Vietnamese Americans Become Poker Force
• Education Key to Hmong Breast Cancer Awareness
• Asian-Owned Small Businesses Recognized by Wells Fargo
• Temple of the Heart
• Slayings of Fortuneteller, Daughter Baffle Vietnamese Community
• Community Turns Out to Bid Dixie Farewell
• Nation Briefs
• Ten Years After Normalization, Us-Vietnam Relations Are Strong
• Redirecting Refugee Funds
• Asian Fest Blends Sights, Smells and Sounds
• the Pressures of 'Good' Cultural Stereotypes
• Vet Helps Vietnamese Kin of Gis Make Their Way to Promised Land
4. Funding Opportunities
• Youth Basic Center Program
• Refugee Microenterprise Development Projects
• The ASCAP Foundation
• The Aetna Voice of Conscience Award
• CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust
• San Francisco Foundation
• May Department Stores Company Foundation
• Microsoft Unlimited Potential
• Finish Line Youth Foundation
• CHS Foundation
• Christopher D. Smithers Foundation
5. Resources
• The Prevention Researcher
• Google Public Service Search

I. Announcements

National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (VERB Grassroots Partner)

For Immediate Release
May 6, 2005

Contacts: Mr. Hung Nguyen, (877) 592-4140

NCVA Prepares Tomorrow's Leaders Today
"Exploring the Present and Building the Future"

The Vietnamese American Community is growing in both population size and political clout. As the Community matures, it needs dynamic young people with leadership skills and the vision to lead. Recognizing the emergence of this young population and its impact on the political, economic and social spectrums, the Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference (VAYLC) seeks to harness this energy by bringing young Vietnamese Americans and Asian Americans students and young professionals to Washington, D.C. for a summit from June 22 - June 25, 2005.

"State FarmR and the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans realize that investing in the energy and creativity of young leaders is the key to our national future. We are proud to partner in developing leadership and career skills of young Vietnamese Americans," said Leslie Moe-Kaiser, State Farm Corporate Relations Manager.

VAYLC provides a forum for young Asian Americans to discuss national and local issues and establish a network for young leaders to meet and exchange ideas and information. VAYLC seeks to prepare young professionals and students to become public leaders in their communities.

Quan Hoang, President and CEO, AnviCom, Inc. said, "I think it is important that our young people feel confident in their ability to lead in our communities, in the business world, and in society. They will need to recognize and then step up to many opportunities as life presents them. I am glad this program exists to help."

The four-day summit includes workshop sessions emphasizing leadership skills, public speaking, and team building. Participants will visit Congress, tour the Capitol, attend a White House briefing, and enjoy a multi-course gala dinner. Experienced professionals, scholars and activists will lead the interactive sessions.

"Leadership Development is the key driver in shaping the minds of our youth. Citigroup is committed to helping the Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference achieve its goals. Last year, Citigroup made a 10-year, $200 million commitment to promote financial education worldwide, we look forward to helping in future community initiatives," said Bao Nguyen, Vice President, Citibank, NA.

To learn more about VAYLC, please contact us at 877-592-4140 or visit us on the web at www.vaylc.org.

***

Transform Your Board: Don't end up in the doghouse. Governance is the number-one target of nonprofit watchdogs. In this era of increasing regulations, the typically passive, dysfunctional, or lackluster board culture just won't cut it. Get the knowledge and tools you need to transform your board, including a plan tailored just for your organization, a mentor to support you through the process of change, and key information about complying with new board regulations. This interactive, fast-paced, one-day workshop, developed and presented by CAN, will be in Ventura on Tues, June 14, Contra Costa on Thurs, June 16, and Los Angeles on Wed, June 22. Sign up before May 18 for big discounts! More information and registration is available at the website.

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Raising More Money: May and June Seminars

Raising More Money offers free sessions on Tues, May 17 in San Diego, Thurs, May 19 in San Francisco, Mon, June 6 in Goleta, Tues, June 7 in Sacramento, and Wed, June 8 in Oakland. Raising More Money: Sustainable Funding for Your Mission is a two-hour session in a proven fundraising system using a mission-based model for sustainable funding. This system ends the suffering around fundraising while building passionate and committed lifelong donors. Nonprofit staff and board members are invited to attend this informative session to learn more about this highly effective approach to fundraising. Space is limited and you must register if you plan to attend. Go to the website, scroll down to your preferred city, and click on the link to RSVP. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Case at (206) 709-9400, x136 or elizabeth.case@raisingmoremoney.com.

***

Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits

Presented by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center in partnership with CAN, this educational event draws leaders from nonprofits in every corner of the U.S. as well as professional advisors (lawyers, CPAs and insurance professionals) who assist nonprofits. The Summit offers a time and place for sharing ideas, information for informed decision-making, and a welcome environment for champions of risk management in the nonprofit sector. With educational sessions covering a broad spectrum of hot topics in the field, the Summit -- held Mon-Wed, Sept 26-28, in San Francisco -- is a not-to-be-missed event for those who want to strengthen risk management in their organizations and thereby enable greater focus and resources to be devoted to mission fulfillment. PLUS! At the Summit, CAN will present its new Nonprofit Accounting Boot Camp on the basics of nonprofit finance. For more details and to register, go to the website.

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Take the California Budget Challenge!

Today's budget decisions create the California of tomorrow, yet many Californians are not fully informed and engaged in the state budget process. Next Ten created the California Budget Challenge as a public service to engage more Californians in the budget process and to create understanding about the tough choices we need to make to ensure California is a great place to live now and in the future. Take the California Budget Challenge at http://www.next-ten.org/ and see if you can make choices that will create the kind of California you would like to see in ten years.

***

PRSA Media Relations Workshop

Thursday, May 19, 2005
Irvine Hilton
18800 MacArthur Blvd, Irvine CA 92612
(directly across the street from John Wayne Airport)

Public relations practitioners handle an incredible variety of assignments—from counseling management and devising communications strategies to writing speeches and producing newsletters. Yet media relations remains the preeminent responsibility for many PR executives.

Savvy pros are always looking for ways to improve their performance in this crucial discipline. Such professionals should attend the PRSA Media Relations Workshop, which will be held Thursday, May 19 at the Irvine Hilton (directly across the street from John Wayne Airport).

Workshop Cost (Includes Lunch)
$129 PRSA Members
$149 Non-Members
$100 Full-Time Students

Luncheon-Only Cost
$37 PRSA Members
$45 Non-Members
$30 Full-Time Students

***

2005 Collaborating For Success National Conference Creating and Operating Multi-tenant Nonprofit Centers

May 12-13, 2005
Fort Mason Center
San Francisco, California

***

The 23rd Tutor Mentor will be preceded by one week of online conferences with daily presentations on Tutoring and Mentoring by education and business professionals from around the world.

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Earned Income: Assessing Your Nonprofit's Revenue Options
Washington, DC
June 24, 2005

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II. Promising Practices

True Sustainability: A New Model to Aid Nonprofits in Developing Self-Sustaining Revenue Streams

From GuideStar

One of the biggest challenges that nonprofits face is generating revenue for their vital missions. Because tax-exempt organizations cannot raise capital through traditional capital markets, they have tended to focus on donations as the sole or primary source of revenue and to ignore proactively pursuing capital. With the pervading misconception that nonprofits cannot make a profit, most tax-exempt organizations do not take full advantage of permitted "for-profit" and capital acquisition opportunities in order to accomplish their missions.

Not-for-profit, or nonprofit, is not synonymous with unprofitable. In fact, the term is not only a misnomer but has impeded many nonprofits from succeeding in their missions and being good stewards of the resources entrusted to them by donors. Nonprofits have been able to engage in for-profit activities, possibly even free of the unrelated business income tax (UBIT), as long the activities further their charitable purposes and do not constitute a substantial part of their activities. These efforts can be chancy because the entire burden, cost, and risk of failure remain on the nonprofit.

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

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III. News

Watson Institute's Commemoration of Three Anniversaries in the War with Vietnam
April 29, 2005

***

Race Issues Smolder
Pioneer Press
May 2, 2005

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A Journey from War to War
TIME
May 2, 2005

***

Hmong Group to Start Soccer Team
Wausau Daily Herald
May 2, 2005

***

Waiting for a Brighter Day
Fort Worth Star Telegram
May 3, 2005

***

Life in a Refugee Camp
Arizona Republic
May 4, 2005

***

Ex-Cop Sentenced to 30 Days for Loaning Out Gun Used to Shoot Into ...
Minneapolis Star Tribune
May 4, 2005

***

Vietnam Dodges Sanctions for Religious Freedom Violations
Town Hall
May 6, 2005

***

Vietnamese Americans Become Poker Force
Casino City Times
May 6, 2005

***

Education Key to Hmong Breast Cancer Awareness
Wausau Daily Herald
May 6, 2005

***

Asian-Owned Small Businesses Recognized by Wells Fargo and Us Pan ...
Yahoo News
May 6, 2005

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Temple of the Heart
North Shore Sunday
May 6, 2005

***

Slayings of Fortuneteller, Daughter Baffle Vietnamese Community
San Jose Mercury News
May 7, 2005

***

Community Turns Out to Bid Dixie Farewell
Long Beach Press-Telegram
May 7, 2005

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Nation Briefs
Asian Week
May 7, 2005

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Ten Years After Normalization, Us-Vietnam Relations Are Strong
US Dept of State
May 7, 2005

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Redirecting Refugee Funds
Sacramento Bee
May 8, 2005

***

Asian Fest Blends Sights, Smells and Sounds
DesMoinesRegister.com
May 8, 2005

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The Pressures of 'Good' Cultural Stereotypes
Boston Globe
May 8, 2005

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Vet Helps Vietnamese Kin of GIs Make Their Way to Promised Land
Kansas City Star
May 8, 2005

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   Youth Basic Center Program

   Youth Basic Center Program: The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the Department of Health and Human Services is currently accepting applications for the Basic Center Program (BCP). The Basic Center Program is one of the programs authorized under Part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Act of 1974 to address runaway and homeless youth problems. In setting for the criteria, FYSB notes applicants are expected to address matters of family functioning and the health, education, employment, and social conditions of the youth in the service area, including at-risk conditions or behaviors such as drug use, school failure, and delinquency. FYSB notes that key elements of positive youth development includes "skill development in literacy, competence, work readiness and social skills."

   Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $13,800,000.

   Anticipated Number of Awards: 107

   Average Projected Award Amount: $129,000.

   Length of Project Periods: 36-month project with three 12-month budget periods. The May 4 Federal Register provides full background on this competition, including the enumeration of eligible organizations. Faith-based and community-based organizations are eligible to apply. The solicitation also mentions the availability of several documents:

   • Understanding Youth Development: Promoting Positive Pathways of Growth
   • Reconnecting Youth and Community: A Youth Development Approach
   • Toward a Blueprint for Youth: Making Positive Youth Development a National Priority

   Also see: Training and Employment Guidance Letter 3-04: The Employment and Training Administration's New Strategic Vision for the Delivery of Youth Services Under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

2. (National)
   Refugee Microenterprise Development Projects

   The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health and Human Services has supported the field of microenterprise development since 1991 with discretionary grants to various State governments, community economic development agencies, community action and other human service agencies, local mutual assistance associations, and voluntary agencies. ORR has announced the availability of discretionary funds for refugee microenterprise development projects.

   Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $1,200,000.

   Anticipated Number of Awards: 4 to 12.

   Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards Per Budget Period: $500,000.

   Average Projected Award Amount Per Budget Period: $200,000.

   Length of Project Periods: 48-month project with four 12-month budget periods.

   Projects should be designed in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate for the refugee population, including interest in diverse microbusinesses and English-language proficiency. Project designs should also take into account such economic factors as employment rates, welfare status, and length of time in the U.S. Applicants should also be familiar with the capital needs and capital market gaps for refugee entrepreneurs and should demonstrate how refugees will gain access to business credit.

   Successful applicants should demonstrate an understanding of the economic opportunities in the community for refugees and should have established working partnerships with the communities' refugee resettlement services network, with existing microenterprise development organizations (where they are present), and with financial institutions. Eligible clients are refugees who aspire to establish, expand, or stabilize a microenterprise but who lack the financial resources, credit history, or personal assets to qualify for business loans or assistance through commercial institutions.

   Refugees who are not yet citizens may participate regardless of their date of arrival in the U.S. However, refugees who arrived in the U.S. within the last five years have priority for services. Grantees will be responsible for documenting refugee client eligibility.

   The May 4 Federal Register provides full background on this competition, eligible applicants, and the application requirements.

   Deadline: The application deadline is July 5, 2005.

   Also see: Training and Employment Guidance Letter 16-04: Self-Employment Training for Workforce Investment Act Clients

3. (National)
   The ASCAP Foundation

   The ASCAP Foundation, a publicly supported charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs, is accepting applications for its 2006 grants program.

   The foundation will consider grant proposals from other 501(c)(3) organizations engaging in music education and talent development programs that are consistent with the mission and objectives of the ASCAP Foundation and which support music education programs for aspiring songwriters and composers. The average grant awarded by the foundation is approximately $5,000.

   Deadline: October 1, 2005

4. (National)
   The Aetna Voice of Conscience Award

   The Aetna Voice of Conscience Award was created in memory of tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr., a member of Aetna's board of directors for more than ten years and chairman of the Aetna Foundation at the time of his death.

   The Voice of Conscience Award will be presented to a citizen/leader who emulates the selfless commitment to education, civil rights, health, and human services that Arthur had. The award winner will receive a $50,000 grant for the nonprofit organizations of his or her choice.

   Characteristics of the award recipient include a commitment to advancing human rights, opportunity, and dignity; a commitment to serving others, regardless of personal benefit; devotion to achieving humanitarian ideals; a record of accomplishment in civil rights, education, health care, and social equity; a willingness to take risks for challenging causes; and the ability to transcend boundaries across race, culture, class, faith, and ethnicity.

   Deadline: June 15, 2005

5. (National)
   CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust

   The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust was established by the CVS Corporation with a goal of positively impacting the culturally diverse populations in the communities where CVS/pharmacy stores are located.

   Applications are being accepted by the trust for the following:

   1. Health programs serving children (under the age of 18) with physical disabilities that address the following: Awareness; Accessibility; Early Intervention; and Health and Rehabilitative Services.
   2. Public schools (Grades Pre-K through 12) that are expanding programs promoting inclusion of children with physical disabilities in all aspects of school functions, including Student Academic Activities; Extracurricular Programs; and Physical Activity/Play. Children with physical disabilities are defined as children who have orthopedic, mobility, or sensory challenges. Children with physical disabilities include children who are blind, visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing; children with traumatic brain injury; and children with orthopedic or multiple disabilities.

   Deadline: June 15, 2005

6. (California)
   San Francisco Foundation

   The Disability Rights Advocates Fund (DRA Fund) was established in 1995 by Disability Rights Advocates, a nonprofit law center, to support projects that advance the rights and fill unmet needs of people with disabilities. The DRA Fund seeks to support projects whose specific outcomes positively impact large populations of people with disabilities in the Bay Area and Northern California. The fund is administered by the San Francisco Foundation, a community foundation for the Bay Area.

   As of March 2005, the DRA Fund has announced the availability of emergency grants. Grants of up to $7,500 are available to organizations to assist mobilizing people with disabilities to act upon time-sensitive and urgent matters affecting the disability community. For example, funds may be used to cover the transportation, interpreter, and/or personal assistant costs associated with a community mobilization effort.

   Organizations located in the Bay Area and Northern California are eligible for funding.

   Deadline: Open

7. (Metro DC Area)
   May Department Stores Company Foundation

   The May Department Stores Company Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the communities where company stores are located throughout the U.S. Selected national organizations are also supported. The Foundation provides grants for programs that fall into the following major categories: health and welfare, education, arts and culture, and civic affairs.

   Deadline: Open

8. (National)
   Microsoft Unlimited Potential

   Microsoft Unlimited Potential is a global initiative that focuses on improving lifelong learning for disadvantaged young people and adults by providing technology skills through community technology centers. A community technology center is a free or low-cost place (in a community center, school, library, housing facility, etc.) where people of all ages and abilities can come to learn about computers, use the Internet, explore new careers, further their education, or participate in community activities. The initiative provides grants, software donations, technical assistance, and in-kind support to eligible nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and non-governmental organizations outside the U.S. Applications are accepted throughout the year. For information on how to apply through Microsoft subsidiary offices located around the world, visit the website listed above.

   Deadline: Open

9. (National)
   Finish Line Youth Foundation

   The Finish Line Youth Foundation provides funding to organizations where company stores are located, or communities where donations to the Foundation are raised. (Finish Line operates over 605 stores in 46 states. To find out if there's a store in your community visit the website.

   The Foundation's primary focus is to support youth athletic and wellness programs. Grants generally range from $1,000 to $5,000.

   The remaining application deadlines in 2005 are June 30, September 30, and December 31. Application guidelines and forms are available online.

10. (National)
    CHS Foundation

    The CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the future of rural America, agriculture and cooperative business through education and leadership development. The Foundation supports national efforts, as well as those within the CHS trade territory. The Foundation's funding focuses on the following six program areas: Cooperative Education, Rural Youth and Leadership Development, Farm and Agricultural Safety, Returning Value to Rural Communities, Emergency Assistance and Disaster Relief, and Scholarship Programs.

    Deadline: All grants requests are accepted on an ongoing basis, with the exception of the Cooperative Education Grants, which are due in the fall of each year.

11. (National)
    Christopher D. Smithers Foundation

    The Christopher D. Smithers Foundation focuses its grantmaking on the issues of alcoholism, including prevention, treatment, research, public education, and creating awareness of these problems in the nation's work world. The main thrust of the Foundation's funding is in the field of alcoholism prevention and education. While a number of grants go to national organizations, regional and local organizations across the country also receive funds.

    Deadline: Open

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V. Resources

The Prevention Researcher

Over the years, The Prevention Researcher has evolved into a quarterly journal providing evidence and results-based research articles focused on adolescents that are applicable for real-life situations. Designed as a science-to-service connection, each issue focuses on a single topic, providing in-depth information written in a straightforward style by top researchers. In addition to our quarterly issues (published each February, April, September and November), we also produce an annual Resource Issue. This issue is filled with Q & As, interviews, website and book reviews, a cumulative subject index and other prevention-related resources.

***

Google Public Service Search

Google, through its new Public Service Search section, is offering nonprofit organizations two free search tools for use on their websites: SiteSearch, for searching within sites, and WebSearch, enabling users to search the Internet by keyword. The new, cost-free service also offers traffic reports, unlimited queries, and allows for customization, and no banner ads or other paid advertising will show on search result pages.

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