Monday, August 22, 2005: Volume #2, Issue #86
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
• National Congress of Vietnamese Americans
• Board Chair and Board Director Training
• Media Training
• The National Service Briefing
2. Promising Practices
• True Sustainability: Developing Self-Sustaining Revenue Streams
3. News
• Montagnard Trail of Tears
• Religion and Good Neighbors
• Hmong Refugees Ask State for Better Training
• Hmong, Panel Seek W-2 Changes
• Zoning for Buddhist Temple Backed by County Panel
• A Tasty Melting Pot
• Cause Celebre
• In Vermont, It's a Small World
• Project Seeks to Preserve History
• Milwaukee Needs Better Training for Hmong Workers
• UAB Faculty, Students Start Year on Same Page
• Asian-American Group Alleges Poll Problems
• 'Welcome' to Students
• Young Vietnamese-Americans Search for Ways to Meet Duty to Parents ...
• Day Project
• Here Comes the Neighborhood
• Alliance to Help Vietnamese in Mass.
• Community Household Donations Buoy Local Hmong Refugees
• Vietnam Admits Shortcomings on Human Rights
• Down the Rabbit Hole of Vietnamese Cuisine
• How a Theater Company Went from a Basement to the Big Time
• Gloves Off
• Advocacy Group Lists Barriers to Asian-American Voters
• Vietnamese Hope for Cultural Center
• Southeast Asian Water Festival a Celebration of Vibrant Heritage
4. Funding Opportunities
• Northern California Community Loan Fund
• The Humana Foundation
• GoGirlGo!
• U.S. Soccer Foundation
• California HealthCare Foundation
• Lance Armstrong Foundation
• United Nations Trust Fund
• AmeriCorps
• SAMHSA
5. Resources
• The Gannett Foundation

I. Announcements

SAVE THE DATE
October 21-23, 2005

Hello Friends,

We invite you to the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans' (NCVA) (VERB Sub-awardee) 19th Annual Convention to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, CA.

Workshops, career fairs and exhibits are free to the public.

Registration fees are for those who wish to access meals (breakfast, lunch, banquet dinner, reception and other exciting opportunities).

It should be an exciting time for us to consider "Building a Stronger Community" by Empowering Neighbors, Creating Business Opportunities and Building a Sustainable Community.

Visit us at: http://www.ncvaonline.org/conferences/2005

We hope to see you in San Jose, CA!

Hung Nguyen
President/CEO
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA)
www.ncvaonline.org
- e pluribus unum -

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Board Chair and Board Director Training

--Board Chairs. We have scheduled another Board Chair Training Session. As a board chair, commit to excellence by attending Board Chair Training Sept. 28, from 4-8:30 p.m. at MAP. The $75 per person cost includes dinner and materials.

--Board Boot Camp. Join one of MAP's lively Board Boot Camps to learn the importance of nonprofit boards, legal considerations, board member roles and responsibilities, and board and staff relationship. Attend an upcoming session: August 24, September 28 , October 26 or November 16, from 8:30-10:30 a.m., at MAP, $35 per participant.

For more information or to sign up, email classes@mapfornonprofits.org or call 651-647-1216.

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The Foundation Center Proposal Writing Seminars:

Strengthen your grantseeking skills

Your nonprofit organization can master the world of foundation fundraising, proposal writing, boards, and all that goes into getting the grants you need! Whether you want to strengthen your 'ask' or sharpen your online research skills, our course schedule will take fundraising to the next level for your organization.

As you review the course descriptions, be sure to consider everyone on your fundraising team - from volunteers to development directors, staff to senior managers and board members - and take advantage of our special offer:

o SAVE $25 for each additional person from your organization registered for the same course. o Register for any course and SAVE $25 on each additional course.

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Dear Friend:

Over the years, I have conducted a couple of dozen communication and media trainings for staff of advocacy organizations.

As you know, most advocates have tight budgets and their communications departments are understaffed and/or resource starved. The trainings I have conducted address these challenges by emphasizing the basics and offering very practical guidance for day-to-day communications work.

Topics include:

• How to write for the media
• What makes news
• How to research media trends
• How to deal with reporters
• How to do rapid response

I have decided to make these trainings more widely available and more efficient by offering them directly to a wide group of clients and colleagues. I am offering the first session on Thursday, September 15 at 9:30am. The training will be approximately three hours long, including ample time to help with real-time challenges participants face. Mike McCurry, former White House Press Secretary, will also give a short presentation on politics and the press.

I have found that these trainings are very valuable for junior-to-mid level communications staff, policy staff that have communications duties, and Executive Directors of smaller organizations. If anyone in your organization would benefit from this training session, please encourage them to sign up. A full outline of topics will be provided prior to the training.

The cost per participant is $125. Participation will be held to twelve respondents. The training will be held at the offices of MacWilliams, Robinson and Partners, 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 301.

I can be contacted at 202.518.8047 or at eric@publicinterestpr.com.

Thanks,

Eric Hauser
The Hauser Group, Inc.
1605 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
202-518-8047
www.publicinterestpr.com

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The National Service Briefing (circulation - 33,000), a weekly E-Newsletter for the service and service-learning field, is seeking articles about your amazing youth volunteers! To submit Young Hero stories, please email 1-3 paragrahs to the Editor-in-Chief at CWessell@YSA.org.

The National Service Briefing was started in 1994 and has the highest circulation of any newsletter in the service and service-learning field. As a weekly email publication, it highlights current information sich as effective practices, funding, jobs, awards, legislation, corporate initiatives, calendar events, and "young heroes" - profiles of youth leading innovative service initiatives.

To sign-up, please go to: www.SERVEnet.org.

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II. Promising Practices

True Sustainability: 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.

On June 1, 2004, however, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Revenue Ruling 2004-51, providing a model by which tax-exempt organizations may safely enter into joint ventures with for-profit corporations without fear of losing their exemptions or being subjected to UBIT. This ruling marks a decisive victory for tax-exempt organizations in their search to expand funding channels. It allows nonprofits to partner with for-profit entities on a limited basis, in furtherance of the nonprofits' tax-exempt purposes, while providing both organizations with an opportunity to establish stable revenue streams.

Under Rev. Rul 2004-51, 2004-22 I.R.B., a nonprofit organization can enter into a joint venture with a for-profit entity in order to form a domestic, for-profit Limited Liability Company (LLC). For example, in the IRS Ruling, a tax-exempt university and for-profit technology company formed an LLC to offer teacher-training programs at off-campus locations. The LLC is owned equally by both entities, and each organization made an equal initial capital contribution. Management comprises a governing board consisting of three members from each organization.

Read on...

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III. News

Montagnard Trail of Tears
ChronWatch
August 12, 2005

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Religion and Good Neighbors
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
August 15, 2005

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Hmong Refugees Ask State for Better Training
WAOW
August 15, 2005

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Hmong, Panel Seek W-2 Changes
Appleton Post Crescent
August 16, 2005

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Zoning for Buddhist Temple Backed by County Panel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
August 16, 2005

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A Tasty Melting Pot
U.S. News & World Report
August 16, 2005

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Cause Celebre
Electric New Paper
August 16, 2005

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In Vermont, It's a Small World
BurlingtonFreePress.com
August 16, 2005

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Project Seeks to Preserve History
OCRegister
August 17, 2005

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Milwaukee Needs Better Training for Hmong Workers
LaCrosse Tribune
August 17, 2005

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UAB Faculty, Students Start Year on Same Page
AL.com
August 18, 2005

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Asian-American Group Alleges Poll Problems
Boston Globe
August 18, 2005

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'Welcome' to Students
Pioneer Press
August 18, 2005

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Young Vietnamese-Americans Search for Ways to Meet Duty to Parents ...
San Jose Mercury News
August 18, 2005

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DAY Project
Asian Week
August 19, 2005

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Here Comes the Neighborhood
In These Times
August 19, 2005

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Alliance to Help Vietnamese in Mass.
SAMPAN
August 19, 2005

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Community Household Donations Buoy Local Hmong Refugees
Appleton Post Crescent
August 19, 2005

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Vietnam Admits Shortcomings on Human Rights
Radio Australia
August 19, 2005

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Down the Rabbit Hole of Vietnamese Cuisine
Globe and Mail
August 20, 2005

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How a Theater Company Went from a Basement to the Big Time
LA Downtown News Online
August 20, 2005

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Gloves Off
San Jose Mercury News
August 20, 2005

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Advocacy Group Lists Barriers to Asian-American Voters
Providence Journal
August 21, 2005

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Vietnamese Hope for Cultural Center
DetNews.com
August 21, 2005

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Southeast Asian Water Festival a Celebration of Vibrant Heritage
Lowell Sun
August 21, 2005

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   Northern California Community Loan Fund

   The San Francisco-based Northern California Community Loan Fund, a nonprofit lender and technical assistance provider that works to revitalize low-income communities in the surrounding region, provides loans and financial training to organizations that develop affordable housing, community facilities, job-training programs, and vital human services.

   The Performing Arts Program of NCCLF's Nonprofit Space Capital Fund (NSCF) is accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOIs). The Performing Arts Program provides technical assistance and grants to performing arts organizations to acquire and/or renovate mid-size live performing arts facilities. Preference is given to: (1) projects that serve as catalysts for economic activity in the surrounding neighborhoods; and (2) projects that offer co-location opportunities to increase access to space for fledgling and smaller arts organizations. The program operates in the nine-county Bay Area and in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. The current round of funding is made possible by a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

   Deadline: September 12, 2005 (Letters of Inquiry)

2. (National)
   The Humana Foundation

   The Humana Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in communities in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin where the company has a meaningful presence. The Foundation identifies, funds, and nurtures projects and organizations in three fields: domestic and international health; education; and, civic and cultural development. Religious organizations with nonprofit status are eligible for project-specific support (e.g. social services outreach) or funds for an accredited, church-affiliated educational institution.

   Proposals are reviewed from January 1-October 15 in Louisville, KY and until November 15 in other geographic areas.

3. (National)
   GoGirlGo!

   Administered by the Women's Sports Foundation, the GoGirlGo! Grant and Educational Program seeks to maximize the use of sport/physical activity as an educational intervention and social asset in order to enhance the wellness of girls as they navigate between childhood and early womanhood.

   GoGirlGo! is dedicated to the development and funding of girls' sports/physical activity programs that combine athletic instruction and programming with the delivery of educational information by qualified adults aimed at reducing risk behaviors that threaten the health and social advancement of girls in third to eighth grade.

   The program provides financial assistance to sports and physical activity programs seeking to add new or expanded program participation opportunities for an under-served population of girls, particularly economically disadvantaged girls and/or girls from populations with high incidences of health-risk behaviors.

   The be eligible for this program, applicants must meet the following requirements: demonstrated ability to deliver girls' sport/physical activity programming to girls in third to eighth grade; delivery of a minimum eight-week sports/physical activity program, with preference given to organizations working consistently with girls throughout the year; program leadership administered by experienced and committed adults; 501(c)(3) program status or nonprofit status (if the program does not have nonprofit status, it may be possible to receive a grant with support from a local fiscal agent); and commitment to implement the GoGirlGo! educational curriculum, including completion of a post-project attitudinal survey. The GoGirlGo! curriculum may be implemented following receipt of a grant.

   A total of $200,000 will be awarded.

   Deadline: November 30, 2005

4. (National)
   U.S. Soccer Foundation

   The U.S. Soccer Foundation seeks to support soccer in the United States through its annual grantmaking program.

   For the 2006 grant cycle, the following focus has been established to guide the foundation's funding decisions: Proposals that develop players, referees, and coaches through programs, field enhancements, or the foundation's All Conditions Fields Program, with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas.

   The foundation's grants program is open to anyone with a soccer-specific program or project that benefits a non-for-profit purpose and meets the established focus for the 2006 cycle.

   The foundation's grantmaking program includes the following grant types:

   Program -- A project that develops players, referees, and coaches, with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas. This grant type does not contain a construction element.

   Program With Field Enhancements -- A project that develops players, referees, and coaches, with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas, that contains a construction element such as field renovation, addition, or improvement of field equipment, or lighting.

   All Conditions Fields (ACF) Program -- A project consisting wholly of field development construction utilizing the ACF Program package consisting of four components (i.e., Field-Turf synthetic surface pitch, Kwik Goal field equipment, Musco lights, and TGI signage). Applications for ACF projects that do not propose to use lights will be given a lower priority.

   There is no limitation on the amount of funding an applicant may request; however, the awards process is highly competitive and it is extremely unlikely that an applicant will be awarded the full request amount. Grant awards frequently include the services and/or products of the foundation's Partners Resource Center, which is made up of industry leaders who support the foundation.

   Deadline: September 30, 2005 (Letters of Inquiry)

5. (California)
   California HealthCare Foundation

   The California HealthCare Foundation's Step by Step: Local Coverage Expansion Initiative supports county-based efforts and local coalitions seeking to expand coverage to uninsured populations ineligible for public coverage. The initiative has supported the development of diverse models of health coverage at the local level. The California HealthCare Foundation is funding Step by Step for a third year and is soliciting a new round of proposals this fall.

   The upcoming solicitation will fund two types of technical assistance grants: 1) planning grants will assist coverage expansion efforts with activities such as coalition strengthening, better defining the target population's needs, and/or developing an implementation plan ($25,000 - $50,000 each); 2) implementation grants will provide funding for specific unmet needs associated with launching a local coverage program in 2006 ($100,000 - $200,000 each).

   Grants will be awarded through a competitive Request for Proposals process. Funding will be provided early in 2006 for periods of up to one year. The RFP is scheduled for release in late August.

   To automatically receive the RFP announcement when it is published, potential applicants can sign up at the CHCF Web site, where they can also choose one of two dates for an optional briefing to learn more about the initiative and the proposal process. More information about the briefings will be announced in the RFP.

   Deadline: October 14, 2005

6. (National)
   Lance Armstrong Foundation

   In fall 2005, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (http://www.livestrong.org) is expanding support of community-centered, cancer survivorship initiatives that serve the needs identified by the National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship by offering grants in support of project planning and evaluation through its Community Program.

   Applications will be accepted only through the foundation's online system during a two-week submission period that begins on August 29, 2005, and ends on September 9, 2005. Only the first one hundred applications received during this period will be accepted. Applications will not be accepted before or after the two-week submission period.

   For the fall 2005 program, two types of grants will be awarded:

   1. One-year planning grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to support the development of a design for the proposed project and a complete plan for its implementation (and evaluation). The grant will result in a proposal-ready plan that the grant recipient could easily submit or adapt for submission to potential funding sources. Proposed projects must be programmatic in nature (e.g., service delivery rather than an advertising campaign). Planning grant applications will be considered in two areas: Practical Issues of Cancer Survivorship; and Outreach to Underserved Populations. Based on response, approximately five to ten planning grants will be awarded.
   2. One-year evaluation grants will be awarded in the amount of up to 10 percent of the total project budget, up to $10,000. The applicant should already have a well-developed design for the project and a complete plan for both its implementation and evaluation. The applicant may be about to begin implementation (with funding already secured), be in the midst of implementation, or have just completed implementation. The grant will support the evaluation of the project. Evaluation grant applications will be considered in five areas: Cancer Pain, Palliative, and End-of-Life Care; Physical Activity and Nutrition; Survivorship Education; Survivorship Support; and Practical Issues of Cancer Survivorship. Based on response, approximately five to ten evaluation grants will be awarded.

   Deadline: September 9, 2005

7. (National)
   United Nations Trust Fund

   The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women provides funding to innovative programs that address violence against women in countries around the world. The fund is managed by the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

   UNIFEM is accepting applications for the program's tenth grant cycle (2005) related to one of the following areas of work: implementation of existing laws, policies, and plans of action to address violence against women at global, regional, national, or local levels; and programs that address the linkages between violence against women and HIV/AIDS.

   Region-specific guidelines and application procedures are available for the following areas: Andean Region; Caribbean Region; Central and Eastern Europe and CIS; East and South-East Asia; Francophone and Lusophone West Africa; Pacific Region; South Asia; and the Southern Cone (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay).

   Deadline: September 15, 2005

8. (National)
   AmeriCorps

   AmeriCorps is calling for applications under its fiscal year 2006 National Direct Grant program.

   Awarded to AmeriCorps programs that operate in more than one state, the FY 2006 grants are focused on five-year priorities in several key areas, such as services for at-risk youth, student engagement, making better use of the services and talents of the Baby Boomer generation, and building AmeriCorps' volunteer force.

   $20 million is available to fund various grants through AmeriCorps. The program largely seeks to "build upon the existing work of State Commissions, territories, national non-profits, institutions of higher education, Indian Tribes, and local communities," all of which are eligible to apply.

   Deadline: February 14, 2005

9. (National)
   SAMHSA

   The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is offering $1.9 million in grants to develop research capacity in community-based organizations that treat alcohol and other drug abuse and/or co-occurring mental-health disorders.

   The grant program is aimed specifically at practice-improvement research for scientific and business operations, especially among organizations that have typically been the object rather than initiator of research-to-practice inquiries.

   Approximately eight to 12 grants of $150,000 or more will be awarded. Eligibility is limited to public and private community-based providers of alcohol and other drug abuse and co-occurring mental-health services in a nonacademic environment.

   Deadline: December 19, 2005

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V. Resources

The Gannett Foundation

The Gannett Foundation, a corporate foundation sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc., serves local organizations in those communities in which Gannett Co., Inc. has a local daily newspaper or television station. Gannett Foundation grants are our way of helping to improve the quality of life and addressing the most pressing social and civic issues facing Gannett communities.

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