Tuesday, October 12, 2004: Volume #2, Issue #49
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
• The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) program
• California Association of Nonprofits
• Foundation Fundraising
2. Promising Practices
• Nonprofit Branding: Unveiling the Essentials
3. News
• Hmong Move Going Slowly
• Too Young to Die
• Man Charged in Crash That Injured Young Sisters
• Health Safety Tips for All Minnesotans
• Harvey Gets OK to Retool School Choice
• Laotian Largess: Exotic Greens Grow in Fresno
• Culinary Mélange Vietnamese Dishes Marry Hot
• Remember the Killings Fields
• Books Seen As Unifying Force
• Sj Vietnamese Community Wants a 'Little Saigon'
• ALDS Is Part of Amazing Fall Sports Schedule at the Metrodome
• Film Documents Khmer Genocide
• St. Paul Becomes Largest School District in Minnesota
• Judge Rejects Plea Deal in Child Sex Case
• Mtv-Style Vietnamese American Show Hits the Airwaves
• Hundreds Walk for Diabetes
4. Funding Opportunities
• The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
• CTCNet
• Nickelodeon
• The John F. Kennedy Center
• The Veterans of Foreign Wars
• The U.S. Department of Education
• Youth Service America
• California Council for the Humanities
• The Ms. Foundation for Women
5. Resources
• Nonprofit Intelligence

I. Announcements

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) program is pleased to announce the launching of its 2005-2006 Nomination Process. General information on the program, as well as the nomination forms, can be found at

Materials may be submitted either on-line by January 14, 2005 12:00 midnight EST, or postmarked no later than January 14, 2005.

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13th Annual Conference of the California Association of Nonprofits (CAN), which will be in LOS ANGELES (Oct 28-29) and SAN FRANCISCO (Nov 4-5). Designed to help nonprofit professionals meet today's complex challenges, and offered at affordable rates between $120 and $250, you can't afford not to join your colleagues for this valuable, productive, and energizing event.

Be sure to register early and often to take advantage of our lowest rates!

For more info about the California Association of Nonprofits (CAN), click on http://www.CAnonprofits.org

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Foundation Fundraising: An Introductory Course

Beginning fundraisers will benefit from this full-day workshop to help prepare their organizations to seek grants. The course provides an introduction to the world of foundations and instruction in identifying prospective funders. Through a combination of worksheets and group exercises, you'll learn what steps your organization needs to take before approaching funders; what are the different types of funders; and how to conduct research in order to find the most receptive donors.

Select a date for more details or to register.

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II. Promising Practices

Nonprofit Branding: Unveiling the Essentials

An organization's greatest asset is its brand. Branding is the process of creating a clear, consistent message about your organization, so that when people see your logo or hear your name, they'll think of your mission and programs in terms you have defined. I.e., the way you want them to.

In graduate school recently, I drew on 18 years' practical experience in marketing to look at nonprofits and branding. I found that nonprofits devote little time, energy, and care to branding, and that they generally relegate this process to a lower-level functionary.

The reason why is readily apparent: daily responsibilities and thin resources give nonprofit executives little time for the reflection that effective brand management requires. The purpose of this article is to help busy nonprofit managers by distilling the essentials of branding in a simple and concise fashion.

Four Steps

1. Define your overall brand perception today. Step back and view your organization through the eyes of a potential donor. What do people see as your organization's mission? What do they think are its most important activities? How do they define your goals? If you don't like what you see, it's time to roll up your sleeves and evaluate every facet of your brand.
2. Describe your goal for your brand. Every organization should ask itself, "What is the one thing that we do better than anyone else?" To be a meaningful brand, your cause must be a first-a new category, approach, or service that hasn't been exploited.

My master's thesis focused on a nonprofit organization that had many competitors in a crowded market space. What set them apart was that they were a fully functioning village. The organization slowly shifted its brand perception from a decentralized rescue mission to a community that integrates a variety of functions (meals, shelter, education, behavior enhancement, hope, etc.) under one roof. This concept has the potential to become a powerful new brand position in the local community, one whose attributes are easily recognizable and unique.

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

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III. News

Hmong Move Going Slowly
Appleton Post Crescent
October 4, 2004

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Too Young to Die
San Francisco Chronicle
October 5, 2004

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Man Charged in Crash That Injured Young Sisters
Minneapolis Star Tribune
October 5, 2004

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Health Safety Tips for All Minnesotans
Pioneer Press
October 5, 2004

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Harvey Gets OK to Retool School Choice
Pioneer Press
October 6, 2004

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Laotian Largess: Exotic Greens Grow in Fresno
Contra Costa Times
October 6, 2004

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Culinary MéLange Vietnamese Dishes Marry Hot with Cold, Soft and ...
Munster Times
October 6, 2004

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Remembering the Killing Fields
Chicago Tribune
October 6, 2004
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Books Seen As Unifying Force
Baltimore Sun
October 7, 2004

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SJ Vietnamese Community Wants a 'Little Saigon'
NBC 11.com
October 8, 2004

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ALDS Is Part of Amazing Fall Sports Schedule at the Metrodome
Yahoo News
October 8, 2004

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Film Documents Khmer Genocide
Long Beach Press-Telegram
October 8, 2004

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St. Paul Becomes Largest School District in Minnesota
Pioneer Press
October 9, 2004

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Judge Rejects Plea Deal in Child Sex Case
San Jose Mercury News
October 9, 2004

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MTV-Style Vietnamese American Show Hits the Airwaves
New California Media
October 9, 2004

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Hundreds Walk for Diabetes
Albany Democrat Herald
October 10, 2004

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

   The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) annonces a request for applications for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR). The primary purpose of OASDFR is to deliver outreach and technical assistance, to assure opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and ranches; and assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs. OASDFR will support a wide range of outreach and assistance activities in farm management, financial management, marketing, application and bidding procedures, and other areas.

   Requests for applications are due by October 21, 2004.

   Applications are due by November 30, 2004.

2. (National)
   CTCNet

   CTCNet has announced the 2005 Youth Visions for Stronger Neighborhoods Grants program, sponsored by the Corporation for National Service's Learn and Serve America. Youth Visions Grants are designed to give youth and community technology programs the opportunity to use multimedia tools and training to engage in community decision-making to strengthen their neighborhoods.

   Deadline: October 27, 2004

3. (National)
   Nickelodeon

   The Let's Just Play Grants Program, a program of Nickelodeon, provides support to create or expand opportunities for physical play in schools and after-school community-based organizations. The program is committed to reaching the broadest and most diverse group of funding candidates possible. Applications are encouraged from urban, rural and suburban areas, and from small and large community-based organizations serving all ethnicities.

   Deadline: November 1, 2004

4. (National)
   The John F. Kennedy Center

   The Partners in Education Program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is designed to assist arts and cultural organizations throughout the nation develop and/or expand educational partnerships with their local school systems. The purpose of the partnerships is the establishment or expansion of professional development programs in the arts for all teachers.

   Deadline: October 30, 2004

5. (National)
   The Veterans of Foreign Wars

   The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) now offers a new scholarship contest for the sons and daughters (ages 16-18 at the time of their entry) of all veterans and those in uniform. "The VFW Veterans Tribute Scholarship Program," provides a $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 scholarship annually. Entry forms are available on-line at www.vfw.org under Programs - Youth Development or by calling 816-756-3390, ext. 220. Students can receive up to 1,500 points based on their grade point average, community service, participation in VFW programs and the status of the sponsoring veteran.

   Documentation verifying all information on the entry form must accompany the entry and must be verifiable from the documents provided. For the purposes of this scholarship program the sponsoring veteran may be a legal guardian, adoptive parent or grandparent as well as birth parent.

   E-mail or fax entries will not be accepted. Entries are judged in January for the previous year and the winners notified in February

   All entries should be submitted directly to the following address:

   VFW National Headquarters Department of Programs
   Attn: Veterans Tribute Scholarship
   406 West 34th St.
   Kansas City, MO 64111
   

   Deadline: Entries are accepted throughout the year until midnight December 31st.

6. (National)
   The US Department of Education

   The US Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education--Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)--The Comprehensive Program Fiscal Year 2005

   Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or combinations of those institutions and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies.

   • Estimated Available Funds: $12,700,000 for new awards.
   • Estimated Range of Awards: $50,000--$600,000 per year.
   • Estimated Average Size of Awards: $212,000 per year.
   • Estimated Number of Awards: 60.

   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-8544. Telephone: (202) 502-7500. The application text and forms may be obtained from the Internet address: http://www.ed.gov/FIPSE.

   Deadlines: Preapplications are due November 3, 2004
   Final Applications are due March 22, 2005
   

7. (National)
   Youth Service America

   Youth Service America is pleased to announce the availability of the State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grant to enable youth and educators to bring the benefits of service-learning to more people. One hundred grants of $1,000 each are available to teachers, youth (ages 5-25), and school-based service-learning coordinators to implement service-learning projects for National Youth Service Day, April 15-17, 2005.

   To apply, take advantage of our ON-LINE APPLICATION by visiting www.ysa.org/awards/partnerag/sf05/overview_parent.cfm or to download an application please visit our website at www.YSA.org/nysd to learn more about this grant, National Youth Service Day, and find resources to help you develop an outstanding NYSD project and prepare a quality grant application.

   Deadline: October 18, 2004

8. (National)
   California Council for the Humanities

   The California Story Fund is one of the components of California Stories, the California Council for the Humanities' statewide initiative to strengthen California communities through story-based public humanities projects.

   Through grants of $5,000 awarded quarterly, the fund supports public humanities programs that bring to light compelling stories from California's diverse communities. The fund is particularly interested in projects that use story to explore the lives of contemporary Californians and that focus on changing identities and communities in transformation.

   CCH invites projects that are based on stories gathered through interviews with community members ("community" can be defined as geographic, ethnic, cultural, or one based on shared experience). Grant funds may be used either to develop new material or for archival research. One or more of the following formats may be used to present and communicate stories: photography and interpretive exhibit, radio or video documentaries, digital media, dramatic presentation, and interpretive artwork.

   Deadline: December 1, 2004

9. (National)
   The Ms. Foundation for Women

   The Ms. Foundation for Women seeks proposals for its Public Voices, Public Policy: Realizing the Power of Women of Color Initiative, a program designed to address issues of access and power within the women's movement and within public policy advocacy.

   Through this program, the Ms. Foundation seeks to support women of color-led organizations engaged in public policy advocacy and action. The initiative will begin with four to eight one-year general operating grants of $35,000 to $75,000 each. In addition to general support grants, the program will provide peer-to-peer networking and training opportunities for grantees.

   Grantees will be engaged in political action directed toward local, state, tribal, or federal-level issue areas. Because the goals of this initiative are not issue specific but rather about broad issues of access and participation of women of color in the public policy process, grantee organizations can be engaged in either multi- or single-issue work.

   The Ms. Foundation makes grants to groups working in the United States and Puerto Rico. Priority will be given to independent, women of color-led organizations. Start-up organizations that have no track record or experience in advocating for policy change for their communities will be given priority.

   Preference will be given to applicants with a budget under $1 million, although organizations that fall outside of this range are encouraged to apply.

   Deadline: October 18, 2004 (Letter of Intent)

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V. Resources

For more than a decade, for-profit companies have relied on Business Intelligence to help manage and track key performance measures affecting the bottom line. Today, you can take advantage of the same decision-driving power with Nonprofit Intelligence(tm) - a vital tool for nonprofit professionals that provides a holistic view of constituent, financial and program activities and helps monitor the overall health and performance of your organization.

Download this FREE white paper today to learn more.

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