Tuesday, October 18, 2004: Volume #2, Issue #50
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 Washington Council of Agencies
• Washington Grantmakers
• Training Scholarships
2. Promising Practices
• Using a Rating System to Find Your Top Tier
3. News
• United Way Gets Funding to Host 19 Americorps Members
• Vietnamese Community Thrives Near Nation's Capital
• Elderly, Disabled Refugees Lose Benefits
• Help for Hmong
• in Honor of of Her Son
• Killing Galvanizes Community Laotian Cambodian and Vietnamese
• 4 Groups Get $1.2 Million for Refugees
• Grants Target Working Poor, Hmong Immigrants
• Airport Community Aids Stranded Traveler
• Facts and Figures on Asian Americans in Massachusetts
• Our Man in Laos
• Hmong Immigrants Fare Worse Than Peers
• Custom and Care
4. Funding Opportunities
• Youth Service America
• Washington Council of Agencies
• Cingular
• The Peace Development Fund
• J. Jill Group, Inc.
• Community Technology Centers' Network
• The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
5. Resources
• The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

I. Announcements

The Washington Council of Agencies launched the Executive Leadership Transition Initiative to help area nonprofits prepare for and manage executive director transitions. At the heart of the new program is a process known as Executive Transition Management.

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Join Maryland Nonprofits, NPower Greater DC Region, and TouchDC (an initiative of Washington Grantmakers) when they present Learn How to Earn Online, the first in their E-ffective Ideas technology training series. Learn how to turn your website into an online fundraising vehicle, and discover resources that can help you find more volunteers online to support your organization's good work.

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The Foundation Center is an eTraining Partner with the Verizon Foundation. This means that you can now apply to the Verizon Foundation for a scholarship to attend any of the Foundation Center's nine full-day courses on proposal writing, proposal budgeting, nonprofit boards and fundraising, researching and evaluating funding prospects, and more.

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II. Promising Practices

Using a Rating System to Find Your Top Tier

By Campaign Associates

Nonprofit fundraising works on the 90/10 ruleÑ90% of dollars raised come from 10% of donors. While this is common knowledge among fundraisers, what often remains a mystery is how to identify those prospects with the greatest potential to become part of that top tier. Research is essential to learn more about constituents, but it is only the beginning. Ranking or rating prospects makes the most of the information gathered and creates a firm foundation upon which relationships can be built.

The Three Cs

When considering current top prospects and donors, most fundraisers think about those who are the most involved with their organizationÑBoard members, parents and alumni, volunteers, and those whoÕve received services personally or for family members. Next are those who share a common interest in the organizationÕs mission or cause. Rounding out the list are those people who have lots of money to give, even if they havenÕt given yet. Collectively, these attributes can be considered the 3Cs of fundraisingÑcommitment, concern and capacity.

Commitment

Commitment is a personÕs emotional connection or bond to an organization, and has a direct impact on motivation to give. In fact, it often is the strongest factor in determining how likely it is a prospect or constituent will make a contribution. It is based on a personÕs feelings for, and relationship and history with an organization. Commitment reflects the real difference an organization has made in a prospectÕs life, and is inspired by strong and deeply held emotional beliefs or experiences. For example:

• An alumni giving to the university she attended after participating in homecoming events and seeing old friends;
• A family giving to the hospice that cared for their loved one;
• A couple adopts a puppy from a local humane society and gives to the shelter that cared for him.

These relationships should not be taken for granted. Identifying and understanding commitment can serve as a guide to strengthening the relationship between donors and fundraisers. Organizations need to make concerted efforts to keep people involved and their commitments strong. It is important to question how committed a constituent base is to an organization, and to consider different ways to build the level of commitment among both current donors and potential supporters.

Concern

Concern is an intellectual connection between a prospect and a cause or issue. It is not necessarily tied to any one organizationÑit is more global in scope. People may be passionate about an organizationÕs mission, but not be emotionally tied to the organization itself. Concern is inspired by values, but on a less personal level. For example:

• A resident participates in an event to benefit the homeless and hungry although they never actually experienced those types of conditions;
• A business owner giving to the American Red Cross not because they have ever needed their services but recognize that they help those in need within the community;
• A family makes a donation to a museum because they understand the importance of having a wellbalanced cultural experience for the residents and children in the community.

Read On: http://www.campagne.com/pdfs/rating_system.pdf

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III. News

United Way Gets Funding to Host 19 Americorps Members
The Chattanoogan
October 11, 2004

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Vietnamese Community Thrives Near Nation's Capital
New California Media
October 11, 2004

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Elderly, Disabled Refugees Lose Benefits
Kansas City Star
October 11, 2004

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Help for Hmong
Fresno Bee
October 12, 2004

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In Honor of of Her Son
York Dispatch
October 13, 2004

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Killing Galvanizes Community Laotian Cambodian and Vietnamese ...
San Francisco Chronicle
October 13, 2004

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4 Groups Get $1.2 Million for Refugees
Pioneer Press
October 14, 2004

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Grants Target Working Poor, Hmong Immigrants
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
October 15, 2004

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Airport Community Aids Stranded Traveler
Daily Breeze
October 16, 2004

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Facts and Figures on Asian Americans in Massachusetts
SAMPAN
October 16, 2004

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Our Man in Laos
Sun-Sentinel.com
October 17, 2004

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Hmong Immigrants Fare Worse Than Peers
Green Bay Press Gazette
October 17, 2004

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Customs and Care
OregonLive.com
October 17, 2004

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   Youth Service America

   Pay tribute to individuals that best exemplify the spirit of service by nominating them for the Harris Wofford Awards. The Awards carry significant prestige as it recognizes one of our nation's greatest public servants. Established in April 2002, the Harris Wofford Awards recognize extraordinary achievements of an Individual, Institution, and Media organization or member that actively contributes to "Making service and service-learning the common expectation and common experience of every young person in America".

   When nominating a nominee think about funders, donors, partners, board members, youth advocates, and members of the media who have improved the public's opinion of youth.

   Youth Service America is proud to announce the availability of the new Media award category. We recognize that in order to encourage and mobilize the energy, commitment, idealism and experience of young people through their community contributions, we must work through the media to heighten awareness of the positive role of young people in our society.

   Award Finalist will be honored and presented with a commemorative award of recognition at the 15th Annual National Service-Learning Conference, March 17-19, 2005 in Long Beach, California during the State Farm Awards Luncheon.

   Deadline: November 22, 2004

2. (National)
   Washington Post Award Competition Opens

   The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, a project of the Washington Council of Agencies, is seeking applicants for the 2005 Award competition. The program recognizes outstanding management practices of local nonprofit organizations.

   To get started in the competition, you must register your organization. Please provide an e-mail address and enter a password. This will allow you to work on the application over the next few months. You are welcome to save the responses, reflect, and revise your answers throughout the application period (October 1 - December 15). The password protects your work, as well as allows some flexibility in completing the application. If you would like others from your organization (board and/or staff) to work on the application, you need only share your registration name and password.

3. (National)
   Cingular

   Cingular supports educational, cultural, and social issues affecting the quality of life in the communities where its employees work and live. Emphasis is given to programs that inspire creativity in youth and adults and that stimulate collaborative partnerships among various organizations.

   Deadline: Open

4. (National)
   The Peace Development Fund

   The Peace Development Fund works to strengthen a broad-based social justice movement that embodies, embraces, and honors many cultures to create the new systems and institutions essential to building a peaceful, just, and equitable world.

   PDF is requesting proposals for a one-time initiative to support grassroots organizations working around four themes in the peace and social justice movements: erosion of civil liberties, immigrant detention, the US's role in the global community, and the human and economic cost of war. Grants from $1,000-10,000 are available.

5. (National)
   J. Jill Group, Inc.

   As a nationwide retailer of women's clothing, J. Jill Group, Inc. focuses its philanthropic efforts on issues affecting disadvantaged women and children. As part of that outreach, J. Jill has established the J. Jill Compassion Fund at the Boston Foundation. The primary goal of the fund is to provide financial support on a national scale to community-based organizations and/or programs whose mission focuses on aiding women and children in need.

   The J. Jill Group considers written proposals for cash grants from nonprofit organizations within the United States only. Organizations serving homeless or at-risk women and children by providing job training, transitional and/or affordable housing, education, emergency shelter, or other types of aid will be considered upon submission of a grant proposal.

   The company will consider grants only for existing programs. Grant requests should be between $250 and $15,000. Organizations requesting grants must provide proof of 501(c)(3) IRS tax-exempt status.

   Deadline: December 15, 2004

6. (National)
   Community Technology Centers' Network

   Community Technology Centers' Network 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.

   Through CTCNet's Youth Visions grants, organizations with substantial experience training youth in low-income communities will be funded to implement new or expanded community technology programs that focus on engaging youth in civic participation.

   The program will award eight grants totaling as much as $22,000 in 2005.

   Organizations that serve at-risk youth (ages 14-18) and who have experience providing video and other multimedia training are eligible. The applicant or fiscal agent through which the applicant applies must have current (not pending) 501(c)(3) status and be located in the United States.

   Deadline: October 27, 2004

7. (National)
   The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

   The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America has announced the launch of the 2005 Girls Going Places Scholarship Program, a national competition that recognizes and rewards entrepreneurial girls between the ages of twelve and eighteen. Guardian and Girls Going Places will award fifteen girls a total of $30,000 to be used toward furthering their education and supporting their entrepreneurial pursuits.

   Three top prizes of $10,000, $5,000, and $3,000 and twelve finalist prizes of $1,000 each will be awarded.

   Adults are asked to nominate girls (who could be their daughter, niece, neighbor, or student) by submitting a 750- to 1,000-word essay on why the nominee deserves a Girls Going Places award. A panel of judges will review the essays and pick finalists that demonstrate budding entrepreneurship and/or financial acumen; have taken the first steps toward financial independence; make a difference in their school or community; and show potential for future success by initiating a new business.

   Deadline: February 25, 2005

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V. Resources

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