Monday, November 14, 2005: Volume #2, Issue #96
The VERB Weekly Email Digest
Edited by Sophy Pich, VERB Project Associate

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In This Week's Issue

1. Announcements
• Knight Foundation's Letter of Inquiry Makes Initial Requests Easier
• New Technology Conference for Association Executives
• New Tax Provision Could Provide Windfall for Nonprofits
• Grantseeker Training Institute in San Francisco
• Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
2. Promising Practices
• "Taking Control of Your Annual Fund"
3. News
• Barriers Hinder Police Diversity: Challenges Abound
• Hmong Immigrant Gets Life in Hunter Slay
• Hmong Marriage Customs Detailed in Professor's Speech
• US Cites China, Vietnam for Religious-Freedom Restrictions
• Montagnards: Appeal to the International Communicty for the ...
• Grassroots Groups, Parishes Cited for Social Justice Work
• Hmong Hunters Are Up for New Season
• Justice for Tran and Her Family
• A Little Laos Laces Thai Menus with a Fiery Bite
• Blunt Announces Veterans Council
• Respect Day' Promotes Local Teen Understanding
• More Hepatitis B Education Needed in Asian-American Communities
• Hmong Festival a Sensory-Filled Affair
• Voters in Lowell Elect a Latino to the Final City Council Seat
• Asian Youth Persistently Harassed by Peers
• Civil Liberties in Danger, Says Ex-Intel Official
• Alumna Madison Nguyen Becomes First Vietnamese American Elected to ...
4. Funding Opportunities
• Public Interest Law Foundation
• Lilly Endowment
• Utilizing Family Traditions and Oral History for Health Promotion
5. Resources
• GuideStar
• The Chronicle

I. Announcements

Knight Foundation's Letter of Inquiry Makes Initial Requests Easier

Want to know if your idea for a grant has merit or your organization qualifies for funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation? It's simple: send a letter of inquiry via their new online service...

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New Technology Conference for Association Executives

With associations spending an estimated $2.2 billion on technology, association executives who are seeking ways to keep current of new advances in technology will have a new tool at their disposal in the coming year. Presented by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, the 2006 Technology Strategies & Solutions Conference will offer associations, nonprofit organizations, and small business owners the opportunity to learn more on how to maximize technology within their organization, without exceeding their budgets or overextending staff...

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New Tax Provision Could Provide Windfall for Nonprofits, and Their Donors

A provision in the federal tax relief package designed to aid survivors of Hurricane Katrina could provide a year-end windfall to nonprofits, the New York Times reports. The provision allows donors who make cash gifts to almost any charity by the end of 2005 to deduct an amount equal to virtually 100 percent of their adjusted gross incomes - double the normal limit. Moreover, some donors may be able to use the provision to take deductions this year for gifts made in past years. The bill increases the limit from 50 percent of donors' adjusted gross incomes, and wealthy donors say the provision could swell the amount of large gifts to charities.

To read more, see the Foundation Center Online E-newsletter, summarizing the article *In Hurricane Tax Package, a Boon for Wealthy Donors,* by Stephanie Strom in the New York Times 10/27/05.

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Grantseeker Training Institute in San Francisco

February 6-10, 2006

Register today for five days of comprehensive training from the Foundation Center's experts. In just one week, you'll learn how to prepare your fundraising strategy, enlist your board's involvement, find and prioritize funding prospects, and write effective proposals.

Where:

The Foundation Center
312 Sutter Street, Suite 606
San Francisco, CA

Grantseeker Training Institute covers the following topics:

• developing a fundraising plan
• mobilizing nonprofit boards to fundraise
• finding funders with The Foundation Directory Online
• evaluating funding prospects
• proposal writing

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Dear Community Members:

We are seeking your help to serve as volunteers for the Citizen Summit IV on Saturday, November 19 2005, 8:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m., at the Washington Convention Center.

This summit is the largest ongoing town hall meeting in the United States where District residents, elected officials, and community leaders will make the tough choices involved in determining the citywide policies and priorities of the District government in the areas of youth development, employment, economic development, and affordable housing. It provides residents with a direct voice in shaping the government policy making process and the City's Strategic Plan. This event will significantly influence decisions on the District's annual spending priorities and legislative initiatives.

We also need your help to register now and invite your friends and colleagues to participate because your presence, your voices, and your ideas will make a difference at the Summit!

In the last summit two years ago, an overwhelming number people from the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community participated in the summit. Asian residents with limited English using translation equipment and sitting at more than 18 designated tables clearly demonstrated the needs for language access to city services. As a result, the Mayor has committed more money to translation, hiring of bilingual employees, and other programs for APIs. The city has become more inclusive and accessible as a result of the citizen summits.

Again this year, you can make further impact to the lives of many people in our community by helping get our community members registered and/or signing up as volunteers. Your help will be critical to bringing people from all walks of life to participate: youth, college students, parents, seniors, professionals, restaurant/hotel workers, merchants, etc. To register, you may get online: www.citizensummit.dc.gov.

You may also sign up to help out in any of the following needs:

1. Volunteer bilingual facilitators (Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean in particular)
2. Bilingual Greeters/ushers
3. Helpers at the Registration Desk (Bilingual preferred)
4. Bilingual (Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean) Recorder/note-takers at 20

Commitment

Volunteers are to be present in Washington, DC for the following:

• An orientation session the week of November 14th.
• Saturday November 19th, from 7:00 AM -5:00 PM for the pre-Summit meeting and the facilitator de-brief immediately following the Summit.
• Lunch will be provided on Saturday.

Thank you for your support and involvement. Let us continue working together so that this summit may again help advance the agenda and wellbeing of the API community.

For further information, please call our office at (202) 727-3120. Thank you again for helping make a difference to our community.

Greg Chen

Executive Director
Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
441 4th Street, NW, Room 805 S.
Washington DC 20001
Tel: 202-727-3120; Fax: 202-727-9655
greg.chen@dc.gov
www.apia.dc.gov

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II. Promising Practices

"Taking Control of Your Annual Fund"

Blackbaud

New donors traditionally start out by giving to an organization's annual fund. As a result, annual funds offer a unique opportunity to begin the process of building donor loyalty. But dozens of repeat solicitations each year will not do the trick; rather, nonprofits need to measure their efforts and target their appeals with the right message and the right approach. Done poorly, each lost opportunity can cost a charity thousands of dollars over a person's lifetime. Done correctly, you can improve your annual fundraising results, create loyal donors, and identify those people who are most likely to become your best planned giving and major gift prospects. Simply put, your annual fund is the cornerstone of a successful fundraising program.

Read on...

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III. News

Barriers Hinder Police Diversity: Challenges Abound
In-Forum
November 7, 2005

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Hmong Immigrant Gets Life in Hunter Slay
ABC News
November 8, 2005

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Hmong Marriage Customs Detailed in Professor's Speech
Minnesota Daily
November 8, 2005

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US Cites China, Vietnam for Religious-Freedom Restrictions
Catholic World News
November 9, 2005

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Montagnards: Appeal to the International Communicty for the ...
UNPO
November 10, 2005

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Grassroots Groups, Parishes Cited for Social Justice Work
The Tidings
November 10, 2005

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Hmong Hunters Are Up for New Season
Asian Week
November 11, 2005

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Justice for Tran and Her Family
Asian Week
November 11, 2005

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A Little Laos Laces Thai Menus with a Fiery Bite
Contra Costa Times
November 11, 2005

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Blunt Announces Veterans Council
Columbia Daily Tribune
November 12, 2005

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Respect Day' Promotes Local Teen Understanding
Mercury-Register
November 12, 2005

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More Hepatitis B Education Needed in Asian-American Communities
EndoNurse
November 12, 2005

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Hmong Festival a Sensory-Filled Affair
Stockton Record
November 13, 2005

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Voters in Lowell Elect a Latino to the Final City Council Seat
Boston Globe
November 13, 2005

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Asian Youth Persistently Harassed by Peers
China Daily
November 13, 2005

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Civil Liberties in Danger, Says Ex-Intel Official
NorthJersey.com
November 13, 2005

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Alumna Madison Nguyen Becomes First Vietnamese American Elected to ...
Currents
November 13, 2005

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   Public Interest Law Foundation

   The Public Interest Law Foundation at Columbia Law School is an independent, not-for-profit corporation founded by members of the Columbia Law School community to support legal work in the public interest. Since its inception in 1980, PILF has raised and awarded more than $500,000 in grants to individuals and organizations across the U.S.

   This year, the foundation plans to award four to five grants of $1,000 to $15,000 each. The foundation is particularly interested in funding innovative projects that would not be undertaken without a grant and in helping established projects that suffer from a funding shortage. PILF has awarded grants to a wide variety of projects, including advocacy and representation for families at risk of homelessness; advocacy for children and youths subject to unlawful exclusion from school; advocacy for mentally ill persons in the criminal justice system; assistance with pension advocacy to retired workers; direct representation and advocacy on behalf of special education children; education of coalfields workers on the laws related to black lung disease; investigative services for indigent capital defendants; legal assistance for gay men and lesbians involved in custody battles; and political asylum representation.

   Both individuals and organizations are eligible for funding. Organizations should explain how the proposed project relates to their existing goals and projects. Individual applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to public interest law.

   See the PILF Web site for complete program information, application procedures, and a list of past recipients.

   Deadline: December 15, 2005

2. (National)
   Lilly Endowment

   The Lilly Endowment has announced that it is continuing its National Clergy Renewal Program for a seventh year.

   Through this program, the Indianapolis-based endowment seeks to strengthen congregations by providing an opportunity for pastors to spend some time away from the daily demands of parish ministry and engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations but rather times for intentional exploration and reflection. Most pastors who participate in the program end up spending three to four months away from their churches, using the time to travel, study, and reconnect with family and friends.

   As many as one hundred and twenty congregations will be selected for the 2006 program, joining the more than six hundred that have received grants since 2000. While each grant proposal may request up to $45,000, up to $15,000 of that may be used for congregational activities during the pastor's absence.

   To be eligible, ministers must have earned at least a master of divinity degree. The program is open to all Christian congregations in forty-nine states and the District of Columbia. (The endowment administers a separate, similar program for Indiana congregations.)

   Deadline: May 15, 2006

3. (National)
   Utilizing Family Traditions and Oral History for Health Promotion

   WHAT: The purpose of the program is to (1) utilize family traditions and oral history for health promotion, and (2) disseminate and validate a family health history tool and educational materials.

   WHO: Any public or private entity, including an Indian tribe or tribal organization, is eligible to apply for this Federal funding opportunity. Faith based and community based organizations are eligible to apply.

   WHEN: Applications are due January 13, 2006.

   AWARD AMOUNT: One award of $600,000.

   CONTACT INFORMATION: Penny Kyler at (301) 443-1080 or pkyler@hrsa.gov.

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V. Resources

GuideStar's fifth annual analysis of nonprofit compensation, the 2005 GUIDESTAR NONPROFIT COMPENSATION REPORT, is now available.

The only such report based entirely on IRS Form 990 and Form 990-EZ data, the information covered in the 2005 edition is derived from the returns of more than 83,000 public charities and covers 453 program areas, 9 budget categories, and 264 geographical areas. In addition, the 2005 report presents information on 14 job categories, including: CEO/executive director, top administrative position, top development position, top financial position, top marketing position, and top program position.

(SOURCE: Guidestar.Org E-newsletter, October 2005)

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The Chronicle has expanded its Web site to offer you additional ideas about how you can manage your operations better. You'll find case studies, white papers, original research, practical tips and other information supplied by leading providers of products and services to nonprofit organizations. Among the topics covered: fund-raising technology, gift-annuity solutions, and prospect databases and services.

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