Each year, Echoing Green awards twelve to fifteen two-year fellowships to social entrepreneurs. Fellows receive seed funding and technical support to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable social change organizations.

Echoing Green seeks individuals or partnerships (organizations led by two people) with innovative solutions to significant social problems; strategies to create high-impact, sustainable change in people’s lives; and the ability to grow and lead a new organization.

The application process is open to citizens of all nationalities working in any country. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, and must have sufficient English fluency to participate in interviews and Echoing Green events.

Organizations must be the original idea of the applicant, and must be independent and autonomous. (Organizations cannot be considered independent or autonomous if they are started under the direction of an existing organization.) Organizations must be in a start-up phase. To be considered a start-up, the applicant may have been running the organization full-time for approximately two years, and Echoing Green’s financial support should qualify it as a major/primary early funder. Applicants who have only worked on their organization on a part-time basis or have yet to start an organization are generally considered eligible. Applicants must make a full-time commitment to the organization’s development.

Fellows receive up to $90,000 ($60,000 for individuals and $90,000 for partnerships of two people) in seed funding over two years.

Visit the Echoing Green Web site for complete eligibility information, application materials, and profiles of fellows and their projects.

http://www.echoinggreen.org/

A collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trust, the Health Impact Project is intended to encourage the use of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to help decision-makers better assess proposed policies, projects, and programs with respect to their impact on health so that they may avoid adverse health consequences and costs and improve health. The program partners have issued a call for proposals to demonstrate the effectiveness of HIAs and promote their incorporation into local, state, tribal, and federal decision-making.

Eligible applicant organizations include: state, tribal or local agencies; tax-exempt educational institutions; and publicly supported charitable organizations that are exempt from federal income tax as an organization described by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicant organizations must be located in the United States or its territories at the time of application.

Up to fifteen demonstration projects will be awarded in this round of funding. Grants will range from $25,000 to $150,000 and must be completed within twenty-four months. Proposals for more than $150,000 may be considered under rare and exceptional circumstances. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis; proposals may be submitted at any time.

Complete program information is available at the RWJF Web site.

http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=20921

The ING Unsung Heroes program annually provides grants to K-12 educators utilizing new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning.

Each year, educators submit applications for an ING Unsung Heroes grant by describing projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. Each project is judged on its innovative method, creativity, and ability to positively influence students.

One hundred finalists will be selected to receive a grant of $2,000 each, payable to both the winning teacher and his or her school. At least one grant will be awarded in each of the fifty states, provided at least one qualified application is received from each state. Of the hundred finalists, three are selected for additional financial awards — $25,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place.

All K-12 education professionals are eligible to apply. Applicants must be employed by an accredited K-12 public or private school located in the United States and be full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff with effective projects that improve student learning.

Visit the ING Web site for complete program information.

http://www.ing.com/us/unsungheroes

In order to promote a love of reading, the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries works to provide books to the school libraries and students that most need them.

The foundation makes grants of up to $6,000 each to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of school libraries. All LBF grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, county systems, private organizations, foundations, or other entities. LBF gives selection preference to schools in which 90 percent or more of the students receive free or reduced lunches and are likely to have the fewest books at home.

Foundation funds are available only for library books and magazine/serial copies and subscriptions. The Laura Bush Foundation is unable to honor requests for staffing, shelving, furniture, equipment, software, videos, classroom book sets or any kind of book guides, tests, or exams. Only one application per school is allowed per year.

Libraries at public and private schools are eligible to apply.

Visit the LBF Web site for complete program information and application instructions.

http://www.laurabushfoundation.org/web2/index.html

Fund for Teachers invites educators from across the United States to design and submit proposals for their own educational adventures next summer.

The program is designed to provide educators with the opportunity to pursue areas of personal and professional interest and bring their experiences back to the classroom for the benefit of their students. Eligible projects include tours, conferences, and independent studies anywhere in the world.

The program offers individual grants of up to $5,000 each and team grants of up to $10,000 each for the summer of 2010.

Visit the Fund for Teachers Web site for detailed information about the schools/districts eligible for Fund for Teachers grants and for complete application guidelines.

http://www.fundforteachers.org/

The Talloires Network, an international association of universities committed to ensuring that higher education strengthens communities the world over, and the MacJannet Foundation have announced that nominations are being accepted for the second annual MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship.

The prize recognizes exceptional university-based programs around the world that encourage active citizenship and student leadership. The prize is designed to raise awareness of higher education’s distinctive role and responsibilities in benefiting both local and international communities through understanding, outreach, and service.

Eight prizes will be awarded in 2010 — a first prize of $5,000, two second prizes of $2,500 each, and five third prizes of $1,000 each. Prize money will be used to further the goals and strengthen the impact of the awarded programs. Winning programs will demonstrate exemplary service in addressing an issue of global significance such as threats to public health in the developing world, efforts to promote literacy, or assisting the economic development of distressed communities.

Only programs originating from member institutions of the Talloires Network are eligible for the prize. Nominations will be accepted from students, faculty, staff, or administrators at member institutions. Leaders of higher education institutions around the world are invited and encouraged to join the Talloires Network.

For additional information on the MacJannet Prize or the Talloires Network, visit the Talloires Network Web site.

http://www.tufts.edu/talloiresnetwork

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and Ashoka’s Changemakers have announced “Improved Nutrition: Solutions through Innovation,” a new online competition to identify innovative solutions for communities currently lacking access to adequate nutrition or unaware of its benefits.

The competition is open to all types of individuals and organizations (charitable organizations, private companies, or public entities) from all countries. The program will consider all entries that demonstrate system-changing solutions that expand and improve nutrition to undernourished populations, and that indicate growth beyond the stage of idea, concept, or research. At a minimum, entries should be at the demonstration stage and indicate success. Entries must be submitted in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

Online competition submissions will be accepted until November 25, 2009. At any time before the deadline, competition participants are encouraged to revise their entries based on questions and insights that they receive in the Changemakers discussion. Participation in the discussion enhances an entrant’s prospects in the competition and provides the community and the judges an opportunity to understand the entrant’s project more completely.

A panel of judges will select the competition finalists, and the Changemakers community will then vote online to select the three award-winners from the field of finalists. The three finalists will each receive a cash prize of $5,000. Five entrants will also be chosen by GAIN to attend, all-expenses paid, the GAIN Business Alliance Global Forum in May 2010, where they will have the opportunity to present their solutions to investors.

Visit the Changemakers Web site for complete competition information.

http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/nutrition

The National Endowment for the Humanities, in cooperation with the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office, has announced that applications are being accepted for the seventh annual We the People Bookshelf project. Part of the endowment’s We the People program, the bookshelf encourages young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history.

This year’s theme, “A More Perfect Union,” invites reflection on the idea of the United States as a union and will complement library programs observing the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. To stimulate programming, the bookshelf features a DVD edition of The Civil War, the documentary by Ken Burns, including the rights to show the series to public audiences. Additional bonus materials include the companion book to The Civil War series and Declaring Independence: The Origin and Influence of America’s Founding Document, edited by Christian Y. Dupont.

Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply. In the spring of 2010, NEH and ALA will select four thousand libraries to receive the seventeen books for young readers, bonus materials for readers of all ages, and the option to receive three titles in Spanish translation. Libraries selected will be required to use the bookshelf selections in programs for young readers in their communities.

Visit the ALA Web site for complete program information.

http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf

Do Something and Liz Claiborne, Inc. seek to support young people across the United States who are taking a stand against teen dating abuse.

Do Something will award ten grants of $250 each to help run projects started by young people that are fighting teen dating abuse. Programs may include activities such as holding an abuse awareness week at school, setting up a peer-counseling program, or posting flyers to alert people about dating abuse hotlines. Special consideration will be given to projects that include an event on It’s Time to Talk Day (December 3, 2009), or culminate in some way on that day.

The applicant must be 25 or under and must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen.

Visit the Do Something Web site for complete program guidelines.

http://www.dosomething.org/dating-abuse/grants#

VSA arts and the MetLife Foundation have launched the Arts Connect All initiative to encourage arts organizations to create or enhance inclusive, multi-session education programs by strengthening partnerships with local public schools.

The goals of Arts Connect All are to enable more students with disabilities to experience social, cognitive, and cultural development through arts learning alongside their peers without disabilities; create educational access and inclusion in the arts for students with disabilities; and document the contributions that arts organizations make to inclusive education in public schools.

VSA arts and the MetLife Foundation invite proposals from arts organizations working to create or enhance inclusive educational programs that undertake all of the following: incorporate inclusive teaching practices; provide access to students with all types of disabilities; develop social, cognitive, and artistic skills; involve people with disabilities in planning and implementation; build staff, teacher, and/or artist knowledge and skill of inclusive practices; and collaborate with public schools, actively engaging students, parents, and school administrators.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) performing and/or exhibiting arts organizations — including museums, theaters, and multidisciplinary arts presenters — that are creating or have an established educational program are eligible to apply. Organizations must have as their primary mission the goal of advancing the arts and/or a specific art form.

Only arts organizations located in and partnering with public schools in the following metropolitan areas are eligible: Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, California; Denver, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; Tampa, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Charlotte, North Carolina; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston, Texas; and Seattle, Washington.

A maximum of ten awards of up to $15,000 will be given to selected organizations.

Visit the VSA arts Web site for complete program information and application guidelines.

http://www.vsaarts.org/x273.xml

At the Stakeholder Meeting last Friday, we released the first three chapters of the on going Emerging Industries Project.  These three chapters are: Sustainable Manufacturing, Construction and Deconstruction Waste Recovery, and Energy Efficiency and Building Retrofitting.  To read the full report click here to download the pdf.

http://www.sbnphiladelphia.org/events/EIP_final_lowres.pdf

… And the presentation of the 2009 Edmund N. Bacon Prize to Maurice Cox, director of design, National Endowment of the Arts.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia
7 to 8 p.m.

Tickets:
$100 Patron (includes VIP reception)
$50 Standard
$25 Student

Tickets can be reserved by calling 215.569.3186 ext. 107 or online at http://www.edbacon.org/browntogreen.

Where:             Chester County Economic Development Council
737 Constitution Drive, Exton, PA 19341

When:              Friday, November 6, 2009
7:30 – 10 a.m.

Rsvp:               ccwib@chesco.org

What is On-the-Job Training (OJT)?

Chester County’s On-the-Job Training Program can help your business save money while turning a great candidate into a productive and profitable employee.  OJT is training conducted by an employer for an individual while he or she is working on the job and learning the skills and information necessary for productive and satisfactory job performance.

Employers are eligible for a 50% reimbursement of a new worker’s salary, not to exceed $6,000.

Chester County’s OJT Program is funded through the Workforce Investment Act and administered by the Chester County Workforce Investment Board.

For more information about the On-the-Job Training Program and Chester County Business Services, contact a Business Services Team member at:

PennsylvaniaCareerLink – Chester County
250 East Harmony Street,
Coatesville, PA 19320
Phone (610) 384-9393
Online at: http://pacareerlink.state.pa.us

Original Report: http://www.seventy.org/Resources_Philadelphia_Budget_FAQ.aspx

Follow-up Report: http://www.seventy.org/OurViews_Tackling_True_Reform.aspx

An Exclusive Gathering of NonProfit Professionals!
To Register: http://www.oegconferences.com/northern_new_jersey.php

Register today to take advantage of our discounted price of $165!

Still not sure? Want to know what others have been saying about our Fundraising Conferences? Contact us today and request our delegate testimonials at info@oegconferences.com

WHAT IS THIS?
OEG CONFERENCES, our focus is on organizing strategic business conferences for those working in Non-for-profit organizations. This conference is a professional development opportunity, not to be missed and approved by CFRE!

We cordially invite you to the NJ/NY Fundraising Conference being held at the Hilton Newark Penn Station on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

WHO IS THIS FOR?
Senior-level nonprofit executives including CEOs, executive directors, development directors, board members, or ideal for anyone starting off as a fundraiser (in any capacity).

NEW FOR 2010 – Exclusive Opportunity for Executive Managers
An exclusive track dedicated to Senior Management. This will be limited to 25 senior managers in an exclusive atmosphere with sessions geared to issues faced by executive staff members. The day will be part think tank, part roundtable and part mentoring program and will be conducive to networking with fellow senior managers. Sessions will be led by respected industry leaders.  Meals will be organized in the same private fashion.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
This conference will bring together over 250 professionals from various cities and surrounding states to hone their skills in nonprofit fundraising. The conference is an opportunity not to be missed by organizations or individuals seeking new ways to raise money from grants, sponsorships, individual gifts, or other funding sources.

Each conference includes easily applied and highly effective general sessions that participants can use to develop their professional skills and learn new techniques. Additional sessions offer new perspectives on old traditions, discuss recent trends, and encourage sharing of positive experiences.

REGISTER TODAY! http://www.oegconferences.com/northern_new_jersey.php

For a synopsis of each session being offered, please visit: http://www.oegconferences.com/northern_new_jersey.php

Benefits for participants
*    You acquire practical know-how of effective techniques for fundraising.
*    You undergo training, add to your knowledge and identify resources to help you succeed.
*    You learn by sharing experiences.
*    You meet and interact with industry professionals.

Your investment
*    You invest your time
*    $55 per session OR $165 for the entire day (Breakfast & Lunch included)
To know more about group discount offers call us!

For further information please call us at 954-495-9121
To know more about us, please visit http://www.oegconferences.com/fundraising.html

As our conferences are extremely popular, we have limited seats and expect to reach capacity very soon!

We look forward to your participation in the conference. Please feel free to contact us at 954-495-9121!

Respectfully,

Serge Butman
Executive Director
OEG Conferences
(954) 495-9121

REGISTER TODAY! CLICK HERE:
To Register: http://www.oegconferences.com/northern_new_jersey.php

Project SHINE is a national service learning organization at Temple University Intergenerational Center. SHINE creates intergenerational relationships with elderly immigrants and refugees through tutoring English, health literacy, and citizenship. SHINE is recruiting part-time AmeriCorps members for their Health Literacy Program. Members will serve part-time (8-10 hours a week) for 9 months, starting January 17. Training will be January 16-17. There is a stipend and education award as well! This is a great opportunity to engage with another culture right here in Philadelphia. Those who are bilingual, bi cultural, health students, and/or looking for a challenging volunteer experience are encouraged to apply. Contact Elyse Venturella, volunteer@templecil.org or 215 204 3675 with questions. Applications will be accepted until November 22, 2009.

Application for Project SHINE Health Literacy Program (Part time AmeriCorps):
1) http://www.americorps.gov
2) On the top tab click “AmeriCorps State & National”
3) On the right side of the screen click “Advanced Opportunity Search”
4) Type in the following information
Program type: AmeriCorps State/National
State: Pennsylvania
Program Name: Project SHINE
5) After you click search “Project SHINE Health Literacy Program” will appear and click on that to apply

We just posted our class schedule for November.  Click the link below to check out our upcoming classes.

Click Here for the NPower PA Training Calendar

http://www.npowerpa.org/training/classroom

November Feature:
Hands on Drupal : An Introduction for Content Administrators

Are you tired of calling your web vendor to upload a simple press release?  Tired of embarrassing disclaimers about your website being horribly out of date?  Drupal can help.

Drupal is a content management system that lets people without a web programming background manage text, images, video, blogs, forums, and other interactive features on their website.  This course will introduce content administrators to using Drupal to edit and manage a website.

No HTML, no programming jargon, no prior experience required.  You’ll get hands-on experience with what’s possible (and what’s not) with Drupal.

When: Thursday, November 19th, 9am – 12pm

Where: NPower PA, 1211 Chestnut Street, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Rates: Member Rate: $55 – NonMember Rate: $95

Click To Register
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pX-EJhAGWvJ9xLcPkRhsMIQ&email=true

The Enterprise Center, Studio C, 4548 Market Street. Wednesday November 18th, 2009 @ 6-8PM.

The Retail Resource Network
Visual merchandising is creating visual displays and arranging merchandise within a store to improve the layout and to increase traffic and sales. Your presentation can be a key differentiating factor that makes you more competitive, and more profitable. Learn simple, cost-effective ways to make the most profitable use of every square foot in your store.

In this workshop you will learn:

* How and why customers shop – how you can profit from this knowledge.
* How to create a three dimensional “planagram” including: store displays, windows and overall store design
* How to best display products to capture customer interest.
* How to create inexpensive displays that will attract attention.
* How to position your shops fixtures to improve store “shopability”.
* What types of fixtures work well, where to get them and how much they cost.
* About real life examples of what works and how to improve your store

Presenters include:
Anne Cecil, Program Director & Professor of Design & Merchandising, Drexel University
Iola Harper, President IgC Consulting
Megan Staples, Naythons Display Fixture Co.

The cost of the workshop is $25.  Register Online online at http://www.retailresourcenetwork.com.

For more information visit the website or contact Andrew Toy at andrewt@theenterprisecenter.com or (215) 243-4101.