Vol. 5, Issue 51
   December 21, 1999

Special Issue: Nonprofits & the Internet

Grantmakers Online

Online Funding Opportunities

Online Government Funding

Virtual Grantmaking

Online Fundraising

E-Philanthropy Sites

Fundraising With E-Commerce

Establishing a Web Presence

Computer Equipment, Assistance, and Training

Tech Innovation for Nonprofits and Communities

The "Digital Divide"

Online Lobbying and Political Action

Technology and Disability Issues

Virtual Volunteering

Tech News for Nonprofits

Grantmakers Online

Council on Foundation's Community Foundation Locator (http://www.cof.org/links/index.htm)
Searchable database of community foundations across the United States. The Council site also has a list of their member foundations and corporate giving programs with Web sites: (http://www.cof.org/links/memberindex.htm)

The Foundation Center's Links to Grantmaker Web Sites (http://fdncenter.org/grantmaker/)
Links, both direct and annotated, to nearly 1,000 grantmaker Web sites. Organized by type of grantmaker — private foundations, corporate grantmakers, grantmaking public charities, and community foundations searchable by keyword.

Fundsnet Services (http://www.fundsnetservices.com)
Primarily a fee-based service, but provides links to more than 700 online funding resources free of charge.

Progressive Foundation Database (http://www.progressivepubs.com/foundations/)
A service of Progressive Resources Publications, the database includes information on hundreds of progressive foundations, including their addresses, phone numbers, program officers, giving priorities, average grant size, and deadlines. (Free registration required.)

Online Funding Opportunities

Chronicle of Philanthropy's Deadlines (http://www.philanthropy.com/free/deadlines/deadlines.htm)
Deadlines for the following month drawn from the Chronicle of Philanthropy's extensive listings and organized by category. (Although much of the Chronicle's site is now available to subscribers only, this remains a free service.)

The Foundation Center's RFP Bulletin (http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/)
The RFP (Request for Proposals) Bulletin, a free service of The Foundation Center, is published every Friday afternoon and is also sent out in a listserv format. Each RFP listing provides a brief overview of a current funding opportunity offered by a foundation or other grantmaking organization.

Seliger & Associates — Free Grant Information (http://www.seliger.com/freeservices.cfm)
Seliger & Associates, a grantwriting consulting firm, provides access to two types of free grant availability information: the online Seliger Funding Report, which lists available federal, state, local, foundation, and corporate giving grant opportunities, and e-mail Grant Alerts. Registration required.

Join Together Online (http://www.jointogether.org/)
A project of the Boston University School of Public Health, Join Together offers frequently updated funding information, including RFPs, in the fields of substance abuse, gun violence, and related topics. Includes the Funding Finder, which lets users search archived news items. Also available in an e-mail format.

Grantsnet (http://www.grantsnet.org/)
A project of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the American Association for the Advancement in Science (AAAS), this free searchable database offers hundreds of funding opportunities in the biological and medical sciences.

The Art Deadlines List (http://custwww.xensei.com/adl/)
Primarily a fee-based service, the site offers a free selection of listings as well as a free monthly newsletter providing information about juried exhibitions and competitions; poetry and other writing contests; jobs and internships; scholarships and fellowships; casting calls, auditions, and tryouts; grants, funding, and financial aid; and other opportunities for artists, art educators, and art students.

FastWeb (http://www.fastweb.com)
A free scholarship matching service that uses state-of-the-art technology to help students find funding for college. The site matches each student's background with scholarship eligibility requirements and advises them about relevant opportunities via e-mail.

Online Government Funding

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) (http://www.gsa.gov/fdac/)
A government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public.

Notices of Funding Availability (Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Communities Community Toolbox) (http://ocd.usda.gov/nofa.htm)
NOFAs are announcements that appear in the Federal Register which is printed each business day by the U.S. government. The site allows users to generate customized listings.

FEDIX (http://web.fie.com/fedix/)
An online information retrieval service of federal opportunities for the education and research communities. The site also offers FEDIX Opportunity Alert, a free e-mail service that automatically delivers research and education funding opportunities in specific areas of interest.

Virtual Grantmaking

Virtual Foundation (http://www.virtualfoundation.org/)
An online program that supports grassroots initiatives around the world. The foundation screens and posts small-scale proposals on its Web site, where they can be read by potential donors. It was founded in 1996 by ECOLOGIA, an international nonprofit organization that has supported environmental movements and groups across Eurasia since 1989.

CyberGrants (http://www.cybergrants.com)
A for-profit company that works to bring nonprofits and grantmaking organizations together via the Internet. The site offers nonprofits the opportunity to research grant guidelines and create online proposals that are submitted directly to member foundations.Participating foundations, which pay a fee, are provided with access to a grantmaking and reporting system that facilitates online proposal reviews.

Grantmatch.com (http://www.grantmatch.com/)
A for-profit company that allows charities and nonprofit organizations to inform potential donors about their work and match donations to specific projects. Grantseekers can post grant proposals or donation requests by category. The site will begin charging an annual fee after December 30, 1999.

Columbus Foundation Donor Connection (http://www.columbusfoundation.com/donor_connection_pub_dec/index.html)
An online publication from the Columbus Foundation of Ohio designed to link donors to selected nonprofit programs. The Foundation accepts funding suggestions from donors via email.

Peninsula Community Foundation's Philanthropy Center (http://www.philanthropycenter.org/)
The Center for Venture Philanthropy, a program of the Peninsula Community Foundation, created this site to serve as a gateway for local community investors who want to educate themselves about the charitable sector in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Private nonprofit organizations are represented in listings that include budget and funding information, number of staff or volunteers, a statement on immediate needs, scope and purpose of the agencies' services, and a vignette about the clients served.

Community Foundation Silicon Valley Giving Center (http://www.allcharities.com/npo/Login.jsp)
Lets potential donors search more than 5,500 Silicon Valley nonprofit organizations by name and location. Information on nonprofits includes clients, budgets, staff, needs, success stories, and more.

California Community Foundation's Online Giving Center (http://www.calfund.org/html/online_giving_center.html)
The site allows donors to make online contributions to nonprofit organizations and endowment funds committed to improving conditions in communities across Los Angeles County. The Online Giving Center accepts credit card donations of as little as $25 via allcharities.com.

Online Fundraising

Nonprofit Charitable Orgs' Donate Online (http://nonprofit.about.com/business/nonprofit/msubdonl.htm)
A list of online fundraising Web sites provided by Stan Hutton, the About.com guide for Nonprofit Charitable Orgs. Hutton's related list, Fundraising on the Web (http://nonprofit.about.com/business/nonprofit/msubonl.htm), includes articles and relevant online resources for those interested in learning more about the subject.

Online Fundraising Resources Center (http://www.fund-online.com/)
Offers a sampling of chapters from the book Fundraising and Friend-Raising on the Web, with updates and a good set of successful Web site examples.

Internet Nonprofit Center's "How Can We Use the Internet for Fundraising?"
(http://www.nonprofits.org/misc/981027em.html)
A comprehensive 1998 report by Eric Mercer designed to provide "an introduction and a classification scheme to help readers learn to effectively evaluate alternative methods of online fundraising."

National Federation of Nonprofits' "Nonprofits and the Internet"
(http://www.federationofnonprofits.org/net.htm)
Provides links to several full-text reports covering online fundraising regulation and related issues.

Better Business Bureau's "Tips for Online Contributors"
(http://www.bbb.org/alerts/internetappeals.html)
Brief common sense guidelines for online donors (and useful for charities interested in utilizing e-philanthropy sites). The Better Business Bureau also offers Charities on the Internet (http://www.bbb.org/reports/giveex1.html), a brief article covering some of the online issues that are now being faced by charities and contributors.

CMSi Study of Socially Engaged Internet Users (http://www.craveronline.com/)
Conducted by the Mellman Group for Craver, Matthews, Smith, & Company, this 1999 study explores the potential for growth in online fundraising. According to the report, nearly 50 million Americans over the age of 18 have Internet access and currently donate their time and/or money to charitable causes. Of these, however, most have never visited the Web site of a charity, and only 3.5 million say they have given online.

Online Fundraising Mailing List (http://www.gilbert.org/fundraising/)
The Gilbert Center's mailing list for online fundraising provides a learning environment for fundraisers at all levels of experience.

E-Philanthropy Sites

Independent Charities of America (http://www.independentcharities.org/)
A nonprofit organization that pre-screens and certifies the charities it presents to potential donors via Web-based giving, workplace giving programs, and other low-cost fundraising methods. Charities are reviewed and certified annually.

AllCharities.com (http://www.allcharities.com/)
A searchable database of charities and nonprofits that channels 100 percent of online donations to recipient organizations. The site also sells Web-based services to nonprofits and provides a mechanism for organizations to securely receive donations.

4Charity.com (http://www.4charity.com/)
A direct-donation site where users are guaranteed that 100 percent of their donations are received by the nonprofit of their choice. The site earns revenue by offering advanced Internet tools and services to nonprofits and corporations.

Recent Articles on E-Philanthropy Sites

True, Christy. "Charities Online: E-giving Makes Donating Easy and Helps Groups Raise Money at Lower Costs" Special to the Seattle Times 12/19/99.

Dean, Katie. "Where Charity Begins Online" Wired News 12/7/99.

Stewart, Sandra. "I Gave at the Office Computer" and "Not for Profit" Industry Standard 11/29/99.

Donahue, Sean. "Hassle-Free Philanthropy" in Business 2.0 10/99.

Black, Kathi. "Online Do-Gooders." Industry Standard 10/4/99.

Fundraising with E-Commerce

Charityweb.com (http://www.charityweb.com/)
An online marketplace that receives a commission from e-tailers for each sale made through the site. Ninety percent of the commission goes into a pool that is then split equally among participating charities at the end of each quarter.

Greatergood.com (http://www.greatergood.com/)
An online shopping mall where 5 to 15 percent of the customer's purchase benefits the charity of her choice.

Igive.com (http://www.igive.com/)
An online shopping mall that donates .5 to 20 percent of an item's price to charity in return for a 15 percent commission.

Charitygift (http://www.charitygift.com/)
Charitygift channels 100 percent of a visitor's donation to the charity of his choice. The site generates revenue through the sale of gift cards, which users can design and modify. The home page also features a top ten donors section and a list of the most popular charity recipients.

Establishing a Web Presence

Icomm.org (http://www.icomm.org/)
A nonprofit, Web-based organization that supports other nonprofit, charitable, and community organizations by providing them with Internet services and volunteer support. Nonprofit organizations may apply to receive a free Internet account on Icomm's community server. Every community account includes at least one email address, a Web home page and 10 megabytes of space.

Idealist (http://www.idealist.org/)
Idealist provides a searchable database of volunteer organizations and opportunities worldwide, a career center with job and internship listings, links to nonprofit resources, and a directory of companies and consultants that provide products and services to nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations can post information about their organization's mission, events, and volunteer opportunities free of charge.

Wego.com (http://www.wego.com/)
Preview site for a company dedicated to helping the 1.5 million trade associations, churches, charities, unions, museums, sports leagues, alumni groups, and other organizations extend their communities online.

WeCareToo (http://www.wecaretoo.com/)
The charitable division of TWT Marketing, Inc. The site works to assist charities and nonprofit organizations by giving them free publicity and help in raising funds.

Envirolink (http://www.envirolink.org/)
A nonprofit organization that unites hundreds of organizations and volunteers around the world with millions of people in more than 150 countries. Free Internet services, including Web hosting, automated e-mail lists, e-mail accounts, real-time chats, and bulletin board systems, are offered to nonprofit organizations within the environmental and animal rights communities.

Reliefnet (http://www.reliefnet.org/)
ReliefNet, a service of Earthweb, Inc., provides basic Web sites free of charge to organizations involved in humanitarian efforts. The sites allow participating organizations to describe their efforts and receive pledges online.

The Web Author's Bootstrapping Toolkit (http://www.fund-online.com/alabook/links/resource.htm)
Graphics, authoring tools, and design advice from the Online Fundraiser's Resource Center.

Impact Online (http://www.impactonline.org/services/resources/free.shtml)
Impact Online offers a listing of resources for organizations shopping around for low-cost Internet access.

Computer Equipment, Assistance, and Training

Gifts in Kind International (http://www.giftsinkind.org/)
Directs donated products and services, including software and computer training, to nonprofit organizations. The organization's Technology Planning & Support (TPS) program links technology-savvy corporate volunteers with nonprofits needing technology assistance.

National Cristina Foundation (http://www.cristina.org/)
Provides computer technology and solutions to people with disabilities, students at risk, and the economically disadvantaged, helping them lead more independent and productive lives.

Computer Recycling Resource List (http://www.pnnonline.org/technology/computerrecycle1.cfm)
A comprehensive list of organizations that recycle and/or donate computers. Compiled by Lauren Matthews for Philanthropy News Network.

Technology Resource Consortium (http://www.igc.org/trc/)
An association of nonprofit technology assistance organizations that provide education about and access to information technology to private and public nonprofit organizations.

Compumentor (http://www.compumentor.org/)
A provider of low-cost, volunteer-based computer assistance to schools and nonprofits. Also sells popular software packages at discounted prices. (Look for the organization's new technology portal in the spring.)

Technology Tip Sheets for Nonprofits (http://www.coyotecom.com/tips.html)
Advice from Coyote Communications on how to reap money-saving, program-enhancing benefits from technology. Most of this material is geared to nonprofit and public sector organizations.

Funding for Nonprofit Technology

"Technology: Tech Funding: Elements of a Technology Plan" (http://www.pnnonline.org/technology/techfunding1124.cfm)
A two-part series on technology funding by Shane Tucker.

Digital Canvas (http://www.openstudio.org/newsletter1601/newsletter.htm)
The online magazine of Open Studio: The Arts Online, a project of the Benton Foundation, provides "Casting the Net — Creative Fundraising for Communications Technology," an overview of the funding landscape and fundraising advice and resources. The current issue also includes "Fundraising Strategies for Technology," a tipsheet for finding long-term support for technology programs.

Program Overview of the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/tiiap)
The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) promotes the widespread availability and use of advanced telecommunications technologies in the public and nonprofit sectors. As part of the Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), TIIAP gives grants for model projects demonstrating innovative uses of network technology.

Tech Innovation for Nonprofits and Communities

Making the Net Work (http://www.makingthenetwork.org/)
Making The Net Work, UK-US initiative led by David Wilcox, Drew Mackie and Terry Grunwald, aims to help those planning to get their organisation or neighbourhood online, or create local technology centres. This new site offers a toolbox which provides information for communities and organizations seeking an online presence.

Benton Foundation's Nonprofits & Communities (http://www.benton.org/Nonprofits)
Provides information to nonprofits and charities about useful technology updates and programs. The site offers a nonprofit toolkit, and useful links to related services, articles, and other organizations.

ERICA (http://www.ericsson.com/erica/)
An awards program created by Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson designed to recognize the community building power of the Internet. The program seeks ideas from nonprofit organizations for technology applications that help nonprofits better manage their projects, deliver services, raise money, and communicate their messages.

Markle Foundation's Interactive Communications Tech (http://www.markle.org/)
The Markle Foundation offers grants to organizations doing research in the area of information technology and emerging communications media. The Markle Web site provides application details as well as information about the organization's current projects.

National Strategy For NonProfit Technology (http://www.nsnt.org/)
The National Strategy for NonProfit Technology (N-TEN) has released a blueprint, based on 18 months of research and discussion, outlining the steps the nonprofit sector should take to use the Internet and information technology more effectively.

Morino Institute (http://www.morino.org/)
Dedicated to achieving systemic change — economic, educational, and social — through the application of new models for continuous improvement and learning enabled by the Internet.

Rockefeller Technology Project (http://www.rffund.org/techproj/nonprofit_apps.html)
The Technology Project seeks to accelerate social and political progress by building the technological capacity of nonprofit organizations. Site offerings include technology resources, publications, and links to related resources.

Community Technology Centers Network (http://www.ctcnet.org/)
A network of over 300 community technology centers. The site provides links to affiliated centers as well as resources and relevant technology news and publications.

Community Connector (http://databases.si.umich.edu/cfdocs/community/index.cfm) A Web site for community-service organizations, funders, academics, and students who are using technology to improve their local communities. Offerings include news updates, research reports, articles, handbooks, an original journal, a directory of community networks, and links to relevant resources.

The "Digital Divide"

National Telecommunications Information Administration (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fttn99/contents.html)
This Department of Commerce site provides detailed reports and guidelines on the government's efforts to address the digital divide. Includes a survey by the Census Bureau and specified charts and U.S. telecommunications data.

Closing the Digital Divide (http://www.digitaldivide.gov/)
Also maintained by the NTIA, this site is a central clearinghouse of data about the digital divide. The site offers useful audio/video excerpts from the December 1999 Digital Divide Summit as well as detailed government reports on the subject.

The Digital Divide Network (http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/)
A new site from the Benton Foundation, in association with the National Urban League. Users can search for news about efforts going on across the country, and research organizations and corporations involved in those efforts to bridge the gap.

Online Lobbying and Political Action

OMB Watch's Nonprofits' Policy & Technology Project (http://www.ombwatch.org/www/ombw/npt/)
The Nonprofits' Policy & Technology Project (NPT) is OMB Watch's three-year initiative to improve communications linkages within the nonprofit sector in order to strengthen public policy participation. The NPT site provides information about activities, resources, and project updates.

Netaction (http://www.netaction.org/)
Dedicated to promoting the use of the Internet for effective grassroots citizen action campaigns and to educating the public, policy makers, and the media about technology policy issues, the Netaction site provides an online training program (http://www.netaction.org/training/) on virtual activism, information about the organization's current projects, and links to helpful activism sites.

Center for Responsive Politics
(http://www.opensecrets.org/home/index.asp) A D.C.-based research group that tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy. The Center's site offers a searchable database of political donors and "soft money" donations; the site can also be searched by state and politician.

Project Vote Smart (http://www.vote-smart.org/)
Researches, tracks, and provides independent factual information on over 13,000 candidates and elected officials. The site offers a searchable database of voting records, campaign issue positions, performance evaluations by special interests, campaign contributions, previous experience, and contact information.

Technology and Disability Issues

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (http://www.meaf.org/)
The mission of the MEA Foundation is to help young people with disabilities to maximize their potential and participation in society through the use of technology. The foundation's grant program accepts preliminary concept papers throughout the year.

NEC Foundation (http://www.nec.com/company/foundation/index.html)
The NEC Foundation of America makes cash grants to nonprofit organizations and programs with national reach and impact in the application of technology to assist people with disabilities.

AbilityNet (http://www.abilitynet.co.uk/)
This UK-based site provides an abundance of information regarding various forms of adaptive technology for people with a wide range of disabilities.

Virtual Volunteering

Impact Online's Virtual Volunteering (http://www.volunteermatch.org/virtual/)
Offers volunteer opportunities for individuals, including those with disabilities, who wish to contribute time via e-mail. The site's VolunteerMatch (http://www.volunteermatch.org/) service helps individuals nationwide find on-site volunteer opportunities posted by local nonprofit and public-sector organizations.

Tech News for Nonprofits

Philanthropy News Network/Nonprofits & Technology (http://www.pnnonline.org/)
This free online journal offers new articles daily and includes a technology section detailing updates on technology in the nonprofit sector.

Nonprofit Toolkit (http://www.nptoolkit.org/)
A new monthly online magazine from ArtsWire designed to serve the technology needs of the nonprofit community. Along with relevant articles, the site provides links, reviews, and a bulletin board.

Nonprofit News from the Gilbert Center (http://www.gilbert.org/news/)
Provides frequently updated links to resources and articles related to nonprofits and technology.

The Foundation Center