E-mail Newsletters by Not-for-Profit and Public Sector Organizations

This newsletter by a San Francisco-based nonprofit support center is very good on content and length, and comes out regularly. It also has good standard information, including a nice disclaimer about use of subscriber data, at the end. And I particularly like the "food" theme -- they always include a recipe or area-restaurant suggestion at the end. It's a clever hook!

Criticisms: it needs more white space at the bottom (regarding how to subscribe, about the publisher, etc.) and the lines are way over 59 characters, which means many lines and borders come out "broken" when I receive this newsletter via e-mail (however, I've corrected that here, for easier reading).


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
News, information, opinion, and online resources for
the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley Nonprofit
Community and beyond. 
Home of the nonprofit comic strip "Planet
501(c)(3)...see the link toward the end of the issue. 
A publication of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services
http://www.compasspoint.org

Chef/Editor: Cristina Chan.
Monday, October 30, 2000, Vol. 5, No. 15

Our Motto:  "Think Globally...Eat Locally"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
In the Oct. 15 San Francisco Sunday Chronicle,
columnist Joan Ryan followed up on a story she wrote
appealing to readers to give to a cause she had learned
about in Kenya
(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/10/1
5/SC36868.DTL ). Many readers (including my mom) read
the column and sent money. However, many of the checks
that were sent to this non-US based charity were
intercepted (including my mom's check), changed and
cashed for higher amounts (some as high as $9,000), and
were never used to help people in Kenya. There are
undoubtedly lessons here about the power of "celebrity"
appeals and doing due diligence before making
donations. A problem like this can sour potential
donors from giving to anyone, so it's a reminder to
consider educating our current and potential donors on
how to protect their charitable investments. Perhaps
invite donors to research your organization on
Guidestar (http://www.guidestar.org) or to request a
copy of your Form 990. You could also note that in
addition to regular checks you can also accept
cashier's checks (the surest way to protect from check
fraud) and remind donors to write out your
organization's whole name on the check. An ounce of
prevention never hurts, right? Also in this issue, some
Web site resources, two sabbatical opportunities, donor
prospect advice and more. - Cristina Chan 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
GET THE WORD OUT: REGISTER NOW FOR MEDIA DAY
Register for CompassPoint's popular Media Day
conference before it sells out! This year's event is on
Dec. 8 at the Silicon Valley Conference Center in San
Jose. Get advice on how to boost your organization's
profile in the Bay Area and beyond from John Boudreau
of the San Jose Mercury News, KGO's Thuy Vu, KNTV's
Linton Johnson and other media professionals from TV,
print, radio, web and wire. Attend a few of the 15
workshops for training on topics like "Ways to Woo the
Media," "Online Media and PR," "Crisis Communications,"
"Strategic Media Planning," and "Fundraising & Support
for Your Communications." Or take advantage of free
individual consultations with one of our 15 PR Pros.
And don't forget to check out our Resource Exhibitors,
where you'll find Silicon Valley's top media services,
resources, and outlets. Media Day 2000 is sponsored in
part by the San Jose Mercury News and supported by the
Community Foundation Silicon Valley. To register or for
more information, call 408.248.9505 or
go to http://www.compasspoint.org.

SABBATICAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVISTS
ī The Bannerman Foundation Fellowship Program funds
grants of $15,000 to support sabbaticals for long-time
activists of color. Application deadline: Dec. 1.
Download an application at
http://www.bannermanfellowship.org/ or call
410.327.6220. 
ī Vanguard Public Foundation is accepting applications
for its Social Justice Sabbatical Fund for individuals
who have committed much of their life's work to
building a more just and equitable society. Four
$12,000 grants will be awarded. Deadline: Dec. 15. Call
415.487.2111 for more info. Both foundations allow
recipients to use their sabbaticals in whatever way
they think will best re-energize them for their work.

MANAGING YOUR WEB DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Want to know what to look for when hiring a Web site
designer? Coyote Communications has just updated their
tip sheet at
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/webdevo/designer.html. For
instance, to keep your Web designer costs at a minimum,
Coyote recommends creating a file on your computer for
Web material and putting text-only versions of
information you want on your Web site into this folder.
You'll then have this information ready to give to your
Web developer, and he or she won't have to spend time
(or charge you) to convert this into text for your
site.

SEARCHING FOR YOUR WEB SITE
Also, as your Web site grows, you may want to consider
adding a search engine to allow your visitors to find
what they are looking for more easily. Your Web hosting
company may offer you a search engine, or you can
consult this excellent article from Webmonkey, "Adding
Search to Your Site," which lists some of the free
search engine options and describes how they work. 
Visit http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey and then
Choose Topic "Marketing" to find the article.

EVALUATING APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS
A new Internet-based industry has risen that is
reinventing the way organizations conduct business.
Known as Application Service Providers (ASPs) these Web
sites can host many traditional software applications
like development software, list management, database
hosting, accounting, word processing, spreadsheets, and
much more. As a nonprofit leader, you should know the
advantages and limitations of working with this fast
growing industry to best address your agency's ever
pressing technology needs. Learn all about ASPs at
"Evaluating Internet Application Service Providers" on
Nov. 7, 8:30am-12:30pm at Golden Gate University.
Presented by John Kenyon, Information Technology
Director at The Management Center, and Michael Stein,
Internet Strategist at CompassPoint. ASPs to be
reviewed include: entango.com, seeuthere.com,
centerbeam.com, locuspocus.net, localvoice.com, and
socialecology.com. Cost: $50. Contact Erin Robbins at
erobbins@tmcenter.org or 415.399.2651 for registration
information. Or visit
http://www.tmcenter.org/programs/techskill.html.

WINNING OR WANING PROSPECTS?
Fundraiser Kim Klein offers this advice on when to give
up on a potential donor: solicit a prospect at least
twice, but at the most 3 to 4 times over the course of
12-18 months. If they don't respond during that
timeframe, take them off your list. Kim estimates that
it takes at least $2 to $3 a year in paper, postage,
time, etc. to send solicitations to a prospect. So if
they're not responding, use that money to instead
research and cultivate new prospects. Read more of
Kim's advice at the Chardon Press Web site at
http://www.chardonpress.com/newsletter/advice.html and
click on either the "Articles" or "Ask Kim Archive"
links. Be prepared to learn something new about
fundraising!

SEEKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS...
ī Conciliation Forums of Oakland. Contact: Search
Committee, CFO, 1222 Preservation Park Way, Oakland,
94612. Fax 510.763.7098. Email cfo@grin.net.
ī Project Inform, San Francisco. For more information
contact: Executive Search, Project Inform, 205 13th
Street, Ste. 2001, SF, 94103.
http://www.projectinform.org.
ī Volunteer Center of San Mateo County. Resume/letter
of interest to: Executive Search, Volunteer Center of
San Mateo Co, 800 S. Claremont St, Suite 108, San Mateo
94402; fax 650.342.1399. For job description, contact
650.342.0801 or lgranger@vcsmco.org.

FUNDING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS
The Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Learning at the
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will award $25,000
grants to nonprofits for developing and implementing
entrepreneurship programs for college students.
Internships are to be designed to expose students to
social entrepreneurs trying to solve societal problems.
To receive an application, write Kauffman Enterprise
Internship Program, 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO,
64110- 2046, email KEIP@emkf.org or download from the
Web site at http://www.keip.org. (Deadline early
December). KEIP is also awarding $100,000 grants to
for-profits through the same program. The question is,
though, why will for-profits get grants that are 4
times larger than those to nonprofits?

FIRST TRY FOR FIRST GOV
Http://www.firstgov.gov is the recently launched Web
site of the federal government that allows users
comprehensive access to government sites and resources
on the Internet. As the FirstGov welcome, from none
other than Bill Clinton himself, states: "FirstGov
allows users... to conduct important business online -
such as applying for student loans, tracking Social
Security benefits, comparing Medicare options and even
administering government grants and contracts." Check
it out.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
If you're an Executive Director and curious about
career options, this article by Ben Shatz, former
Executive Director and current fabulous drag queen
headed for Broadway, will surely show that it's never
too late to try on something new - whether it's a dress
or a new career. Read his story at
http://www.salon.com/health/feature/2000/10/17/drag_queen/index.html.

IN THIS INSTALLMENT OF PLANET 501(c)3...
Just in time for Halloween, "Previews from the Film
Festival of Nonprofit Horror" at
http://www.planet501c3.org.

COMING UP AT COMPASSPOINT...

San Francisco Workshops
ī SF's Nov.-Feb. workshop catalog is now available on
our Web site at http://www.compasspoint.org. Brochures
will reach your office by mid November. Call
415.541.9000 if you'd like a registration form faxed to
you.
ī If you can't make our financial management conference
on Nov. 3, but wish you knew more about the language of
numbers, sign up for Introduction to Nonprofit
Financial Management on Nov. 20.
ī What does the community think about your
organization's work? Learn how to put your best face
forward at Strategic Media Planning: Mission, Messages,
Impact on Nov. 21.

PHABULOUS PUMPKIN SOUP
Margaret Donohoe, Transition Consultant for CompassPoint's
Silicon Valley Executive Transitions Program offers
this very timely recipe for Fall Pumpkin Soup - a
simple and healthy idea for Halloween eve or fall
dinner that will impress kids and adults alike. Saute
1/2 half minced onion with 1 clove minced garlic and 2
T of olive oil. Add one 29 oz can of pumpkin (not
pumpkin pie filling). Spoon in 1/2 c of smooth or
chunky peanut butter. Stir in 20 to 30 oz. of canned
chicken broth depending on thickness desired. Top with
a spoon of sour cream and minced green onions. For a
special effect, add 1-3 T of milk to sour cream and put
into a cookie-decorating container and make 2-3 circles
on top of the soup. Cut circles with a knife every 3
inches for spider web effect. Spooky!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
You have been reading FOOD FOR THOUGHT, a biweekly publication of
CompassPoint Nonprofit Services (formerly the Support
Center/NDC), 706 Mission Street, 5th Floor, San
Francisco, CA 94103.  phone: 415.541.9000   fax:
415.541.7708  & 1922 The Alameda, Suite 212, San Jose,
CA 95126.  phone: 408.248.9505 fax: 408.248.9504 
e-mail: info@compasspoint.org   Web sites:
http://www.compasspoint.org   |   http://www.genie.org   |
http://www.ontap.org
FOOD FOR THOUGHT is generously underwritten by the
William and Sakurako Fisher Family Foundation.
If you have been reading someone else's copy of FOOD
FOR THOUGHT and would like to subscribe, please sign up
at http://www.compasspoint.org/fft.  You can also
subscribe by contacting CompassPoint at the phone and
fax numbers listed above, or by e-mail: Just send an
e-mail message to fft- subscribe@compasspoint.org and
in the body of the message type SUBSCRIBE
FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT.  (To un-subscribe to FOOD FOR
THOUGHT, send e-mail to fft-subscribe@compasspoint.org
and type UNSUBSCRIBE FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT in the body of
the message, or notify us by phone or fax.) 
MISS AN ISSUE OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT?  Sometimes e-mail
and faxed documents don't make it to their
destinations.  If you miss an issue, please contact us
and we'll be happy to send along another.  You can also
find back issues on CompassPoint's Web site: 
http://www.compasspoint.org/fftarchives
or by contacting our offices.
We welcome your comments and contributions to FOOD FOR
THOUGHT.
If you have an item of interest -- funding
announcement, useful Web site, job opening for ED,
restaurant review, or whatever strikes you as
newsworthy -- send it along to
food4thought@compasspoint.org.
CompassPoint does not rent, exchange or give away contact
information from its Food for Thought e-mail/fax mailing lists.
We keep this information confidential. Copyright (c) 2000
CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.

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