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BLOG for ADVOCATES
We created this blog to share interesting advocacy related items that cross our desks. It can be anything from new research on funding for advocacy to examples of unusual advocacy strategies. If you have an item to share please send it to npaction@npaction.org.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Reaching Beyond Service to Civic RenewalCitizens At The Center: A New Approach to Civic Engagement , published by the Case Foundation, discusses why traditional volunteer service and voting are not sufficient substitutes for true civic engagement. While high levels of volunteerism and charitable giving may reflect a cultural ethos of public "service" , it is less clear how a cultural ethos of "civic engagement" has influenced the actions of citizens, both young and old. In this report Carmen Siranni and Lew Friedland of Brandeis University state, "Civic renewal will require more than reforming elections and campaign finance, increasing voting, or making systems more inclusive of the great diversity of Americans." The mere episodic nature of voting and volunteer work detracts from the consistency required for a fully engaged citizenry, which encourages a citizen centered and citizen driven approach towards collaborative problem solving.
To find out how to move people from "service to civics", click here.
Friday, October 26, 2007 A New Age of GivingMany people who have snubbed traditional mailings or phonecalls have begun making online donations through sites like these:
Posted by Andrea Wilson Tuesday, October 23, 2007 Think MTV
Aside from sponsoring the Choose or Lose voting campaign, MTV has recently introduced yet another way for viewers to become involved in changing the world. Think MTV, a new social activism site, provides several different types of information so that viewers can get involved, get heard and take action. With key information, links and forums on various issues (including but not limited to human rights, education and poverty campaigns), Think MTV not only heightens social awareness but it also provides opportunities for concerned viewers to exchange ideas, collaborate, and ultimately play an active role in bringing forth the change they wish to see. To view the synergistic possibilities of this site
click here.
Thursday, October 18, 2007 Capacity Building for Local NGOs
Offering a comprehensive manual on capacity building, Progressio’s online manual provides information that can be used as a self help manual for local NGOs or as a training and development guide by other groups. To download individual chapters, click here.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 You Tube for Nonprofits
Have you been looking for a new way to showcase your organization’s impact and need? You Tube for Nonprofits is one option you may want to consider. With a designated “Nonprofit Channel”, You Tube enables nonprofits to reach thousands of online viewers who may eventually become donors or volunteers. If you’d like your organization’s compelling story or unique approach to reach a broader audience, visit You Tube for Nonprofits here. Thursday, October 11, 2007 2007 Workshops for Small & Mid-Sized 501(c)(3)sHave you ever needed more clarity on IRS rules? If so, IRS Exempt Organizations may be coming to a city near you to provide just what you need. During one-day workshops, experienced Exempt Organizations specialists, will explain what 501(c)(3) organizations must do to keep their tax-exempt status and comply with tax obligations. This introductory workshop is designed for administrators or volunteers who are responsible for an organization's tax compliance. Pre-registration is required. Dates and locations for 2007 are:
Salt Lake City, UT: Nov. 13, 14,15 Columbia, SC: Dec. 4, 5,6 Sacramento, CA: Dec. 18, 19,20
Additional workshops will also take place during 2008. For more information, including topics and and registration information, click here.
Thursday, October 04, 2007 Changing the Present
With an innovative twist to online giving, Changingthepresent.org, provides an online giving venue to nonprofits (free of charge). Stakeholders, friends and donors of various different types of nonprofits can create individualized gift registries so that gifts for birthdays, graduations, weddings and other special occasions can be donations for positive social change. Visitors to this site can choose among several different types of social change projects such as: preserving an acre of the rainforest, giving a child her first book, funding an hour of cancer research, or providing a cataract surgery to restore a blind person’s sight. To learn more about this site click here.
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