Just Released: Ready to Lead? Next Generation Leaders Speak Out
 Ready to Lead? Next Generation Leaders Speak Out is a new study of close to 6,000 respondents that focus on next generation leadership issues, just released last week. The report, produced by Meyer with CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, The Annie E. Casey Foundation and Idealist.org is available as a download on the Meyer website. The report has been featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Examiner, US News & World Report, WAMU radio, The Baltimore Examiner, and several blogs. The report was downloaded close to 2,000 times in the first three days that it was made public on the Meyer website.
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Exponent Award Nomination Deadline
The nomination deadline for the 2008 Exponent Awards is Monday, April 7, 2008. For nomination criteria, click here.
Meyer Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting a letter of intent for the upcoming grants cycle is Friday, June 6, 2008. Click here for eligibility and application guidelines. |
2006 Exponent Award recipient
Betty Jo Gaines was selected as a Washingtonian of the Year
Betty Jo Gaines, Executive Director of Bright Beginnings, was selected as a 2008 Washingtonian of the Year. The Washingtonian said that "she has won its accreditations, expanded its hours..., and doubled its budget." Learn more
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2008 Domestic Violence Children's Program
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The Avon Foundation provides funds to innovative coordinated response models developed by domestic violence organizations and organizations that assist child victims of abuse or children witnesses of domestic violence. Applications will be accepted from organizations that have demonstrated experience assisting domestic violence victims and are developing or expanding a collaborative model to provide therapeutic services to child victims. Read more
Funds to Support HIV Primary Health Care Services
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Department of Health and Human Services announces funds to support organizations in their efforts to strengthen their organizational infrastructure and enhance their capacity to develop, enhance, or expand high quality HIV primary health care services in rural or urban underserved areas, and communities of color. Read more
Fund for National Projects in Dance, Jazz, and the Performance Arts
Thursday, May 1, 2008
During a two-year pilot phase, the Fund for National Projects will award a total of up to $1 million in grants to support key national projects in the dance, jazz, presenting and/or theatre fields. Grants will range from $60,000 to $200,000 and cannot exceed 40 percent of a project's total cost. National projects engage a broad national constituency, occur once (or periodically) rather than annually, and have the potential to significantly impact a field. Read more
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Ilir Zherka
This is the fourth in a series of interviews with the Meyer Foundation's 2007 Exponent Awards recipients.
Q: What is DC Vote?
A: DC Vote is an educational and advocacy organization dedicated to securing full voting representation in Congress for the residents of the District of Columbia.
Q: Why are you so personally interested in advocacy work?
A: Both my parents were activists, so from a young age I learned that advocacy is a powerful way to achieve justice. I find advocacy work fulfilling – I can get up every morning knowing that my job is to end taxation without representation in the capital of the free world.
Q: Why do you feel the vote for DC should be of national interest?
A: DC voting rights is a civil rights issue, a voting rights issue, and a test of America's belief in representative democracy. As the earlier civil rights movement pointed out again and again, "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Taxation without representation was tyranny, is tyranny, and remains an unacceptable injustice against Americans.
Q: With the recent Senate vote, how do you as a leader keep your staff energized and motivated?
A: While the Senate filibuster certainly slowed our momentum for a bit, we also secured 57 votes. We are three votes shy of passing the DC Voting Rights Act. Three votes. Focusing on that small, achievable goal keeps us motivated.
Q: Coalition-building is critical to the work you do. How have you created bi-partisan support for this issue?
A: The key to attracting coalition partners is articulating a vision and developing a strategy to realize that vision. We keep people together by respecting all views; giving people credit for the work they do; demonstrating our commitment and competence; and achieving results.
Q: How do you do your work differently in an election year?
A: The elections provide a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on DC voting rights. Without supporting any candidates, we try to insert the issue of DC voting rights into the presidential and congressional elections and debates. We've done that by submitting questions to the YouTube debate, contacting the organizers of the presidential debates, and encouraging our members and supporters in the DC area and across the country to ask presidential candidates questions about the issue.
Q: What role does social media play in your work?
A: Social media is playing an increasingly critical role for DC Vote. Our Student Outreach work has been aided tremendously through our presence on Facebook. Just recently, we launched our 'DC Vote on the Road' blog to chronicle our outreach in the states we are visiting beginning with Montana. We also keep in close contact with bloggers from the Nation, DCist, DailyKos, myDD and others.
Learn more about Ilir Zherka and DC Vote here.
Learning Opportunities
Effective Strategies in Preparing Grant Proposals:
From the Back to the Front
Center for Nonprofit Advancement
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 1:30–4:30 pm
You can have the best proposal and still miss out on opportunities because the back-end documents of your proposal do not comply with the requirements or are out of date. This interactive workshop explores how to develop an effective proposal by looking at the subtle nuances of the back-end documents, resumes, audits, board lists, annual reports, etc. Click here to register
Creative Ways to Reduce Costs
Center for Nonprofit Advancement
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 9:30–11:30 am
If you've developed a budget but there's not enough revenue to cover the expenses you are probably looking for ways to reduce costs and ultimately improve the financial health of your organization. This basic level workshop for all staff will look at creative ways to reduce variable costs. Click here to register
Major Components of a Development Program
Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
This workshop provides a comprehensive review of how to set fundraising goals based on budgeted needs, and how to build a donor base. Topics covered: annual giving and its components (major gifts, direct mail, capital campaigns, events, planned giving, operating vs. restricted grants, and contributions); finding and cultivating donors and the role of the board. Held at the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, 1495 F Street, NW, First Floor. Click here to register
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