COMMON GROUND CONSULTING LLC

TODAY is Give to the Max Day in DC!

If you're part of a non-profit organization in the greater Washington DC area, please check out this amazing opportunity to be a part of something BIG!

Give to the Max Day is a one-day fundraising event on November 9, 2011 that will unite local Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC communities to support nonprofits serving the area. Our goal is to get 35,000 people to support their favorite regional charity, raising more than $3 million in donations and grants in just 24 hours!

With federal spending cuts and the economy restricting funding for nonprofits, jobs are being lost and societal investment suffers. Together, the traditional Greater Washington nonprofit community will meet with the 2.0 world to provide an economic shot in the arm for the local nonprofit sector, charge civic pride and help local causes rally their constituents and find new ones

Hundreds of area nonprofits will compete for cash awards and matching grants offered throughout the day. Individual fundraisers will compete to win awards for their favorite causes. Every donation you make gives your favorite organization the chance to win even more money.

Nonprofit organizations of all sizes will cultivate new donors, increase giving through fun and engaging campaigns while significantly reducing overall fundraising costs.

Give to the Max Day: Greater Washington is part of Digital Capital Week, a ten day festival held throughout the region focusing on technology, innovation and all things digital.

2011 Giving Season Tips

Great advice from GuideStar USA ...

The last quarter of the year, known as the "giving season," is a crucial time for both charities and donors. Half of the nonprofits that participated in a 2010 fundraising survey reported that they receive the majority of contributions during the last three months of the year, and online giving has peaked at the end of December in recent years.

GuideStar offers the following five tips to help donors get the most out of their end-of-year charitable giving.

1. Clarify values and preferences. What do you value? Do you have an artistic streak? Do you love animals? Have you lost a friend or family member to a terminal illness? Consider the type of charity that you'd have the best connection with. You'll feel even better about your giving when your donations align with your values.
2. Focus on the mission. GuideStar is a great resource to find the charity that meets your values. Look up a specific nonprofit in GuideStar's database of 1.8 million organizations, or use the advanced search to find charities by category, size, and location. Once you found a nonprofit that interests you, dig a bit deeper into the organization's GuideStar profile, visit the nonprofit's Web site, or look into recent press articles or media mentions of the organization to learn more about its mission and programs. GuideStar's TakeAction resource centerprovides expert analyses of more than 25 causes and high-impact organizations working on those issues.
3. Verify a charity's legitimacy. With a glance at a nonprofit report on GuideStar, you can find out if it is a legitimate tax-exempt organization. Nonprofits that do not meet IRS criteria are flagged. If a charity is not on GuideStar, ask to see its letter of determination. If the organization is faith-based, ask to see its official listing in a directory for its denomination.

4. Get the cold, hard facts. A reputable organization will:

   • Define its mission and programs clearly and will also discuss its programs and finances.
   • Have measurable goals.
   • Use concrete criteria to describe its achievements. Visit ChartingImpact.org for a nonprofit's impact report.
   • Be willing to send you literature about its work or direct you to a Web site.
   • Take "no" for an answer. It won't use pressure tactics.
5. Trust your instincts. If you still have doubts about a charity, don't contribute to it. Instead, find another nonprofit that does the same kind of work and with which you feel comfortable, and donate to that organization instead. Remember that even a small donation makes a difference. And, last but not least, charities need support year-round. Why not make a commitment to give $10 a month to the charity of your choice for the next year, rather than one big gift now?

Research is the best way to make sure that your gift is going to the right charity. Resources such as GuideStar (www.guidestar.org), Philanthropedia (www.myphilanthropedia.org/guide_to_better_giving), and Charting Impact (www.chartingimpact.org) are great places to start when you want to give with your head as well as your heart.

 

What Does 7 Billion Mean for the Planet?

What's striking to me is that we've added five billion people just in the last one hundred years! Check out this piece re-posted from Machable:

Today, we woke up to the discomfiting news that there are now 7 billion people inhabiting planet Earth. Seems like just yesterday there were only six billion. It’s an important milestone for the world and one big enough that, like most other major events and activities, has its own app: National Geographic Society 7 Billion.

The iPad app is simply called “7 Billion“, which is a number big enough to get anyone’s attention. According to the free app, which is downloadable right now from Apple’s App Store, it would take you 200 years to count to 7 billion out loud. In other words, you’ll never finish. Still, these are the kinds of tantalizing tidbits you’ll find throughout this information rich app. It’s part of National Geographic‘s year-long series on the world’s new population number. National Geographic will deliver new features to the app throughout the year (Cities are the Solution is coming in December).

Inside the app, which ran fairly smoothly on my iPad 1 (but could use clearer navigation–I had a bit of trouble getting out of the opening video), you’ll find over a dozen features and numerous charts, infographics and photos and videos on everything from how income and the average number of children impacts per-country population growth, to what the 7 billion people means for our food and resource supplies. Here’s just some of what I learned from the app:

• In 2045 there will be 9 billion people
• Every second 5 people are born
• Every second 2 people die (you can see the problem)
• We’re all living longer: the average Life span is now 69 years old
• By 2050, 70% of us will be living in urban areas
• We have enough space for all these people: 7 billion people could fit shoulder-to-shoulder in the City of Los Angeles
• In 1975 there were three mega-cities (cities with 10 million or more people)
• Today there are 21 mega-cities

50 Little Things You Can Do to Encourage Other People

I came across this great list on Stephen's Lighthouse blog. He used "empower," rather than "encourage," but I believe that people have to empower themselves. How many of these do you do regularly?

1. Give out compliments that you mean.
2. Speak and act with honesty.
3. Listen to others.
4. Help illustrate your points with visual aids.
5. Teach a class.
6. Get involved in community art projects.
7. Mentor a child or student.
8. Volunteer with local organizations.
9. Lead a group on a travel expedition
10. Donate money to charity.
11. Help the spread of community health clinics.
12. Take the time to talk to strangers.
13. Start a non-profit.
14. Travel abroad and make new friends.
15. Reach out to friends and relatives at a distance
16. Be aware of body language.
17. Be sincere.
18. Nurture talent in others.
19. Go out and support local musicians.
20. Give thoughtful gifts.
21. Join a community farm or grocery coop.
22. Volunteer in schools.
23. Stay in touch with local politics.
24. Throw dinner parties with a mixed range of guests.
25. Smile more often.
26. Use public transportation.
27. Organize recycling projects.
28. Run a benefit event.
29. Project positivity and eliminate negative thoughts.
30. Join a book group or club.
31. Start or join a language exchange program.
32. Lead team-building exercises at work.
33. Encourage social activities.
34. Initiate physical contact.
35. Tell your loved ones how you feel about them.
36. Make sure the atmosphere at work is a democratic one.
37. Nod your head when someone is making a point.
38. Help foster creativity.
39. Run meetings with an open, discussion oriented atmosphere.
40. Have suggestions ready for those who need advice.
41. Take walks to new areas of town.
42. Spend time planting trees in the community.
43. Set up a food or blanket drive.
44. Learn inspiring quotes that can be doled out.
45. Learn new listening techniques.
46. Study psychology.
47. Give a helping hand.
48. Give encouragement instead of criticism.
49. Take time for yourself to help others.
50. Learn intervention techniques.

Grants Available for Jewish Day of Service

J-Serve is the National Day of Jewish Youth Service. Since 2005, J-Serve has been a part of YSA's Global Youth Service Day.

J-Serve provides teens with the opportunity to fulfill the Jewish values of gemilut chasidim (acts of loving kindness), tzedakah (just and charitable giving), and tikkum olam (the responsibility to repair the world). Across the globe, teens will join each other to make their community and the world a better place.

Through the generosity of the Charles and Lynn SchustermanFamily Foundation, grants are available for J-Serve 2012 - April 22, 2012.  www.JServe.org 

Large Community Initiative Grants ($2500)
For communities that plan and execute projects that bring a minimum of 125 Jewish teens together in partnership with at least three movements or agencies in the community.

Small Community Initiative Grants ($1800)
For communities with a Jewish population smaller than 40,000 that plan and execute service projects that bring a minimum of 75 Jewish teens together in a partnership with at least three movements or agencies in the community.

Start-Up Grants (up to $500)
For groups who are planning their first J-Serve projects that bring a minimum of 10 and maximum of 74 Jewish teens together in partnership with a least two movements or agencies in the community.

Learn more at www.YSA.org/grants/jserve

Keep the Lights On Afterschool — October 20th

On October 20th, join 1 million Americans and 7,500+ communities nationwide in celebrating the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. http://bit.ly/r2kP2n

Celebrate Make a Difference Day on October 22

For more than 20 years, USA WEEKEND Magazine and HandsOn Network have joined together to sponsor Make A Difference Day, Millions of Americans will unite in a common mission to improve the lives of others on Saturday, October 22, 2011. http://bit.ly/oYeiQD

National Safe Schools Day is TODAY!

Back-to-school time conjures up images of bright yellow school buses, fresh pencils and notebooks, and green schoolyards to play in at recess. But this picturesque ideal ignores a sobering truth: America’s schools are not safe places for all students. According to GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate Survey, 61.1% of LGBT students felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and nearly one in five were physically assaulted (e.g., punched, kicked, injured with a weapon) because of their sexual orientation.

Tragic events in recent weeks remind us that there is so much work left to do in order to make schools safe and affirming places for all students. October 5th is National Safe Schools Day – an opportunity to spread awareness of the situation of our schools and work together to change the school environments that fail to protect our youth.

Across the country today – from Michigan to Massachusetts, from California to Arkansas – activists are organizing a variety of events to champion this important cause. The Safe Schools Action Network is hosting a rallies in various cities, including Washington, DC, to support local safe schools campaigns.

Can't be in our nation’s capital for the rally? There’s plenty of work you can do in your own community! Check out GLSEN’s guide on making a positive difference in the wake of multiple tragedies across the country in the past few weeks.

Celebrate National Safe Schools Day on October 5th by taking action to make America’s schools respectful, affirming, and safe places for all students.

National Bullying Prevention Month

Everyone—students, parents, educators, community members—has a voice in raising awareness of bullying.

National Bullying Prevention Month (October) unites communities nationwide to promote bullying prevention through creative resources designed to engage, educate, and inspire. All schools, organizations, and communities are invited to partner with PACER on this important issue. PACER offers free web-based resources that can be used by schools, parents, and students to promote bullying prevention. Activities include interactive websites, classroom toolkits, letter-writing campaigns, contests, live events, and much more!

PACER offers free toolkits for student-led activities and downloadable posters and other visual displays, as well as bookmarks and other promotional items. Everyone is encouraged to sign the online "The End of Bullying Begins with Me" petition.

Whether you are an educator, student, family, or individual you can take an active role during the month, other exciting opportunities include:

• Sign up as a National Partner (national organizations) or Champion Against Bullying (schools, local organizations)
• Add your name to the digital “The End of Bullying Begins With Me” petition
• Talk with your local media about bullying prevention and the activities happening in your own community
• Order bullying prevention bookmarks
• Share your story, poem, artwork or video
• Hold a community event
• Tell why “you care about bullying prevention”
• Spread the word on social media
• Use PACER’s creative classroom toolkits to raise awareness
• Visit the ACT section of TeensAgainstBullying

Talking it Through: Communication Skills for Mentors

The National Mentoring Center at Education Northwest is one of the nation's premier training and technical assistance providers for youth mentoring programs and initiatives. Education Northwest has over 20 years experience providing training, resources, and other services to local mentoring programs and federal, state, and regional agencies.

I've had the pleasure of working with them directly since 1997 and I've seen first-hand the quality of their outstanding training and technical assistance efforts.

Whether your program is just getting started or working to build on its current success, the NMC can help you create and implement quality services that meet the needs of youth in your community. They also provide a wide variety of supports to federal, state, and local mentoring initiatives and funding agencies. Please contact their staff via email or 503-275-0135 to learn more about their services.

New Online Resource for Ongoing Mentor Training

Talking it Through: Communication Skills for Mentors - Need help preparing mentors for their complex role? This interactive website, built to enhance ongoing mentor training, presents 13 video stories with real mentors, real youth, and real situations that illustrate common challenges and proven strategies.

This course is offered at no charge. Simply sign-up to get started!

Talking it Through: Communication Skills for Mentors promotes successful mentor/youth interactions and relationship-building.

Once mentors learn about the complexities of their role, they often wish they were better prepared. Watching and reflecting on the examples in this course can help you be ready for sticky situations. The videos in this series are based on experiences of actual mentoring pairs.