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Current News

Fundraising Guide for NGOs
	I just recently discovered Jane Bradshaw's Fundraising Guide for NGOs (30 page PDF). It focuses on old-media strategies and is written for international volunteer based organizations that would otherwise be a little lost. I think it's a good resource to recommend to such folks. Posted: 4/24/06; 7:39:49 AM #

Community Interest Companies

There is a new model of organization that has been created in Britain in the last year called Community Interest Companies, designed for social enterprises that want to use their profits and assets for the public good. They report to an independent regulator and are subject to rules about reinvestment, but are nevertheless able to raise private capital and operate in a more entrepreneurial manner than charities. Now of course, charities in the UK are more limited than nonprofits in the U.S., but I'm encouraged to see such new models being explored. Posted: 4/24/06; 7:30:58 AM #

Writing Sensible Email Messages
	I'm really impressed with the growing number of sophisticated observers about the effective use of email. Merlin Mann's advice on Writing Sensible Email Messages is a good example. His suggestions include tips on writing great subject lines, clarifying your outcomes, and agreeing on conventions related to expected actions. Posted: 4/24/06; 7:25:51 AM #

Emails and Egos

We all knew this already, but researchers have demonstrated the relationship between egocentrism and poor communication in email. The researchers investigated the powerful role that tone of voice and interaction played in rapidly increasing the effectiveness of communication and a reduction in conflict, leading them to conclude that we should all pick up the phone more often. Posted: 4/24/06; 7:20:34 AM #

Presentations at the Startup School Wiki
	It is commercially oriented, but the Presentations at the Startup School Wiki has some great talks of cross sector value by people like Stephen Wolfram and Paul Graham. I liked the ones entitled "A Random Walk Through Startup Space" and "On Starting a Long-Term Company". Posted: 4/24/06; 7:15:02 AM #

Common Ground Collective
	If you're interested in tracking what's happening on the ground in New Orleans these days, the Common Ground Collective is a good place to start. They are a grassroots relief organization with a strong emphasis on empowerment and their website is chock full of news, video, audio, and other local resources. Posted: 4/24/06; 7:11:16 AM #