It seems there may be a storm a brewing… or maybe (hopefully) a change in the nonprofit donation policy from Apple.
With Beth Kanter’srecentblogposts shining a light on Apple’ s policy barring solicitations of donations by nonprofits groups’ many nonprofit focused individuals as well as plain ol’ big heart-ed folks are getting behind a campaign asking Steve Jobs and Apple to change their ways. In fact, donation lovers to the tune of 6000+ (at time of post) have already signed a care2 petition asking Apple to ‘Support Our Great Nonprofits.â€
A Little Background
Jake Shapiro kicked the hornet’s nest a few months back with what Beth calls a ‘must-read editorial†outlining his position that Apple’s reasons for not allowing nonprofit donations aren’t reasons at all, but rather just excuses. Next, Beth threw down the gauntlet announcing when her contract is up she is switching to the more nonprofit friendly Android, where none of the in-App donation challenges apply (I, for one, am certainly in love with mine.) Finally, with the help of Sue Ann Reed from Care2, a petition was created and Beth is rallying the troops… ‘Send Steve Jobs A Message: Let Us Give Donations on the iPhone.â€
Well, if you are like most of the folks out there whose smartphone is becoming more and more a part of their lives and you would like yours to help you connect to the causes you care about… go sign the petition here >>
Then… we wait and observe. It will be interesting to see if a group of users can use the social media tools of today to make a company change their product and the way they do business. We keep saying in our social media trainings that marketing has changed to a two-way street… the power is now truly in the hands of the people. I am curious to see just how this one turns out?
UPDATE:We have a winner!! Congrats to Rebuilding Together San Francisco! We are beyond moved to learn about so many amazing nonprofits, thanks to all who participated – stay tuned for more upcoming NPO online marketing training!
In keeping with the feel good’ giving spirit of the season’ we want to help a non-profit with their web marketing efforts. We want to help an organization focused on doing good to do even more good by giving away 5 copies of ‘The Networked Non-Profit†as well as a half day ‘Social Media Book Camp†Training.
The Networked Nonprofit
Beth Kanter’s blog describes Networked Nonprofits as:
‘… simple and transparent organizations. They are easy for outsiders to get in and insiders to get out. They engage people to shape and share their work in order to raise awareness of social issues, organize communities to provide services or advocate for legislation. In the long run, they are helping to make the world a safer, fairer, healthier place to live.â€
Networked Nonprofits don’t work harder or longer than other organizations, they work differently… read the full post here >>
My Top 3 Take-Aways from the book are:
LOVE the very clear, direct way the book is written. Not full of fluff… it gets straight to the point and let’s nonprofits know what they need to be doing to be successful.
The examples make what can seem like an intangible topic very do-able.
My favorite thing about the book is it does not focus on the tools of today that may be gone tomorrow… it focuses on the fundamentals for how to use the social space to bring about change.
Wanna be a Networked Nonprofit… we wanna help!
How to Win
Enter to win by leaving a comment below and let us know:
What ‘Do Good†your Non-Profit is focused on.
What is one way you are using Social Media for your organization right now… not using Social Media right now? No problem. Let us know one way you see you could incorporate it in the coming year.
We will use a random integer generator to pick a winner on December 30th.
Training is available either here in the Schipul Office or in a webinar format.
Looking forward to reading what all kinds of Do-Good Stuff you guys are up to… so comment away and win!
Happy Thanksgiving folks! I hope that you have a wonderful Holiday. Thanks to all the folks who shared their comments about being inspired.
Now onto the important FREE Book thing – we dropped the names in the magical internet hat at www.Random.org and Jim Struck has won the Schipul Thanksgiving Book-Away! We will be sending over a copy of Greater Than Yourself: The Ultimate Lesson of True Leadership. Congrats Jim! We would love to hear your thoughts on the book once you get a chance to read it.
Thanx again everyone for sharing – now… go eat some Turkey!
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It’s November again in Schipul-land (well, it’s really November everywhere else too, but is makes for a good opener) … and we are once again focusing on thankfulness. This November we are celebrating the sources of our inspirations… those people, quote, movies, books, etc. that have influenced us, motivated us, inspired us to do bigger, better, awesomer things.
To celebrate our celebration of inspiration we have a super special giveaway!
While our blog posts are sharing those things that have helped us get farther down the road of life, we want to give away a copy of book that focuses on how we can all give to someone else’ to inspire them, help them grow, lift them up, guide them through the obstacles of the work place, or community space, or fill-in-the-blank space.
Greater Than Yourself
Greater Than Yourself: The Ultimate Lesson of True Leadership is a book devoted the idea that the goal of genuine leader is to help others. To help those around us become more capable, confident, and accomplished than we are. That’s right… a leader’s goal is help the people we lead to be Greater Than Ourselves.
‘Real leadership, in other words, is an extreme act rooted in love and motivated by a desire to create a better world’ whether it’s the world of your company, team, neighborhood, or family.â€
Written using the now very popular allegorical form, Greater Than Yourself wraps the three tenets of Greater Than Yourself’ Expand Yourself, Give Yourself, and Replicate Yourself – inside a fictional narrative. We follow the main character on his journey towards understanding and embracing the ‘GTY†way of life. The book is a short and sweet read… ending with a perfectly useful recap of the steps to the Greater Than Yourself philosophy. It strips out the entire story and gives you the guidance you need to embark on your ‘GTY†way of life. The book is also supported by a vast and active online community at www.greaterthanyourself.com
‘One tricky part of a Greater Than Yourself project is that you cannot truly give in a worthwhile way to those around you without accepting within yourself the qualities the program emphasizes. You must be willing to expand yourself, to give your abilities to another, to tap into the greatness inherent not only in you, but it those around you.â€
So’ we want to inspire you! We want to inspire you to inspire others! We want to give you a copy of ‘Greater Than Yourself.â€
How do you win this amazing book? Glad you asked:
Leave a comment below’ who or what has been a source of inspiration in your life?
That’s it!
We will pick a winner using the random integer generator on Wednesday, November 24th.
PS –Be sure to let us know a good way to contact you when you win!
I got an email in my in-box last week from Schipul’s own Ms. Katie Laird with a quick note letting me know the up-coming NetSquared Houston Meet-Up might be of interest to me… let’s just say, long story short… HappyKatie knows me well indeed.
For those who have not heard of NetSquared before:
NetSquared is focused on the intersection of technology and social impact. We create opportunities for all those involved in creating change to connect: whether you are a nonprofit or a foundation, a designer or a developer, a changemaker or an entrepreneur.
The Houston NetSquared Meetup is focused on ‘Social changemakers and technological forerunners coming together at Net Tuesday events to mix, swap stories and ideas, build new relationships, and reinforce the online NetSquared community.â€
Ryan (Ryan Marsh, president of the Layla Grace Foundation) speaks geek and can talk to the more technical challenges facing online non-profit organizations from a technology and a human perspective.
Having spent a lot of time over the last 15 years involved with Non-Profits, I can say the way they function has changed substantially over the last 3-5 years with society’s rapid adoption of new technology and the introduction of Social Media into the mix. In order for a NPO to stay viable, I believe they have to passionately embrace technology and the social-sphere in order to overcome challenges, meet goals, and, most importantly in today’s economy, do more with a LOT less.
The Layla Grace Foundation was founded by Ryan and Shanna Marsh in April 2010 in honor of their daughter Layla Grace Marsh who gained her eternal wings on March 9, 2010. You can learn more about the foundation at their site: http://laylagrace.org/ . With more than 16 thousand Facebook Fans, I was keen to hear what a very successful and VERY young Non-Profit had to say about the technology choices they had made.
Ryan did a wonderful job of balancing the very tender topic of childhood cancer with talking about the tech tools the Layla Grace Foundation has used to serve their mission:
“The Layla Grace Children’s Cancer Research Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on the discovery of new treatment options for children with high-risk cancer. We empower parents with the tools to become effective advocates for their children and raise public consciousness about our cause.”
In fact, Ryan offered up such a phenomenal top 10 list for Non-Profit Technology choices’ I was taking notes like a mad woman in order to be able to share them here. What I really like about this list is that it came from someone who has a history in the Tech Industry and has also tested, evaluated, tried and failed fast with a lot of the technology options out there today. This is a tried and true list of options that have floated to the top of the list for a functioning Non-Profit Organization and it can save other organization out there a lot of time and money.
So, without further ado, here is the Non-Profit Top 10 Tech Tools Recommended by the Layla Grace Foundation:
Gathers and stores audience information from everywhere
Want to know who you are talking to? Check them out in Flowtown.
My biggest take-away from the evening was not actually one of the items on Ryan’s list. It was a suggestion for what Ryan referred to as essential reading for any organization looking to raise funds online (who is not?!)… I will be ordering and consuming Jakob Nielsen’s ‘Donation Usability: Increasing Online Giving to Non-Profits and Charitiesâ€
For any Non-Profit out there looking to hone their technology skills or wade through the over-whelming options… the above list is great way to getcha started.
Looking for more helpful tech tips and tricks to help your Non-Profit succeed? Well, come on and join us at Net Tuesday!
Founded in Texas, AVANCE works with poor and marginalized communities to promote better parenting, school readiness, literacy, health and personal development. AVANCE provides programs that strengthen families in at-risk communities through effective parent education and support programs.
See more at www.avancehouston.org
Also, we were privileged to attend the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of AVANCE Houston’s new Mangum Education center.
AVANCE Mangum Center ribbon cutting
The Mangum Education Center is a 48,000 square ft. facility housing AVANCE education and support programs and Southwest Schools Charter Schools, K -5th grade. The facility is a former boarded up and vacated retail center.
Students from Southwest school singing at AVANCE Mangum Ribbon cutting
The ribbon cutting ceremony featured speakers Mayor Annise Parker, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Houston City Council Member Melissa Noriega – along with AVANCE Inc. CEO Rick Noriega, AVANCE-Houston, Inc. Executive Director Jose Villareal, and Superintendent of Southwest Schools Janelle James.
Also, students from the Southwest School performed songs and poems for the crowd.
Annise Parker at the AVANCE Mangum Center Ribbon Cutting
The ribbon cutting was a great event and was a great showcase of all the hard work the AVANCE team has put in to get this major project accomplished! We are so thrilled to get to work with this fantastic Houston nonprofit!
If your a parent getting ready to send your kids back to school, the Children’s Museum is hosting a free 3-day boot camp dedicated to educating kids and adults about bullying. Anti-bullying training sessions will be held during the day, and local law enforcement and internet experts will teach parents valuable computer safety skills. While the event is free it’s import to register at the museum in order to ensure placement, spots are going fast! You can register for the August 12-14 sessions by picking up passes at the Children’s Museum from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7 or Sunday, Aug. 8th. You can find more information at KPRC Local 2.
Friends and members of the AAZK and Houston Zoo arrived at Palace Bowling Lanes for a fun-filled night of bowling and silent auction bidding.
About the International Rhino Foundation
The International Rhino Foundation provides technical and financial resources for rhinoceros conservation efforts by supporting applied research, creating rhino conservation programs, and coordinating the resources and communication of rhino conservation partners.
Having the right tools is a big part of being successful. The YMCA is working to give back to the Houston community and help children in-need ease into the new school year with a new backpack and school supplies. The goal is to reach 40,000 backpacks by Aug. 15.
The online donations will go towards a $50 school supply shopping spree hosted by the YMCA. Donors can give a general gift or make a donation to a YMCA location of choice.
In my last Arts post, I laid out some simple rules of how to attend an art gallery opening. This time around, I want to give you some suggestions about galleries you might want to visit.
Bering & James As I mentioned in my last post, this is probably my favorite gallery in Houston. You will recall Rule #7: An opening does not an evening make. Any gallery that you decide to frequent should have immediate access to post opening possibilities. Bering & James boasts Houston favorite, Gravitas, and the delightful BYOB gem Lucio’s within walking distance. Whether you want to go casual or chic, your post opening festivities are set at Bering & James. Parking can be a bit tricky, but B&J will normally have complimentary valet. That or you can always valet at Gravitas for a pre-opening cocktail, and walk over from there. Be careful with the latter option, you don’t want to run afoul of Rule #5: The wine is free, but this isn’t Cheers, Norm.
Gremillion & Co. Fine Art, Inc.
First off, let’s get your pronunciation right. It’s Greh-MEE-on not Greh-million. You’ll score serious points right off the bat if you can say her name right. I met the owner of this gallery during my time at Society for the Performing Arts. This is also a gallery for high-level art collectors.
Let me explain. You’ll know a lot about the level of collector you’re hobnobbing with pretty easily by looking at the prices of the art. Bigger price, bigger level of collector. However, don’t let that deter you from going to certain galleries. Attending gallery openings isn’t just about buying art, it’s also about discovering your personal tastes.
While it can be very subjective, an artist will typically charge what people are willing to pay for their art. More sought after artists charge more for their pieces. However, you should NEVER use the prices to dictate whether you like the art. In fact, I can guarantee that you will eventually find yourself looking at something that you think is ridiculously overpriced at $10,000, and absolutely fall in love with the piece that is priced at $100 somewhere else.
Which brings me to another point. You’re going to walk into some galleries, and you’re going to see some pretty crazy stuff. Embrace that fact right now. If all art was for all people, it would cease to be art. Art, by nature, is supposed to challenge people in different ways. Sure, you may like it, but you need to take time to ask yourself why? And the same thing goes double for anything you absolutely cannot stand. I tell you this because I promise you that you will, one evening, find yourself starting at a big effing mess on the wall, and will not want to live without it. If you allow yourself the proper amount of personal introspection, you’ll not be confused when this inevitably happens to you. It’s really okay, it’s actually a pretty fantastic feeling.
The Colquitt “Gallery Row”
This is my moniker, I don’t know if these galleries ever refer to themselves as a group. Nevertheless, the 2600 block of Colquitt is a fantastic collection of galleries covering a wide range of disciplines that makes for an entertaining gallery crawl. Better yet, the galleries tend to have openings en masse giving you delightful opportunity to see a great selection of art.
Your adventures in Houston’s art galleries are just beginning. Have fun, be willing to open your mind, and you’ll be sure to find yourself in interesting places both personally and socially. There’s a wonderful world out there for you to find, you just have to get out there and experience it. I hope I have been of some help.
Coffee table. Bed. Plates. Forks. Chairs. A lamp. Individually, they’re just items on a list of things found in a house. Collectively these items represent what makes a house a home, and when simply having a roof is your main priority, what to put under it takes the backseat. Shade of Hope is putting the spotlight on these details.
About Shade of Hope and The Furniture Bank of Houston
Shade of Hope is a community arts affair created to help raise money and awareness for The Furniture Bank of Houston. The name sounds stately and polished, but the Furniture Bank is modest warehouse tucked away in Houston’s Third Ward, manned by a small group of loving volunteers.
True to it’s name, artists for the event will use shades donated by Blinds.com as canvas for their artwork. We attended the artist breakfast meeting at Blinds.com and even had an opportunity to sign the first shade commemorating the event.
