AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible.

AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members in communities across the country—and to motivate more Americans to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.

Link

Here’s some new research from Deloitte on skills-based volunteerism:

Many corporate CEOs say acquiring and developing the right talent is their number one challenge. So it’s not surprising that the business community invests heavily in it - upwards of $100 billion a year, according to the American Society of Training & Development. The new research from Deloitte suggests that as business leaders grapple with the effects of a shaky economy, including intense pressure to more quickly and cost-effectively develop the next generation of business leaders, most are overlooking a valuable option that’s right under their nose: skills-based volunteering.

Link to Deloitte.

Google has launched a dedicated portal of Google services for non-profit organizations.

Google for Non-Profits offers “a one-stop shop for tools to help advance your organization’s mission in a smart, cost-efficient way.” This site includes ideas and tutorials on ways Google tools can be used to promote non-profits, raise money and operate more efficiently.

Here’s a thorough review.

The 2008 Global Development Marketplace competition (DM2008) seeks proposals on the theme of Sustainable Agriculture for Development.

Applications are accepted through March 21, 2008 and will undergo rigorous review by more than 200 development experts. About 100 finalists will be announced in June and will be invited to World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC in late September to vie for grants in person at the DM2008 Marketplace event.

Link

Today, Deloitte is announcing the launch of a three-year, $50 million dollar commitment to support a new pro bono program designed to transform the way they support charitable organizations and strengthen the nonprofit sector.

While the size and scope of Deloitte’s commitment is truly impressive, the most significant element of their new program is the fact that Deloitte is fundamentally changing the way they approach pro bono in order to bring the full strength of their organization to bear for nonprofits. This innovative program is intended to serve as a model for other businesses looking to establish more effective pro bono programs.

As the overstretched nonprofit sector faces increasing pressure to solve critical social issues, a great deal of attention is being focused on how to leverage the strengths of the business community to build capacity for the nonprofit sector. Deloitte’s new pro bono program is a great example of how one company is rising to the challenge in hopes of creating meaningful social impact.

Here’s the link to the press release.

Also wanted to point you to this Youtube site–
The Davos Question: What one thing do you think that countries, corporations, and indivuduals must to do make the world a better place in 2008?

Link to Youtube.

Here’s a quick introduction on the Echoing Green Fellowship!

The Echoing Green Fellowship provides the seed funding (up to $90,000) and technical support (fellows learn how to develop a strategic plan, create a budget, and run an organization) to turn a visionary idea for social change – be it a sustainable energy system, a new model for middle schools, or a cutting-edge public health program – into a reality.

And social entrepreneurs in dozens of countries and just about every field of social change, from education (Teach For America) to human rights (EarthRights International), from public service (City Year) to microfinance (SKS India), have used this fellowship to launch their organizations.

Do you have an incredible, new idea that could change your community, country, or world? Are you an entrepreneur who won’t rest until your idea has been brought to life? Or a leader who has recently started an organization to do just that? If so, apply for an Echoing Green Fellowship. You could receive up to $90,000 in seed funding and support to launch a new organization that turns your innovative idea for social change into action.

Follow in the footsteps of the founders of Teach For America, City Year, and over 400 other social change organizations and apply online by December 3, 2007.

Watch the video: http://www.echoinggreen.org/video
Find out whether you qualify.

Apply online.

Questions? Contact us at apply@echoinggreen.org.

Note: The deadline for fellowship applications is December 3.

Here’s a plug for the Pace University Pitch Contest:

THE FOURTH ANNUAL PACE UNIVERSITY PITCH CONTEST
Thursday, December 6, 2007
5:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Pace University (east of City Hall)
1 Pace Plaza, NYC

3:30 – 5:00 Special Bonus Session on Technology Entrepreneurship, conducted by faculty from the Ivan G. Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems

Directions to Pace’s Downtown NYC Campus: http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=16157

Highlights:

Detailed information and an online registration form can be found at www.pace.edu/pitch. Or contact Professor Bruce Bachenheimer at (212) 618-6580 or bbachenheimer@pace.edu

Not sure if I’ve ever talked about YouTube’s non-profit program so here it is really quickly:

You can use YouTube as a free marketing tool to spread awareness about your nonprofit. The purpose of the program is to allow you to connect with supporters, volunteers, and donors in a cost effective way (free!). Youtube will add your video to the “Non-profit channel” and it can be watched by all of YouTube’s loyal nonprofit channel viewers.

Also note that the first three hundred nonprofits to sign up will receive a free video camera! Here is more information from YouTube:

Your Nonprofit channel includes:

* Premium branding capabilities and increased uploading capacity
* Rotation of your videos in the “Promoted Videos” areas throughout the site
* The option to drive fundraising through a Google Checkout “Donate” button

Here’s the link to apply:

From their website:

Each year, the Acumen Fund Fellows Program provides extraordinary young professionals with a unique opportunity to use their skills to effect real social change with our portfolio organizations in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, India and Pakistan, and to build lasting relationships with other like-minded individuals. Joining us in September, fellows will spend one year working with our team and with local entrepreneurs, gaining intensive experience in price performance, logistics, distribution systems, scaling and innovative technology. Fellows will learn and apply these skills while enjoying an unusual level of responsibility both at Acumen Fund and within our portfolio organizations.

Ideal fellows include those who have already decided on a career in venture philanthropy, those who are seeking a career at the highest levels in the corporate world but want to better understand and have an impact on problems of global poverty, and budding social entrepreneurs who want to learn about managing organizations in the most demanding settings.

To read more, check out the application website.