Vote for the Best Nonprofit Taglines -- 2008 Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards

Place your vote today for the first Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards. These tagline finalists have been carefully culled from the more than 1,050 taglines submitted to the recent Getting Attention Tagline Survey. They're all fantastic, but they all can't be the best.

The organizations behind these taglines have done a fantastic job in putting eight words or less to work to build their brands. Now it's your turn to select which are the best in class.

Vote today – Getting Attention blogger and e-news publisher Nancy Schwartz (www.gettingattention.org) wants to know what you think. It'll take you 7minutes or less; polls close Friday, June 20th.

P.S. Please spread the word to colleagues; the more votes, the more accurate the results.

The Netcentric Campaigns division of Green Media Toolshed is hiring two Network Advocacy Coordinators to work with progressive organizations and movements to incorporate cutting-edge network theory and web 2.0 tools into advocacy and campaigning efforts.

Netcentric Campaigns
Job Description: Network Advocacy Coordinator

OVERVIEW
This full time, mid-level position will work with progressive organizations and movements to incorporate cutting-edge network theory and web 2.0 tools into advocacy and campaigning efforts.

ABOUT US
Netcentric Campaigns believes that creating power and influencing social change in our increasingly-connected culture requires an approach focused not only on the individual or organization, but also on the network as a mechanism for exerting influence.
In this highly mobile and transient society, traditional community organizing techniques and locally-focused team models are insufficient. The network-centric approach unifies the strategy for creating change with the dynamics of our age. Netcentric Campaigns educates activists on how to harness the power of a connected grassroots.

Netcentric Campaigns has developed an extensive training and consulting program that provides participants with deeper understanding networks role in advocacy and issue campaign work. The training and consulting program provide an orientation to the critical concepts and language while also walking participants through a process of creating network action plans.

Netcentric Campaigns staff are regularly engaged by foundations, coalitions, collaboratives and nonprofit organizations to set up work sessions focused on designing network based programs to move agenda and support social change.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Coordinating Training, Education and Consulting Programs

Provide strategic support to progressive organizations and movements on using networks to achieve advocacy and campaigning objectives.

Expand and test network-centric advocacy strategy.

Monitor and incorporate the latest thinking on networks, Web 2.0, advocacy and social movements into approaches and materials.

Gather case studies of effective networks.

Learn and test the latest web-based organizing tools and practices.

Develop and refine training and education products.

Design and deliver several dozen presentations annually, including high-level training programs for international activists.

Add content to organization website, including blogs and training materials.

Add content to advocacy2.org wiki. Develop content, facilitate conversation, and recruit contributors.

Write and distribute monthly newsletter sharing theory, best practices and tips.

Develop new products and services.

Program Coordination

Track all administrative aspects of the consulting program, including contracts, billing and staff.

Support Executive Director setting scope with new clients and partnerships.

Manage contracts. Ensure contracts are well-designed and executed in a timely manner.

Coordinate with consultants and contractors.

Hire and manage interns.

Interface with prospective and current clients and funders.

Expand and implement organizational strategy, including products, branding and positioning.

Manage budget for individual contracts.

Contribute to a sustained outreach campaign promoting the visibility for Netcentric Campaigns in the broader advocacy, progressive and consultant communities.

Backstop Executive Director.

General

Support growth of Green Media Toolshed’s network of almost 200 environmental organizations.

Contribute to the overall smooth operations and enjoyable culture of our small nonprofit organization.

The Coordinator will report directly to the Executive Director.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

Project management experience, including contracts, budgets and evaluation.

A minimum of 2-3 years experience with advocacy, campaigns, progressive organizations and/or the media.

Demonstrated experience with web 2.0 tools, including blogs, wikis and social networking sites. (Personal use counts!)

Proficient in basic Microsoft applications (Word, PowerPoint and Excel). Photo editing, HTML and wiki experience a plus.

Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Superior presentation skills and an ability to tell a good story.

Proven ability to meet deadlines and work both independently and in a team.

Undergraduate degree. Masters degree in related field desirable (communications, policy, public affairs, tech)

COMPENSATION
Salary range is $35,000-$45,000, depending on experience. Benefits package that includes medical, prescription and dental coverage as well as a vision discount program. GMT contributes to a 401k plan after 1 year of employment. Time off includes two weeks (10 days) of vacation plus 14-15 paid holidays.

PROCESS
Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to kearns (at) greenmediatoolshed.org. Applications accepted on a rolling basis through June 15, 2008. Desired start in early June. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.

In April, I attended the Internet Advocacy Roundtable at the Center for American Progress Action Fund here in Washington D.C. The rountable featured two web strategists from the DNC and RNC, who shared their experiences and gave advice on building campaign web strategy.

The roundable was hosted by Alan Rosenblatt, the Associate Director for Online Advocacy at CAPAF. The panel featured Tracy Russo, Former Chief Blogger and Deputy Online Communications Director in the John Edwards campaign, and a former member of the Democratic National Committee Internet team. The RNC panel representative was Mindy Finn, the former director of the web strategy of Mitt Romney's campaign.

Alan, Tracy, and Mindy discussed how web strategy must be integrated into all aspects of a campaign, and is a powerful advocacy tool because it gives clues about when you need to change your strategy before a mistake takes a toll. Email can work in two directions. It can make people really sense the community and conversation around them or feel as if they are one check on a mass mailing list. Individualizing content to specific audiences should be implemented in three main steps: Test, Target, and Track. Testing your technique, targeting specific interests, and assessing tracked results build web strategy into an online conversation that acts as a mobile technology of community development.

For a nice example, go to www.technpresident.com, to view how online community building tools such as blogs and personal profiles can be used to create community within a campaign.

Also check out www.utterz.com, a multimedia blog that integrates cell phone messages and pictures.

I had the opportunity to attend the Planning and Conservation League's annual Symposium this past weekend. There were many sessions to choose from but one in particular caught my attention. The topic was using maps to persuade and mobilize. The presenters were Larry Orman and Tim Sinnott from GreenInfo Network and Rebecca Moore from Google Earth Outreach.

Larry Orman started off with a great point: we're overloaded with geographic information. We've got access to road maps, mash ups, interactive maps, climate change maps, election maps, and geotagged photos. But Larry pointed out that mapping is about having a point, not just about showing data.

Why are maps a popular choice for displaying cross-sections of information? One reason is that data is not an obstacle. It's available and much of it is free. Also, computers and mapping software are less expensive. And new generations of folks are map-savvy.

GIS (geographic information system) is one mapping tool that marries data and places. GIS can be used to analyze information, such as land use, commercial development, pollution impact, and to define alternative outcomes.

Maps, in general, can be used to tell a story or convey a message. Mapping tools let you unfold data in layers to reveal parts of the story. It is important, Larry emphasized, that you think about mapping as communications. Technology is whizzy and great, but it is still critical that you have a good story. You need to know who your audience is, what your message is, how much time people will have to view your map as well as at what distance and in what context.

Rebecca Moore reinforced that maps can be very effective for telling a story or delivering a message, particularly when you don't have much time to deliver it. She noted that maps can change an abstract concept into something personal for people. When done right, maps can show what is at stake instead of just telling what is at stake. They can inspire action, influence decision-makers, reach the media, and impact public policy.

If you are interested in using maps as part of your outreach strategy, there are a number of tools to try:
-- Google SketchUp
-- Google Earth
-- ArcExplorer
-- Interactive mashups
-- GeoPDFs

While there are many examples, two in particular you may want to view are:
-- Ocean Conservancy's "A Preventable Tragedy"
-- Appalachian Voices' "I love Mountains" campaign

And finally, if you want to read more, try these resources:
-- Google Earth Blog
-- ESRI Conservation Program

Happy Mapping!
Bobbi Russell

CENTER FOR HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND JUSTICE
FUNDRAISING MANAGER

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice makes communities safer and more sustainable by organizing people to prevent or clean up health-threatening contamination. The Center was founded in 1981 by our executive director, Lois Gibbs, who was the community leader at Love Canal, New York. Because 2008 will mark the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Love Canal crisis, it offers CHEJ special opportunities for outreach and fundraising.

SUMMARY:

The Fundraising Manager will develop and coordinate the implementation of CHEJ’s individual fundraising strategies. Responsibilities include personalized appeal mailings, a quarterly newsletter for $100+ donors, project-specific major gift campaigns, and involving the board and staff in fundraising. A separate full-time development associate position manages the membership solicitations, acknowledgements and database. The candidate must have excellent writing and inter-personal skills, and the ability to travel. This full-time position reports to the director of development, and is based in our Falls Church, Virginia office.

Specific responsibilities include:
• Oversee the membership renewal process and database management by the development associate.
• Develop strategies to upgrade the giving levels of existing donors and also acquire new ones.
• Arrange and support major donor visits and calls for executive director, other program staff, and board members, and also travel as needed to meet with major donors.
• Coordinate quarterly staff phonathons.
• Develop strategies for further involving staff, board members and other volunteers in fundraising.
• Make acknowledgement and solicitation calls to major donors.
• Coordinate occasional events, luncheons and gatherings for donors.
• Coordinate special anniversary fundraising initiatives.
• Participate in building our annual on-line auction catalog.
• Produce quarterly major donor newsletter and oversee production of the monthly e-bulletin by the development associate.
• Write all appeal, acquisition, membership and acknowledgment letters, and personalize those for major donors.
• Develop and maintain planned giving campaign, and gifts of stock.
• Develop annual budget of income and expense projections for individual giving and membership.
• Prepare periodic reports on progress toward individual giving income goals.

QUALIFICATIONS: The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of development experience, preferably including a demonstrated ability to cultivate and solicit gifts from individuals. Excellent writing, interpersonal, team building and organizational skills are a must. We are seeking someone who can travel occasionally (about six times a year) to meet with donors, and bring new ideas for enhancing our ability to acquire and upgrade individual donors. Knowledge of environmental issues and Sage fundraising software a plus.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary commensurate with experience. CHEJ offers a generous benefits package including leave time, flex time, health and life insurance, and retirement plan.

CHEJ values diversity and encourages applications from women and people of color. EOE. Send a letter of interest, resume, and salary requirements to:

Development Job
Center for Health, Environment and Justice
P.O. Box 6806
Falls Church, VA 22040

Telephone: 703-237-2249
Fax: 703-237-8389
Email: maryll@chej.org

OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE
Communications Manager

The mission of the Open Space Institute (OSI) is to protect scenic, natural and historic landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitats and sustain community character. OSI achieves its goals through land acquisition, conservation easements, special loan programs, and creative partnerships. OSI is seeking a Communications Manager to assist with the marketing and business development of the organization and its three core programs: Land Acquisition; Conservation Loans; and the Conservation Institute.

Overall Function
The Communications Manager will be responsible for written, verbal, and visual communications including print, electronic publishing, publicity, advertising, and press materials. The Communications Manager works with the entire OSI staff, and reports to the Vice President, External Affairs. The Communications Manager will maintain contact with OSI trustees and advisors.

Primary Responsibilities

Communications

1. Direct the production of key communications (involving planning, writing and/or editing with contract writers), including annual report, newsletter, institute summaries, interpretive materials such as brochures and project descriptions, and some web content.
2. Provide communication support for staff. Ensure consistency of messaging for staff and maintain OSI’s editorial and graphic standards.
3. Manage supplemental vendor relations in a positive, cost-effective and timely manner.
4. Will assist with website maintenance changes, help create website content and work with staff to generate website materials.

Publicity

1. Respond to media inquiries, schedule and coordinate press events as needed. Develop ideas and opportunities for local, regional and national press coverage.
2. Serve as an official spokesperson for the Open Space Institute.
3. Work with all staff as needed to craft complex content into clearly understood messages.
4. Develop and execute strategic media relations program.
5. Maintains media contact lists and histories and maintains regular contact and positive relationships with selected journalists.

Marketing

1. Ensure OSI’s brand is well articulated and represented within all communications.
2. Support marketing initiatives with marketing communications strategy and execution.
3. Oversee maintenance of OSI’s visual library, including maintaining photo files and working with staff to generate maps.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communications skills.
• Must be a self-starter, who is able to establish priorities and meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to comprehend complex issues.
• Ability to manage professional and support staff as well as consultants, and advise senior staff where appropriate.
• Must be able to move seamlessly between working independently and as part of a team.
• Track record of producing local, regional and national press coverage.
• Experience in overseeing (including production and editing) of high-quality publications.
• Good strategic public relations and media judgement.

Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years experience in communications field.
• Knowledge of and experience with environmental and conservation fields.
• Sense of design and presentation aesthetics is a plus.

Applicants should send the following items – cover letter with salary history and requirements; resume; one writing sample not more than three pages; and one press release or one media clip.
Please send to Susan Barbarisi, Open Space Institute, 1350 Broadway, Suite 201, NY, NY 10018, or email to sbarbarisi@osiny.org. NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.

Company: Organizers' Collaborative
Job Title: Executive Director

Description: The Organizers' Collaborative (OC) is seeking an energetic person with substantial organizing and fund-raising experience. This is a hands-on, part-time position, involving program administration, fund-raising, and office management responsibilities. The organization has a strong base of volunteers, over 300 paid members, good administrative systems, an active board, and a solid track record in providing an annual nonprofit technology conference as well as free database software. New leadership is needed to help the group cement the progress and relationships it has already built and to develop a stronger financial base for its operations in the long term. The job involves approximately 15-20 hours a week and is compensated at $20 to $25 an hour.

The Organizers' Collaborative works to provide social change groups with proven, easy-to-use technology and support that is specific to the needs of social change organizers. The organization has three main projects: (1) Annual Grassroots Use of Technology Conference; (2) Organizational Divide Initiative (ODI), a training and assistance program for small under-resourced non-profits; and (3) Organizers Database (ODB), open-source software for non-profit outreach and donor management.

Responsibilities:

* To develop OC's financial and organizational capacity, by expanding its membership base, identifying additional major funders, and by pursuing joint projects with partner organizations. Director will work closely with and take direction from the Board.
* To build and reconceputalize OC's existing technology assistance programs that assists community groups in Greater Boston and help expand to other communities as part of its Organizational Divide Initiative.
* To oversee the coordination of the annual Grassroots Use of Technology Conference.
* To provide regular communications and outreach to members, supporters, partners and other interested parties via an expanded online presence.
* To work with ODB Project Director, a consultant, tocoordinate ODB work with other OC projects.
* To supervise interns, volunteers and work-study students.

Additional Qualifications:

* Strong ability to network with funders, grassroots groups, and potential partnering organizations
* Grant writing and event planning experience
* Program development and/or program management experience
* Good verbal and written communications skills
* Facility with basic computer office applications (word processor, spreadsheet, databases and internet). Familiarity with Quickbooks accounting software ideal, but not required.
* Ability to supervise interns, volunteers and work-study students

How to Apply:
Please send a resume and a letter of interest to OC at jobs@oc-tech.org or by mail or fax. Deadline is December 31, 2007. Please no phone calls.

Address: 14 Beacon St. #707, Boston, MA 02108
Fax number: 617-858-9513
Web site: http://www.organizerscollaborative.org

The Organizers' Collaborative is an Equal Opportunity Employer

I just read a simple but very helpful post from the Network for Good which advises groups what elements your home page should have so that a site visitor can what you do and who you are withing 4 seconds. Katya Andersen suggests that every nonprofit home page should have these 8 elements:

1. A guessable URL
2. Your postal address (so you look legit and so people can send you a check if they want)
3. Your phone number (shows you're real, makes you accessible)
4. Email sign-up (so you can cultivate people after they visit)
5. Keyword density (so people will find you via search) - this is so important!
6. Donate Now buttons (on the main part of the page and in the navigation)
7. A pathway for learning more about the organization (a case for why you should donate)
8. Images - strong, emotional ones that are clickable (people expect images to be clickable - send them to your case for giving or your donate form)

I'd like to add a few other elements to this list.
9. An online press room (so general visitors but also reporters can easily get background information and recent news. This link can be called press room, media center, news room, etc.)
10. A staff list with biographies and additional contact information (even if you keep your info@ email address for general inquiries, it's nice to let site visitors know who does what and how staff members got to your group. If your website supports it, add individual photos or a group shot.)
11. A link to help (some folks may not be ready to give money but they may be willing to show up as a volunteer)
12. Financial scoop (let visitors know how you're supported whether it's through grants, memberships, and/or other donations.

Grab Katya's full list and link out to a presentation about online fundraising.

Happy Holidays,
-- Bobbi Russell

Child Proofing Our Communities
Campaign Coordinator

Position Opening and Campaign Background

The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) seeks a dynamic, bold individual to work in a groundbreaking organizing/public education climate. The CHEJ Child Proofing our Communities (CPOC) Campaign Coordinator will work at the nexis of the daily environments where children’s lives and health intersect.

Through community organizing, coalition building, corporate campaigns and our Green Flag School Program for youth, the CPOC campaign seeks to move schools, homes, public places, recreational outlets (such as Disney World) and neighborhood communities to take proactive approaches to prevent harmful toxins and chemicals from impacting children health and development.

CPOC currently is heavily invested in working in three key states: New Jersey, Maryland and Florida.

Position Reports to and is accountable to the Executive Director.

Main Responsibilities for Childproofing Our Communities Coordinator:
• Coordinate the campaign by assessing the need for and strategic planning of: issue campaigns; working groups; trainings; and collaborative projects.
• Facilitate working groups and collaborative projects with a continual focus on building leadership within and strengthening of grassroots organizations;
• Provide community organizing assistance over the phone and in person;
• Maintain the campaign list-serves;
• Supervise the Childproofing Our Communities Coordinator Assistant/s
• Manage the Green Flag School Program for Environmental Leadership.

Training/Networking:
• Provide training, as needed in communities and/or at other events;
• Identify opportunities to bring groups together to share, develop collective strategies, and enhance their understanding of community organizing and/or environmental health issues;
• Provide conference call training, as needed, for communities and local organizations from a diversity of regions.

Publications/Information:
• Assist in writing joint publications with CHEJ Science staff and/or partner organizations on issues that advance the campaign and support CHEJ members;
• Work with CHEJ Media Officer to develop and implement strategies engaging local and national press and on line news publications regarding the work, scope and impact of CPOC;
• Provide bi-monthly progress reports of activities and trends experienced for the purposes of programmatic and fundraising decisions;
• Complete contact sheets for database and follow-up opportunities.

Qualifications
• Three years organizing/program coordination experience preferred.
• Ability to work with a diversity of people.
• Excellent organizational, oral, and written communication skills required.
• Computer-literate.
• Self-motivated.
• Attention to detail and follow-through.
• Coalition-building experience,
• Familiarity with issues,
• Fluency in Spanish a plus
• Supervisory experience.

Position located in East Falls Church, VA, 9 miles outside of Washington, DC.
Resume and cover letter can be sent to Sharon Franklin, at sfranklin@chej.org.
Application Deadline: December 31, 2007

About CHEJ
The Center for Health, Environment & Justice exists to mentor the movement to build healthier communities by empowering people to prevent harm in as many ways, and for as many people, as possible. We believe this can happen when people and groups have the power to play an integral role in promoting human health and environmental integrity. CHEJ’s role is to provide the tools, the direction, and the encouragement to these people and groups, so that they can build strong, healthy communities where they live, work, learn, shop, play and pray. Following her successful effort to prevent further harm for the people living in contaminated Love Canal, Lois Gibbs founded CHEJ in 1981 in order to continue mentoring others seeking to prevent harm. CHEJ provides mentoring assistance to communities, homeowners, families and individuals throughout the country

12/07

Get into the spirit of the holidays by shopping green. If you are one of the many people who will be rushing out this season to buy gifts for family and friends, why not use these suggestions from Grist Magazine for where and what to shop?

While you're at it, take a look at their great green gift guide from last year.

If you are simply looking for gifts that have meaning behind them, then check out OneWorld U.S.' holiday Gift Guide. Scroll through the list of organizations to find gifts that help support free trade, development, and other progressive causes. If you have a meaningful gift you'd like to share with others, suggest it on the blog.

-Yvonne Archer