Here's where it gets fun (or tricky). Applicants are being asked to submit an original four-to-eight-line poem that reflects the work or mission of their organization. The poem can be written by staff members, clients, or volunteers, but must be wholly original. The grant application window is from March 1 to March 28, 2011.

Your organization could win:

• A cash grant of $10,000 USD
• A cash grant of $5,000 USD
• Two steel-stringed guitars, signed by all members of Los Lonely Boys for use in an auction or other fundraising.
• Up to 20 technology grants, valued at $10,000, to nonprofits that indicate an interest.
•  The first place award winner will also receive a professionally-produced song about the nonprofit's mission, to be used for public education or awareness.

Information and the application form are at http://communitytech.net/foundation. Follow the effort on Twitter at #ctkgrant and enter today!

The authors are on a brief North American book tour, with stops in Toronto, Berkeley, and DC over the next few weeks:

Toronto, Ontario: April 22

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Looking for an innovative and compelling way to tell your organization's story? From September 30 to October 21, TechSoup will host a free Digital Storytelling online event including expert roundtable discussions, nonprofit case studies, online discussions, live chat, and a community challenge with a final screening awards ceremony in the virtual world of Second Life.  We will help you learn how to maximize the impact of your organization's message with online audio, video, and images. 

There are lots of ways to participate:

• Join a webinar
• Enter the Challenge by creating a story, and be in the running to win fabulous prizes including: a flip video camera, adobe software, mp3 players and more!
• Engage with the experts in the TechSoup Forums
• Follow the action on Twitter #tsdigs
• Attend the Challenge Screening and Awards party at TechSoup Headquarters in San Francisco or from Second Life

What do we mean by Digital Storytelling?

According to Wikipedia, "Digital Storytelling refers to using digital tools so that ordinary people can tell their own real-life stories." Nonprofits are among the storytellers who are using digital tools to tell compelling stories, showcase their work, engage their constituents, and spread awareness.  At our Digital Storytelling Event, our corporate and non profit partners will show you step by step how to tell your story as a captivating, sensory, visual, and audio experience and showcase inspiring non profit case studies to demonstrate the power of digital storytelling in engaging your audience. Whether you're a nonprofit video veteran or you're just starting to share your mission through online images and audio, the Digital Storytelling Event will provide you with information about the latest digital storytelling tools and how to acquire them at a discounted nonprofit rate through our TechSoup Stock program.

Event Schedule:
9/30: Event Day 1 – TechSoup forums event discussions and expert webinars

10/1: Event Day 2 – TechSoup forums event discussions and “How to Create a Digital Story” webinar

10/1: Digital Storytelling Challenge kickoff webinar

10/1-10/16: Digital Storytelling Challenge submission period.

10/19-10/20: Challenge submissions judging

10/21: Winners announced and movie screening party in the virtual world of Second Life and live from San Francisco at the TechSoup headquarters

More info:

The event webpage is http://www.techsoup.org/go/tsdigs. 

Follow it on Twitter at #tsdigs 

If you would like to get in touch directly, contact the TechSoup Team: tsdigs@techsoupglobal.org.

What you see today, Phase 1, offers several key improvements:

• An easier-to-use redesigned home page,
• An upgraded search function,
• An improved search results page, and
• A single sign-on for our U.S. registered users.

While these upgrades should improve your experience on the site, the phased approach also has its challenges. For example, while the home page and the search results page have been redesigned, the articles and forums have not yet been updated.

You can read more about the redesign at http://home.techsoup.org/pages/makeoverpage.aspx, whick includes links to co-CEO Marnie Webb's blog and an FAQ page.  You can provide feedback on the redesign by clicking the black feedback button on the above page.

Congratulations to TechSoup. Here's to Phase 2.

The Drucker Award is given to a social-sector organization that demonstrates "change that creates a new dimension of performance. In addition, the judges look for programs that are highly effective and that have made a difference in the lives of the people they serve."

The first-place prize is $100,000, up from the $35,000 awarded in previous years. The second-place award is $7,500, and the third-place prize is $5,000. The application is available here. The submission deadline is 3 p.m. Pacific on July 1 so get moving!

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