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February 8, 2012 Ci

Volume 7, Issue 1

In This Issue

Funding Sources Page 1 Small Business Page 2 Recommended Reading Page 2 Policy/Advocacy/ Connecting to communities online since 2003 Civic Engagement Page 3 Summer Internships Page 3 Please Forward Awards Page 4 Job Exchange http://philanthropy.com/article/The-Outlook-for-HiringPay/126545/ Page 4 Webinars Page 4 HAC News Page 4

In the Loop

Funding Sources

I thank Melisa Fraase, Illinois General Assembly Legislative Research Unit,

for providing the following listing of federal grant opportunities.

Grant Alerts February, 2012

http://www.scribd.com/doc/80806838/Feb-2012FederalGrantAlert-1 The following announcements are from the Philanthropic News Digest.

American Water Accepting Applications for 2012 Environmental Grant Program Welcome!
Welcome to In the Loop, an assortment of e-mails that I have received during the past week, or articles that I may stumble upon. From time to time, you will find announcements of events, grant opportunities, job postings, links to websites and articles of interest or notes of encouragement. I hope that you, or someone you know, would find the information to be of use. If you would like to unsubscribe, submit material, or make general comments, you may contact me at valeriefleonard@msn.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Valerie F. Leonard, Editor

Grants are available for community-based environmental projects in American Water's service area that improve, restore, or protect the watersheds, surface water, and/or groundwater supplies through partnerships

Alzheimer's Challenge Seeks Innovative New Tools to Help Improve Alzheimer's Care
Prizes totaling $300,000 will be awarded to entries that propose simple, cost-effective tools to help improve diagnosis and monitoring of people with Alzheimer's disease

Council on Foundations Seeks Applicants for Career Pathways Philanthropy Leadership Program
The twelve-month program is open to individuals currently employed in foundations and grantmaking institutions who are seeking to advance their careers in philanthropy....

MetLife Foundation and LISC Seek Applications for Community-Police Partnership Awards

Small Business
I thank Chinta Strausburg and Alderman Fioretti for sharing the following information

Grants of $15,000 to $30,000 will be awarded to recognize and support innovative partnerships between community groups and police departments to promote neighborhood safety and revitalization....

Creative Capital Announces Guidelines and Information Sessions for Grants in Emerging Fields, Literature, and Performing Arts
Forty-five awards of up to $90,000 (including financial support and advisory and professional services) will be awarded to professional artists at a catalytic moment in their creative practice who are able to demonstrate bold, inventive project ideas.... I thank Layton Olson for providing the following announcement.

Free Business Workshops

The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection is offering free business workshops every Wednesday and Friday of this month at City Hall 121 N LaSalle St, 8th Floor. The workshops focus on how to start and grow your business. Some of the topics covered are: - Trademark & Copyright Law Basics - Contracting 101: How to Respond to a Request for Proposal -How to be certified to do business with the City To see a full list of topics and for more information CLICK HERE. To register for the workshops, please call 312-744-2086 or email OEBACP@cityofchicago.org.

Illinois DCEO Digital Divide Grant Program

Here is the DCEO Digital Divide grant program announcement of $4 million in digital literacy instruction grants for community technology computer labs in low income communities across the state, applications due March 16. http://broadbandillinois.org/news/99

Recommended Reading
Claiming Your Power by Sharing Your Story
By Ingrid Ricks here

Lessons from the Susan G Komen Foundation ...

By Deanna Zandt here

Chicago Booth Entrepreneurial Roundtable Presents

Using LinkedIn to Promote Yourself and Your Business featuring Bruce Bixler, LinkedIn Expert, Monday, February 20, 2012 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., Northern Illinois University - Naperville Campus 1120 East Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563 Click Here to Register

The Five Stages of A Social Media PR Disaster

By Beth Kanter here

School Reform Organization Gets Average Grades

By Joel Hood and Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune here

Study Bodes Ill for Corporate Social Responsibility

By Rick Cohen, The Nonprofit Quarterly here

The Chicago Tribune and CPS' Big Lie

By Curtis Black, Newstips Editor here

How to Pitch a Banker

By Ed Powers, Inc.com here Click here for details

How to Accomplish the Impossible

By Harvey MacKay, Inc.com here In the Loop Connecting to communities online since 2003 Please Forward Page 2

Policy/Advocacy/Civic Engagement
Top Ten Nonprofit Policy Issues: 2011 State and Local Policy Review
By the National Council on Foundations To anticipate the public policy issues that nonprofits will face at the state and local levels in 2012, it is useful to review the significant policy challenges and opportunities that nonprofits faced in 2011. The following brief analysis shares a sampling of insights that the National Council of Nonprofits gained through its work with the collective network of State Associations of nonprofits and other nonprofit organizations active at state and local levels. Read more: http://www.scribd.com/doc/80287787/Top-Ten-Nonprofit-PolicyIssues-2011-State-and-Local-Policy-Review

Summer Internships
I thank Alderman Fioretti for posting the following information on Facebook. Student Summer Jobs from the CSBI The Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI) provides a six-week paid internship program for high school sophomores and juniors each summer. These internships take place at various banks, accounting, law and engineering firms throughout the Loop and business districts. In conjunction with a 28-hour work week, students attend half-day classroom seminars and workshops every week where they learn about the financial markets, attend seminars given by successful business executives, and participate in team building programs. To be eligible, applicants must: - Be a current Sophmore of Junior in high school; - Have a valid social security card; - Have a 3.0 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale); - Must attend a public, parochial or private high school; - Must be a resident of the City of Chicago; and - Must have an annual family income of $60,000 a year or less and a parent/guardian must sign a Certificate of Income Verification Form. Application workshop will be on Saturday, March 24, 2012 and final applications are due on March 30, 2012. For more information email info@chicagobusinessinstitute.com. Page 3

Chicago Seeks Input on Cultural Plan

The following information is from the Chicago Tribune February 7, 2012 The City of Chicago is developing its first cultural plan since Mayor Harold Washington was in office. Four meetings are already scheduled for Feb. 15 at Columbia College from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Feb. 16 at Nicholas Senn High School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Feb. 18 at the DuSable Museum from 10 a.m. to noon and Feb. 21 at the National Museum of Mexican Art from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The city has also created a Web site to collect citizen input: chicagoculturalplan2012.com

CPS Seeks Candidates for LSC's

I thank Alderman Fioretti for posting the following announcement on Facebook. All parents and community members who want to strengthen their local schools and have a positive impact on student achievement are encouraged to run for their Local School Council (LSC). No experience or formal education is required. LSC Elections are conducted every two years. The 2012 elections will take place at all elementary schools from 6 a.m. 7 p.m. on April 18. LSC elections take place at all high schools from 6 a.m. 7 p.m. on April 19. Visit http://www.cps.edu/Pages/LSCElections.aspx for more information about running for the LSC and/or becoming an election judge.

Learn More
In the Loop Connecting to communities online since 2003 Please Forward

HAC News Awards

Axelson Center Rewards Nonprofit Excellence
I thank Pier Rogers, Director of the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, for providing the following announcement. The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University is seeking emerging organizations to apply for its 2012 Excellent Emerging Organization Award (for small, new organizations). The deadline is Feb. 15th. If you have questions about the application or process, please email axelson@northpark.edu or call 773-244-5799 Click here for an application.

The following are excerpts from the January 25, 2012 edition of HAC News. OBAMA BUDGET TO BE RELEASED FEB. 13, HAC PLANS WEBINAR. The budget release, originally scheduled for February 6, begins the process of setting federal spending levels for FY 2013. check http://www.ruralhome.org and follow @ruralhome on Twitter to receive information as soon as it is available. Join HAC on Tuesday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time for a webinar presentation and Q&A about the budgets possible impact on rural housing programs. Visit https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=s1q5l8dybb38 to register.
GAO RECOMMENDS IMPROVEMENTS FOR HOMELESS WOMEN VETERANS. The Government Accountability Office studied existing

Job Exchange
From time to time I receive job leads and resumes from clients, colleagues and elected officials. I have posted them all in my Job Exchange bulletin board at http://valeriefleonard.com/TheJob Exchange/

data on available services and recommended that VA and HUD should collaborate to collect data and plan services, VA should follow policies to refer people to shelters, VA should improve transitional housing services for homeless women veterans with children, and VA should evaluate gender-specific safety and security standards for its Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs. Download Homeless Women Veterans: Actions Needed to Ensure Safe and Appropriate Housing (GAO 12-182) at http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/587334.pdf or purchase a hard copy from GAO, 1-866-801-7077. ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE GREEN BUILDING RECOMMENDED. A report by the U.S. Green Building Council and partners summarizes executive branch actions taken since 2010 to promote green building and sustainability in housing and commercial buildings. It recommends additional steps that can be taken without the need for new legislation.Better Buildings Through Executive Action: Leveraging Existing Authorities to Promote Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Multifamily, Residential and Commercial Buildings is posted at http://www.usgbc.org.

Webinars
Ask the Expert Webinars
Terrance Harrington and I thank those of you who were able to participate in our webinar on February 2, 2011. Our topic was "Fiscal Therapy: Taking the Pulse of Your Organization's Financial WellBeing". Please click here to get a copy of the handouts.

Catch me if you can:

In the Loop Connecting to communities online since 2003 Please Forward

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