I. What's New
A. WEBSITE!!!!!!!!!!!
B. Staff changes
C. NBA Lab
II. Resources
A. Conference
B. Grants
C. Articles
1. Making Computer Science more open to women.
2. New Report Aims to Help Foundations Meet
the Tech Needs of Charities
D. Job Opportunities
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I. What's New
A. WEBSITE!!!!!!!
Our long awaited website is finally live. You can check it out at
http://www.uwsepa.org/team4tech
or go directly to the Technology Service Directory at
http://www.uwsepa.org/team4tech/TechnologyService Directory.asp

This is the Beta version of the Service Directory Database. Please check it out and enter your organization's information. We would love to hear feedback on any problems you encounter or if everything runs smoothly.
B. We are pleased to announce that David Wendt has completed his year of service and has joined us as a full time staff person. Marc Mitchell has joined us as a new VISTA and brings his experience to the task. We are pleased to be working with him.
C. This Thursday, the Shepard Rec Center will be hosting an event celebrating its new gymnasium and computer lab sponsored by the NBA and IBM. We are proud to be involved in the installation of this computer lab. Check out the local news, you might just spot us.

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II. Resources
A. Conference
Please join other leaders from foundations, nonprofit service organizations, policymaking institutions, donor-advised funds, dot.coms and corporations contributing to their communities as they convene to discuss "The Power of
the Internet to Expand Giving, Volunteering and Community Building."
Speakers include: Ted Leonsis, vice chairman, America Online, Inc.; Sara Meléndez, president & CEO, Independent Sector; Stephen Goldsmith, special advisor to President Bush on faith-based and not-for-profit initiatives.
This conference is the third in a series of e-Philanthropy conferences and will be held at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner (VA) on March 4th and 5th, 2002. Program information, a complete list of speakers and hotel and registration information can be found at: e-Philanthropy Conference 2002
http://www.independentsector.org/e_philanthropy/main.htm

B. Grants
1. Verizon Foundation
DEADLINE:
Grant applications received continuously between January and November.
AMOUNT:
Average grant of $5,000-$10,000.
PURPOSE:
Eligible groups for the grant must focus on technology applications and programs in one or more areas: literacy, digital divide, workforce development, employee volunteerism or community technology development. Organizations must also benefit the area Verizon serves, not duplicate the work or overlap the work of other community/government agencies in the area, serve the community without discrimination, keep books and comply with applicable laws regarding registration and reporting.
RESTRICTIONS:
See the Verizon web page for restrictions.
GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATION:
Must be located in an area Verizon serves.
WEB: http://foundation.verizon.com/06007.shtml

2. eTapestry Fundraising Software
PURPOSE:
Free web fundraising software
RESTRICTIONS:
For small nonprofits only (up to 500 accounts).
WEB: http://eTapestry.com

3. Verizon Foundation eGrants
AMOUNT:
$240 toward internet access from the vendor of choice
PURPOSE:
Internet access for nonprofits currently without. Although the program is targeted at smaller nonprofits (annual budgets under $500,000), any 501©(3) can qualify.
RESTRICTIONS:
Nonprofits that currently have internet access are ineligible; must be
served by Verizon; must address one or more of the foundation priority areas: literacy, digital divide, workforce development or community technology development.
WEB:
http://foundation.verizon.com/06003c.shtml

4. WorkWORLD Software
PURPOSE:
WorkWORLD is decision support software for personal computers designed to help people with disabilities, advocates, benefit counselors, and others explore and understand how to best use the work incentives associated with the various Federal and State disability and poverty benefit programs. It automates the computation of benefits, and takes into account the complex interaction of income, benefit programs, and work incentives.
RESTRICTIONS:
There are minimum system requirements necessary to download the software.
WEB: http://www.workworld.org/

5. TRAINING
Verizon Foundation eTraining
DEADLINE:
None, but requesting organizations need to apply at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled training.
AMOUNT:
Free technology training classes.
PURPOSE:
To assist in leveling the playing field, increasing skills, and assisting nonprofits in meeting the challenges ahead in closing the digital divide. All training is provided by Verizon's training partners and must be done through an application process.
RESTRICTIONS:
Should be only for permanent staff. Individuals and applications can be limited.
GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS:
Classes available in the following states: CA, CO, CN, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, VA, WA, WV.
WEB: http://foundation.verizon.com/06003a.shtml

6. BellSouth Foundation - Opportunity Grants
DEADLINE:
March 1, 2002

PURPOSE:
A limited number of Opportunity Grants are available each year for unsolicited proposals that may not fit within the parameters of a specific BellSouth Foundation initiative, but that appear likely to add value to the foundation's work within that priority area. In general, Opportunity Grants will be awarded to programs or projects that: mesh tightly with one of the foundation's strategies; appear to be interesting and valuable endeavors; offer a complementary strategy for the foundation's other work; offer a new innovative approach to a priority issue; provide a supportive policy-level effort to supplement a foundation priority; or serve as a collaborative practice for a foundation initiative. Many of the foundation's initiatives include education and technology. Please visit the website for guidelines that includes comprehensive initiative information (application procedures are on the last page of the booklet).
GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATION:
BellSouth communities
WEB:
http://www.bellsouthfoundation.org/grants/og/index.html

Published by TechFoundation
Copyright © 2002 TechFoundation. All rights reserved.

C. Articles

1. Making Computer Science More Open to Women
Jane Margolis of UCLA and Carnegie Mellon University's Allan Fisher propose ways that high schools and colleges can encourage more women to take computer science courses in their new book, "Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing." The authors contend that society discourages women from taking an interest in computer science as early as childhood, while a prevailing "geek culture" further estranges them. Margolis and Fisher conducted a four-year study of female Carnegie Mellon students as the university retooled its school of computer science, instituting new admissions policies, community groups, and interdisciplinary courses. These programs, along with a "ferocious attention to the quality of student experience," have yielded positive results, according to the professors. Between 1995 and 2000, the percentage of female computer science majors leapt from just 7 percent to roughly 40 percent. Furthermore, the concluding surveys indicated that female students were no more likely than their male counterparts to leave the major, whereas they were twice as likely to do so in 1995. (Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 25 January 2002)

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COPYRIGHT
Abstracts copyright © 2002, Information Inc., Bethesda, MD Edupage
copyright © 2002, EDUCAUSE
Forwarded with Permission

2. NEW REPORT AIMS TO HELP FOUNDATIONS MEET THE TECH NEEDS OF CHARITIES
Direct human service sector especially hindered by "organizational divide":
http://www.techsoup.org/btc.cfm?file=news_article.cfm?newsid=846

Copyright © 2002, CompuMentor/TechSoup.
All rights reserved.

3. Need Volunteers? Want to Volunteer? Know someone who does?
What is VolunteerWay?
VolunteerWay is a FREE interactive web site that enables people to locate volunteer opportunities in the Greater Delaware Valley area. Site visitors can find their ideal volunteer opportunity with just the click of the mouse. This "virtual volunteer center" helps community-based organizations recruit volunteers and offers tracking and reporting features to support corporate volunteer programs.

VolunteerWay helps volunteers and students to:

Find an opportunity that matches their interests, time constraints, and geographic location by specifying keywords, zip codes, and other criteria.

Search an online database of over 2500 volunteer opportunities including all types of agencies and organizations, special events, individual and group volunteer opportunities.

VolunteerWay helps non-profit agencies/organizations to:

Recruit volunteers online and increase your volunteer power!

Register your volunteer opportunities and agency background information for potential volunteers to review AND update whenever you want online. If you have already registered your agency on VolunteerWay.org, please make sure that you have included your e-mail address in your contact information.