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NewsGrantee brings together community technology providersPosted by Caroline Thompson on August 12th, 2008
Technology Circle hosts innovative organizations at grant cycle meetingsPosted by Caroline Thompson on August 7th, 2008This summer, Full Circle Fund’s Technology Circle members have skipped the beach for the board room. The circle has hosted 3 meetings since June showcasing organizations with the best ideas in technology for nonprofits in the Bay Area. These meetings are the necessary juice for their Grant Cycle, a process where members seek out and vet organizations using innovative solutions to solve pressing social problems. Under the leadership of Marc Smolowitz, the circle has hosted 11 organizations ranging from new ventures to quarter century old nonprofits launching new programs. They have varied in focus as well: digital equity, cultural education, alternative media funding, and more.
Check out the great work these organizations are doing by going to their website (links below):
Environment Circle Selects Grantee FinalistsPosted by Jillian Misrack on August 1st, 2008After months of late night meetings, extensive research and tough decisions between top candidates, the Environment Circle has chosen the grant finalists for the 2008/2009 grant cycle. At a meeting on July 30th hosted by new member Jonathan Axelrad at Wilson Sonsisi, the circle narrowed down potential grantee projects to a remaining four. The final grantees will be decided on before the end of the month.
Grantee Finalists
Led by Jack Oswald and Josh Becker, the Green Cities California project will build a best practices website to provide easy accessibility to the policy documents, performance measures and media outreach tools for any city or jurisdiction to use to accelerate their journey to sustainability.
Members Stephen Zollman and Alexandra Sangmeister proposed to the circle to work with MOMS (Making Our Milk Safe) on their Dollar Store Detox Program. Team members will work with the grassroots organization to get imported lead-filled toys & baby products off the shelves of national discount stores. >If you are interested in getting involved, contact Jonathan Kurshan by email to talk about becoming a member and joining one of the Environment Circle’s project teams. Full Circle Fund Leaders Drive the Search for Innovative Solutions to Reduce Oil DependencePosted by Kari Nathon on July 29th, 2008
The Freedom Prize Foundation will be looking for the most creative ideas as to how existing technologies can be deployed to reduce our dependence on oil. Prize criteria and guidelines are still in development, and applicants can begin applying in the fall. Inspiration from Full Circle Fund “Josh and I share a similar passion for putting a challenge out to the community at large, and using a combination of policy and business levers to achieve change,” shared Karen about her relationship with fellow Full Circle Fund member and The Freedom Prize co-founder. Karen notes that The Freedom Prize is interested in the nexus between public policy and entrepreneurism and innovation— one of the reasons the Department of Energy wanted to support the foundation was to really drive the problem-solving into a more innovative and creative arena. Like Full Circle Fund, the Freedom Prize model brings multiple creative powers together. At her work at the Freedom Prize, Karen has drawn inspiration from Full Circle Fund and the Environment Circle Grant Cycle. “My engagement with the circle has kept me very committed to elevating good ideas—the common theme between the Freedom Prize and Full Circle Fund is elevating good ideas that are at an inflection point that could really make a difference in society. That’s the same type of effort we’re trying to make happen with the Freedom Prize, just at the national level.” Full Circle Fund Environment Circle member and Ella Baker Project co-Lead, Sanjay Wagle, is also a member of the Freedom Prize Foundation Advisory Board. “I first found out about the Full Circle Fund when I was doing research on social entrepreneurship and looking for examples of how business leaders were bringing their experience to challenges that nonprofit leaders were also tackling,” says Karen. Executive Director Amy Lesnick and Founder Josh Becker encouraged her to apply to the Full Circle Fund Community Fellows Program, which she became part of in 2005.
Prospect event breaks ground on the Global Opportunity Circle Work GroupPosted by Caroline Thompson on July 28th, 2008After months of behind the scenes work, the Global Economic Opportunity Working Group held its first prospect event on July 22, hosted by Salesforce.com. More than 30 potential members attended to learn more about Full Circle Fund and participate in the early stages of the learning cycle for the new circle focused on supporting poverty alleviation strategies in the Bay Area and around the world.
As in any engaged philanthropy organization, the new circle will launch once there are enough members to support the circle’s future grant projects. Last week’s meeting was designed to engage those interested in getting involved in the ground floor of the emerging circle and develop ideas for the circles potential focus. After the circle is formally launched, members will develop a theory of change, further defining the focus of the circle, and dive into the first grant cycle — a period when members, in due diligence, seek out and identify leaders and nonprofit organizations applying innovative solutions for social problems affecting populations globally. In the coming months, Full Circle Fund will continue to host a series of meetings and events to gather the best minds in the private and public sectors ready to invest in solutions and develop leaders.
Oakland City Council Decision Impacts Full Circle Fund Grantee OrganizationPosted by Kari Nathon on July 28th, 2008
This exciting decision will ensure that 40 low-income Oakland residents will receive 16 weeks of intensive construction training, plus life skills, academic, environmental, and financial literacy education; 4 weeks of solar panel installation, energy efficiency, and green construction training; and 3 months of on-the-job training with green employers. After graduation, participants will be connected to opportunities in the solar industry and the construction trades. The Environment Circle’s Ella Baker Center project team is excited to be working with the Ella Baker Center to strengthen the Green Employer Council.
One of the key strategic questions for the Green Employer Council has been how to develop incentives for the employers’ active participation and ensuring their commitment to hiring Green Jobs Corps graduates. The team attended the first meeting of the council, and developed a strategy memo to advise the Ella Baker Center. In addition, team member Nadine Weil, was able to secure a pro-bono branding and logo design effort with a top firm, Addis Creson, to drive recognition for the Green Employer Council. The Ella Baker Center project is at the mid-point of its Full Circle Fund grant, and Circle members are looking forward to continuing the strategic work with the Green Employer Council and the Ella Baker Center. Next steps will include meeting with the winner of the RFP to see how the team can continue to help ensure the success of the Oakland Green Jobs Corps. New Marketing and Programming Manager joins Full Circle Fund’s staffPosted by Caroline Thompson on July 22nd, 2008
Full Circle Fund staff is keeping pace with our incredibly dynamic organization and has doubled in size in the past year. With our talented staff, hard-working members and committed board, Full Circle Fund is poised to have tremendous impact. If your company would like to show support for innovative community leadership and get some great exposure too, there are many opportunities to sponsor our events, host us at your corporate offices, or donate food, wine and other products and services.
Full Circle Fund Executive Director Speaks to Leaders in Corporate PhilanthropyPosted by Caroline Thompson on July 21st, 2008
The panel also included Gwyneth Borden, IBM; Juliana Deans, Deloitte; Joel Bashevkin, Taproot Foundation; and moderators John Power, The Volunteer Center and Colin Lacon, Northern California Grantmakers.
As with other panelists, Full Circle Fund has accumulated a vast repository of institutional knowledge on effective cross-sector partnerships and the best practices that enable them to be successful. When asked how to ensure that skill-based volunteer engagements are effective, Amy Lesnick recommended the following:
Good Capital and Full Circle Fund Team Up to Host Happy HourPosted by Jonathan Kurshan on June 20th, 2008
Both organizations were thrilled with the turnout and are excited about future events. A fond farewell from staffer Lauren Girardin, Director of MarketingPosted by Lauren Girardin on June 11th, 2008Dear Full Circle Fund community,
As the longest serving staffer at Full Circle Fund I enjoy a unique perspective on our dramatic growth and stunning potential. Full Circle Fund is at the best place we’ve ever been - so far. We’re involved in truly meaningful, innovative work in the community. Most importantly of all, we’re making a difference. I’m so proud of the organization, board, staff, members, grantees, investors, sponsors, partners - and you! If you’d like be an arm chair traveler on my global adventures, please follow along with me and Todd via our website Ephemerratic (www.ephemerratic.com). There, you can sign up for an RSS feed or email alert, or just check in occasionally. Keep inspired and keep inspiring each other. You inspire me. Thanks, |
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