This week, Jessica Biel and her father, Jon Biel, have launched Make the Difference Network (MTDN) at www.MTDN.com. Social entrepreneur Jon Biel, in collaboration with cause marketing evangelist Kent McBride, co-founded MTDN to create a cause-oriented social network that connects nonprofit organizations with caring individuals and businesses. MTDN increases the visibility of nonprofit organizations by empowering potential donors to search, select and fund these organizations’ specific “Wishes” and then see the results of their giving. Nonprofits can join MTDN for free and they get to keep 100 percent of all donations collected through MTDN.

The MTDN online community has already attracted more than 150 nonprofit organizations working toward fulfilling more than 250 “Wishes.” When a nonprofit registers for free, MTDN gives them the ability to easily promote their story through a powerful, eye-catching multi-media profile including pictures, videos and blogs, and then build specific “Wishes” for free. MTDN then acts as an easy-to-use, fun online hub for people to locate and show their support for social causes that touch them the most. MTDN is also a powerful cause marketing tool for businesses to connect with and support their favorite nonprofits.

“We built MTDN to connect people who share the same passions for making a difference and to educate, motivate and inspire greater social entrepreneurism through stronger life-changing communities,” said Jon Biel, CEO and co-founder of MTDN. “We believe we can all do more than is currently being done to improve the quality of life on our planet and we’ve witnessed –firsthand – that people and organizations that do good, feel good. We’re honored to be of service in helping others find and fund their passions.”

If your nonprofit is looking to jump-start or expand your online donation program and leverage the power of a cause-oriented social network to connect with existing and potential supporters, then Make The Difference Network may be just right for you.

MTDN offers a FREE Basic Membership to all qualified US based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Benefits for Your Nonprofit

• Use our powerful Web 2.0 technology to build capacity and better serve your existing supporters and members.
• Receive more exposure to new potential donors and supporters.
• Generate more direct donations to support specific projects or "Wishes."
• Build a powerful, interactive, "Cause-Oriented" social network of donors and supporters.
• Attract more visitors to your organization's Web site.

Free Basic Membership Includes:

1. A Nonprofit Organization Page
2. 5 Wish Pages
3. The MTDN Direct Donation System (MTDN Does NOT take a percentage of any donation)
4. A Complete Social Network
5. The MTDN Video System
6. Access to MTDN Technology Training

About Make The Difference Network
Make The Difference Network, co-founded by actress Jessica Biel, her father, Jon Biel, Kent McBride and a team of social entrepreneurs, is a cause-oriented, online social network designed to help nonprofit organizations increase donations, increase awareness and extend their reach to a vast community of caring individuals. MTDN empowers individuals to search, select and fund causes that touch their hearts. For more information, please visit www.mtdn.com

LEADERSHIP FOR A CHANGING WORLD: Scaling Up For Global Impact
Women's Funding Network Annual Conference
Hyatt Regency Hotel Crystal City at Reagan National Airport

Expand your leadership vision.
Build the skills, solutions and alliances to propel global change.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

Our 2008 Annual Conference, Leadership for A Changing World, will be a high-energy gathering of visionary leaders from around the world. Join us for the best in skill-building, inspiration and global idea exchange as we forge bold strategies to empower women, communities and nations.

Women's funds are at the forefront of investing in solutions to some of the world's most pressing social issues. Together we are bringing in a new era of global change for women and their communities. Our conference will showcase the most cutting-edge ideas, trends and insights on social investment in women. We will also offer practical opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and connections in arenas from social networking to social investment. Join Us!
    
Conference highlights include:
•     Over 500 delegates from around the world
•     Keynote address by Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Goodwill Ambassador for the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem
•     Special Event: Reception with Members of Congress
•     Intensive focus on leadership including interactive conference keynote with Rayona Sharpnack - TRADE UP: Redesigning Your Leadership from the Inside Out
•     Extensive networking opportunities with inspirational women leaders from around the world
•     Groundbreaking speakers including:
•     Skill building workshops including: (partial list)
•     Leadership Retreats and Peer Learning
•     Changing the Face of Philanthropy Awards Banquet
Featuring scenes from"Real Security"- a new film by Frances Reid & Deborah Hoffmann

Spark is a highly innovative flagship project, to build and inspire social enterprise to prevent and tackle homelessness. Its aim is to reduce the dependency of many third sector organisations on grants and donations, which offer little long term security for homeless people.

Spark wants YOUR innovative social enterprise ideas for preventing or tackling homelessness.

The top 15 applicants will be announced in February 2008. In April, they will present the business case of their social enterprise to a panel of experienced social entrepreneurs, and the five best ideas will win a share of the £500,000 prize fund, an enterprise 'make-over challenge', and mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs including Nigel Kershaw from Big Issue Invest and John Montague from TREES.

Application deadline is 18 February 2008.  Enterprise must be located in the United Kingdom.  To register interest, apply, or learn more, visit http://www.sparkchallenge.org/

The Investors' Circle 2008 Spring Conference is the premier meeting place for angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and entrepreneurs who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future. The last three conferences have resulted in over $10 million in total investment in approximately 1/3 of presenting ventures, with additional investments pending.

Investors' Circle is seeking submissions from companies in the following sectors: energy & environment, food & organics, health & wellness, education & media, and community & international development. Learn more about who should apply.

If you are interested in presenting at the Venture Fair at our 2009 Spring Conference, please apply by February 1, 2008 (final deadline).

To apply, register on the site, then complete the application found in the Entrepreneur Applicants section.

Changemakers is hosting two competitions for social entrepreneurs with January deadlines:

Sport for a Better World

Join Nike and Changemakers in the global search for innovations using sports to promote social change.

Enter by: Jan 8, 2008 | Voting begins: Feb 18, 2008 | Winners Announced: Mar 3, 2008

(Currently 226 entries from 54 countries)

Young Men at Risk: Transforming the Power of a Generation
Enter this global competition to find the most innovative approaches to supporting a generation of young men in realizing their highest potential, presented by Ashoka's Changemakers in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Enter by: Jan 23, 2008 | Voting begins: Feb 26, 2008 | Winners Announced: Mar 11, 2008 

(Currently 66 entries from 16 countries)

Changemakers is also taking pre-registration for Tapping Local Innovation: Unclogging the Water and Sanitation Crisis so you can sign up now to be notified of competition updates.

Tis the season to make a difference in someone’s life. Yahoo! is celebrating the spirit of Cyber Giving Week. Until December 19th, you are invited to share a story about someone’s good deeds related to a nonprofit. Your nonprofit could receive up to $50,000 in matching funds and have the chance to be featured on Yahoo!

 
Tell your inspirational story, vote for your favorite local hero, and encourage your friends and family to join your good cause! Simply submit your story to Bix, where the community will vote to choose the five most inspiring stories.

During the week of December 25, the five finalists will be featured on Yahoo! to inspire others to give to a good cause too. The featured nonprofit that gets the greatest number of unique donations that week on Yahoo! will get a matching donation of up to $50,000 from Yahoo!.

Vote now, enter a 501c3 nonprofit, or learn more about the history of CyberGiving Week at Yahoo! for Good.

The Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship are designed to support and celebrate social entrepreneurs whose work has the potential for large-scale impact on the critical challenges of our time: tolerance and human rights, health, environmental sustainability, peace and security, institutional responsibility, and economic and social equity.

The Award includes funding to the organization of up to U.S. $1 million paid over three years for core support and an award (non-cash) to the social entrepreneur leading the organization’s work at the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship.

There are three changes in how the program is now administered:

·      YEAR-ROUND APPLICATIONS – The Skoll Foundation is now accepting applications and awarding funding on a year-round basis, with new Awards celebrated once each year in March at the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford. 

·      ELIGIBILITY QUIZ -- All applicants will need to complete an Eligibility Quiz in order to proceed to the Online Application. The Eligibility Quiz is designed to help applicants assess their competitiveness and avoid preparing an application that is unlikely to be a strong match to Skoll’s selection criteria.

·      24-MONTH WAIT PERIOD -- Starting in August 2007 applicants who are not selected must wait 24 months (from application date) before reapplying. This is not retroactive; therefore, applicants who applied prior to 2007 may reapply if they believe that they now fit the Skoll Award criteria.

Internal review of applications begins on August 27.  To be considered for funding in advance of the 2008 Skoll World Forum, applicants must submit an Online Application no later than September 24, 2007. Applications submitted after that date will continue to be reviewed and funded throughout the year, with Awards celebrated at subsequent Skoll World Forums. 

Visit the Skoll Foundation's website for complete application instructions, the Eligibility Quiz and the Online Application.

The selection process will continue to be highly competitive, with 10-12 Awards in each twelve month cycle.

Investors' Circle Conferences bring together angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future. Since 1992, Investors’ Circle, a national network with 200+ members, has invested more than $112 million in 183 deals in such areas as renewable energy, organic food, education, health care and community development.

Investors' Circle Fall 2007
Conference & Venture Fair
November 14-16, 2007
Boston Harbor Hotel
Boston, MA

Application Deadline: August 10, 2007

The Investors' Circle 2007 Fall Conference is the premier meeting place for angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and entrepreneurs who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future.

Our 2006 Fall Conference attracted well over 300 attendees, including over 150 investors. Our last three conferences have resulted in over $12 million in total investment in approximately 1/3 of presenting ventures, with additional investments pending.

If you are interested in presenting at the Venture Fair at our 2007 Fall Conference, please apply by August 10, 2007 (final deadline).

Join Craigslist Foundation for a day of knowledge, resources and networking, all focused on how to start and run a vibrant nonprofit. Nonprofit Boot Camp is designed to educate and empower the next generation of nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs, connecting them with valuable industry resources, peers and potential supporters.

Keynote Addresses
Ami Dar, Executive Director of Action Without Borders/Idealist.org
Aimee Allison, Community and Organizational Development through Advocacy and Innovation


Conference Highlights

Nonprofit Basics: An intro to the nonprofit world for those new to the sector or looking to start a nonprofit or social enterprise. Hosted by CAN, The Volunteer Center, VLSP and YNPN.

Fundraising: An overview of fundraising strategies and resources. Hosted by Association of Fundraising Professionals - Golden Gate Chapter (AFP-GGC), Foundation Center and Development Executives Roundtable (DER).

Big Ideas: Current trends and progressive thought brought to you by prominent Bay Area nonprofit leaders. Hosted by CompassPoint.

Technology: Explore how technology can empower your organization or idea. Hosted by Aspiration, TechSoup, ePhilanthropy Foundation and N-TEN.

Social Entrepreneurship: Learn how to use entrepreneurial principles, earned income strategies and businesses to create social change.  Hosted by Nonprofit and Public Management Program, Haas School of Business, Social Fusion and Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE).

Board of Directors: Designed for currently engaged Board Members and those looking to recruit and empower an outstanding Board. Hosted by The CBO Center and Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership.  

Marketing: Build a marketing toolkit to promote your mission in the media, in person, in print and online

Generations: Focused workshops on engaging youth, retired and older adults.

The Investors' Circle 2007 Spring Conference will take place May 22-24, 2007 in San Francisco, CA. It is a meeting place for angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and entrepreneurs who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future.

The 2006 Fall Conference attracted over 300 attendees, including over 150 investors. The last three conferences have resulted in over US $12 million in total investment in approximately 1/3 of presenting ventures, with additional investments pending.

If you are interested in presenting at the Venture Fair at the 2007 Spring Conference, please apply by February 15, 2007.