The OneStar Blog » Faith-based Organizations

Mark Your Calendar for Service Events and Deadlines

OneStar Foundation — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:55:41 +0000

Happy New Year! As you break out your 2010 calendar, make sure you add the following events and deadlines to it. These are just some of the many service-related events going on this year:

January: National Mentoring Month. The Web site NationalMentoringMonth.org has information about finding mentors, serving as a mentor, partnering with mentoring organizations and more.
January 15: Deadline for Coccia Award Nominations. The first-annual Gladys Marinelli Coccia Award through Youth Services America honors young female social entrepreneurs. More information on eligibility is available here.
January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What will you be doing for the first national service day of 2010? Find or post a project through MLKDay.gov or Serve.gov. In addition, an online project toolkit is available at MLKMobilization.org.
January 29: Deadline for Disney Friends for Change Grants. Disney and Youth Service America will distribute 150 $500 grants toward projects that engage children’s service projects focusing on the environment. More information can be found here.
February 22: Deadline for Get Ur Good On Grants. Youth Services America and celebrity Miley Cyrus are sponsoring 100 $500 grants for youth services projects to take place on Global Youth Services Day. More information is available here.
March 24-27: National Service-Learning Conference. This year, the country’s largest service-learning conference will be held in San Jose, California. Visit their Web site to learn more and to register.
April 18-24: National Volunteer Week. Points of Light sponsors this weeklong celebration of volunteering. Start planning your project now!
April 23-25: Global Youth Services Day. Be a part of the largest youth-oriented service-learning celebration in the world. Visit GYSD.org to post your project or find a project.
May 1: Join Hands Day. This national service day brings adults and young people together to make a difference in their communities. Go to JoinHandsDay.org to find or post a service project.
May 9-15: AmeriCorps Week. What are you doing for AmeriCorps Week? AmeriCorpsWeek.gov can help you find a project, post a project or get ideas for creating a project. The Web site also offers tools to help you spread the word about your AmeriCorps Week project.
September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Officially designated by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, this day is a nationwide opportunity to strengthen communities and bring people together through service. More information can be found on Serve.gov.
October 23: Make A Difference Day. USA Weekend magazine began this day of service for people of all ages. Find or post a service project through their Web site.
November: Family Volunteer Day. Sponsored by Disney and Points of Light, this event encourages families to get involved in volunteering together. Information on the 2009 Family Volunteer Day can be found here.
Various dates: Grant deadlines. Don’t forget to check ServiceWire.org for different grant opportunities and their deadlines!

Are there additional service-related dates that you have already added to your 2010 calendar? Share them with us in the Comments section!

Tweeting for Impact

OneStar Foundation — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:26:39 +0000

We’ve found Twitter to be a great way to stay informed about what’s going on in the nonprofit sector. We use it to chat with our colleagues, learn about new programs and meet new contacts doing great things for the people of Texas.

Because Twitter has been such a valuable resource for us in 2009, we wanted to start 2010 off right and share with our colleagues a few lists of Twitter feeds that we find especially informative and interesting.

This list was compiled using the Texas nonprofit organizations, Texas nonprofit employees and Texas/national nonprofit stakeholders we are following on Twitter. However, it is not a complete list of all nonprofit organizations, employees and stakeholders who tweet.

Do you follow a Texas nonprofit organization, Texas nonprofit employee or Texas/national nonprofit stakeholder on Twitter who is not on any of these lists? If so, feel free to add them in the Comments section!

Texas Nonprofit Employees who Tweet

@pastelmagick –Emily Babb, Database Manager, Capital Area Food Bank
@jberetta – Jacqueline Beretta, CEO, TexasNonprofits (San Antonio)
@SCaldwell – Stacy Caldwell, Executive Director, Dallas Social Venture Partners
@Karlacantu – Karla Cantu, Agency Relations Director, Capital Area Food Bank
@rjcarreon – RJ Carreon, Executive Director of Teach For America (Rio Grande Valley)
@acolehour – Alese Colehour, Story Bank VISTA, Capital Area Food Bank
@juliacuba – Julia Cuba, Executive Director, GENaustin
@Ddavenport – David Davenport, President and CEO, Capital Area Food Bank
@LaylaFry – Layla Fry, Communications Director, Southwest Key Programs (Austin)
@lisa_goddard – Lisa Goddard, Advocacy and Online Media Director, Capital Area Food Bank
@jeremygregg – Jeremy Gregg, Executive Director, Executives in Action (Dallas)
@HeatherMcK – Heather McKissick, President and CEO, Leadership Austin
@kerri_qunell – Kerri Qunell, Vice-President, Communications, Capital Area Food Bank
@aimyclair – Aimy Steadman, Online Development Coordinator, Capital Area Food Bank
@elmundodemando – Armando Rayo, Director, Hands On Central Texas (Austin)
@GTF_Wynn – Wynn Rosser, Executive Director, Greater Texas Foundation (Bryan)
@LIVESTRONGCEO – Doug Ulman, President and CEO, Lance Armstrong Foundation (Austin)
@cmvara – Christina Vara, Community Relations Assistant, Capital Area Food Bank
@kimberwillis – Kim Willis, Communications Coordinator, Capital Area Food Bank
@hailayates – Haila Yates, Marketing and Outreach Manager, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success (Austin)

Texas Nonprofit Organizations, Including Faith-Based and Community Organizations, That Tweet

@AARPTX – AARP Texas
@Asaustin – AIDS Services of Austin
@acatexoma – American Camp Association (Texas/Oklahoma)
@CenTexRedCross – American Red Cross of Central Texas (Austin)
@AmerYouthWorks – American Youthworks (Austin)
@theArcofSA – The Arc of San Antonio
@AFTS – Art From the Streets (Austin)
@Austinelderly – Austin Groups for the Elderly
@austinhumane – Austin Humane Society
@AustinPartners – Austin Partners in Education
@BookSpring_TX – BookSpring (Austin)
@BrazosEducation – Brazos Education Foundation (Waco)
@bcloftexas – Business & Community Lenders of Texas
@Capital_IDEA – Capital IDEA (Austin)
@CFNTEXAS – Caring Family Network (Austin)
@CASATravis – CASA of Travis County
@caseamericorps – CASEAmeriCorps (Houston)
@CCDOFW – Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth
@CCcentraltexas – Catholic Charities of Central Texas (Austin)
@thecipheratx – The Cipher (Austin)
@CSchoolsTX – Citizen Schools in Texas
@CityYearSA – City Year San Antonio
@CollegeForward – College Forward (Austin)
@ciscentraltx – Communities in Schools Central Texas (Austin)
@cishouston – Communities in Schools Houston
@DallasSVP – Dallas Social Venture Partners
@Dallaswomensfdn – Dallas Women’s Foundation
@EIFdotorg – Education is Freedom
@Emancipet – Emancipet (Austin)
@ GIVEtoAUSTIN – Entrepreneurs Foundation (Austin)
@eschouston – Executive Service Corps of Houston
@Frontsteps – Front Steps (Austin)
@GENaustin – GENaustin
@GSCTXcouncil – Girl Scouts of Central Texas (Austin)
@Girlstart – Girlstart (Austin)
@GoodwillDallas – Goodwill Industries of Dallas
@houstongoodwill – Goodwill Industries of Houston
@LubbockGoodwill – Goodwill Industries of Lubbock
@grannysplace – Granny’s Place, Inc. (Dallas)
@Gr8rTXFdtn – Greater Texas Foundation (Bryan)
@Houstonaplus – Houston A+ Challenge
@HoustonFoodBank – Houston Food Bank
@AustinJCRC – The Jewish Community Association of Austin
@LIVESTRONG – Lance Armstrong Foundation (Austin)
@Lead_Austin – Leadership Austin
@LifeWorksAustin – LifeWorks (Austin)
@Mealsonwheels – Meals on Wheels and More (Austin)
@restore_austin – Restore Austin
@RiverCityYouth– River City Youth Foundation (Austin)
@RMHDallas – The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
@FTWORTHRMH – The Ronald McDonald House of Ft. Worth
@RMHCNorthTexas – The Ronald McDonald House of Greater North Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth)
@TxSacredPlaces – Sacred Places (Fort Worth)
@SAAFdn – San Antonio Area Foundation
@TX4K – Sense Corp Texas 4000 for Cancer
@komenforthecure – Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Dallas)
@southwestkey – Southwest Key Programs (Austin)
@TarrantLit –Tarrant Literacy Coalition
@txedpartners – Texas Association of Partners in Education (Austin)
@TNOYS – Texas Network of Youth Services (Austin)
@TexasTribune – Texas Tribune (Austin)
@TravisAudubon – Travis Audubon Society
@unitedway_abtx – United Way of Abilene
@Unitedwayca – United Way Capital Area
@LiveUnitedLbb – United Way of Lubbock
@LiveUnitedNTX – United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
@UWTarrant – United Way of Tarrant County
@UnitedWayWilco – United Way of Williamson County
@TheWomensMuseum – The Women’s Museum (Dallas)
@youthconflict – Youth Conflict Resolution Center

Other Sector Stakeholders That Tweet

@americorps – AmeriCorps
@americorpsalums – AmeriCorps Alums
@AmeriCorpsNCCC – AmeriCorps*NCCC
@VISTAbuzz – AmeriCorps*VISTA
@AmeriCorpsWeek – AmeriCorps Week
@ISReligion – Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion
@BushSchool – The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University
@CNMDallas – Center for Nonprofit Management (Dallas)
@VIPHouston – City of Houston Volunteer Initiatives Program
@nationalservice – Corporation for National and Community Service
@DellSocialInnov – Dell Social Innovation Competition
@ILH_IGH – I Live Here, Give Here: Austin’s Campaign for Philanthropy
@learnandserve – Learn and Serve
@NSLC – Learn and Serve Resources
@TheLBJSchool – Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin
@MLKDay – MLK Jr. Day
@NCVS – The National Conference on Volunteering and Service
@serviceresource – National Service Resources
@RGK_Center – RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, The University of Texas at Austin
@seniorcorps – Senior Corps
@ServeDotGov – Serve.gov
@TANOorg – Texas Association of Nonprofits
@Teainfo – Texas Education Agency
@College4AllTX – Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
@VMconnect – Volunteer Match

Why VeriFYI?

OneStar Foundation — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:46:54 +0000

Nonprofits have a lot riding on their shoulders. Budgets are getting tighter just as more clients are seeking services. Volunteers are crucial to many nonprofits’ operations and service delivery. But what if a volunteer committed fraud at your organization, or a crime against one of your clients? What realistic strides can you take to protect your organization and your clients from these potential threats?

To address these issues, the Volunteer Center of North Texas has partnered with VeriFYI, a comprehensive background-screening tool. VeriFYI searches:

State records of convictions and offenses.
Texas State records of convictions and arrests, including juvenile offenses and adjudicated records. According to VeriFYI’s Web site, “No other commercial vendor has access to this information!”
Social Security records to validate the potential volunteer’s identity.
Sex offender databases from across the country.

VeriFYI lets organizations—including nonprofits and faith-based and community organizations—conduct both full and a la carte background checks. In addition to working with nonprofits, VeriFYI also works in partnership with several State government agencies in Texas.

Because background checks can be cost prohibitive for some organizations, OneStar has partnered with VeriFYI to help Texas organizations access these services. VeriFYI’s initial fee will be waived for all nonprofits and faith-based and community organizations that use the “OneStar reference” membership application, available here.

“We want to stress the importance of utilizing background checks to protect the people we are serving,” said Elizabeth Seale, President and CEO of OneStar. “We sincerely hope that Texas nonprofits have included background checks into their volunteer application processes, or will include them soon.”

For more information on VeriFYI’s services, go to VeriFYI.org.

Register for the 2009 GNLC!

OneStar Foundation — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:36:42 +0000

We are excited to announce that registration has officially opened for the 2009 Governor’s Nonprofit Leadership Conference (GNLC)!

This year’s GNLC is the second part of a three-year series on social impact. Bearing the theme “Where the Rubber Meets the Road,” this conference boasts two keynote speakers who really understand the importance of social impact:

Andrew Wolk, founder of Root Cause. Among Andrew’s many accomplishments are launching the Social Innovation Forum, and developing Social Impact Research Reports and writing the business plan for the first statewide Office of Social Entrepreneurship. He has consulted for nonprofit, for-profit and government organizations. Read Andrew’s blog at AndrewWolk.com.
Robert Egger, president of the DC Central Kitchen, which combats hunger while giving people employment opportunities. Robert’s book, Begging for Change, received the 2005 McAdam Prize for “Best Nonprofit Management Book” by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management. He has received numerous additional awards and serves on myriad nonprofit boards. Read Robert’s blog at RobertEgger.org/blog.

Until October 5, 2009, you can get a discounted registration rate. Just go to the Regonline Web site and use the following code: EARLY

You can also get a discounted hotel room from now through November 7, 2009. Get this special rate of only $100 per night, per person, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel here.

Don’t forget—this year, we will honor Texas’ most dedicated volunteers at the 2009 Governor’s Volunteer Awards (GVA) during GNLC. The nomination deadline is August 28, 2009. You can download the nomination packet and instructions on our GVA Web site.

We’ll see you at GNLC and GVA!

Announcing the Community Solutions Agenda

OneStar Foundation — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:33:58 +0000

As we mentioned on our Web site today, President Barack Obama recently announced the Community Solutions Agenda, which includes focusing $650 million of the Recovery Act toward the What Works Fund at the Department of Education. This fund will, in the president’s words, “be investing in the most successful, highest-impact initiatives in our school districts and communities.” At the announcement, the president highlighted several nonprofit organizations that have been achieving quantifiable levels of social impact.

Our colleague Andrew Wolk of Root Cause has a great blog post up here where he describes his experience being present for the Community Solutions Agenda announcement. Wrote Wolk about the program name, “I like the way that sounds. It focuses the conversation on two core elements of this work: ‘community’ and ‘solutions.’”

What did you think of the president’s announcement? What programs do you feel are exceptional examples of social innovation and impact? Be a part of the conversation at Wolk’s blog or in our comments section below.

Using Social Media for Social Impact: Part Two

OneStar Foundation — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:56:36 +0000

Earlier this week, we wrote about social media tools and what they can do for your nonprofit. So how can you use resources most effectively at your nonprofit?

Commit the time. You have a lot going on at your organization. Remember that it takes time to get started and to keep social media outlets updated.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re not tech-savvy, don’t worry. See if someone on your staff is familiar with these sites. Consider getting an intern or volunteer to help get you started.
Explore how other nonprofits use social media. Whether you’re new to social media or have been using it for personal reasons, it’s important to explore how others are using them. Then you can determine the best ways for your organization to use it. You can start by viewing OneStar’s sites on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Good2gether.
Determine the right combination for your nonprofit. You don’t have to use just one outlet. You can use as many as you’d like. Determine what you want to get back from social media, then decide which tools can help you achieve those goals.
Keep it updated. In order to keep others interested and involved, keep your accounts updated constantly and consistently.
Invite communication. Social media is all about getting people to communicate, whether by commenting on a blog or sharing their stories on how your organization touched their lives. If people don’t feel connected to your organization, they might not come back. The easiest way to accomplish this is to simply ask a question and invite responses. It’s also important to engage in conversation, and let your audience know you appreciate them coming by.
Listen. When people do start communicating with your organization, be sure to listen. Pay attention to what they are talking about, what interests them and why they are connected to your organization. There may be some negative feedback, but that is a great opportunity for you to respond graciously and encourage transparency.
Promote, promote, promote. While some people will find you on their own, you still must promote your social media tools. Add a link to your sites on your main Web site or in your monthly newsletter. You can even ask other nonprofits to collaborate and swap links with you. The more people who get connected to you, the larger your audience will become.

We want to hear your ideas related to social media, or how your organization is using social media in unique ways. Tell us about them in the comments section!

AmeriCorps*Texas Projects for AmeriCorps Week

OneStar Foundation — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:15:49 +0000

Happy AmeriCorps Week to one and all! Now in its third year, this celebration—held from May 9-16 in 2009—is an opportunity for AmeriCorps members to share their stories with their communities, and help people learn more about the national service opportunities that might be right for them.

Many of OneStar’s AmeriCorps*Texas grantees have exciting projects in the work for AmeriCorps Week. Some of those projects are:

(Austin) Austin AmeriCorps Programs will hold a meet-up at Irie Bean on Monday, May 11. Community members are invited to meet two of Austin’s current AmeriCorps members from different programs to find out what the AmeriCorps experience is all about.
(Waco) Communities in Schools of the Heart of Texas will host their Site Supervisor Recognition and Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday, May 12, from 8:30 – 10 a.m. At the breakfast, AmeriCorps members will honor their sites and site supervisors while sharing stories about their service and giving appreciation to those who devote their time and skills to develop them as members and citizens.
(San Antonio) San Antonio AmeriCorps Alumni will host their Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 12. Attendees will be able to meet past, present and future AmeriCorps alumni.
(Austin) Austin AmeriCorps Program Coordinators invite members, alumni and interested community members to meet and mingle, watch a clip on the origins of AmeriCorps from “American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver” and play AmeriCorps trivia. This trivia night will take place at Spider House on Tuesday, May 12.
(Austin) Austin AmeriCorps Programs will hold an information table at the Triangle’s Weekly Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, May 13, from 4 – 8 p.m. Browse the Triangle’s quaint weekly Farmer’s Market and check out the AmeriCorps table for information and opportunities.
(Harlingen) On Wednesday, May 13, from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m., a recruitment presentation will be held on AmeriCorps. It will focus mostly on VISTA, but will also cover NCCC and AmeriCorps State and National programs.
(Austin) Austin City Council Member Lee Leffingwell will read an AmeriCorps Week Proclamation on Thursday, May 13, recognizing AmeriCorps for its hard work, dedication and community involvement. This project is sponsored by Austin AmeriCorps Programs.
(Austin) Capital Area AmeriCorps Alumni Network will host the “Bold Songs That Inspire Change: Alamo Sing-Along with a Mission” at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar on Thursday, May 14, from 6:45 – 9 p.m. (doors open at 6:15). Organized by AmeriCorps alumni, friends, and supporters, this customized sing-along features subtitled song videos that will motivate and inspire everyone to lead a life of impact and to continue to make a difference in their communities.
(Elsa) AmeriCorps Youth Harvest will host the RGV AmeriCorps Week Collaboration Health Fair on Friday, May 15, from 6 – 10 p.m. at Mercado Delta. This free health fair will feature information on and application assistance with state benefits programs. Information on the digital television switch, live conjunto music and food will also be available.
(Austin) Catholic Charities of Central Texas is holding the annual Austin AmeriCorps Awareness (AAA) Day’s River City Youth Foundation Community Center Revitalization project on Saturday, May 16. The members will be cleaning up and revitalizing a community center as well as developing a peace garden, a vegetable garden and a walking trail. They will also be providing minor facility maintenance and general landscaping cleanup. In addition, they will hold a community and volunteer rally at noon.
(San Antonio) City Year San Antonio, District 4, Christa McAuliffe Middle School, Councilmen Cortez and the city of San Antonio will be leading a mural project inspired by middle school students and members of the local community on Saturday, May 16. City Year’s Young Heroes Middle School leadership development and service program will be co-leading the project with over 70 middle school students and nearly 100 high school students from all over the city. They are looking for support from all over the community to beautify the area and help prevent graffiti.
(Austin) College for All Texans Foundation will hold their second annual G-Force Summit on Saturday, May 16, at the University of Texas at Austin. The summit will bring together high school students from Austin, Houston and San Antonio to learn about effective leadership and assisting their peers in pursuing higher education.

For more information on times, locations, contact people and available volunteer opportunities for all AmeriCorps*Texas grantees’ AmeriCorps Week activities, visit the Web site http://myproject.nationalservice.gov/public/searchResults.aspx?st=TX&type=0. Many of the programs still have volunteer opportunities available.

What will YOU be doing for AmeriCorps Week? Tell us in the Comments section!

Celebrating Past GVA Winners

OneStar Foundation — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:16:53 +0000

Every year, OneStar partners with the Office of the Governor to celebrate some of the brightest stars in Texas—our volunteers.

The Governor’s Volunteer Awards (GVA) has a long tradition of recognizing those in our state who devote their time and talents to serving others. For 26 years, GVA has honored some of Texas’ most dedicated community volunteers. These awards allow Governor Rick Perry to personally recognize some of the individuals, organizations, corporations and public entities that truly embody that Texas tradition of community service.

Through a statewide open nomination process, OneStar Foundation seeks to find those special individuals and organizations that are committed to creating positive, long-lasting change in their communities. OneStar encourages Texans to nominate those around them who are promoting an ethic of service, forging diverse partnerships, increasing the community’s capacity to respond and renewing our Texas communities. After the nomination process and a two-tiered selection process—including a Review Committee and a Blue Ribbon Panel—the selected award winners are recognized by the Governor in a ceremony.

We encourage you to read about the 2008 GVA winners on our Web site.

Are you interested in nominated someone for the 2009 Governor’s Volunteer Awards? If so, stay tuned to this blog for future announcements and information on the nomination process.

Faith-Based and Community Organizations: Partnering for Impact

OneStar Foundation — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:00:24 +0000

Fortunately, faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) abound in Texas. The Lone Star state is a big one, and sometimes a local FBCO is the only location within reach offering assistance to people in need. Despite often being smaller than many other nonprofits, these organizations are on the front line of providing assistance—especially when it comes to a disaster, when they are usually the first to offer food, shelter and supplies to those who have lost everything.

We believe FBCOs are an essential part of the nonprofit sector, and should be welcomed as strategic partners with government and other key stakeholders in reducing and eventually eliminating social problems. These organizations possess unique strengths that government cannot duplicate, and when it comes to meeting needs in our communities, we need all hands on deck.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been easy for FBCOs to team up with government and other key partners. As Texas’ Faith-Based and Community Initiative (FBCI) office, OneStar is focused on building cross-sector collaborations and ensuring that faith-based and community groups have the capacity to succeed in these partnerships—ultimately increasing our ability to impact Texas communities.

Just as OneStar works with organizations in Texas to facilitate partnerships, we also are part of a larger nationwide network of faith-based and community efforts. OneStar is one of 30 states and close to 100 cities that have offices focused on working with FBCOs. On March 24, we convened our national partners in a conference call to discuss best practices and collaboration opportunities, including our newest federal partners in President Obama’s White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

OneStar’s approach to working with Texas’ FBCOs was also recently highlighted in a federal report “The Role of State Faith Community Liaisons in Charitable Choice Implementation.” A summary of our role within the report is available on our Web site, while the full report is located here and the report’s section specifically on Texas is located here.

The Importance of Capacity Building

OneStar Foundation — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:06:16 +0000

Here at OneStar, we believe that one of the most important things a nonprofit or faith- or community-based organization can do to ensure their long-term sustainability and effectiveness at solving social challenges is to build their capacity.

That said, OneStar recognizes that the definition of “capacity building” is continuously evolving. Different organizations define it in various ways. The following Web sites are just a few of the resources on the Internet that offer material on capacity building and its importance, as well as many other topics related to the nonprofit sector:

However, we want to hear from you about capacity building. How do you define it? Why do you think it’s important for the sector? Share your thoughts with us!