Billed as a "a one-stop shop for tools to help advance your organization's mission in a smart, cost-efficient way," the newly launched Google for Non-Profits portal offers quick links to the most commonly used tools in the Google suite of services. It also highlights some cost-saving benefits that are available only to nonprofits. This site features ideas and tutorials for how you can use Google tools to promote your work, raise money and operate more efficiently. And to get inspired, you'll also find examples of innovative ...

Our community is thriving. And who you may ask is this community? from our 'about' section: To some, they represent the MTV generation; to others Millenials or Generation Y. To the UJC, they are simply NextGen. They number around 76 million Americans and will form the most technology savvy bulk of the adult population over the next twenty years. They have been inspired by the aspirations, hopes and financial freedom of their Baby Boomer parents; they are optimistic, idealistic and feel empowered. This funky young crowd, sporting their own definition of Judaism, is the harbinger of a new golden age of Jewish communal innovation. Some are visionaries, creating programs on a shoe-string, or armed with just an idea, giving birth to exciting, fresh ...

In an about face and under pressure, facebook has given in and allowed users in communities such as Maale Adumim and Ariel to list themselves as living in Israel and not Palestine! According to a story just posted by Reuter's... "Complaints by Jewish settlers angry at Facebook for listing them as residents of "Palestine" prompted the popular social networking Web site to allow users to switch themselves back to Israel. Facebook users living in Maale Adumim, Ariel and other large Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank protested when the site automatically listed their hometowns as being in "Palestine." A group of settlers accused the California-based company of having a political agenda." continue reading here

LOG ON TO THE BIGGEST EVER SOLIDARITY RALLY FOR ISRAEL Participate without leaving home This Thursday, March 20th, the eve of Purim, help us make history in solidarity with Israel. Show up no matter where you are. Together4Israel.org, along with many worldwide partners, is putting together the largest ever online rally in support of those living under fire in Israel. To attend all you need to do is go to www.together4israel.org to watch a live broadcast of solidarity rallies from around the world.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:00 pm Israel Time

9 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. CDT / 3 p.m. MDT / 2 p.m. PDT

Stretching across 7 continents and featuring as speakers Alan Dershowitz, Natan ...

Israeli entrepreneur Stef Wertheimer wants to convert the Middle East to capitalism. This Israeli entrepreneur with a mission, has a unique perspective on how to reduce conflict in the Middle East. According to a story in this week's edition of Business Week... "Early on, Stef Wertheimer, the founder of Iscar Metalworking, a manufacturer of industrial precision metal-cutting tools, decided that entrepreneurship was an answer to social and economic problems... During the 1980s, Wertheimer spent four years as a member of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament. It was there that he came to the conclusion that he could accomplish more through industry and entrepreneurship than he ever could through government or politics. An early social entrepreneur (see BusinessWeek.com, 12/14/07), he launched ...

Social-enterprise leaders gathered in Boston this week are seeking a new legal structure — the low-profit, limited liability company, or L3C — as a way to encourage investments by foundations and others in businesses with a social mission, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports: "As the lines between the nonprofit and for-profit worlds blur, social-enterprise leaders continue to look for new legal structures that are better suited to such blended activities than current designations... One proposed legal structure discussed at the meeting — the low-profit, limited liability company, or L3C — is designed to increase the number of program-related investments, or PRI’s, that foundations make in social-purpose businesses by making those enterprises easier to find. Proponents hope that foundation investment in those ventures ...

Launching this Motzei Shabbat here in Jerusalem, another great new project birthed from the cutting edge Creative Zionism incubator. HyperSemitic, a Jewish edu-tainment company that fuses the ancient and modern Jewish experience for young Jewish audiences. Set to hip-hop, world music and heavy beats, their performances will excite Jewish youth through the creative expression of ancient text and modern music. Their debut music video “Haman Song” is a a collaboration of 5 PICZ fellows and members. Be sure to also check out, Kid Tested, Rabbi Approved. BTW, Matt's first Bible Raps CD is in production! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vTLxpz9HKs[/youtube]

The recently awarded Bronfman Prize in Jewish Communal Innovation produced over 200 entries. Certainly, many good ideas were presented and many are (or will be) in various stages of implemenation. Here, as we learn from the El Paso Times, finalist Anita Diamant is the featured speaker at a communal fundraiser for a new Mikveh; but one with a possible twist... "El Paso's Jewish community has embarked on a fundraising effort to build a spa-like community mikvah where Jews of all backgrounds can explore water as a source for spiritual renewal and healing." Meanwhile, for those of you following every detail about the recently announced Bronfman Chair-Prize, we bring you the audio version of the public presentations. Note: ...

Applications for the 2008 ROI Summit, taking place in Jerusalem from the 15th to the 19th of June are now open. Join 120 young innovators and leaders for 4 days of networking, skill-building and inspiration. Think you got what it takes? Apply today! Deadline for applications is Friday, March 28th. About the ROI Community: ROI is an international partnership between Taglit-Birthright Israel and the Center for Leadership Initiatives, a U.S. based foundation with funding from Lynn Schusterman. Click the logo for a video made at last year's Summit and check this really great post on Jewlicious for a first-hand view.

Being launched this evening in the U.K. is Michael Edwards pamphlet... Just Another Emperor? The Myths and Realities of Philanthrocapitalism From his preface..."A new movement is afoot that promises to save the world by revolutionizing philanthropy, making non-profit organizations operate like business, and creating new markets for goods and services that benefit society. Nick-named “philanthrocapitalism” for short, its supporters believe that business principles can be successfully combined with the search for social transformation. The stakes are very high. Fifty-five trillion dollars in philanthropic resources are expected to be created in the United States alone in the next forty years. It matters whether these vast resources are used to pursue social transformation or just to address the symptoms of global problems. And for the ...