29 November 2007

US Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement

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The Federal Government publishes guidelines indicating what level of income defines poverty in the United States. The Department of Health and Human Services publishes their requirements here.

LIHEAP Clearinghouse has the 2008 numbers published here. This site also includes levels of poverty above the poverty line in a useful chart. LIHEAP is Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This is important information as organizations search for appropriate funding sources and information to benefit people in their communities. Have a question? Leave a comment.

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25 November 2007

When is a best practice just a quick fix?

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Many of the board members that I talk to tell me that they use "best practices" as the normative principles for their work as a board member. When the work of the board is assessed there is a lack of underlying principles that help the board understand what it should have accomplished. Something like fixing these mailboxes with duct tape. OI have heard that duct tape can fix just about anything. (As long as these mail boxes don't need to collect mail, it worked!)

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photo © Kimmo Palosaari for openphoto.net CC:PublicDomain

14 November 2007

Advantages of doing governance right

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There are certain advantages to doing governance right:
  1. Focus on the right thing--organizational results
  2. Accountability for results and all of the important issues of finances, treatment of people, risk management--it goes on and on.
  3. Linkage and accountability to the community that owns the results.
The only systematic, comprehensive approach to these and other other board governance issues is found in the Policy Governance(r) approach. You can add as many "best practices" as you want, but unless to foundation is there, there is no there there.

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13 November 2007

Policy Governance for the Busy Executive Director

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Do you need a refresher on the role of the Executive Director or CEO in an organization utilizing Policy Governance(r)? I recommend these 16-page summary booklets:



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08 November 2007

Grant Funding Opportunities

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More information is available on the Internet by clicking on the links provided. The information is provided to you from the sources. Any links are the responsibility of the source.


Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program
– Deadline: December 13, 2007
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance is seeking applications for funding under the G.R.E.A.T. Program. The Program is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. The Program’s primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. Funds of up to $150,000 will be awarded to state, local or tribal jurisdiction or law enforcement agencies with an active G.R.E.A.T. Program, or committed to starting a G.R.E.A.T. Program, in cooperation with a local education agency. All awards will have a 12-month project period.

Entertainment Software Association Foundation Grant – Deadline: April 15, 2008
The Foundation is dedicated to supporting positive programs and opportunities that make a difference in the quality of life, health and welfare of America’s youth. The Foundation seeks to harness the collective power of the interactive entertainment industry to create positive social impact in our communities which supports geographically diverse projects and programs. Applicants must seek funding for a specific project or program that is or will be in two or more states and serves youths 7-18. Applicants must also provide youth programs in one or more of the following areas: Skills & Personal Development, General Health & Welfare, Risk Behavior Prevention, Education, Multimedia arts/ technology related or applied.

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07 November 2007

2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines

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2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services.

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