Here in California, I often see bumper stickers that say, "I saw the Mystery Spot." I drove behind a car yesterday that made me wish I had my camera with me. It was a city parking enforcement vehicle, sporting bumper stickers like those I've often seen on other municipal vehicles such as police cars and utility trucks. That takes commitment.

Governor Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver have worked hard to get California to appoint a Service Director to its cabinet level--and both McCain and Obama vowed to add this position to their cabinets at the federal levels as well. And on. And I admit to wiping tears from my eyes when Hillary Clinton hit the stage. Um, marketing anyone?

Allegations that the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angles, California has operated at a deficit for 75% of the time, during the last eight years swarmed the philanthropy media, at the end of last week. The California attorney general's office is now, due to these potential legal discrepancies, auditing the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Two grants are available for art; one in California and one in art education in the United States. The application postmark deadline for applicants scheduled to travel between July 1, 2007, and January 31, 2008, is April 30, 2007. From The Foundation Center. Below, are three grants. Theater professionals who are affiliated with a U.S.

10) Motorola Offers Innovation Generation Grants for Science and Math Education Programs Deadline: March 1, 2008 In 2008, the Motorola Foundation will provide a total of $4 million in Innovation Generation Grants to organizations that engage K-12 students and teachers in the U.S. From The Foundation Center. Any U.S. RFP Link: [link].

A New Paper Icon ApproachAt Staples right now is this inventive paper icon campaign for City of Hope, a research and treatment hospital in Southern California with a specialty in cancer.It goes for the typical $1.

TOMS Shoes of Santa Monica, California has taken a page from MAC Cosmetics and created a strikingly straightforward cause-related marketing promotion. When you buy a pair of their shoes, another pair is given to a kid who needs them.Here’s the language from the TOMS website: “you buy a pair of TOMS and I give a pair to a child on your behalf.”The

Located in Riverside, California I just recently returned from Nigeria, where I was taken to two villages to hear of their concerns for the villagers and children. [Blogger's Note: What follows is a letter I received from a startup nonprofit asking for advice on how to get an HIV/AIDS charity off the ground along with my response.]I

Here's a wonderful quote from a meeting I attended this morning of Santa Cruz County (California) nonprofit Executive Directors, discussing their response to the current financial crisis: "Don't panic. Not because there isn't reason to panic - there is - but because panic doesn't work." Have you felt it yet, or have you somehow been spared?