Here is a terrific set of resources dealing with changing US ethnic/cultural demographics … and how marketers should adjust. The Ad Age article itself provides good context, but is made even more valuable by some of the resources it links to. For example, it cites a recently published “yellow&# paper from AlmaDDB, written by Isaac Mizrahi and Howard Konig, The New State of America: What the 2010 Census will reveal about the evolution of the United States of America. MORE

For the third year in a row, the online and catalog promotional pro- ducts retailer will award a $500 in-kind grant every business day of 2008 to a charitable organization in the United States or Canada. In-kind grants were awarded to organizations across North America, in forty-six states, the District of Columbia, and five Canadian provinces. MORE

There have been a lot of features lately on the most liveable cities. Vancouver BC, Vienna, Melbourne, Toronto, and Helsinki have been at the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2010 list. link] interactive map from the NYTimes, ManyEyes and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. MORE

Incremental change –the testing of ‘whispers’ like envelope teasers, letter length, letter signers – make for only marginal improvement even when executed by the most skillful practitioners. Nonetheless most fundraisers are focused on incremental improvement, apparently unaware that sticking to the status quo in a fast-changing world may be among the riskiest of strategies. The desirability of debt, of equity investment, of mergers and acquisitions. MORE

Well, maybe not so fast … at least not for everyone in the US of A. Our friends at Analytical Ones have completed an analysis of giving by state (and they can provide locality data as well, if you’re interested), comparing giving level changes between 2008 and 2011. Turns out that only five states, plus the District of Columbia. We’re all rebounding from the Great Recession, right? Optimistic about fundraising prospects for 2014, right? MORE

If, following last week’s death of Olive Cooke , fundraisers in the UK face an image problem involving over-zealous solicitations, their problem pales in comparison to this week’s American version. government’s Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general in all 50 states and the District of Columbia filed suit against 4 cancer charities charged with scamming donors out of more than $187 million. MORE

I saw tons of demos, lots of talks and panels, and I took a workshop in how to create encaustic 3-D forms! I was frustrated because a lot of funders just didn’t seem to value the arts. This post will show you how to justify the existence of the arts in your city or town. MORE

The first request for proposals, below, is for American non profits working on the history of their community in partnership with a local school. 1) History Organizations Invited to Partner With Schools and Youth Groups for Save Our History Grant Program Deadline: June 1, 2007 Each year, the History Channel, through its Save Our History ( [link] ) program, awards $250,000 in total grants of up to $10,000 each to U.S. From The Foundation Center. MORE

In its sixth year, the program will award a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships. The competition is open to students in grades 6-12 who are either registered and home-schooled or enrolled in a public or accredited private school, and who are legal residents of the U.S. or the District of Columbia. Teams of students can enter if they are part of an after school science or environmental club, but the challenge is not open to clubs outside of school. MORE

If you are interested in more information about this grant opportunity, click "Link to Complete RFP" at the end of this blog post]. Deadline: September 17, 2012 "Institute of Museum and Library Services Accepting Applications for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program "The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting applications for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. From The Foundation Center. [If MORE

Save Our History Invites Applications for Community Education and Preservation Projects Deadline: June 5, 2009 Save Our History ( [link] ), a program of the History Channel ( [link] ) and the American Association for State and Local History ( [link] ), is a national initiative that supports local history education and historic preservation efforts in communities across the United States. Applicants must be located in one of the fifty states or the District of Columbia. MORE

History Channel Announces Guidelines for Save Our History Grant Program Deadline: June 6, 2008 An initiative of the History Channel ( [link] ), the Save Our History Program invites history organizations to partner with a local school or youth group and apply for funding to help preserve the history of their communities. The History Channel will award a total of $100,000 in grants of up to $10,000 each in 2008. From The Foundation Center. MORE

If you are interested in more information about this grant opportunity, then click "Link to Complete RFP" at the end of this post]. A partnership of the French-American Cultural Exchange and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation , the program seeks to foster the creative and professional development of jazz artists from France and the U.S. through the collaborative investigation of artistic practice and exposure to new audiences, music concepts, and professional relationships. MORE

That means plenty to each of us personally, of course, but as nonprofit professionals it also means quite a bit work-wise as well. As you hope for the best return on that holiday pitch you should have already prepared, and as you get set for those final big asks of the year, you might want to see where your state stands in the new state-by-state assessment of charitable giving. of generosity. New York, the District of Columbia, Utah, California, and Connecticut. MORE

Eleven months ago we reported a case of nauseating fundraising fraud involving a rip off of $75 million. First, a bit of background. government’s Federal Trade Commission joined by attorneys general in all 50 states and the District of Columbia filed suit against 4 cancer charities charged with scamming donors out of more than $187 million. This is not a case of too much solicitation; it’s one of downright disgusting and outright fraud. MORE