After years of retreat, Americans yearn to return to public life, to be part of something larger than themselves. Rich Harwood’s Powerpoint-free session details what it takes to turn outward toward the community and make hope real and explores what it means to know our community context and how to authentically engage with the community to create impact and sustainable change.

Podcast info: Download the mp3 (21mb, mp3) or subscribe to our iTunes stream.

In October, I was invited to be a judge for the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s VolunTV Challenge. This contest built off iParticipate’s week of volunteer-focused TV programs by inviting people to imagine how their favorite nonprofit could be incorporated into a TV show.

The list of judges was pretty stunning, ranging from film star Ashley Judd, TV personality Nigel Barker and a bigwig from the MPAA to social media superstar Beth Kanter and tech goddess Holly Ross. I was happy to be along for the ride. Sadly, we did not have a chance to judge the competition together. I would love to have been in a film festival style panel, witnessing the behind the scenes debates, shouting matches and the occasional scuffle. Instead, the Chronicle of Philanthropy kept us safe by using technology to allow us to vote from the comforts of our own sofas.

Last week, the prizes were awarded. Amazingly, all three winners proposed stories for 30 Rock. Congratulations to the winners and a big thanks to everyone who went to bat for their favorite nonprofit by entering.

The Grand Prize Winner ($5k!)

Video pitch from Joe Moran & Marissa Goldberg for New York’s Quality Services for the Autism Community

Two Silver Prizes ($2.5k each)

A written treatment from Maureen Sullivan and Rob Warmowski for Chicago’s Saint Rose Center.

And a video pitch from Cody Switzer for Goodwill Industries:

No more than 25 years ago, pioneering firms like The Body Shop, Patagonia, and Newman’s Own appealed to a thin segment of consumers while breaking the rules in their respective industries. More recent entrants, like Interface, Ethos Water, and TOMS, achieve widespread brand recognition and record sales while remaining true to their original principles. This hands-on workshop by Jonathan Greenblatt and Nora Silver explores insights on the trends and opportunities in this dynamic and exciting field.

Podcast info: Download the mp3 (12mb, mp3) or subscribe to our iTunes stream.

Earlier this year we teamed up with The Phoenix Project to look at the state of service learning. For those unfamiliar with service learning, it’s where a service project is integrated with classroom learning. This was a great opportunity for us to get a glimpse of how young people are actively engaged in strengthening their communities, and how their universities and professors are supporting those efforts and relating them to academic study.

We wanted to learn more about not only participation levels but what’s working and what’s not in service learning among three groups of participants: students, university faculty and staff, and community organizations.

We’ve shared a bit about our service learning conversations and what we learned at http://craigslistfoundation.org/servicelearning.html. We hope it contributes to the evolution of service learning.

Are you busy beyond belief? Trying to balance your work and life, yet always coming up short? Tired of never having enough time, energy, or focus to get the results you want? If so, you are ready for a change. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in some playful interactive practices to help you feel more balanced: Discover what a balanced work/life really means to you with a quick self-assessment. Learn three secrets to balancing your professional and personal life. Find out which tips and tools work best, starting now!

Podcast info: Download the mp3 (20mb, mp3) or subscribe to our iTunes stream.

How do some organizations attract top board members, donors, and political support while others struggle, despite their worthy purposes? This presentation shares the secrets of successful nonprofits that know how to build and use social capital to survive and thrive. Authors Shirley Sagawa and Deb Jospin share the findings from their new book, The Charismatic Organization.

Podcast info: Download the mp3 (22mb, mp3) or subscribe to our iTunes stream.

Very cool.  Congratulations to our friend David Roll at Lex Mundi and all the other fellows and social innovation winners!

“This year’s winners of The Purpose Prize, a $100,000 award for social innovators in their encore careers, are using a new stage of life to do extraordinary things to improve life for millions of people worldwide…”

Check out more here:

http://www.encore.org/prize

Hear how a cross-sector partnership healed the land. Through shared purpose, bold vision, and intensive community involvement, Crissy Field was transformed in 2001. At the core of this acclaimed restoration project was the partnership between the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, which continue to work seamlessly together and with the community to improve and preserve the Golden Gate National Parks.

Podcast info: Download the mp3 (20mb, mp3) or subscribe to our iTunes stream.

Hear from three nationally recognized, leadership development programs breaking new ground on approaches to developing leaders and organizations that focus on collaboration. Representative from the Haas Jr Foundation Flexible Leadership Program, CompassPoint and the Rockwood Leadership Institute reflect on their own experiences with leadership and share cutting edge trends in leadership development in the nonprofit world, coaching models and transformational leadership approaches. Understand the significance of leading from the inside out and personal leadership development in the context of nonprofit work and social justice service.

Presenters: Linda Wood, Amanda Berger, and Marla Cornelius

Podcast info: Download the mp3 (18mb, mp3) or subscribe to our iTunes stream.

The Case Foundation, Causes, and Parade Publications have partnered on America’s Giving Challenge – a way for you to win money for the causes you care most about!  Since the start of the competition on October 7 (runs through November 6) over $850,000 in donations has been raised for more than 6,500 causes!  Make sure you get in on the action -  here are a few details:

• Giving Challenge participants will have the opportunity to compete for daily and overall awards – ranging from $500 to $50,000 – based on the number of donations to their cause. The minimum donation an individual may give is $10.
• The Causes on Facebook application is the technology platform for the Giving Challenge. Nonprofit organizations and individuals who wish to raise money by becoming a “cause champion” will have the opportunity to leverage their existing presence on Facebook or create a new cause to participate.
• Anyone can donate to a Giving Challenge cause – Facebook membership is not required.

Go to americasgivingchallenge.com to get started.