Mark van Gurp is the founder of Osocio, an international blog devoted to showcasing the best advertising and marketing for social causes. Mark began an earlier blog, Houtlist, in 2005 as a personal collection of nonprofit ads. Overwhelmed by the response, he began Osocio in 2007 with more than a dozen regular contributors. He has […]
Communications: Telling Stories To Touch Lives & Raise Money
Telling and listening to stories is what we humans do. The story could be about our morning commute or about three Russian brothers wrestling with their rocky relationships after the murder of their cantankerous father. But what makes either of those stories compelling is the opportunity for story teller to touch the experiences, expectations, and […]
Philanthropy: After Momentous News, What Are Your Next Steps?
As you surely know: Last night, President Obama announced the killing of Osama Bin Laden. The news is developing as we post, and we are not going to pretend we can add anything to this ‘momentous occasion.’ The much more modest proposal today is to ask “What am I going to do next?” The question […]
#INTERVIEW: Christopher Davenport, Founder of 501 Videos
Christopher Davenport is the founder of 501 Videos, a company that makes videos exclusively for nonprofit clients. His experience includes years in Hollywood working on commercial films and, later, making documentaries. His website is home to Movie Mondays, a weekly series of short films featuring fundraising professionals in action. The interview was conducted by Don […]
#Communications: The Value of Digital Annual Reports to Nonprofits
As we have switched our clocks this past weekend and approach the vernal equinox next weekend, many nonprofits are also preparing their annual reports for 2010. In the last couple of years numerous charities and fundraising groups have been moving their ARs online and into digital spaces. Though the flexibilities and advantages are many, the […]
#NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT: Charities Encouraged To Write A Poem To Get A Check
If writing yet another grant proposal during this time of year, as the days grow longer yet the cold winds still catch us unawares, then you might want to try your hand at writing poetry. ‘Community TechKnowledge‘ (CTK) has offered up some $25,ooo in support to those who write winning poems about their projects. The […]
#INTERVIEW: Debra Askanase, Socialbrite.org Strategist, Offers Useful Advice To Nonprofits Using Social Media
Debra Askanase, founder of Community Organizer 2.0, is an “engagement strategist” who consults with nonprofit organizations on digital media. She is also a strategist for Socialbrite. Her background includes a decade of community organizing experience, followed by seven years in community economic development. The interview was conducted by Don Akchin, a principal of Nonprofit Marketing […]
Gray is Good: Hollywood Finally Embraces Aging
An article in the Baltimore Sun (Jan 9) looks at a crop of movies where the characters are older, wiser, and more rounded individuals. Could this be a new trend or simply a bump in the road? “What many of the newer films have in common, on the other hand, is a willingness not only […]






