Have you heard of widgets. No, not the manufacturing kind. The web kind.

A web widget is a third party application that bringings your favorite content and services right to your web page. And eBay has one for your nonprofit.

Now this won't mean much to you unless you use eBay as a fundraiser for your nonprofit. If you do, this is a big step forward. Using eBay To Go you can can highlight a single item you have for sale, multiple items, or your store - on any page on your nonprofit's website.

Here's a sample of what it will look like:



Learn all about it at: eBay To Go.

Did you realize our federal government had a free, searchable database of all discretionary grants offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies on over 1,000 grant programs and access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards?

You do not have to register with Grants.gov to find grant opportunities. However, once you are ready to apply for a grant, you will need to get registered. This process takes 3-5 business days.

Grants.gov was established as a governmental resource named the E-Grants Initiative, part of the President's 2002 Fiscal Year Management Agenda to improve government services to the public.

Visit http://www.grants.gov/ for more information or to search the database.

Better late than never! Frogloop.com brings you "A Procrastinator’s Guide to Year-End Fundraising".

The title says it all so hop on over (sorry, I couldn't help myself) and check it out: http://www.frogloop.com/storage/article-downloads/End_of_Year_Fund_Raising_Guide.pdf

Been thinking of jumping on the video band wagon for your nonprofit? Creating a digital story for your potential donors or your constituents?

The Digital Storytelling Institute has a series of how-to informational articles about the nuts and bolts of creating videos they have produced and are now offering online for free. They include such helpful areas as:

1. Preproduction Steps
2. Defining your Audience
3. Audio Tips
4. Camera Angles
5. Camera Movements
6. Interview Tips
7. Glossary - Hundreds of entries from Analogy to Zoom.
8. Talent Release Sample Form
9. Storyboard
10. Log Sheet Template
11. Story Outline

Excess Access links donations of business and household items and materials with the wish-lists of nearby nonprofits that can provide pick-ups or accept drop-offs. They serve the US, Canada and beyond.

Their slogan is, "Together we're keeping useful goods out of over-flowing garbage dumps. It's great for charities and the environment!"

Check them out online at: http://www.excessaccess.com/ to see if this would interest you.