This team focuses on strategies for approaching foundations for financial support.

Team members:

• Carla Schlemminger
• Leslie Rule
• Charles Nesson
• Brewster Kahle
• Susan Mernit
• JD Lasica

For an excellent backgrounder on what foundations want from a nonprofit organization, please print out and read these two articles by Jonathan Peizer of the Soros Foundations:

• Sustainable Development In The Digital Age
• Bridging The Digital Divide

Foundations to approach

• Christine from the Omidyar Foundation told JD at Blogher to study the Foundationcenter.org for tips on approaching foundations

• Alfred P. Sloan foundation

mentioned by the Computer History Museum, could be joint application

• Leslie: Leslie: Eugene from Community Technology Foundation of Calif, it's phone co. money

• Leslie: Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant monies for online operation, Nov. 1 deadline.

• Skyline Public Works is the incubator that providesf unding for zack's CivicSpace, Music for America and other public-interest initiatives. Based in Redwood City.

• Soros Foundations is one the funders of MediaChannel.org. JD has been in contact with Jonathan Peizer (jpeizer@sorosny.org), their CIO.

• HP Foundation

• Siemens Ventue Capital is a company fund investing in information technology.

• Applied Materials (of Santa Clara) is opening a venture arm.

• Long Now Foundation

Alexander Rose, Executive Director < zander@longnow.org > ph.415.561.6582 in SF. JD invited him to citizens media summit in SF in May. He answered, "I am copying this to our digital research director Kurt Bollacker to see if he can make it for our Foundation. He was one of the architects of the Internet Archive, and other great projects like SiteSeer. he would be a real asset at the conference."

Also, Stewart Brand < sb@gbn.org > runs the Long Now Foundation, and he pointed us a while back to Simone Davalos 415-561-6582; simone@longnow.org

• Compasspoint is a professional foundation investing dollars in 3-year cycle grants.

• the Omidyar Foundation offers grants to innovative public-interest tech initiatives. We're in contact with them.

• Mark Graham suggested contacting Mike Smith, program officer at the Hewlett Foundation who's responsible for education.

• Stories1st is funded by the Oregon Arts Council, Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

• the Markle Foundation supports efforts like this.

• Media Venture Collective is a fund of the Rudolf Steiner Foundation.

• Markus said the National Science Foundation supports some video projects similar to this.

• The Public Radio Exchange is a nonprofit service for distribution, peer review and licensing of radio pieces. Sponsors include the Ford Foundation, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Open Society Institute.

• the Skoll Foundation is dedicated to seeking out, investing in connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs

• Dave Toole recommended the Bill Graham Presents Foundation (correct name?) for a small grant

• Tides Center

• In July 2005, JD spoke with John S. Bracken , Program Officer, General Program, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, who invited us to speak with them if we're ever in Chicago. In the past, they've been generally focused on public broadcasting, independently produced film and social documentaries, and public radio infrstructure. 2-3 years ago the foundation tarted a mini initiative with IP in the public domain. Grantees include:

Creative Commons, the Berkman Center, PublicKnowledge.org, Public Radio Exchange (with Jake Shapiro), the American Library Association. John Seeley Brown is a board member. John recommends writing up a two- to four-page development plan to send to him. Think about how the media landscape is changing and what it means for all of us. Any innovative ways to get PBS, NPR, WGBH or KCRW involved?

Jonathan, MacArthur's president, was president of Human Rights Watch. What does citizen journalism mean from that end? We're supporting Global Voices at Berkman. Human rights orgs aren't handing out camera phones to people in Ukraine or afflicted areas; might we?

• Rockefeller or Ford Foundation gave about $1 million a year ago or so to Oneworld.net.

• The PBS program "NOW" receives funding from:

Park Foundation
Orfalea Family Foundation (pronounced Orfala)
Nathan Cummings Foundation
Tower Creek Foundation

• Ford Foundation

from August 2005:

Contact: Joe Voeller
Office of Communications
(212) 573-5128

The Ford Foundation today announced $50 million in grants for public
service media in the United States. The funds will help innovative public
media organizations to meet the public’s growing appetite for in-depth
information and diverse perspectives on national, international and
cultural affairs.

This effort, Global Perspectives in a Digital Age, will help ensure that
public media organizations whose past innovations fostered the rich array
of programs we now take for granted will have funds to create a new
generation of programming in a rapidly changing media environment. They
will help established and newer public media ventures use new approaches
and technologies to expand international news, public affairs and cultural
programming and reach diverse audiences that can help them attain
financial security. Ford is also supporting activity that encourages
independent media organizations to share resources, ideas, outreach and
distribution strategies.

"Public media has earned the public trust and is a proven trendsetter,"
said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation. "It is helping
us all understand new global realities that affect our society and the
ways in which our country affects others. Public media does this well and
needs our support to continue this role. We expect that our grants will
help key organizations create innovative programs, formats and
distribution systems."

These grants mark the Foundation’s continuing interest in the development
and use of public television in informing audiences about national and
world affairs. The initiative builds on the Ford Foundation’s long history
of support for public media, beginning with core funding in the 1950’s to
develop educational broadcast channels and programs that eventually led to
the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1967. Since
1951 the foundation has provided over $435 million of support to public
television and radio for core support, innovative programming and
educational outreach. This includes funding for the now legendary Sesame
Street and for production of independent documentaries broadcast on public
media outlets such as the award-winning Eyes on the Prize.

"An informed citizenry is vital to good governance and community life and
these grants challenge media innovators to enrich our education and
knowledge," said Susan Berresford. "The grantees will help us understand
the news we receive from various sources, and contribute to the public
dialogue that is essential in a healthy democracy."

Philanthropic individuals to approach

Does anyone know anyone who knows these individuals?

• Andy Rappaport of August Capital. He was involved in Music for America and progressive political causes.

• Mark Cuban < Mark.Cuban@dallasmavs.com >

• Jeff Skoll of Skoll Foundation

• Susan suggested Ken Howsky of Half Moon Bay, works with Mobile Monday. He belongs to the Geek Corps. to get technology businesses built. "He's a giver." She also suggested Ken Matkowski (who he?).