The event also served as a “send-off” for Assemblywoman Skinner as she heads to Copenhagen, Denmark this week for the 2009 United Nations Convention on Climate Change. This conference brings together 192 countries and 100 heads of state or government in negotiations to deal with the growing threats posed by global warming. Assemblywoman Skinner will represent California alongside State Senator Fran Pavely and other state leaders, and will speak about her energy efficiency legislation and California policies. She will also interact with the University of California delegation that is attending the conference to provide expert testimony through panel discussions.

Recognized as the California Assembly’s 2009 Rookie of the Year, Nancy authored landmark legislation this past year, including bills that will give foster youth better access to college housing, (AB 1393), make AC Transit buses more bike friendly (AB 652), and bring thousands of energy efficient jobs to California (AB758).

The Madera Group congratulates Assemblywoman Skinner for all of her achievements in 2009, and wishes her a victorious 2010!

Photo: CPUC Commissioner Dian Gruenich, Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, and Janice Lin from Stratgen Consulting
Photo Credit: Erik Johnson

Success in social marketing and fundraising means making our clients visible in a crowded online marketplace. Our agency works with clients to develop a strategy that not only uses social networks, but also persuades others to pass the word on. That means creating inspiring and thoughtful messages that work for both email inboxes and social networking sites. It means telling a story that communicates the meaning of the work we are describing, and showing the results that come from it.

The desired goal is to have the public, or the media, pick up a story and carry it even further — a bonus that is the reward for hard work and creative thinking.

Even better, is when an agency partners with a once-in-a-lifetime client who needs no introduction to the social marketplace — in our case, President Bill Clinton and his foundation, the William J. Clinton Foundation. On August 19th, President Clinton celebrated his 63rd birthday. To celebrate, The Madera Group collaborated with his foundation staff to launch an online birthday card fundraising campaign with the culminating message sent by his beloved friend Nelson Mandela.

By the way, it is not too late to send President Clinton a birthday wish and make a donation.

Happy Birthday President Clinton! We thank you and your foundation for all that you are doing around the world to fight climate change, eliminate childhood obesity, and give access to HIV/AIDS medicines to millions of people. Your work is an inspiration to us all.

The Madera Group supports United4Iran.org’s global day of solidarity on Saturday, July 25th. Untited4Iran is a non-partisian group of individuals working to end the widespread and systematic violations of the people of Iran’s human and civil rights. In just three weeks United4Iran participation has grown to over 110 cities worldwide.

The Madera Group has been assisting United4Iran.org with website strategy, social networking and video production and coordination.

Nobel Peace Laureates, prominent Iranian poets & artists, and many others support the global day of action including: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Sean Penn, Dariush, Jody Williams, Betty Williams, Mairead Maguire, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Simin Behbahani, and Ismael Khoii.

Please watch this excellent video, produced by a participant in Amsterdam to support the event.

This month, the Madera Group continues our work with Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, launching a new “campaign within a campaign” to help increase enrollment in their program, Make Mine a Million $ Business. Founded by social entrepreneur and author Nell Merlino (who created “Take your Daughter to Work Day”), Count Me In helps women entrepreneurs grow their businesses by providing (for free or at very low cost) a suite of online tools, webinars, national and regional events, and access to business development experts.
More than 60,000 women have joined the online community, and another 1,500 have paid a small fee to join a more focused “fast track” to business growth, the “Make Mine a Million $ Business Race” known as the M3 Race.

With a goal of registering 3,000 women by July 31st, we have launched the Race to 3,000, a special e-mail messaging campaign that aims to double the number of racers this summer. Every M3 community member will receive special attention in the next four weeks, through targeted multi-media messages that frame the values of the program using data gleaned from feedback the organization has received from past events. In addition, M3 members are invited to participate in CMI’s free on-line webinars each Wednesday, which teach a variety of business practices, strategies and tools, as well as offer helpful hints and ideas from featured entrepreneur experts.

This week’s webinar, What’s New in the M3 Race, will show participants how to navigate through their personal business resource tools, as well as help them discover new resources and discounts from Count Me In’s partners that are exclusive to M3 Racers. Count Me In’s Program Department will also be on hand to answer questions about how to tailor and personalize M3 RACE tools for specific businesses.  And that’s not all! On Monday, July 13th, M3 members are invited to hear Nell Merlino speak at a special Meet-Up event, the Girls Inc panel discussion: “Corporate Camp for Entrepreneurs” in New York City.

In her blog a few months ago, Nell Merlino wrote about bringing back the buddy system, reminding us that while self-sufficiency is important, the power of companionship and collaboration cannot be forgotten, especially when working toward a goal. Nearly everyone can identify with the experience of forming a supportive network of friends that help encourage one another to succeed, and that’s what the M3 community is all about. Count Me In brings together a national team of experts and allies, introduces them to one another, and connects them to thousands of potential clients and customers.  Amid a lagging economy, it’s vital that women business owners can come together, share their ideas and talk about how they are steering their way through these challenging times. The Make Mine a Million $ Business Race gives women the chance to move forward and accomplish their goals even faster. We encourage you to join the race by July 31st! Visit www.makemineamilion.org/race.

I am in San Francisco for the national conference of WBENC, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, giving the keynote address at lunch today.  As I prepare to speak I am overwhelmed with the importance of women getting together, reaching out and venturing out to talk with other business owners about how they are handling the dramatic changes in the marketplace, the economy and their family lives.

We can learn so much if we get out of our offices and homes, put down our cell phones, Blackberry’s and iPhones and talk with other entrepreneurs, as well as representatives from big corporations and government, about how the game has changed, what the new rules are this week, where the possible business leads are and strategies for survival and future growth. You’ll get very little insight sitting in you office trying to figure out why you are losing customers, clients and contracts all by yourself. The shame, doubt and blaming will set in if the only conversation you are having is with you. So set aside money if you can, and attend a few business conferences or meetings.  And when you can’t get away, keep stay connected by attending a few of our webinars.

By traveling to San Francisco this week I have had the opportunity to meet Kat Taylor, the founding Director of OneCalifornia Bank, the bank that made the SBA-insured loan that Linda Russell has been blogging about.  (Kat has an incredibly beautiful fish tank on her front steps that feeds an edible garden. I’ve never seen anything like it.) Thanks to Linda’s introduction we are now discussing how to introduce more women in the Bay Area to financing opportunities through OneCalifornia Bank.

I also have had the opportunity to talk with Lorene Arey – Count Me In board member who embraces change and always challenges me to face the future joyfully. I took that picture of the Golden Gate Bridge from her living room. Last night I had dinner with Kath Delaney of the Madera Group who is helping Count Me In optimize our web site and tonight I will be attending a gathering of M3 Racers at Molly Fuller’s business Hands on Gourmet.  I know I will come away smarter, calmer and clearer about what lies ahead and how we will all move forward together.

Practice staying connected. Being in a community in person and online is the best way to survive and thrive now.

Believe in you,
Nell

The Clinton Foundation and Madera Group launched a new video about the Clinton Foundation Millennium Network’s work to inspire young philanthropists to become the “How Generation.”

President Clinton joined more than 600 young leaders in Los Angeles at the Millennium Network reception on April 30th. Actors Jessica Alba and Adrian Grenier were hosts, and Will.i.am performed. President Clinton challenged the audience to answer the great questions of our time: How can we leave a positive impact on the next generation? How can we make individual changes in our lives to make a large difference in the world? As Madera’s Executive Producer, I produced the “How Generation” video for the Clinton Foundation, with David Driver as the Director of Photography. We shot the video on location with a high definition camera. As you will see from watching the video, the overflow crowd provided a lively backdrop for our interviews.

As a follow up to the Millennium Network reception, the Clinton Foundation and Madera Group created an email message to share the video with the network’s supporters. (Click Image)

To learn more about the Clinton Foundation Millennium Network, visit their Facebook Cause page.

The gala opening of the David Brower Center this Sunday in downtown Berkeley is, literally, a dream come true. I say this because I sat down four years ago with the founder and chief visionary of Berkeley’s showcase green office building, Peter Buckley, and the renowned UC Berkeley cognitive scientist, George Lakoff, to talk about what it means to create a place for good people to work, live, play and help make the world a better place.

At the risk of oversimplifying, Lakoff argues that metaphors structure human thought, both conscious and unconscious. For him, talking about the Brower Center kicks off an inquiry into language, motivation, and human needs. Peter is a humble and practical man, just looking for a way, he said, to provide people with a “decent facility.”

A superb meeting of the minds, it turns out. The tagline for the building—which is home as of this month to a dozen social ventures, a restaurant, a 180-seat theater, meeting spaces and a gallery—is “What Inspires You.” This little gem of verbal alchemy gets to everything this building is about. First, the space—open, dignified, and light-filled. Then, the building itself—an engineering marvel that is best practice in environmentally sensitive design and construction. And finally, the metaphor itself—a place of inspiration and purpose, and connection for the community that built it and is now making it home.

The Madera Group, for all the reasons cited here, and more, is both delighted and humbled to be part of this dream.

We’re excited to be a part of the ongoing learning about socially beneficial online giving that’s growing worldwide.

Following are highlights we’ve chosen from the conference program:

The New York Times has called DonorsChoose.org “the Wikipedia of hope.” Global Giving has been called “The Charity Long Tail.” Fortune was so bold as to title its feature article on Kiva, “The Only Nonprofit that Matters.” And home-grown, but similarly modeled organizations around the world such as Give India, Brazil Social Stock Exchange, Greater Good South Africa, Help Argentina, and many more have quickly become important actors in their respective philanthropic ecosystems.

At this one-day conference, the Stanford Social Innovation Review brings together the leaders of 16 global online giving marketplaces with philanthropy experts, so as to tap the pulse of what’s really happening on the frontier of philanthropy. What defines an online giving market? How will they transform the philanthropic sector in the near future? What opportunities exist to shape and accelerate this phenomenon?

9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
One Venture Capitalist’s Perspective
Randy Komisar, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and former virtual CEO of Global Giving, interviewed by Mari Kuraishi, president of Global Giving Foundation

9:45 – 10:15 a.m.
A Wild Ride: Creating a New Marketplace
Premal Shah, president of Kiva

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Online Giving Markets 101
Moderator: Lucy Bernholz, founder and president of Blueprint Research & Design Panelists: Venkat Krishnan, founder and director of GiveIndia; Carol Tappenden, managing director of GreaterGood South Africa; Clam Lorenz, vice president of operations at eBay Giving Works/MissionFish; Tom Williams, founder and CEO of Give Meaning

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Online Giving Markets: Niche or Revolution?
Moderator: Katherine Fulton, president of Monitor Institute Panelists: Jacob Harold, program officer, philanthropy, at The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Brita Lombardi, executive vice president for strategic development at DonorsChoose.org, Mari Kuraishi, president of Global Giving Foundation; Jay Backstrand, cofounder and board memberof VolunteerMatch; Matt Halprin, partner at Omidyar Network

3:15 – 3:50 p.m.
Innovations in Philanthropy
Peter deCourcy Hero, former president and CEO of the Community Foundation Silicon Valley and visiting fellow at the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (starting January 2009)

— Feliciano dos Santos

Here in San Francisco we are fortunate to have the inspiring annual Goldman Environmental Awards. The financial prize increased this year to $150,000, which is a significant cash resource for the local activists from around the world. Many of the award recipients work tirelessly for relatively little compensation. The 2008 winners are from Mexico, Mozambique, Russia, Ecuador, Belgium, and Puerto Rico.

I was particularly moved by Feliciano dos Santos from Mozambique,
working on sustainable development issues through music-based outreach
about sanitation.

When Feliciano came on stage at the Opera House, he gave a moving speech about his work to educate local villagers about personal hygiene and sanitation, as Mozambique is prone to water borne illnesses. Feliciano was struck with polio as a child, so he knows the critical importance of public education. Feliciano sang for us his now famous song, “Wash your Hands.” As a result of incorporating hygiene messages in his music, people throughout Mozambique have begun to focus more on the country’s rural sanitation problems. You can watch a video profile about him here.

I hope you and your family will take sometime on Earth Day to make a commitment to action and environmental education.  To learn more about the other Goldman Prize award winners click here.

It is hard to believe that this week is already the 38th anniversary of Earth Day. Once a marginalized holiday for those of us working within the environmental movement, it has now become a global emergency call to address climate change and numerous other environmental threats.

The Craigslist Nonprofit Boot Camp connects social innovators with knowledge and resources on how to start and run a vibrant organization—and proves the Bay Area continues to lead the country in sustainable solutions.

The exhibit hall at the August 18 conference at UC Berkeley was the place to be for networking—with about 40 nonprofit and business tables, it was packed throughout the day. I was working at the Young Women Social Entrepreneurs, with NTEN, Nonprofit Technology Network, at the table next to us. Madera Group’s Internet Strategist Michael Stein, who serves on the Steering Committee for the 2008 Nonprofit Technology Conference, was there networking as well.

Participants had a choice of over 20 interactive workshops and panels across a variety of educational tracks, covering the essentials of starting and running a nonprofit or social enterprise. At a Social
 Entrepreneur track panel, for example, Ben Mangan talked about EARN’s  work in creating strategies to help low income people save money and build assets. EARN’s emphasis on building assets helps clients survive and smooth out the effects of personal or economic down cycles.

For those working in the social profit arena, such as Madera Group, connections and knowledge building through the Boot Camp is incredibly valuable for inspiration and for practical updating on new developments and innovations. While sipping free samples of an energy juice spiced with caffeine, one could meet representatives from Google, Foundation Center, Tech Soup, California Association of Nonprofits, Compasspoint, Jossey-Bass, Design Action Collective, Rockwood, Philanthropy World, and GiftWorks. The atmosphere of the hall was interactive and lively, making conversations easy.

Building avenues of collaboration is exciting to me as a communications strategist who works exclusively with social profit projects. Moving from one project to the next as we do, we build knowledge about best practices and bring together teams that can integrate various aspects of strategy, from communications to fund development to Internet. I look forward to deepening some of the relationships formed at the Boot Camp, and to attending Bioneers in October.