From stewart at oweesta.org Fri Aug 1 15:49:53 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:49:53 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] CDFI Fund News Release: CDFI Fund to Hold Informational Conference Calls on CDFI Certification Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE2C0D17@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> CDFI Fund to Hold Informational Conference Calls on CDFI Certification July 28, 2008 The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) will be conducting a series of conference calls regarding CDFI Certification. These calls will serve as a forum for potential certification applicants to ask questions of CDFI Fund staff about becoming a certified CDFI. The schedule and instructions for accessing the conference calls are outlined below. Please click here to view the full text of this news release. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080801/2b667afc/attachment.html From stewart at oweesta.org Fri Aug 1 15:50:47 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 13:50:47 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] CDFI Fund News Release: CDFI Certification/Certification of Material Events Deadline Announced for Potential Applicants to the FY 2009 CDFI Program Funding Round Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE2C0D19@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> CDFI Certification/Certification of Material Events Deadline Announced for Potential Applicants to the FY 2009 CDFI Program Funding Round July 28, 2008 Washinton, DC -- In preparation for the upcoming FY 2009 CDFI Program funding round, the CDFI Fund is announcing that: (1) Organizations that are not Certified CDFIs and that intend to apply for Financial Assistance in the FY 2009 CDFI Program funding round must submit a CDFI Certification Application by 5:00pm EST Wednesday, October 1, 2008; (2) Organizations that are Certified CDFIs and that intend to apply for Financial Assistance in the FY 2009 CDFI Program funding roundmust submit a Certification of Material Events form by 5:00pm EST Wednesday, October 1, 2008. Please note that the FY 2009 CDFI Program Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) has not been published at this time. Please check the CDFI Fund's website at for the latest information regarding the NOFA's availability. Also, please note that organizations that do not intend to apply for Financial Assistance or intend to apply only for Technical Assistance in the FY 2009 CDFI Program funding round may submit a CDFI Certification Application at any time. Please click here to view the full text of this news release. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080801/3fefcdd7/attachment.html From stewart at oweesta.org Thu Aug 7 16:46:54 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 14:46:54 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] IDAs can give microentrepreneurs a boost Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE2C0FAE@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> Good information on individual development accounts (IDA) and the connection to microentrepreneurs - important for Native CDFIs and others developing IDA programs connected business/microlending. Developing savings and assets is important to every household's financial stability. Recognizing that, a number of microenterprise development programs are offering clients an opportunity to participate in an Individual Development Account (IDA), a matched savings account that can be tapped for a variety of purposes, including purchasing business assets. The latest edition in FIELD's Funder Guide Series Saving for Microenterprise Development , takes a close-up look at why IDAs work for microentrepreneurs and what has been learned about the accomplishments and challenges of IDA programs. Across the country, there are more than 73,000 IDAs owned by low-income Americans. To date, more than 31,000 asset purchases have been made from those accounts, including 5,200 small business investments. Although amassing large sums in an IDA can be challenging, the infusion of even a few hundred dollars into a very small or emerging business can often be significant. In turn, donors often can give a significant boost to an IDA program by making even small grants that can be used to match dollars invested by microentrepreneurs. Funder Guide Issue 12 explores this and others strategies donors can use to help improve and expand the use of IDA programs housed in microenterprise programs. All guides in the series are available free, on-line at: www.fieldus.org The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit created to foster enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues. Forward email Safe Unsubscribe This email was sent to stewart at oweesta.org by fieldus at aspeninst.org . Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe (tm) | Privacy Policy . Email Marketing by The Aspen Institute | One Dupont Circle, NW | Suite 700 | Washington | DC | 20036 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080807/2250860d/attachment-0001.html From sadoyeto at yahoo.com Thu Aug 21 01:49:37 2008 From: sadoyeto at yahoo.com (S Wofford) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:49:37 +0000 Subject: [CircleUp] New invitation from S Wofford Message-ID: You have been invited to connect as friends with S Wofford Please accept or reject this invitation by clicking below: http://www.bebo.com/in/7677657598a105548541b134 ...................................................................... Please do not reply directly to this email. This email was sent to you at the direct request of S Wofford . You have not been added to a mailing list. If you would prefer not to receive invitations from ANY Bebo members please click here - http://www.bebo.com/unsub/7677657598a105548541 Bebo, Inc., 795 Folsom St, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. From staci at oweesta.org Mon Aug 25 13:31:56 2008 From: staci at oweesta.org (Staci Lacroix) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:31:56 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] Minnesota Indian Business Conference Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE315B2F@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> Attached are the Save the Date card and agenda for the upcoming Minnesota Indian Business Conference - October 28-29. As you can see, Minnesota is closely following the MIBA, SDIBA and WIBA models for its inaugural conference, but have added a unique Minnesota flavor to the graphics. They have their alliance-creating followup meeting scheduled for December 2. SDIBA's own Dani Daugherty ? will be co-presenting on the Indian Business Alliance movement with Maria Valandra from MIBA and John Breuninger from WIBA as a way to provide support to the Minnesota group. Please distribute! Sue Woodrow Community Affairs Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Helena Branch Tel: 406.447.3806 Fax: 612.629.4169 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080825/37972009/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2008 MNIBC Agenda Attachment.doc Type: application/octet-stream Size: 58368 bytes Desc: 2008 MNIBC Agenda Attachment.doc Url : /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080825/37972009/attachment-0002.obj -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Save The Date MNIBC 10-28-29-08.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 118594 bytes Desc: Save The Date MNIBC 10-28-29-08.pdf Url : /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080825/37972009/attachment-0003.obj From stewart at oweesta.org Tue Aug 26 11:47:29 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:47:29 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] Reminder - VITA Grant Application Period Closes 9/2/08 and Tips on a Complete Package Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE315BE5@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> From: Quiller Carol M To: edgpj at aol.com Sent: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:45 am Subject: FW: Reminder - VITA Grant Application Period Closes 9/2/08 Please share throughout your network. Please send a gentle reminder to your partners that the closing deadline for the VITA Grant is fast approaching. All grant applications must be received in the Grant Program Office by September 2, 2008. So far, approximately 38% of the applications received are incomplete. This ranges from minor errors to most of the information missing. The most common errors so far have been: * CD not included- we are requiring a CD containing all application documents to be submitted when submitting by mail * Matching funds documentation- commitment letters not included, no detail or calculation to explain how they arrived at the dollar amounts. * DUNS number missing * Incomplete and/or missing forms- some information is completed on the form but not all, or one or more of the forms are not included. * Missing certification documents- there are a number of certification documents required, applications are missing one or more in many cases. To date we have made contact with the applicant to request missing information. I can say that up to this point the applications with the most errors are not established program partners. Applications that are incomplete or not received by September 2 cannot be considered. We will not have the luxury of contacting the applicants in time once the bulk of them come in. Please encourage your partners to read and follow the requirements that are outlined in Publication 4671. Specifically, they need to use the Application Package Submission Checklist found in Appendix B, page 65 of the Pub 4671. I have included the link to the latest FAQ's that I would appreciate you sharing with your partners as well. They may even want to save it as a favorite! We have categorized the questions for easier and faster searching. http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=185333,00.html Thank You, Libby Blair Chief, Grant Program Office (GPO) Phone: 404-338-8424 email address: elizabeth.blair at irs.gov GPO Email Address: Grant.Program.Office at irs.gov The information contained in this electronic message, including any attachments, from Libby Blair, Chief, Grant Program Office, may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify Libby Blair immediately by e-mail or by telephone at 404-338-8424, and destroy this communication. Thank You. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080826/34d2bc03/attachment.html From stewart at oweesta.org Wed Aug 27 12:46:36 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:46:36 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] Grants for microbusiness tax preparation open to microlenders and CDFIs Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE315DAC@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> NOTE: PLEASE SHARE WITH ALL YOUR NATIVE CDFIS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS! Grants for Tax Preparation and Planning for Self-Employed Start-ups and Growing Businesses CFED-NFED's Self-Employment Tax Initiative (SETI) is happy to announce that a Request For Proposal (RFP) to develop tax preparation services and products for start-up and growing microbusinesses is now available for downloading at SETI?s homepage (www.cfed.org/go/seti ). The DEADLINE for applications is September 26, 2008. Awards are made to no n-profit programs in three tracks: Startup programs ($10,000); Scale programs ($15-20,000) and Business Campaign strategies $30,000. Award decisions will be made by mid-October with funds available immediately to plan and implement assistance for the coming tax season. Total amount available for awards is $250,000 thanks to the support from the Citi Foundation. NOTE: A ?Q&A? CONFERENCE CALL will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 1:00 PM (Eastern) (see RFP for more details). Questions about this RFP should be directed to Alex Villaverde at avillaverde at cfed.org More information: In the US, filing business taxes for the first time is a defining event, and for all startup and growing microbusinesses, business taxation is a critical financial literacy skill that must be mastered to succeed. Almost by definition, startups in their first year of business are not prepared for determining their business tax situation. Unfortunately, most do not know where to turn for the kind of comprehensive tax preparation and business planning assistance they need to ?get their businesses right? for the long term. This is the third year SETI has offered grants to non-profit microenterprise, community free tax preparation programs, and CDFIs to use the country?s annual ?tax day? as an opportunity to reach out to start-up microbusinesses and other self-employed households. Check out the SETI website for additional information. ________________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080827/1c89c2fb/attachment-0001.html From stewart at oweesta.org Wed Aug 27 13:01:12 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:01:12 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] CDFI Fund Update: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to Host Information Session on CDFI Certification and the Fund's Mapping System Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE315DBA@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> August 26, 2008 Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to Host CDFI Fund Workshops Washington, DC -- The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' Community Development Office sponsors and participates in a variety of public forums that provide information and guidance on CRA-related requirements, community investment and development opportunities, and model programs and resources from around the country. On Tuesday, September 9, 2008 the Community Development Office is offering two workshops regarding certification by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Members of the CDFI Fund staff will lead the presentation at the workshop. For additional information, including how to register for this event, please refer to the details outlined below. CDFI Fund Workshops * Workshop 1: A CDFI Fund Overview-Expanding Opportunities for Community Economic Development * Workshop 2: Using the CIMS Mapping System to Determine Target Markets When Sept. 9, 2008 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Local Time Location Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Louisville Branch National City Tower 101 S. Fifth St., Suite 1920 Louisville, KY 40202 Representatives of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's CDFI Fund will conduct two free workshops. Attendees may select either or both. Workshop 1: A CDFI Fund Overview-Expanding Opportunities for Community Economic Development 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. This workshop will help participants decide whether their organization should become a certified CDFI. Representatives of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's CDFI Fund will also discuss the CDFI Fund's programs and present examples of entities that have successfully accessed and leveraged CDFI Fund awards. Workshop 2: Using the CIMS Mapping System to Determine Target Markets 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Learn how to use the CDFI Fund's Community Impact Mapping System (CIMS) to geocode addresses, map Target Markets, and determine whether specific markets are considered distressed under the CDFI Fund's criteria. This session also will provide guidance on addressing the Target Market and Accountability criteria as they relate to CIMS. Who should attend: Representatives of current or potential financial institutions, whose primary line of business is to provide financing; representatives of community organizations that intend to partner with financial institutions; and representatives of faith-based organizations. Register online by Sept. 5. For information, contact Faith Weekly at 502-568-9216 or faith.e.weekly at stls.frb.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080827/33385f06/attachment.html From stewart at oweesta.org Wed Aug 27 13:23:01 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:23:01 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] Specially Donated Quicken Software Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE315DC8@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> Something that might be interesting for any of you providing assistance in financial education and/or small business. Having trouble viewing this email? Click here While Supplies Last: Request Specially Discounted Quicken Software for Your Training Program Intuit has a special offer for organizations that offer financial literacy or small business training - bulk quantities of Quicken software at special discounts . Intuit's program not only provides Quicken software for training purposes, but also allows you to give a copy to each student to take home for their own use. Thanks to a generous donation from Intuit, qualifying organizations may request as many bundles as necessary to support their training programs while supplies last. Three different versions of Quicken are available in bundles of 25 or 100 units: * Quicken Deluxe 2007 (Admin fee - $75 for 25 units, $200 for 100 units) * Quicken Premier 2007 (Admin fee - $75 for 25 units, $200 for 100 units) * Quicken Home & Business 2007 (Admin fee - $100 for 25 units, $300 for 100 units) Learn more about these titles and place your request through TechSoup today. To compare Quicken versions and determine the best match for you, see our product comparison chart . Eligibility: Donations are available only to U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide training programs in personal financial literacy or small business development. View eligibility requirements . If you do provide financial literacy training but do not qualify for this program, please contact TechSoup customer service to request an exemption. ________________________________ Tell a friend at a nonprofit about TechSoup. If you received this from a friend, you can sign up to receive announcements from TechSoup. If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service Department at newproducts at techsoup.org or 1-800-659-3579, extension 700. We're available Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. You are receiving this email because your organization is registered at TechSoup: 435 Brannan Street, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94107. ________________________________ This message was sent to abotkin at firstnations.org. To remove yourself from all email lists maintained by TechSoup Stock, CLICK the following link (or reply via email with "remove" in the subject line): Unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080827/eba6be8a/attachment-0001.html From stewart at oweesta.org Wed Aug 27 13:29:27 2008 From: stewart at oweesta.org (Stewart Sarkozy) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:29:27 -0600 Subject: [CircleUp] NACA NOFA info for Native CDFIs, Tribes, etc. + CDFI Fund to Announce CDFI Awards Tomorrow Message-ID: <82182B01DBD600448F4C7D2631BA1BFE315DCC@SERVER1.fnoc.internal> Native CDFIs, Tribes, Native nonprofits, etc.: The CDFI Fund will be issuing the NOFA for this year's NACA TA Grant Program (the Native Community Development Financial Institution TA grant) very soon. The CDFI Fund will base the potential awards on last year's appropriations ($8.2 million) since the appropriations process is not yet complete. The core NOFA for TA grants released some weeks ago DOES NOT require Native groups to respond, as the NACA NOFA will serve that purpose. Stay tuned. See forward from CDFI Coalition below on core TA program announcement. From: bounce-2976614-4989645 at list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-2976614-4989645 at list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of CDFI Coalition Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:09 AM To: communitydevelopmentbanking-l at cornell.edu Subject: CDFI Fund to Announce CDFI Awards Tomorrow (8/27/08) The CDFI Fund will announce the organizations from across the nation that have been selected to receive $54.2 million in awards under the FY 2008 round of the Fund's CDFI Program on Thursday, August 28th (tomorrow). Donna Gambrell will announce the awards in Port Angeles, Washington. The city of Port Angeles has been chosen as the site for the national award announcement to not only highlight the two Washington-based award recipients, but to focus on the work that many CDFIs do to support the revitalization and growth of the nation's rural communities. The awardees were selected after a competitive review of 225 applications received by the CDFI Fund from organizations across the nation that requested more than $205 million in funding under the FY 2008 round of the CDFI Program. Please check the CDFI Fund's website tomorrow (www.cdfifund.gov) to view the FY 2008 award recipients. CDFI Coalition 3240 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 220 Arlington, VA 22201 703.294.6970 phone 703.294.6460 fax www.cdfi.org The CDFI Coalition is the unified national voice of community development financial institutions. Our mission is to encourage fair access to financial resources for America's underserved people and communities. Sign up to join the CDFI Coalition's ACTION NETWORK at www.cdfi.org . Receive important legislative updates, information about funding opportunities, and news about the industry directly in your inbox. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/circleup_lists.ournativecircle.org/attachments/20080827/4d3ddfac/attachment.html