Technology and Ministry Conference

1. Technology and Ministry Conference

2. Resources for Christian Computer Centers Andrew Sears Association of Christian Community Computer Centers www.ac4.org, info@ac4.org (617) 282-9798 Technology and Ministry Conference February 22, 2003, Boston

3. Outline • AC4’s Collaboration on Grant for Computers • Boston Compassion Capital Fund Grant • Other Resources for Computer Centers • About the Association of Christian Community Computer Centers

4. AC4 Collaboration withthe Beaumont Grant Program

5. About the Beaumont Foundation • The Beaumont Foundation’s Vision is “To fulfill the promise of the Information Age by providing Americans access to technology and the skills to use it.” • About $350 million in technology equipment will be granted to support low-income students and their support communities • Funding will be provided over 5 years in all 50 states and the District of Columbia • Funded as part of settlement in Shaw vs. Toshiba, an historic $2.1 billion class action case

6. AC4 and the Beaumont Foundation • AC4 is collaborating with the Beaumont Foundation to serve as their primary intermediary with Christian organizations • AC4 helps Beaumont Foundation to get the word out and helps sites in applying • AC4 will provide sites receiving Beaumont Foundation grant with Technical Assistance • AC4 plays a role in the application process, but final decisions are made by Beaumont Foundation

7. Eligibility • Must be a 501(c)(3) organization or government agency • Must be serving individuals at or below poverty level • Must have committed leadership and capable staff

8. Eligibility Group A States are eligible in 2003 & 2005, Group B States are eligible in 2004 & 2006

9. General Information • About $20 million available for community grants in 2003 • Grants range: $20,000 to $100,000 of Toshiba equipment only • Only one application per site - organizations with multiple sites may submit separate applications for each site • Grants must supplement, not supplant, current technology efforts • Collaboration with schools and community organizations is strongly encouraged • Submit applications early • Provide all required supporting documentation • Applications must be submitted through the BFA website

10. Funding Availability • Massachusetts organizations will not be able to apply until Fall 2003 • Roughly one half of funds will go to community and faith-based groups • One third of community grants will be distributed in years two (this year) and three • Large portion of current grants pre-assigned to Boys and Girls clubs and Gates Foundation • Leaves roughly $20 million available each year for community grants for years two and three • Organizations can re-apply in years four and five • Two thirds of community grants will be distributed in years four and five • Grant funds are allocated on a state-by-state basis based on poverty population of the state, which means level of competition may vary by state

11. Funding Priorities • Want organizations with high chance of success • Low risk tolerance so they are not focused on “new” higher risk sites • Organizations starting new computer labs should have other factors to demonstrate high chance of success • long demonstrated history • large budget • proven model (i.e. Boys and Girls Club, etc.)

12. Funding Priorities • Organizations will have an advantage when applying through an affiliation with a national organization (like AC4) that can provide support and training for technology programs • AC4 members can get code to apply through AC4 • AC4 will provide feedback on early drafts of grant • AC4 will also provide “first read” in formal review process • All final decisions will be made by the Beaumont Foundation

13. For More Information • Visit: http://www.bmtfoundation.org/grants • Call AC4 at (617) 436-7052 or E-mail us at info@ac4.org • AC4 members should call to get code to apply through AC4 • Visit http://www.ac4.org to find out more about AC4

14. AC4 Support in Grant Process • AC4 will support grant recipients through: • Information Distribution • Assistance in Applying for Grant • Training • Curriculum Materials and Manual • Capacity Building Manual • Two full-time staff to support sites

15. Boston Compassion Capital Fund Grant

16. About the Boston CompassionCapital Fund (BCCF) • Supported by the federal Compassion Capital Fund grant • BCCF Partners = United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Black Ministerial Alliance, Emmanuel Gospel Center, Boston Ten Point Coalition • Funds available in 2003 • $1.9 million for program expansion/ replication • $980,000 for technical assistance efforts

17. BCCF Program Expansion/ Replication Grant Information • Grants for program expansion or replication • Program priority area = youth services • Both for organizations providing direct service and for organizations that build capacity of other organizations • Geographic priority areas = Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury, South End • Funding level = typically $20,000 - $40,000 • Timeline • Round 1: Due = March 6, 2003 Announcement = May 1, 2003 • Round 2: Due = July 17, 2003 Announcement = Sept. 30, 2003

18. Eligibility and Funding Criteria • At a minimum, applicants must: • be a faith-based organization, or a community-based organization working collaboratively with faith-based organizations • have a 501(c)(3) designation, or a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent • have paid staff or plans to hire, at minimum, a 25% paid staff person • operate within at least one of the five priority Boston neighborhoods (Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury, South End) • have a demonstrated record of at least one year of program operations • submit a complete application • BCCF funds may only be used to support non-religious social services; BCCF funds may not be used for religious worship, instruction or proselytization

19. Selection Criteria • Applications consistent with BCCF guidelines and objectives will be assessed based on: • Organizational capacity • Program relevance (youth outreach/ organizational capacity building) • Program outcomes • Sources of funding/ relative financial need • A more detailed description of these criteria is provided with the application materials

20. Contact Information • For more information or an application, please contact: The Black Ministerial Alliance 2323-2328R Washington Street Roxbury, MA 02119 Phone: 617-445-2737 E-mail: bct@bmaboston.org

21. Resources

22. Curriculum • AC4 has dozens of lesson plans for teaching computers at www.ac4.org • Includes Word, Excel, Photoshop, etc. • Includes lessons for youth and adults • Instructional Book: “Using Theology to Teach Technology” • Find more at: http://www.etrainingconsult.com

23. Fund Raising • Research Grants by Visiting Associated Grant Makers Office in Boston for free • Have database of thousands of foundations • 55 Court Street, Suite 520, Boston, MA 02108Phone: 617.426.2606 • Locations of other libraries at: fdncenter.org/collections/ • Get sample grants from AC4 • Develop your program

24. Other Grants for Tech Programs • Visit Grants Page at AC4’s Website at • http://www.ac4.org/resources/grants.html • Subscribe to Tech Grants Newsletter at: • www.imakenews.com/techfoundation/ • List of Tech Grants at: • www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2comptec.htm

25. General Discounted Software • AC4 Discounted Software Info Page • www.ac4.org/resources/software.html • Software to Serve Participants and Community • Get $30 most Microsoft, Adobe, Symantec products • At www.computmentor.org and at www.giftsinkind.org • Software for staff • Get copies of Microsoft Office XP Professional for $65 • Order at www.CCBNonprofits.com

26. Computer Donations • Gifts in Kind International (www.giftsinkind.com) • Cost $125 to register and must be Non profit 501(c)(3) and use software for service to community • Cost $225 for 5 used computers 486 & above laptops/desktops • Network hubs for $50 • Provide great discounts (90% off) on office products, projectors, clothes, etc. • Computer Refurbishing • Accept computers along with clothes other donations • Have a minimal acceptance standard (I.e Pentium or above) • Request written agreement they are transferring software license with computer

27. Web Site Filtering Software • Filtering Service by Promise Keepers (pkfamily.com) • $5.95 per month for existing DSL or cable modem connection • Filtered dial-up Internet access for $15.95 • Filtering Server or Client Software • CleanWeb (www.cleanweb.net) • CyberPatrol (www.microsys.com) • Cybersitter (www.solidoak.com) • CyberSnoop (www.pearlsw.com) • Net Nanny (www.netnanny.com) • Net Shepherd (www.netshepherd.com) • Safesurf (www.safesurf.com) • Watchdog (www.sarna.com) • We Blocker (free at www.we-blocker.com) • X-Stop (www.xstop.com)

28. Becoming a Certified MOUS Testing Center • MOUS Certification in Microsoft Office • Costs $495 to become a certified testing center • comes with 10 tests & practice software • Additional tests are $50 each • To sign up call Alex McCabe at DDC Training Services (800-528-3897 ext. 315) • ask for their application and order form to become an iQ Testing Center for MOUS Exams

29. Other Good Tech Discounts • Low-cost Web Hosting • Visit http://www.webhostingratings.com/ • Low-cost LCD Projector • Plus Vision (Lightware Series): $1,100 • Low-cost Conference Call Service • 12 cents/minute per person for an 800 access number or 9 cents/minute per person for a number in 617 area code • www.netspoke.com. Ask for Mike Comerford at Netspoke at 781-528-2275 and tell them you are associated with AC4 • Low-cost E-Commerce • Microsoft bCentral FrontPage Commerce Manager ($100 per year for 25 items) using Card Services International (3.5% with no monthly fee)

30. About the Association of Christian Community Computer Centers

31. Association of Christian Community Computer Centers • Mission: • To support Christian community computer centers across the world as they address the digital divide by providing computer skills to make a living and a spiritual foundation to make a life • To assist the 300+ identified existing Christian community computer centers and help others get started • Web: www.ac4.org • E-mail: info@ac4.org

33. Locations of Christian Computer Centers

34. Joining AC4 • Must be AC4 member to apply through AC4 • Join online at www.ac4.org • Cost $20 for orgs with a budget < $500k • Cost $20 for orgs with a budget > $500k • For more information send E-mail to info@ac4.org or call at 617-282-9798

35. Benefits of AC4 Membership • TRAINING to better run your computer center • conferences, workshops and conference calls • RESOURCES • Info on equipment, grant information and software hardware donation information. • Computer Curriculum manual • Capacity building manual for your tech center • COLLABORATION and COMMUNICATION • conference calls • E-mail list • Website

36. Benefits of AC4 Membership • GRANTS • Ability to participate in grants program including grants for new computers • PARTICIPATION in future programs • Currently investigating program to provide full-time Americorps staff to computer centers • ASSISTANCE • Starting a computer ministry • Consulting to improve your computer center • Web design

37. Other Information Resources and Networks • Association of Christian Community Computer Centers • E-mail List: www.ac4.org • Community Technology Centers Network www.ctcnet.org • Good E-mail list and go to national conference each June • Provides Community Technology Center start up manual • Christian Computing Magazine: www.ccmag.com • Youth Learn: www.youthlearn.org • Provides manual and E-mail list for youth and technology • Compumentor: www.compumentor.org • Provides technology information to non-profits • Visit HUD’s Neighborhood Networks at www.neighborhoodnetworks.org • Adult Literacy E-mail Lists: literacy.nifl.gov/forums.html • NTIA Report: “Falling through the Net” • www.digitaldivide.gov/reports.htm

38. Appendix

39. Digital Divide

41. Computer Industry*** Manufacturing Jobs Down 55-65%* Jobs Grown to 7.4 million & Increasing 6.5% per year Once provided 52% of jobs to some groups, but now only 28%** 65% of all jobs use computers 90% of all jobs use computer- related technologies * In a range of Northern cities between 1967-1987, When Work Disappears ** Statistics are for inner-city black men in Chicago *** Other sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Commerce Information Economy

42. Average wage in IT-producing industries was $58,000 346,000 IT jobs remain vacant nationwide and 1.7 million need to be filled by 2003 Information Economy Computer Industry*** Manufacturing Jobs Down 55-65%* Once provided 52% of jobs to some groups, but now only 28%** * In a range of Northern cities between 1967-1987, When Work Disappears ** Statistics are for inner-city black men in Chicago *** Other sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Commerce