USHLI's Project SED Will Spark a New Generation of Voters
Rebecca Villaneda
HispanicBusiness.com
Dec 14, 2011
The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) today launched Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy), which aims to generate a new generation of voters.
Project SED already is offered to high school students, but in this new phase, students will learn civic education via social media.
Dr. Juan Andrade
"Now, students everywhere will be able to become involved in the democratic process through Project SED, which includes an instructional curriculum, a mock election and the option to register to vote," said USHLI President Juan Andrade Jr. "This is arguably the most challenging, exciting and innovative initiative I have been involved in, in my 40 years of promoting civic education and participation.
"While USHLI will continue registering voters in more traditional ways, we are mindful of the fact that with an estimated 50,000 Latinos turning 18 years of age every month we must learn to utilize technology to create ways to effectively reach, educate and empower more people in less time," Andrade continued. "To that end, in addition to an interactive curriculum that will make civic education fun and engaging, Project SED incorporates multi social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. We are putting electoral power into the hands of students -- literally -- through mechanisms such as smartphones, cell phones, PDA's and laptop computers."
Likening the project to a "virtual classroom," USHLI aims to reach 1.5 million students in 2012.
Through a partnering with the technology company Plus Three, Project SED is expected to launch in time for the 2012 Iowa Caucusus, scheduled for Jan. 3.
"Yes, we are ambitious," said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three. "Dr. Andrade came to me with a 10-year plan that would benefit the future of the Latino community -- this rarely happens. I am enthusiastic about this project because it's selfless."
Project SED welcomes the participation of nonpartisan groups, the education community and students of all grades and ages, according to a news release.
"This is about community and civic engagement," Andrade said. "Organizations such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers agree that we must continue to encourage our youth to become and stay active within their communities, and political engagement is one great way."
USHLI is a Chicago-based national nonprofit tax-exempt organization that was incorporated in 1982. Initially known as the Midwest Voter Registration Education Project, it changed its name in 1996. Its mission is to promote civic engagement, social integration, research, leadership development, redistricting and financial literacy.
USHLI announces Project SED, a virtual civics classroom slated to reach 1.5 million students in 2012
Posted on 12/14/2011 @ 08:30 AM
Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy) uses latest in social media and on-line engagement technology to educate and engage new and future voters
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) introduced Project SED, a virtual classroom bringing civics education to the age of social media. The project is the boldest in USHLI’s 20-year history and aims to reach 1.5 million students in 2012 alone. The students will learn about federal and state elections, participate in mock elections, and interact with peers online and with mobile phones.
"We are very excited to launch Project SED. The annual USHLI conference will turn 30 this year—we have seen major technological advances throughout our tenure, and we have seen how successful students can be when we provide them with the necessary tools to stay active and engaged in their communities locally and nationally," said Dr. Juan Andrade, president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. "If we want to promote civic engagement and encourage young people to vote we must put the power in their hands—specifically, cell phones and other electronic devices. It's the way the world communicates and USHLI will remain at the forefront."
Dr. Juan Andrade
Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy) first began as a civics education program in the Chicago area nearly 15 years ago. Today it expands to computers, mobile phones, and social networks spanning the country. After studying gubernatorial, congressional, senatorial, and presidential elections, students will discuss issues and candidates, trade the latest political humor, and then vote in a mock election. Students turning 18 years old by election day will receive information on registering to vote.
“This ambitious project takes participating in our democracy out of the classroom and into the lives of today’s students: on Facebook or Twitter and by text or email,” said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of technology company Plus Three. “At Plus Three we are delighted to lend our technology expertise to this crucial project. Discussing political issues and casting a ballot are key tenants of American life. The next generation of voters is well served by integrating civics education where they live, learn, and interact—online.”
USHLI is a Chicago-based national non-profit tax-exempt organization whose mission is to promote civic engagement, social integration, research, leadership development, redistricting and financial literacy. USHLI was incorporated in 1982 in Illinois as the Midwest Voter Registration Education Project, and changed its name to the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in 1996.
Plus Three’s Juan Proaño to speak tomorrow on civic engagement at 2011 LATISM Conference on social media
Posted on 11/10/2011 @ 11:00 AM
Proaño to address the power of social media to drive political change in the United States and around the world
WASHINGTON, DC – Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of leading social media and technology company Plus Three, will be a featured speaker at the 2011 Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) Annual National Conference which is taking place November 9-11 at the Navy Pier in Chicago.
The LATISM conference brings together innovative Latinos who use social media across three tracks: public service, business and leadership, and personal influence and community. Mr. Proaño will participate in the public service track as part of a panel on “The Social Media Movement for Civic Engagement” at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 11.
Mr. Proaño formed Plus Three in 2002 to improve the way nonprofit organizations fundraise and build constituent groups, by deploying cutting-edge technology and his 17 years of political experience. Plus Three has worked with some of the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organizations including the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), the Friends of the American Latino Museum, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and on issue campaigns which include Sotomayor for Justice, Latinos United for Healthcare and the 2008 Latino Inaugural Gala.
WHO:
Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three
WHAT:
“The Social Media Movement for Civic Engagement” panel at the 2011 LATISM Conference
WHEN:
Friday, November 11 at 2:00 pm
WHERE:
The Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.
FOR INFORMATION:
http://conference.latism.org/
Plus Three Continues to Build National Support for American Latino Museum
Posted on 10/15/2011 @ 12:00 PM
The Hispanic-owned company proudly highlights its work promoting the stories and contributions of American Latinos as Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close
WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, marks the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting their continuing partnership with and services for the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS).
FRIENDS seeks to create a museum in our nation’s capital dedicated to the history, culture, and contributions of Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American fabric. Plus Three began its work with the Congressionally mandated National Museum of the American Latino Commission, which presented its Congressional Report in May of this year, and within a few months built national support for the museum to 50,000 people. Now, under the banner of the FRIENDS, Plus Three has designed and helped launch americanlatinomuseum.org and the organization is now on the verge of surpassing 200,000 supporters—already more than any of the existing Smithsonian museums.
“At Plus Three we are privileged to work with so many virtuous non-profit organizations and important political causes, and this Hispanic Heritage Month we are especially proud of our work with the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino,” said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three. “With our help, the effort to build a Latino museum in Washington, DC has found thousands of supporters across the country. The museum will one day inspire a new generation of Latino leaders, and we are delighted to take part in the effort to build it.”
Plus Three has also recently launched the website of the HBO special The Latino List, which tells the American Latino story through the eyes of some our nation’s most celebrated Latino icons, elected officials and celebrities. This month also saw the launch of a project for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) to raise awareness of its Insider Game documentary project on diversity in the highest echelons of corporate America. Finally, Plus Three is proud to continue its work to enhance the online presence and outreach of the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the nation, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). With over 700 chapters in the U.S., Plus Three is working to ensure that LULAC has the capabilities to promote its public policy priorities and mobilize its members.
These are just a few among a host of examples of Plus Three’s capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.
October Newsletter
Posted on 10/15/2011 @ 10:00 AM
In this issue:
- Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Highlights of Plus Three's continuing work to promote the stories and contributions of American Latinos - Visit Us in Denver Nov. 6-8
Plus Three is sponsoring the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) General Assembly. Come see us at the Sheraton Denver Downtown.
Plus Three builds feature-rich online fundraising system for “DASH FOR DAD” endurance team races
Posted on 09/19/2011 @ 12:00 PM
Cutting-edge tools boost fundraising for ZERO, The Project to End Prostate Cancer
WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, built an extensive new online fundraising system for ZERO—The Project to End Prostate Cancer and its DASH FOR DAD and Great Prostate Cancer Challenge race series. The system allows race participants to raise money using customized individual and team online fundraising tools.
“DASH FOR DAD is a fantastic program that promotes men’s health while raising money for a vital cause,” said Juan Proano, president and founder of Plus Three. “We are proud to partner with ZERO in their work to end prostate cancer, and we are excited that the system we built has already expanded ZERO’s fundraising. This ambitious project is built on new components of our ARCOS technology that allows DASH FOR DAD racers to more easily their fundraising goals.”
This year, ZERO’s Great Prostate Cancer Challenge strives to raise $1 million dollars through 27 running and walking events across the country. Using the new ZEROCancer.org and GreatProstateCancerChallenge.com, the community of participants—including athletes, cancer survivors, physicians, caretakers, family members and friends—can use personalized individual and team pages to raise money and track their progress toward their fundraising goals. The ARCOS system lets fundraisers easily engage with friends and family through online social networks, accepts online and offline contributions, sends email alerts to fundraisers, and allows users to search for teams and racers. The sites will also honor top fundraisers.
“Plus Three’s fundraising software is an excellent and important resource for our organization and the race participants,” says Skip Lockwood, CEO of ZERO. “The work of Plus Three helps us to boost our fundraising efforts for our DASH FOR DAD and Great Prostate Cancer Challenge events, and ultimately helps us reach our goal of ending prostate cancer.”
Plus Three’s work for ZERO is just one among a host of examples of their capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.
Plus Three Migrates Production Infrastructure to Windstream Hosted Solutions
Posted on 09/08/2011 @ 02:00 PM
Raleigh Data Center to Provide IT Services for Company's Campaign to Support the Democratic National Convention Host Committee "Charlotte in 2012"
RALEIGH, N.C., Sep 8, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Windstream Hosted Solutions, a premier provider of enterprise-class managed hosting solutions, today announced that Plus Three has chosen to colocate the production infrastructure for its "always on" fundraising and member management systems at Windstream's SAS-70, Type II data center in Raleigh.
Plus Three, a state-of-the-art web design and technology company that helps nonprofit, membership and political organizations promote social change in America, decided to move to Windstream Hosted Solutions from another company's facilities in New York to help continue its rapid growth as one of America's fastest growing Latino-owned companies. "Our business is growing rapidly, but it was too crowded at the other facility in New York," said Juan Proaño, Plus Three's president & co-founder. "We could have installed additional racks in another area, but it would not have allowed us to keep up with our growth while still delivering low cost services to our clients."
Proaño said Plus Three needed the additional capacity to support the company's steady growth and to handle the online traffic expected from its fundraising and member management for the Democratic National Convention Host Committee "Charlotte in 2012" leading into the 2012 presidential election. Since its founding in 2002, the company has sent out more than two billion opt-in emails to more than 12 million enrolled members and has raised more than a quarter of a billion dollars in contributions.
Windstream Hosted Solutions' "Hi-Touch" consultative approach was a key factor in Plus Three's decision. Team members from both companies worked closely, designing and implementing the transition. "They understood our specific needs, the logistics of transfer, and the cutover," Proaño said. "Website control transferred without any downtime and our front end never went down." He notes the flawless transition was needed to maintain consistency to Plus Three's clients and their donors.
"Companies require consistent reliability that enables them to deliver their services to customers," said Kip Turco, senior vice president of data center operations at Windstream Hosted Solutions. "By providing our clients with state-of-the-art facilities and capabilities, coupled with unparalleled uptime, we help them meet their objectives. This proves beneficial to them and to the companies with whom they do business."
"If companies are serious about growing their business and scaling their infrastructure, but conscious about cost, there isn't a better partner than Windstream Hosted Solutions," Proaño said.
About Windstream
Windstream Corp., headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., is an S&P 500 communications and technology solutions provider with operations in 29 states and the District of Columbia and about $4 billion in annual revenues. Windstream provides IP-based voice and data services, MPLS networking, data center and managed hosting services and communication systems to businesses and government agencies. The company also delivers broadband, digital phone and high-definition TV services to residential customers primarily located in rural areas and operates a local and long-haul fiber network spanning approximately 60,000 route miles. For more information about Windstream, visit www.windstreambusiness.com .
The Windstream Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7044
SOURCE: Windstream Corporation
Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee Launches New Democratic National Convention Website CharlotteIn2012.com, Relying on Plus Three's Design Team and ARCOS System
Posted on 09/07/2011 @ 02:00 PM
Website kicks off preparation for the 2012 convention in Charlotte, North Carolina
WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a minority-owned business that is a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, designed and implemented CharlotteIn2012.com, which was launched last week by the convention’s host committee. The site will allow convention organizers to share information with attendees and reach their $37 million fundraising goal with the backing of Plus Three’s industry-leading ARCOS system.
“The beautiful, diverse, and dynamic city of Charlotte is a fitting host for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. We hope the social media and fundraising tools Plus Three has honed will reflect the vibrancy of the city and the excitement that is already building for the 2012 presidential race,” said Juan Proaño, president and founder of Plus Three. “Through the tools that we have built for the committee, over the next year CharlotteIn2012.com will become the hub of information for the millions who will follow and attend the convention. We are proud that the site continues to build on our success of creating a state-of-the-art presence for many important political and progressive causes.”
CharlotteIn2012.com includes Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ integration. The site combines tools for volunteers and donors with information for delegates and the thousands who will flock to Charlotte in just over a year. The site also features a “Making History” multimedia archive of past Democratic National Conventions, an online store, and a vendor directory that will help national organizations connect with local and regional businesses in order to meet their Democratic National Convention-related needs. Business owners can register and create a company profile that can be searched by categories including services, company size and other demographics.
The Convention will draw an expected 35,000 visitors to the Charlotte area, including 15,000 media, 600 – 700 delegates, members of both the U.S. House and Senate and other significant figures in public life from around the world. It is anticipated that there will be more than 1,000 events held in Charlotte during the convention, in addition to official DNC activity.
Plus Three’s work for the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee is just one among a host of examples of their capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.
July Newsletter
Posted on 07/19/2011 @ 11:00 AM
In this issue:
- New Tools Coming This Summer
Watch for updates in the weeks ahead about these new tools that make it easier for you to raise more money and engage your supporters online through your website and social networks. - Selena Gomez Fans Surpass Barack Obama Fans on Facebook, Plus Three Social Media Survey Finds
In one year, Latino Facebook users grew 167% compared to 21% among non-Hispanics. - Plus Three Revamps 68-Year-Old National Peace and Social Justice Organization’s Online Presence
The new fcnl.org merges Plus Three’s cutting-edge web tools with FCNL’s half-century of peace and social justice advocacy work.
Selena Gomez Fans Surpass Barack Obama Fans on Facebook, Plus Three Social Media Survey Finds
Posted on 07/12/2011 @ 05:00 PM
31 Other Latino Celebrities Among Top 1,000 Facebook Fan Pages
Latino Facebook Users Grew 167 Percent Compared to 21 Percent Among Non-Hispanic
WASHINGTON, DC — Plus Three recently conducted a survey of social networking sites to determine the growth of this valuable media tool for Latinos. Among the more interesting findings, actress and singer Selena Gomez has passed a significant milestone on Facebook by surpassing Barack Obama with 22.5 million fans. A total of 32 Latino celebrities are among the top 1,000 Facebook fan pages, the survey finds.
“Latino Facebook users grew 167% compared to 21% among non-Hispanics from April 2010 to April 2011 according to comScore," said Juan Proaño, President, Plus Three. “ Latinos are using Facebook to stay connected with family and friends and to stay connected with their identity. Any organization that wants to stay in touch with a Latino audience will need to focus its outreach on using Facebook and social media in order to stay relevant today”.
The triple digit growth provides the strongest indicator yet that Latinos are rapidly adopting Facebook and social media to connect with family and friends but also to advance common interests, issues, grassroots movements and social causes.
Plus Three surveyed the top 1,000 Facebook fan pages and found 32 Latinos celebrities among the top 1,000. Only three Latinos broke into the top 100. Shakira was the top Latina celebrity with 35 million fans and ranked number eight on the overall list followed by Selena Gomez at number thirty-five and Enrique Iglesias at number forty-eight.
The Latinos with at least 2 million Facebook fans are mostly singers, athletes, and comedians. Athletes from the World Cup and Reggaeton artists dominated the list. Latino celebrities on the list include Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Lionel Messi, Ricardo Kaka, George Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, and Carlos Santana.
Nielsen reports that the average Facebook user spends four hours and 39 minutes on the site per week. That is more time than the average user spends on Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Microsoft, Wikipedia, and Amazon combined. With a number of public and private initiatives to drive broadband adoption among underserved communities, such as the one being led by NCLR, LULAC and One Economy, we should expect that Latinos will continue to increase their online presence as well as become more sophisticated in their usage to stay connected at home, school, work, and even on the go.
Latinos With the Most Facebook Fans
Data for this survey was taken from Source Data.
| Rank | Name | Fans | Type |
| 8 | Shakira | 35,875,202 | Singer |
| 35 | Selena Gomez | 22,276,194 | Actress |
| 48 | Enrique Iglesias | 19,685,811 | Singer |
| 186, 284, 835 | Lionel Messi | 15,535,438 | Athlete |
| 131 | Ricardo Kakà | 9,779,271 | Athlete |
| 155 | Demi Lovato | 8,719,504 | Singer |
| 162 | Pitbull | 8,456,444 | Singer |
| 164 | Daddy Yankee | 8,399,149 | Singer |
| 186 | Lionel Messi | 15,535,438 | Athlete |
| 189 | Fernando Torres | 7,525,901 | Athlete |
| 192 | Rafael Nadal | 7,420,362 | Athlete |
| 198 | Andres Iniesta | 7,167,068 | Athlete |
| 229 | Don Omar | 6,492,023 | Singer |
| 270 | George Lopez | 5,828,510 | Comedian |
| 297 | Mariah Carey | 5,295,893 | Singer |
| 320 | Ricardo Arjona | 4,984,899 | Singer |
| 322 | Jennifer Lopez | 4,971,423 | Singer |
| 355 | Luis Fonsi | 4,748,077 | Singer |
| 363 | Taio Cruz | 4,654,998 | Singer |
| 381 | Tony Dize | 4,509,832 | Singer |
| 423 | Christina Aguilera | 4,153,389 | Singer |
| 552 | Cesc Fàbregas | 3,416,732 | Athlete |
| 596 | Juanes | 3,247,789 | Singer |
| 629 | Don Ramon | 3,104,709 | Comedian |
| 694 | Maná | 2,851,478 | Singer |
| 709 | Travis Pastrana | 2,795,499 | Athlete |
| 722 | Ronaldinho | 2,773,892 | Athlete |
| 807 | Gabriel Iglesias | 2,505,116 | Comedian |
| 845 | Alex Campos | 2,403,197 | Singer |
| 938 | Ricky Martin | 2,231,185 | Singer |
| 953 | Jesus Adrian Romero | 2,210,865 | Singer |
| 978 | Carlos Santana | 2,179,039 | Singer |
Plus Three Revamps 68-Year-Old National Peace and Social Justice Organization’s Online Presence
Posted on 07/07/2011 @ 01:30 PM
FCNL.org merges Plus Three’s cutting-edge web tools with FCNL’s half-century of peace and social justice advocacy work
WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, recently completed a full revamp of the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s (FCNL) web presence. FCNL and Plus Three have worked together for nearly four years, and Plus Three was honored to take on the significant project.
“We are proud to have worked since 2007 with an organization so dedicated to peace and justice, and we were delighted that FCNL asked us to redesign their website and content management system,” said Juan Proaño, President, Plus Three. “Our ARCOS system allows FCNL to manage all aspects of their web presence using one fully integrated system so they can reduce their overall cost and management time and focus on their steadfast and important work.”
FCNL fields the largest team of registered peace lobbyists in Washington. Since 1943, the organization has merged Quaker values of peace, equality, simplicity, and truth with a broad social justice agenda. Over the years, the organization had amassed thousands of online content items spread over a number of systems and databases. Plus Three migrated over 3,000 stories to its ARCOS platform—which provides content management, fundraising and advocacy tools, and email delivery in a single platform—and refreshed FCNL.org with a modern, strategic design that incorporates social media tools.
“Plus Three's integrated approach to communications has helped FCNL significantly expand our online advocacy and fundraising,” explained Jim Cason, FCNL's Associate Executive Secretary for Campaigns. “The Plus Three team has a client-focused approach to communication that focused on what we needed to do in order to accomplish our goals as an organization. I particularly appreciate their focus on designing the technology solutions to accomplish the goals we set out for the project.”
Plus Three’s work for the Friends Committee on National Legislation is just one among a host of examples of their capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.
June Newsletter
Posted on 06/14/2011 @ 12:00 PM
In this issue:
- One-Upping the Louvre
Plus Three’s social media campaign leads the National Museum of the American Latino Commission to over 100,000 supporters - New Community Tools
New event, group, and community-fundraising tools now in your toolkit - Upcoming Events
Plus Three’s social media campaign leads the National Museum of the American Latino Commission to over 100,000 supporters
Posted on 05/12/2011 @ 01:30 PM
MyAmericanLatinoMuseum.org Establishes Museum Commission’s Social Media Presence Resulting in Exponential Increases in Membership
WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, an emerging leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, lent its expertise to the National Museum of the American Latino Commission in February of 2011. Plus Three launched MyAmericanLatinoMuseum.org with social media tightly integrated, and through a direct response email strategy and targeted Facebook advertising, membership increased dramatically within the three months of the campaign, quickly exceeded goals.
“With more Latinos than ever using the internet to communicate, learn and interact with their community, social causes must look to the internet to spread the word about their important goals,” said Juan Proaño, President, Plus Three. “The outpouring of support for the National Museum of the American Latino shows the deep desire of our community to share our culture, art and history with the nation. At Plus Three, we are proud to help the museum’s commission reach thousands of supporters who will be crucial to building this museum.”
Prior to Plus Three beginning its work, the commission had fewer than 3,000 Facebook fans and 12,000 supporters in its email database. In just over 90 days, Facebook fans have now exceeded 50,000 and the commission’s email database surpasses 65,000. The increases are staggering and place the campaign to build an American Latino Museum alongside the membership of the world’s greatest museums. The Latino Museum’s Facebook support exceeds each of the Smithsonian Museums and its rate of growth tops even the Met in New York and the Louvre in Paris.
Plus Three’s work for the National Museum of the American Latino Commission is just one among a host of examples of their capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.
We're Sponsoring NCTech4Good Friday
Posted on 04/09/2011 @ 09:00 AM
Join us in Chapel Hill!
This day-long conference will bring together representatives of the nonprofit and technology communities to identify and address the technology needs of the nonprofit community in North Carolina. The conference will be an interactive conversation between nonprofit leaders, technology experts, and volunteers. Look for Plus Three's Alice Lincoln and Michael Peters when you register and throughout the day.
Friday, April 15, 2011 from 8am - 5pm
The William and Ida Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC
Nonprofit Technology Contest Update: Thank You to All of Our Entrants!
Posted on 04/06/2011 @ 03:15 PM
Winner To Be Announced at the End of April
Thank you to all of the wonderful nonprofit organizations who entered our 2011 Nonprofit Technology Contest, including:
- 1000 Friends of Florida
- A Better Chance
- Adventure Unlimited
- All-American Boys Chorus
- Alliance for Downtown New York
- Alpha House of Tampa, Inc.
- Ambitious Kids, Inc.
- Archways, Inc
- Association of Naval Services Officers
- Babcock Center, Inc.
- Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
- Boy Scouts of America - San Diego-Imperial Council
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington
- CAMA (Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara, Inc.)
- Centro Altagracia de Fe y Justicia
- Chess-in-the-Schools
- Community Services & Employment Training, Inc. (CSET)
- Computers for Youth
- D.C. Language Access Coalition
- Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
- Fugees Family, Inc.
- Gompers Habilitation Center
- Home HeadQuarters
- ISA (Institute for Student Achievement)
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- Junior Achievement of Greater Miami
- Lolo African Children's Foundation
- Mama's Kitchen
- Mid Shore Pro Bono
- NALEO Educational Fund
- National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC)
- North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center
- Ocean Alliance
- OneCommunity
- PAVE
- Personal Counseling Service
- Phoenix Conservatory of Music
- Project SHARE of Carlisle
- PUENTE Learning Center
- Resource Area for Teaching
- SafeHaven of Tarrant County
- Santa Maria Hostel, Inc.
- St Louis Volunteen.com
- Sustainable Northwest
- Talking Talons Youth Leadership
- Taproot Foundation
- The Earth Circle Foundation, Inc.
- The Mind Research Network
- The Sparrow's Nest Maternity Home
- The White House Project
- Utah Society for Environmental Education (USEE)
- Virginia New Majority
- World Water Watch
- Youth Mentoring Connection (YMC)
We are very pleased with the response we received, and are excited by the opportunity to give back to the nonprofit community. The winning nonprofit will receive the resources and online infrastructure it needs to put its best foot forward and achieve its goals online, including a full website redesign and 1 year of hosting services and online marketing technology.
Our judges are currently reviewing the applications. A winner will be announced at the end of April.
Good luck!
2011 Plus Three Nonprofit Technology Contest Deadline Extended to March 15
Posted on 02/16/2011 @ 02:15 PM
Free Website Design and 1 Year of Hosting on the Industry's Best Marketing Platform
By now, many of you have heard about our 2011 Nonprofit Technology Contest. For those of you that haven't, it's simple. Because of our long-standing involvement in the nonprofit web-services sector, we are well aware of the deep divide between the incredible work many nonprofits do and how they present themselves online. For that reason, we decided to offer this incredible opportunity to provide one nonprofit with the resources and online infrastructure it needs to put its best foot forward and achieve its goals online.
If your organization's website needs an overhaul, if you are interested in expanding your nonprofit organization's online capabilities to include state-of-the-art fundraising and advocacy tools, or if you you have a special project that needs an online presence, we encourage you to apply.
The winning nonprofit organization will receive a full website redesign and 1 year of hosting services and online marketing technology. It's our way of saying "Thanks!" We are proud to have worked with some of the most distinguished and widely respected nonprofit, membership, political, and advocacy organizations. Now, we want to give back to the vibrant nonprofit community that nurtures us all, and help an outstanding organization expand its great work to even more people.
We have extended the application deadline to March 15, 2011, so be sure to submit your organization’s application today!
Click here to learn more about the 2011 Plus Three Nonprofit Technology Contest.
Even if you are not going to apply for your organization, please spread the word to those you know in the nonprofit sector by forwarding this email or posting a message on Facebook or Twitter. We welcome the opportunity to work with the full spectrum of organizations serving communities in need across the nation.
Thank you!
Plus Three Announces National Competition to Award $50,000 in Web Design and Online Services to a Non-Profit Organization
Posted on 12/16/2010 @ 01:05 PM
Open to both national and local non-profit organizations, with applications due February 15, 2011, competition gathers panel of distinguished corporate and philanthropic leaders to pick finalists
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Plus Three—which has emerged as a go-to web design and technology company for non-profit, advocacy, membership, and political organizations—has announced the launch of a national competition to select an not-for-profit organization to receive $50,000 in strategy, design, and technology services including the fundraising and advocacy tools that Plus Three has pioneered.
“At Plus Three, we have seen again and again that cutting edge technology can allow not-for-profits to blossom and prosper faster than ever before. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to select a well-deserving organization and award them with the tools we have spent years refining,” said Juan Proaño, President of Plus Three. “This contest is a fun and unique way to promote the importance of new media to help a great organization raise money, build support, and achieve their goals.”
Interested organizations can visit plusthree.com/contest for more information on the competition, which will be judged by a panel of national leaders from the advocacy and business community. Along with the web-design and tools, the winning organization will receive one year of hosting and support. The deadline for entry is February 15, 2011 and winners will be announced in March 2011. On January 5, 2011, Plus Three will hold a national conference call to provide more information and answer questions about the competition.
The winning organization will be selected by this distinguished judging panel:
- Jennifer Vogel Bass
Communications Manager, Rainforest Alliance - Tom Castro
Entrepreneur and Civic Leader - Charlie Hale
Vice-President of IT & Operations, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC - Wade Henderson
President, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights - Robert Raben
Founder and President, The Raben Group, LLC - Bonnie Reiter-Lehrer
Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
“Communications technology continues to advance at an incredible pace and many non-profits, working on some of the most important social justice issues of our time, find themselves scraping additional resources together just to keep up,” stated Tom Castro, entrepreneur and civic leader. “This is an incredible opportunity for an organization to boost its visibility and communications efforts, which, in turn, will help raise additional funds for its valuable programs. I am honored to be a part of the selection process.”
About Plus Three
Founded in 2002, Plus Three is a state-of-the-art web-design and technology company that helps nonprofit, membership, and political organizations promote social change in America. Plus Three’s demonstrated commitment to developing innovative and effective online fundraising and advocacy tools has helped its clients raise over $250 million and engage over 12 million people – educating them and moving them to act in support of the causes and candidates they care about. To learn more, please visit: www.plusthree.com
Guest Blogger Series: “Will You Donate $2 Today?”
Juan Proaño
LATINOVATIONS
Dec 3, 2010
Engaging the Hispanic Community in Online Fundraising & Advocacy
Every day, more and more Latinos and Latinas are going online. Whether for work, for play or to advance social causes, Latinos are increasing their presence and exercising political will with their laptops and cell phones. The mystery to many Latino advocacy and civil rights organizations has been how to translate that energy into online giving. Obviously, it’s not as simple as many people think or everyone would be flush with donors. Yet, at the same time, it is not as complex as many suggest. The Latino audience is supportive, but like most Americans doesn’t want to be hit up for money every other day. How do you find the balance?
When starting to think about fundraising for your organization online, you must do so in a way that is conducive to your base instead of trying to mimic others’ success. For example, people often hope to emulate the success Barack Obama had in his presidential campaign by following the same tactics. The fact is, though, that you are not running a presidential campaign and you are definitely not Barack Obama.
Latino organizations, this means focusing on the stories of the people you serve and the impact you have on those people’s lives. Every day, you and your co-workers provide valuable services to the community. In one day, you might help one person, one hundred, or even thousands. If you can tell their stories on a personal level, your message will get through to people in a way that makes them take out their wallets.
Another common mistake organizations make is to set the bar too high. This is especially true for Latino organizations because of the significant socioeconomic factors that differentiate Latino organizations from their counterparts in the progressive community. You can’t start by asking for $25. It’s a big number and the first thing a person will notice before deciding to contribute. Sometimes, even $5 is too high. If we can get people to get past the mental block of giving then we can be successful—and we can also ask them to give again and give more.
At Plus Three, we found that asking for $2 works well. Sure, it sounds crazy and like it’s not worth the effort—but before you stop reading, take a look at these numbers for a 501(c)(4) Latino advocacy organization that asked its supporters to give just $2:
| Contributions | 716 |
| Unique Donors | 697 |
| First-Time Donors | 692 |
| Average Contribution | $19.7 |
Take a look, too, at these numbers for a 501(c)(3) Latino nonprofit:
| Contributions | 678 |
| Unique Donors | 633 |
| First-Time Donors | 585 |
| Average Contribution | $67.21 |
These are the kind of results that we are seeing across the board for all of the Latino non-profits we serve. Once a person commits to making a contribution, takes the credit card out of their wallet, and enters the required information, they often decide they can give much more than $2.
The best part is that the demographic makeup of these donors was both over 97% Latino and 20 years younger than their offline counterparts who give through direct mail.
It has been a wonderful experience for us to see so many people named Juan, Jorge, Cynthia, Patricia, Eduardo, Emilio, Molina, Nieves, Hernandez, Reyes, Herrera, Ortiz, and Garcia commit their hard-earned dollars to Latino nonprofits that make individuals’ lives better and our communities stronger.
There is no doubt that the time to build this capacity is now. Latinos are a driving force in our economy, culture, and communities. Online fundraising that targets our community helps keep our collective mission moving forward and empowers an entire generation looking for a way to be a part of historic efforts in service of a myriad of civil and human rights issues.
Simply put, we must find the best way to tell our story, share our experiences, and reaffirm that any contribution, regardless of the amount, makes a difference in our struggle. Moving our community to give online is a realistic goal that should result every day in bigger returns. I wish you all the greatest success!
Adelante!
Juan M. Proaño is co-founder and President of Plus Three. He formed the company in 2002 to improve the way nonprofit organizations fundraise and build constituent groups by giving them immediate access to the widest array of contributors, while at the same time reducing the cost of each dollar raised. Juan has spent more than 17 years developing his expertise in the areas of product development, strategic marketing, and software integration. He has produced industry-leading technologies and best practices in the fields of database marketing and email delivery technologies.
At Plus Three, Juan’s extensive work with the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, John Kerry for President, and the NAACP has established him as an expert in online fundraising, constituency management and the political landscape. His leadership was instrumental to the creation of the DNC Demzilla database that enabled the Democrats to raise more than $85 million online in 2004 and surpass the Republican National Committee’s fundraising efforts for the first time in modern campaign history.
Juan frequently provides leadership training, sharing his expertise in using technology to win elections at national events such as the Democratic National Convention, Democratic GAIN and the DNC Latino Leadership Conference. He also provides political and technology commentary and has appeared in national publications, including the National Journal, Newsweek andTime.
In 2005, Juan was named one of the Top 100 Hispanic Entrepreneurs by Hispanic Trends magazine, and Plus Three was recognized as one of the top 100 fastest growing Hispanic business for three years in a row.
Plus Three and ZERO—The Project to End Prostate Cancer Announce the Relaunch of ZeroCancer.org
Posted on 12/02/2010 @ 11:23 AM
Plus Three and ZERO—The Project to End Prostate Cancer are excited to announce the relaunch of ZeroCancer.org.
The press release below was issued by ZERO to mark the occasion.
ZERO Debuts New Website
Provides Most Up-to-Date Information and Education About Prostate Cancer Testing, Treatment and Advocacy
Washington D.C. – Getting involved in the fight to end prostate cancer has never been easier! This week, ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer launched its new website featuring a more user-friendly layout and one-stop-shop for anyone interested in prostate cancer education, advocacy, testing and treatments.
“As our organization and our cause continue to grow, we wanted to revamp the website and provide our supporters and anyone affected by prostate cancer with all the essential information they need in one place, right at their fingertips,” said Skip Lockwood, ZERO’s CEO.
Some new features of the site, which can be viewed at www.zerocancer.org, include: *An enhanced Legislative Action Center that lets advocates send letters directly to their elected officials through our site.
- An easy-to-find events schedule of the 2011 Great Prostate Cancer Challenges race series, and a roster of where ZERO is providing free prostate cancer testing across the U.S.
- Our DASH FOR DAD Endurance Team page allows you to lace up your sneakers to help save lives. Run a marathon or participate in a triathlon and raise money for prostate cancer education and testing. You can even join a virtual endurance team!
- ZERO TV – A compilation of ZERO’s nationwide news coverage and video clips from ZERO events.
About ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
At ZERO, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease, but also to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering, and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journey.
To accomplish our goal, we provide comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct free prostate cancer testing throughout the country. We increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund local grants to end the disease.
October Newsletter
Posted on 10/20/2010 @ 12:00 PM
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
In this issue:
-
Powering Campaigns and Committees Nationwide
Leading up to the November elections, Plus Three has increased its focus on political outreach and online fundraising, working closely with key committees, campaigns, and progressive organizations across the country. - Nonprofit News
Of course, Plus Three works not only with the nation's top political organizations but also with nonprofits of all shapes and sizes. We are pleased to announce this month the launch of several nonprofit websites.
