Technology and Ministry Conference

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Technology and Ministry Conference
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Resources for Christian Computer Centers

• Andrew Sears
• Association of Christian
• Community Computer Centers
• www.ac4.org, info_at_ac4.org [phone]
• Technology and Ministry Conference
• February 22, 2003, Boston

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Outline

• AC4s Collaboration on Grant for Computers
• Boston Compassion Capital Fund Grant
• Other Resources for Computer Centers
• About the Association of Christian Community
  Computer Centers

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AC4 Collaboration withthe Beaumont Grant Program
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About the Beaumont Foundation

• The Beaumont Foundations 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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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.)

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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

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For More Information

• Visit http//www.bmtfoundation.org/grants
• Call AC4 at [phone] or E-mail us at
  info_at_ac4.org
• AC4 members should call to get code to apply
  through AC4
• Visit http//www.ac4.org to find out more about
  AC4

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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

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Boston Compassion Capital Fund Grant
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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

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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

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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

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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

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Contact Information

• For more information or an application, please
  contact
• The Black Ministerial Alliance
• 2323-2328R Washington Street
• Roxbury, MA 02119
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail bct_at_bmaboston.org

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Resources
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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

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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 [phone]
• Locations of other libraries at
  fdncenter.org/collections/
• Get sample grants from AC4
• Develop your program

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Other Grants for Tech Programs

• Visit Grants Page at AC4s 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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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About the Association of Christian Community
Computer Centers
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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_at_ac4.org

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Locations of Christian Computer Centers
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Joining AC4

• Must be AC4 member to apply through AC4
• Join online at www.ac4.org
• Cost 20 for orgs with a budget lt 500k
• Cost 20 for orgs with a budget gt 500k
• For more information send E-mail to info_at_ac4.org
  or call at 617-282-9798

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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

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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

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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 HUDs Neighborhood Networks at
  www.neighborhoodnetworks.org
• Adult Literacy E-mail Lists literacy.nifl.gov/for
  ums.html
• NTIA Report Falling through the Net
• www.digitaldivide.gov/reports.htm

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Appendix
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Digital Divide
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Information Economy
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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