May 2013
5 posts
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Tips for a Great Guest Post at Your Mark On The...
If you are a change agent, nonprofit leader or social entrepreneur who would like to write a guest post for Your Mark On The World to tell the world about the good you are doing and the difference you are making, our readers would love to hear from you. Here are some tips to help you write a post that will inspire our readers to act.
Be brief. Typically, our posts are under 500 words but...
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Savii Helps Clients Save Money and Save the World...
Guest post by Cordelia Manis of the Savii Group.
When Gina Manis-Anderson took her corporate cost cutting skills to form Savii Group, she knew she wanted to do more than just help companies increase their financial capital. She wanted to use her experience to help companies realize the importance of increasing their human and social capital as well. And she believes strongly that social capital...
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Join a Mob of Hope for Oklahoma: Donate to Tornado...
Guest post by Shaun King, founder of HopeMob.
By now you have heard the news of the devastation caused by the tornado in Moore, OK. The stats are history in the making: a rating of EF5, winds 166 to 200 mph, an estimation of size to be at least two miles wide at one point as it moved through Moore. And while these stats are mind shattering, it’s the stories that are most heart breaking. 38,000...
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Your mark on the community: Lending to local...
This is a guest post from Alex Binkley, a Harvard and Boston University educated corporate lawyer. He has worked for and run numerous small businesses throughout his life, ranging from a small local recycling company to a rowing shell manufacturer. But it was after spending years helping both startups and public companies build and grow that he really noticed a lack of options for small businesses...
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Milken Institute Global Conference: Personal...
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend the Milken Institute Global Conference 2013. For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime (so far) experience that ranks high on my list. I wrote a piece for Forbes on some of the great panels on impact investing that I attended.
While Al Gore was there, I did not get a chance to visit with him.
By special arrangement, I was able to get an hour...
April 2013
6 posts
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Utahn Devotes Himself to Serving Uganda
This afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting John Shavers, the founder of the Interethnic Health Alliance which is a small nonprofit serving the people of Uganda.
Originally, the organization was founded to serve Utah women in the prison system who had HIV/AIDS or were at risk for contracting and spreading it. When their state funding ran out, they refocused their efforts on Uganda and have been...
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What is Rotary? I'll tell you this: no funny hats
Yesterday, I posted an article for Forbes about Rotary International, the global organization that sponsors local service clubs all around the world.
For the article, I connected with dozens of Rotarians from around the world who have been volunteering time and donating money to causes they believe in.
It was amazing to see the power of the organization. Rotary International has been leading the...
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"Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can...
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No More Hurting People: Peace
Martin Richard made this poster in school last year. On Monday he was killed by the bombs in Boston.
Let’s make sure the world remembers Martin and his message.
Booted from the homeless shelter; homeless guy's...
With my fellow Utah-based Forbes Contributors on Thursday evening I enjoyed a lavish dinner at Cucina Toscana downtown Salt Lake City, just a few blocks from my home.
As I walked past the Rose Wagner theater on Broadway, I saw a homeless guy apparently sobbing and begging as the patrons filed out of the show. My reaction wasn’t any different than the theater patrons; I thought he was...
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March 2013
8 posts
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Could I ask you to give $17 to cure childhood...
My dear friends Brian and Heidi have a three-year-old son who has been battling cancer for over two years. No family should have to go through what they’ve faced so bravely. Please join me in the fight to prevent childhood cancer.
Here is Ike’s story in Brian’s words:
In January 2011 Israel woke one morning with a significant head tilt. After a week of various tests, an MRI...
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Live Interview on Forbes: Report, Your Feedback...
Last week, I tried something new in my Forbes blog. I’d love your feedback.
Using the Google Hangout hangout application I did a live interview with social entrepreneurs Andrew Parrucci and Chris Meyer of Planting Empowerment and Archana Verma of Ennovent. Andrew and Chris were in Washington, DC; Archana was in New Delhi India.
Andrew Parucci
Let me take just a moment to be in awe of...
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Silicon Valley Meets Crowdfunding April 4th and...
Crowdfunding is a vital part of the future for social entrepreneurship, ranging from start-up social ventures to long-established nonprofits seeking to innovate.
The internet, especially using platforms like Fundly, Razoo, Causes and StartSomeGood, allows social entrepreneurs to access capital they never could before.
Implementation of the JOBS Act later this year will accelerate what is...
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Your $20 could be a critical part of more than $1...
On March 22, 2013, the Community Foundation of Utah will hold its first Love UT Give UT 24 hours of giving—a massively coordinated one-day crowdfunding campaign. If the people of Utah rally around the effort, well more than $1 million could be raised to support Utah’s nonprofits.
About 400 nonprofit organizations have registered to participate in the event, so Utahns will have their...
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Winners Announced: World's Greatest Small Social...
Today Your Mark On The World announces the winners of the Hand Up for Social Good Awards for the best small social entrepreneurs based on their mission and impact.
The winner, who will receive $1,000 from Your Mark On The World, The Yonkofa Project, has been profiled in my Forbes blog.
The runner up for the Hand Up for Social Good Award which comes with a $500 prize from an anonymous...
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Are you willing to take the Your Mark on the World...
You don’t need to solve all of the world’s problems all by yourself, but you do have a role to play in making the world a better place to live.
Will you take the Your Mark On The World Pledge? Comment below!
I pledge to do my part,
Large or small
To do what I can,
Setting aside
Problems I cannot solve.
I will choose to
Feed the hungry
Comfort the grieving
Clothe the naked...
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"Hand Up" Voting Ends; Suspense Builds for...
After tabulating thousands of votes, we have our winners. The Hand Up for Social Good Award winners will be announced next week.
At this point, even the winners do not know they’ve won. I’m working on profiles for the first and second place winners. The first place winner will receive $1,000 and will be profiled in my Forbes column next week and the second place winner will receive...
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Crowdfunding Workshops Proving to Be Popular...
On Friday, we had our second crowdfunding workshop. For the workshops, we use Google+ Hangouts that allow for everyone in the group to see and hear the others and to participate fully in the discussion.
These fully interactive sessions are informative for everyone as we get access to the insights and experience of every member of the workshop, not just the benefit of my study and experience.
...
February 2013
9 posts
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Everyone needs a hand up once in a while
Voting for our “Hand Up for Social Good” Award will end on Thursday at midnight (MST). Thousands of people have voted, which demonstrates how much people care about seeing the world become a better place.
Remember, the finalist will receive a $1,000 prize and the second place organization will receive $500 (from a generous philanthropist).
All of the finalists are doing great...
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Crowdfunding Workshop Report
This morning, we held the first Crowdfunding Workshop for Social Entrepreneurs. It was a great success, with participation from as far away as Zambia!
The live, private video chat format provided for excellent interaction and an opportunity for the workshop to be genuinely consultative.
We’ve scheduled five more workshops. We’ll run the series at no charge this time, but when we...
Join me for free crowdfunding training
Have you ever wanted to learn how to do an effective crowdfunding campaign for your social cause, nonprofit or new social venture? Others have already raised tens of thousands of dollars or more for their projects; you can, too!
More than 90 percent of crowdfunding campaigns raise less than $5,000. To learn how to raise five or ten times that amount, join me for my free training workshops.
...
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Big News: Another $500 for the Hand Up for Social...
A generous philanthropist friend has offered to provide an additional $500 prize to the second place winner of the Hand Up for Social Good Award conditioned only on our getting another 500 votes!
Our benefactor has asked to remain anonymous. I couldn’t be more excited to announce this because the finalists are all so great! Now we can recognize and reward two winners.
To vote, please...
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Honorable Mentions for the Hand Up for Social Good...
The finalists in the Hand Up for Social Good Award have been announced in my Forbes blog, but I want to call out some of the remarkable organizations that were nominated and were not chosen by the judges as finalists.
The following nominees merited consideration for the great impact they are having in the world. Personally, I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to those who nominated...
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Hand Up for Social Good Award Ballot
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January 2013
8 posts
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Continuing research regarding crowdfunding for...
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Be Sure to Apply for the $1,000 "Hand Up for...
Applications for the “Hand Up for Social Good Award” are rolling in and there are only a few more days before the deadline. The process is quick and takes only about five to ten minutes.
By way of reminder, the “Hand Up for Social Good Award” from Your Mark On The World is our way of finding and recognizing a great small organization that is having a real impact in the...
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Empowering Your Best Self
Fishbowl Inventory and the CAM Foundation have invited me to give my presentation, “Empowering Your Best Self” on February 13, 2013 at noon.
Everyone is invited to attend. Admission is free. I’ll also have all of my books available for sale with a special offer for those who attend. Bring a lunch and relax while you learn.
The presentation will build largely on the inspiring...
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Love UT Give UT: Biggest Crowdfunding Event in...
On March 22, 2013, Utah will experience the biggest crowdfunding event in its history.
The Community Foundation of Utah is sponsoring the event in an effort to raise an unprecedented amount of money in a single day. Fraser Nelson, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Utah, said:
“Similar events in states from Colorado to Florida have raised tens of millions of...
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Crowdfunding is empowering more social good
If you hang around me much, you’ll hear start talking about crowdfunding. This is a new name for something that has been around for a long time, raising money. But make no mistake, this isn’t your father’s fundraising.
Using the power of social networks and crowdfunding sites like Rockethub, IndieGoGo, StartSomeGood, Fundly and others, social entrepreneurs and nonprofits can...
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Do you know someone who deserves $1,000?
Here at Your Mark On The World, we are running the “Hand Up for Social Good” Award with a $1,000 prize.
The award will recognize a small nonprofit organization or social enterprise that has a noble purpose and a big impact relative to their budget.
For many large organizations with multi-million dollar budgets, $1,000 wouldn’t mean much. I get that. But there are thousands of...
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Hand Up for Social Good Award
Do you know a great social entrepreneur who deserves a hand up? So many of the good people I’ve met over the last few years who are doing social good, don’t get nearly as much credit as they deserve. You can help me find and recognize great do-gooders around the world; then we’ll give them a hand up.
Your Mark on the World, my new organization, will be giving $1,000 to a small social enterprise or...
December 2012
6 posts
3 tags
Les Miserables: A Movie That Inspires Social Good
While I certainly don’t view myself as a film critic and most of you will thank me for refraining from commenting on films in general, I want to take a moment to encourage you to see Les Miserables.
The Victor Hugo novel is, in my largely irrelevant view, the greatest work of fiction ever. I’ve never felt that any production of Les Mis that I’ve seen has ever lived up to the...
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My new job is 40 miles from my home; Should I move...
Anyone who has moved a family recently can tell you they hope never to do it again. Memories fade, however, and many do it over and over again. If you land a new job that is, say, 40 miles away, it may be tempting to move closer to work. Here are some considerations to help you decide:
Rent or own?If you are renting your current residence, the cost of moving is much smaller, and the opportunity...
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My spouse makes $85,000 per year; I make $15,000...
Here in the U.S., the tax code punishes the second income in a household in ways that few people understand. If you are earning just $15,000 per year working part time, you may be surprised to learn that you not only can afford to quit—you may not be able to afford to keep working! If you love your job and love working, the question of whether or not to work isn’t purely financial. If, however,...
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I'm planning a vacation abroad; how do I avoid...
Travel abroad is exciting, fun and scary. There are so many new things to worry about: language, traffic patterns and signs, delicious food, strange food and colorful money. Virtually every currency in the world, except U.S. currency, is bright and colorful. Figuring out how to use the beautiful, colorful money without overpaying in country or being charged high fees along the way takes planning....
November 2012
11 posts
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I just paid off my car. Should I trade it in now?
Congratulations on paying off your car. There were probably days along the way when you worried the car wouldn’t last as long as the loan on the car, but it made it! You have taken a huge financial step forward. Now what? Follow this simple system and you’ll never have a car payment again!
Keep driving the car you have now.Take care of it. You want this baby to last for years. (If you haven’t...
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I wanna get rich quick: How do I do it?
The art of getting rick quick can be summarized with one word: luck. The key to getting rich quick is, in many cases, to do the opposite of what you should do if your goal is to retire at 65 or 70 with plans to golf three days each week. To get rich quick, you need to start by ignoring your family, your community and your faith and instead focus entirely on yourself. Ready? Here are the surefire...
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Financial tips for buying an engagement ring
Listen, I’m not the guy to ask about style, diamond quality or color. I’m just the guy to coach you on buying the engagement ring. The only thing you’ve likely purchased that will be more expensive than the ring is a car—and only if you’ve bought a nice car! Two to Three Month’s Salary: There is an old convention that a ring should cost two to three month’s salary. It isn’t fair. It...
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925 Ideas to Help You Save Money, Get Out of Debt...
Devin Thorpe has collected over 150 essays on personal and family finance to help you learn how to be happier with your money, to live more frugally and investment more wisely.
925 Ideas… is an easy and readable guide to help your family find financial peace. Author Devin D. Thorpe explains:
1) how you and your spouse can find agreement on money matters, 2) how to teach your kids about...
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Chabad Lubavitch of Utah is our “Cause of the...
Rabbi Benny Zippel, the extraordinary leader of Utah’s Chabad Lubavitch, has created a program called Project HEART (Hebrew Education for At Risk Teens) working with mostly students from out-of-state attending boarding schools for troubled kids in Utah. Project Heart is our cause of the week.
The Rabbi is seen here with one of the students, Nathan, he served. Nathan’s story is...
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How borrowing money each month can quickly ruin...
It isn’t unusual for a family to come up a little short at the end of the month. How a family handles that situation may matter more than you think. If your family comes up short by $100 every month and borrows that money on a credit card with 12% interest, the deficit in the second month will have grown to $101. The next month, the shortfall will have grown to a bit more than $102. Within a year,...
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A one-month spending fast: The best way to...
If you find yourself wishing every month that you could save just a little bit but you never seem to be able to put anything away for the future, try doing nothing for thirty days. Enlist the help of everyone in the family and for one month, go on a spending fast. Of course there are many—probably most things you do—that you can’t stop doing, but many things you can quit altogether for 30 days....
