The ePhilanthropy Foundation is pleased to announce the continuation of its partnership with the Verizon Foundation in providing services and content to its Verizon Foundation Nonprofit Resource Center. The second year of this service will launch tomorrow with an expaned version of Verizon's Nonprofit Resource Center, a package of free, Web-based professional development courses and resources that help nonprofits better manage their business operations.

The center, located at http://foundation.verizon.com/resourcecenter offers new courses such as advanced grant-writing; provide a portal to in-kind donations of hardware and software; and award more than 1,200 training grants to nonprofit organizations across the nation.

Since it began operations in May 2005, the center has offered 96 in-class, blended and online courses in a variety of different subject areas including marketing, board-member recruitment and technology, and also has provided links to informative resources for the nonprofit professional. More than 800 individuals representing more than 450 nonprofits nationally have benefited from the training.

The center's programs were developed and are supported by several nonprofit organizations including ePhilanthropy, NPower, the Foundation Center, Volunteer Consultant Group, Society for Nonprofit Organizations, CompuMentor and TechSoup Stock.

The Resource Center was designed to offer nonprofits -- which often have no or only limited funds available for training, but face ever-expanding operations and increasing client demand -- a free one-stop, operational and training resource. The most popular courses are those that develop computer skills in programs such as Access and Excel Basics as well as Dreamweaver.

"Nonprofit organizations are provided with an array of terrific services and educational opportunities through this unique partnership," said Ted Hart, President and CEO of the ePhilanthropy Foundation.

Patrick Gaston, president of the Verizon Foundation, said, "The Resource Center is a testament to the importance of continuously developing new ways of leveraging 21st century technologies for the benefit of our communities. Because of the center, nonprofits across the United States are discovering ways to reduce the amount of time they spend on administrative functions, leaving them more time to focus on the business of helping others."
Verizon delivers technology that touches life. The Verizon Foundation uses that technology and its financial resources to improve literacy and K-12 education; help families victimized by domestic violence; and improve the delivery of health care. In 2005, the foundation awarded more than $74 million in grants to charitable and nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, one of the largest employee volunteer programs in the United States responsible for 2 million hours of community service since 2000 and $35.6 million in combined contributions to nonprofits in 2005 alone.
For more information on the foundation, visit http://www.verizon.com/foundation.


Web site: http://www.verizon.com/http://www.verizon.com/foundationhttp://foundation.verizo
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