Foundation to set standards on best ePhilanthropy practices

INDIANAPOLIS - eTapestry CEO Jay Love has been appointed vice chairman of the Think Tank and Research Council of the Washington D.C.-based ePhilanthropy Foundation.

The ePhilanthropy Foundation is an educational nonprofit that seeks to foster the ethical and efficient use of the Internet for philanthropic purposes. The Think Tank and Research Council is charged with overseeing research and producing "open forums" to encourage dialogue and raise issues about ePhilanthropy.

"One of the basic principles of the Foundation was to seek ways to connect the dots-the dot-orgs, the dot-edus and the dot-coms," said Ted Hart, ePhilanthropy Foundation president. " We want to bring these voices together to learn from each other."

So far, the Think Tank and Research Council has hosted three open forums that have focused on the use of the Internet to promote philanthropy, black philanthropy and healthcare philanthropy. The council will also help collect data necessary for reporting Internet fundraising in AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy's next Giving USA Report. The council will assist Foundation trustees in establishing an ePhilanthropy research agenda.

Hart said Love was suggested as the vice chairman for the council because of his experience as a writer, trainer and lecturer in the field of ePhilanthropy.

Love's experience in the business world caught the attention of Douglass E. Warns, founding chair of the ePhilanthropy Foundation's Think Tank and Research Council and vice chair and CEO of the United Way of Tri-State, serving Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

"We need a strong leader from the for-profit sector to provide a balance and get everyone's perspective as we move forward," Warns said. "Establishing a strong research agenda can help the foundation set the standards for best ePhilanthropy practices."

Love said he's up for the challenge.

"I'm honored to be involved with a group that is dedicated to ethical Internet philanthropy," said Love. "There is so much unchartered territory in Internet philanthropy. We have an exciting job ahead of us."

About ePhilanthropy Foundation
ePhilanthropy Foundation is an organization dedicated to fostering secure, private and ethical online philanthropy. The foundation is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, education organization. The foundation provides educational services via conferences and seminars, publications, flyers and articles, and via the Internet in e-Learning courses. For more information, go to www.ePhilanthropy.org

About United Way of Tri-State
The United Way of Tri-State is area-wide cooperative of major corporate fundraising drives that allows 31 local United Ways to benefit from Tri-State's leadership in campaigning at large corporations. United Way of Tri-State is independently governed by a local board of community leaders and volunteers. For more information, go to www.uwtristate.org.

About eTapestry
Founded in 1999, Indianapolis-based eTapestry is the first Web-based donor database and communications management system that rents its software to customers who access it over the Internet. Nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes using eTapestry do not pay the large upfront purchasing costs or the ongoing maintenance and support contracts typically paid in the purchase of more traditional software. For more information, go to www.etapestry.com.