1.04.2008 - 03:00pm ET

(CSRwire) PORTLAND, ME - January 4, 2008 - The National Alliance for Choice in Giving, founded in 1987 to promote diversity and donor empowerment in on-the-job giving, announced today that it has changed its name to Our Giving Community.

"We are moving forward as Our Giving Community to welcome all those who share a commitment to excellence and growth in employee giving campaigns," said Our Giving Community board president Trudy Toliver. "'Choice in giving' remains a key message, but it is just one part of defining excellence in this $4 billion marketplace," noted Ms. Toliver, executive director of Earth Share of Oregon.

"Over the last two decades, workplace giving in the United States has been transformed," observed Our Giving Community executive director Matt Howe. "A tradition that once focused on raising as much money as possible for a single charitable enterprise is now about broad-based impact, honoring diversity and engaging employees in giving on their own terms," he said.

"In this new era for employee giving," continued Howe, "the role of Our Giving Community is to promote excellence and professionalism in our field. We are here to train and support the next generation of workplace giving leaders and to help employers think creatively about how to maximize employee participation and satisfaction."

Our Giving Community represents more than 60 charitable federations and funds and 3,000 nonprofits nationwide that raise over $100 million annually through workplace-based giving programs.

The organization's new tag line, "Where workplaces and charities meet," speaks to the unique way in which workplace giving programs connect employers and employees with nonprofit groups locally, nationally, and around the world. "These campaigns are an invaluable resource," noted Toliver. "Beyond fundraising, the process connects millions of working people with information on issues they care about and volunteer opportunities they would unlikely hear about otherwise."

2008 National Workplace Giving Summit set for Februay 6-8 in Los Angeles

Our Giving Community's signature event is its annual workplace giving conference. The 2008 National Workplace Giving Summit will be held at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles next February 6-8.

Scores of leaders of the nation's new generation of workplace giving federations will attend, including representatives of Earth Share, Community Shares USA, Community Health Charities, America's Charities, Global Impact and Neighbor to Nation. Several Los Angeles area workplace giving federations also will be on hand, including Asian Pacific Community Fund, Community Health Charities of California, Earth Share of California and Brotherhood Crusade.

The conference program offers a rich curriculum for all those interested in achieving excellence in nonprofit fundraising, marketing and effective use of the Internet. Here are some highlights:

- America's Charities and Our Giving Community will report the findings of a workplace giving survey conducted among Los Angeles area businesses in December 2007 and January 2008.

- Allan Pressel, CEO/Founder of Charity Finder.org, will lead a plenary on Internet strategy for workplace giving organizations. Allan will report the results of his assessments of all the web sites of the organizations enrolled in the conference.

- Sarah Golightly and Chris Dworin of Golightly, Inc., one of the leading providers of social networking software for nonprofits, will lead a two-part program on how nonprofits can make the most of "Web 2.0" technology.

- University of Washington journalism Professor David Domke will lead an afternoon program entitled, "Talking American: Turning Values into Persuasive Messages" designed to help nonprofits construct messages that connect with the prevailing values of contemporary American culture.

- The 2008 Our Giving Community Awards Luncheon, sponsored by www.amerigives.com/, will honor excellence, innovation and growth among workplace giving organizations and employers.

- A half-day special program "Excellence in Public Sector Employee Giving Campaigns," will provide government officials and charity leaders with a comprehensive overview of best practices in municipal, county, state and federal government employee giving programs.

- Los Angeles-based C.P.A. Gayle Whittemore, a national authority on nonprofit accounting, will provide an overview of impending changes in IRS Form 990 and AICPA auditing standards.

- Valerie Sobel, founder and president of the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation – providing emergency support to single parents of critically ill children -- will speak about the family tragedy that led to her founding the organization in 2000; and her experiences as a creative philanthropist, innovative fundraiser and tireless advocate.

- Tracy Gary, author, philanthropist, fundraiser, donor advocate and, most recently, founder of Inspired Legacies, will present "Transforming Lifetime and Legacy Giving: Partnering with advisors and donors for inspired outcomes," a two-part workshop on how workplace giving organizations and others can take strategic steps to ensure their long-term sustainability.

- The annual Our Giving Community benefit auction will be administered using the innovative technology of Auction Star. This unique silent auction system in which bidders use barcode stickers to make their bids has been proven to enhance the results, efficiency and entertainment value of charity auctions.

The conference registration deadline is Friday, January 18th. For more information on Our Giving Community, the 2008 Summit, and opportunities to exhibit and sponsor, visit www.ourgiving.org.

For more information please contact:

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