The Case Foundation yesterday opened a summer application window for its "Make It Your Own" awards. A few months on from the controversial Net2 funding scrum, Case revisits similar philosophical ground with very different execution. To begin with, it's a multi-staged process of "managed democracy" -- you know, like we have in the political sphere, except with some democracy -- instead of the free-for-all registration-and-voting process that drew heat for Net2.

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A couple friends of DIA, Free Range Graphics and Care2, collaborated on this Earth Day piece, being used by Care2 to drive traffic, especially outside the U.S., to its Earth Day Pledge. Free Range Graphics, the creator of the piece, is offering a chance to get some of that action for yourself through their Gratitude Grant, but hurry -- the deadline is May 1.

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Voting is open this week (only) on around 150 projects in the NetSquared Technology Innovation Fund project pool. Twenty of them will divvy up $100,000-plus in cash and services and take part in this year's NetSquared conference. Only thing required is to register with NetSquared (free), vote for at least five, and abide a few other simple rules. The full roster of projects gives an interesting glimpse at some ideas that could sprout into tomorrow's way of doing business online for nonprofits, and a few that could probably be cribbed today. I haven't had a time to digest the entire list, but there are at least three four from the DIA community I noticed (and if I missed any, please let me know and I'll add them):

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Our friends (and former landladies and -lords) down the way at Free Range Graphics are offering Gratitude Grant(s) for compelling progressive causes. Free Range -- the brains behind such design/marketing brilliance as The Meatrix -- tantalizes with the prospect of:

up to $15,000 worth of our communications services from our menu of core offerings: strategic communications consulting, organizational identity, print design, web design and Flash animation. Need to rally activists around an issue or capture critical media attention? Modernize your logo? Chart out an online fundraising strategy? As long as you have a concrete goal and a mission that makes a positive difference for our planet and its people, we encourage you to apply!

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The Knight Brothers foundation is awarding $5 million in grants for projects that will "improve the flow of information and news in the public interest." Individuals, organizations and businesses that demonstrate how their ideas will transform community life are encouraged to apply. This could be an interesting opportunity for the progressive nonprofit tech community -- if you've got a toe in the news-breaking or -management field, your fundraising team will love you for this last minute grant opportunity before the holidays!

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