Free web hosting for nonprofits

The good folks at myhosting.com saw our post on GuideStar and wanted us to tell you about their awesome service for nonprofits.  myhosting.com believes in giving back to the community and reciprocating to organizations and groups that help contribute to the greater good. They  established the myhosting.com Non-Profit Web Hosting Endowment which donates free web hosting and email to:

• Registered Non-profit groups and organizations
• Organizations making positive contributions to their communities
• Educational or Governmental organizations providing for the greater good

Help us spread the word by letting any nonprofits you work with know about the myhosting.com program.

GuideStar - Nonprofit Information

Looking for the goods on nonprofit organizations? GuideStar is a directory with information on the programs and finances of more than 1.8 million IRS-recognized nonprofits. The directory is free, and if you register (still free) you are entitled to more data. The databases helps users decide which organizations to donate to, which nonprofits to provide grant funding to, and who to volunteer with, plus it helps non-profits learn how to increase funding.  Researchers can evaluate charities' performance overtime and compare multiple organizations at the same time.

With your free registration you gain access to the nonprofit tax forms - Form 990s. With the 990s you can see how an organization is funding and how they are spending those dollars:

The Business of Girl Scout Cookies

The Girl Scouts started selling cookies to fund their troop activities way back in 1917. These budding entrepreneurs made them at home and sold them by the dozen for just 25¢ - now a box can run you $4. It's true that Girl Scout cookies are big business, according to the WSJ, the girls made $714 million last year. The sales had been declining, so this year the varieties have been pared down to increase their profits. Don't worry though, the best-selling Thin Mints will still be available (they want more profit, not a riot!). You can't buy cookies online, but don't fret if you don't have a supplier. Just enter your zip code in the Cookie Finder. And don't feel guilty about all those boxes, you are doing a good thing. 70% of the purchase of each box stays in the local Girl Scout council.

Here's how the overall sales stack up:

25% Thin Mints 19% Samoas®/Caramel deLites® 13% Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs® 11% Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos® 9% Shortbread/Trefoils

The other varieties combined account for the remaining 23%.

For more information on the Girl Scout cookies and their history, check out the Girl Scout site.