August 8, 2002Dear ICANN Board Member:
On behalf of eGrants.org and its Board
of Directors, I add my voice of support to the concept of non-commercial validation
as a way to improve the integrity of the .org Internet address. We believe
that promotion of a validation program will help build public confidence in making
online philanthropic transactions and that validation is a critical component in
growing this public confidence.
eGrants.org is a nonprofit organization created
by Tides Foundation in San Francisco to help nonprofit groups use the Internet effectively
to increase resources for positive social change and environmental sustainability.
We provide online donation services that nonprofits use to raise money on the Internet.
We also offer several learning programs on online fundraising and Internet strategy,
including training workshops, a Resource Center on our Web site, and a monthly eNewsletter.
eGrants.org has processed more than $4.25 million in online donations, provided
training to more than 350 organizations nationwide in online fundraising and Internet
strategy, and provides Internet services to more than 800 organizations across the
United States. As a component of our online donation services, we individually
verify the nonprofit status of every customer that wants to buy our products.
We
believe the validation concept is critical to ensuring that the .org registry is
operated in a way that is responsive to the needs, concerns and views of the global
nonprofit and philanthropic Internet community.
Sincerely,
Michael Stein
Associate
Director
eGrants.org
The Presidio, Box 29256, San Francisco, CA 94129-0256
http://www.egrants.org
info@egrants.org