The following information is drawn from May 9 and December 28, 1999; January 29 and March 26. 2000 postings on the NPTalk discussion list. Nonprofit work often involves collaboration among staff and partners, sometimes spread across large distances. Sometimes the nature of that work entails the markup or comment on documents, or brainstorming ideas, which is not always easily done via a conference call or e-mail, or for which an in-person meeting is not cost-effective. There are, however, different flavors of office-level collaborative technology for nonprofits to consider. Digital

The House has passed HR 7, the "Community Solutions Act" by a vote of 233-198. 15 Democrats voted for the bill, and 4 Republicans voted against it. A Democratic alternative that addressed some of the civil rights and discrimination problems in the bill was defeated 261-168. This alternative would also have prohibited religious organizations who provide federally funded programs from engaging in sectarian activities at the same time. A motion to recommit the bill to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to remove language that allows discrimination also failed on a vote of 234-195.

This week, the House Ways and Means and Judiciary Committees will likely mark up HR 7, the "Community Solutions Act of 2001" which contains a combination of provisions that would provide tax incentives to increase charitable giving and extend federal funding opportunities for religious congregations that wish to mix social service with religious activity.