NASFAA just entered the America's Giving Challenge for the opportunity to win between $1,000 and $50,000 the Dallas Martin Endowment, our fund to support student public policy interns. We are competing with organizations nationwide to receive the highest daily number of donations and win a $1,000 bonus. The organization receiving the highest number of donations overall before November 7 will win $50,000!

More than 15,000 NASFAA members receive Today's News every day. If each one of us donates just $10, we will not only win the $1,000 daily prize, but we'll be strongly in the running for the $50,000 bonus!

Here's all you need to do:

1. Go to the link below between 3:00 p.m. today (Wednesday) and 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time tomorrow (Thursday). Later today we will send a "Go!" email to remind you, including this link. Please hold your donation until 3:00 p.m. Wednesday or it won't count toward the bonus.
2. Donate $10 or more to NASFAA's Dallas Martin Endowment. Limit: One donation per day. Note: You do NOT have to be on Facebook to participate.
3. Encourage coworkers and friends to donate in the same timeframe.
4. Celebrate when we win the challenge!

Even if you've already donated for 2009, please consider donating as little as $10 more to help us meet this challenge. After all, how often do you have the chance to turn $10 into $1,000, and then turn that $1,000 into a stronger voice for student aid on Capitol Hill?

You Don't Have to Join Facebook, Honest!
You absolutely do NOT have to join Facebook to participate. We need everyone's help to succeed, not just our Facebook friends. So even if you're not on Facebook, please go to the link and donate.

BUT, if you're already active on Facebook, you should take this opportunity to join NASFAA's Fan site at http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=nasfaa+&init=quick#/pages/NASFAA/26556210046?ref=search&sid=1387484837.1424827068.1 and watch for new NASFAA Fan features in the coming months.

Why Should I Contribute to the Dallas Martin Endowment?
Competition for limited federal dollars has never been tougher. It is essential to cultivate future leaders who recognize the importance of student aid, understand the complexities of higher education funding, and can successfully articulate that knowledge to lawmakers and policymakers. NASFAA's Dallas Martin Endowment for Public Policy and Student Aid will fund semester-length internships to mentor promising upper-division undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate an interest in student aid public policy and/or research. The funds will also establish an Information Resources Center and Library on Public Policy and Student Aid. You can learn more at www.nasfaa.org/dme.asp.

Watch for the special "GO!" message later today to kick off today's 24-hour campaign. Then go to the America's Giving link and help NASFAA win!

Here is the link, but PLEASE HOLD ALL DONATIONS UNTIL AFTER 3:00 P.M. EDT ON WEDNESDAY: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/378216/18193228?m=1a240be5

By Linda Conard
NASFAA Director of Development

Posted 10/21/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.