We're excited to share the news that Google.org just announced a $2.1 million grant for Sunlight to expand our mission to open government data. The work will include everything from extending our policy and data work to the municipal level to supporting the creation of policy case studies that demonstrate the power and success of tech-driven transparency to improve civic engagement and people's lives. Thanks to Google.org's support we will also be able to expand our mini-grant program to grow the community working towards a common goal.

This backing is an affirmation of our goals, and we're thrilled to have Google.org support.

We're eager to get started on this work and honored that another organization has found the Sunlight Foundation's work worthy of support. Thank you Google.org! You now join the ranks of our many funders, which readers can check out on our funding page.

Stay tuned for more updates about how you can get involved.

Google's nonprofit program offers a variety of services your organization can leverage to the benefit of your community. If you aren't a member of the program (read their eligibility guidelines) here is a run down of what the service offers:

• Free or discounted version of Google Apps for your organization
• Free AdWords advertising
• Premium branding and increased uploads on YouTube
• Free licensing for Google Earth, SketchUp, and Maps API

The services they offer at a free or discounted rate are worth the time it takes to apply, which isn't very long.  A few thoughts on proceeding:

• Apply to the nonprofit program with an email address that's not your personal account, like googlegrants@yournonprofit.org. After approval, at the very least enroll in Google Grants (which will give you up to $10,000/month to spend on AdWords) and YouTube for Nonprofits.
• When setting up AdWords, you have to set up a unique account that's not already in use.  You might want to consider using the same googlegrants@yournonprofit.org.
• For ease of access, use that same email to set up your YouTube channel.  You'll want to link your YouTube channel to AdWords.  Once you're in AdWords, look to the bottom left corner to link them.
• Use the same email address again to set up both Google Analytics and the Google Webmaster Toolkit. Both of these services require you to install meta data and code snippets into your site to verify ownership. Once in place you should link AdWords to Google Analytics, and then Analytics to the Webmaster Toolkit.
• To link AdWords to your Google Analytics, head to the Tools and Analysis tab in AdWords and click on the Google Analytics option, this will walk you through connecting the two services.
• To link Google Analytics to the Webmaster Toolkit, go to your site profile in Analytics, click Admin, then Property Settings, scroll down to the toolkit section, click Edit and link the profile on Analytics to the profile on the toolkit.  When you are finished, click Apply on Analytics.

The point in linking these services  is to gain an understanding of how users find your content and to allow you a level of control in that process. And using one designated account to manage access will save a lot of headaches.  With this account, you can grant access to other users, but this master account remains untied to any one person.

You'll also note the benefit of linking these various tools when the data from one service begins to appear in another.  For instance, you'll see better query data from the Webmaster Toolkit appear in Analytics or traffic data appearing in AdWords.

For more information on the nonprofit program - http://www.google.com/nonprofits/

Yesterday evening, the House passed version of S. 303, which would significantly increase federal grant transparency if enacted. The legislation was amended to incorporate H.R. 2392, the Issa-Towns "Government Information Transparency Act."

Prior to the amendment, S. 303, a.k.a. the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2009, required OMB to standardize the federal grant application process and codified Grants.gov as the central clearinghouse for information on federal grants.

The Issa-Towns amendment adds several important levels of detail:

• It requires OMB to adopt a single interactive data standard for all grant applications and reports;
• It requires federal agencies to require the use of the data standard by grant applicants; and
• It requires Grants.gov to make everything public and searchable.

Ultimately, this has implications for all federal reporting on business and financial information.

The House and Senate must still iron out their differences before the legislation can be sent to the president. This is a smart step in the right direction. Representatives Towns, Issa, and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform should be commended.

I am thrilled to announce that we will be expanding our collaboration with the Omidyar Network to catalyze greater transparency and openness in government. Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm started by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam.

Omidyar's grant of $4 million is to support Sunlight's efforts to improve access to existing government information, digitize new information, and create new online tools to foster greater government transparency. Sunlight and Omidyar share a fundamental belief in the value of transparency, the role of new technologies to connect individuals to information and the ability for citizens to influence the issues that impact their lives.

In addition, Matt Halprin, partner at Omidyar Network, will be joining Sunlight's board. As the lead for Omidyar Network's Media, Markets & Transparency initiative, Matt brings deep experience in strategy, general management and Internet platforms. He was previously vice president at eBay and a partner at the Boston Consulting Group. And Stacy Donohue, a director at Omidyar Network, who leads the organization’s government transparency investment area, will take an observer seat on the board.

All of us at Sunlight are greatly honored by Omidyar’s continued support for our work.