Having a good name for a foundation is like having a good title for a film. You really want something that reflects the mission of the organization and is also memorable.

When I first started to form a non-profit, the best I could come up with was "The 1 Second Foundation". We began to form the non-profit, with the goal of providing oversite and support to our 5 Phase Plan to scale the idea up.

In hindsight, "The 1 Second Foundation" was a terrible name. What is a 1 Second 'Foundation'? It's hard enough to explain "The 1 Second Film" but at least that name is catchy and describes the piece. A "1 Second Foundation" is waaay to abstract- can you imagine a fundraiser to benefit 'The 1 Second Foundation.'

At the time, we just needed a name. But as we have been boiling down this project to it's essence, and looking ahead to our long term objectives, it really became clear that what is at the heart of this effort is the idea of Collaboration.

To me, there is a trend in art, technology, and social change toward collaboration. And this project is exploring new ways to blend the three. I'd like to continue to do that with our various sequels. So, a new name came to mind- the Collaboration Foundation.

I liked the name pretty instantly. Aside from rhyming, the new name reflects our core mission and really starts to lead the imagination toward the potential that lies ahead.

To change the name meant more paperwork, and there was the chance that the name would not be accepted by the State if there was an existing organization with a similar name. I found a company called the "Collaboration Corporation" but they are a for-profit in in a totally different field. I figured we had a prety good shot as www.collaborationfoundation.org was still available. I bought the domain right quick and contacted our legal team at McDermitt, Will, & Emery. MWE helped file the correct paperwork, and today we received the official word that our new name was accepted by the Secretary of State!

That's a relief, cuz I had grown pretty attached to the new name :)

The name has also inspired a lot of new ideas, and seems to help people get what this is about.

Today I had an exciting talk with a Drupal developer I met at the LA BarCamp about the potential of developing our web platform by opening our web development to the Drupal Community. I love this idea, as it meshes with our core purpose, and would allow us to develop an ambitious site with limited resources.

The idea is to begin developing www.collaborationfoundation.org as a central hub for innovative global collaborative art projects. Initially, the collaborative community will form around The 1 Second Film, and can then continue to grow with The 2 Second Film and our various sequels. There is more to it than that, and a lot of potential to expand in different directions as things go.

It's going to take some time, organization, and fundraising for more help before we can get all that done, but it's an exciting place to be heading.

Tomorrow, an innovative web show called EpicFu is visiting our offices. Maybe we will broadcaste some of it live? I'll embed a link of so.

Also, we received two very generous and much needed donations from Executive Producers recently:

$100 from Lori Ann David, a bi-plane pilot and landscape art designer from Santa Barbara

and $850 today from Coffee.net - (good name!) - a social venture organization based in Seattle.

Check 'em out, and add em to your crew if you get a chance! :)

Thanks all,

n