Our Partners and Sponsors 2011
Homes That Change Lives
(formerly Circle of Nations)
Fiscal sponsor of the NICE Network project

The NICE Network is sponsored by the Circle of Nations Inc. d/b/a Homes That Change Lives, a national nonprofit organization that was originally established in 1996 to serve as a community development network to promote self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship among Native Americans and promote the rich legacy of Native American culture. As the founders of Circle of Nations participated in these projects, they became acutely aware that, while these innovative projects were helping members of the Native American community to improve their lives in specific areas, there was also a need to help other community groups, including start-up nonprofits that were addressing community needs, and a particular need to address housing for special needs and other disadvantaged populations as a first step toward self-sufficiency.
HCL, and founder Dawn Duncan, believes that the NICE Network is a brilliant way to utilize today’s technology to bring together the resources of local communities to solve community problems and to generate more civic enterprise, based on a model that can be replicated on a national scale. The model has been developed through extensive research in the young field of civic enterprise at the policy level as well as by gathering dozens of case studies documenting civic entrepreneurs in action - making a difference in their communities. It is truly bridging the large chasm that often exists between policy and daily community life. The NICE Network is a “cutting-edge” program that is seeking partnership support from all levels – individual, community, local, and regional and national foundations. We hope that you will join us as a partner in this exciting endeavor!
HCL, and founder Dawn Duncan, believes that the NICE Network is a brilliant way to utilize today’s technology to bring together the resources of local communities to solve community problems and to generate more civic enterprise, based on a model that can be replicated on a national scale. The model has been developed through extensive research in the young field of civic enterprise at the policy level as well as by gathering dozens of case studies documenting civic entrepreneurs in action - making a difference in their communities. It is truly bridging the large chasm that often exists between policy and daily community life. The NICE Network is a “cutting-edge” program that is seeking partnership support from all levels – individual, community, local, and regional and national foundations. We hope that you will join us as a partner in this exciting endeavor!