Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mobile phone-based humanitarian projects need greater co-ordination | Global Development Professionals Network | Guardian Professional

Mobile phone-based humanitarian projects need greater co-ordination | Global Development Professionals Network | Guardian Professional: Mobile phone-based humanitarian projects need greater co-ordination

Mobile technology can help save more lives, but there are challenges to overcome. Handing out phones isn't enough

Social media influencers are key to increasing social giving | TMA Resources

Social media influencers are key to increasing social giving | TMA Resources: According to an infographic in PC mag compiled by MDG advertising, statistics show that raising money for causes through social media has more than doubled in the last five years. A main factor in social media fundraising success is the identification of an organization's influencers. Advanced association management software aids in determining social media users that have an impact on web traffic for a particular organization.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Nonprofit use of data mixed � Philanthropy North Carolina

Nonprofit use of data mixed � Philanthropy North Carolina: Nonprofits are tracking data on their operations and programs but face hurdles in gathering and building data into their business, a new survey says.

“Too often, barriers keep nonprofits from collecting and integrating important data into their daily work,” says the 2012 State of Nonprofit Data Report from NTEN and Idealware.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Best of 2012: Nonprofit Technology Grows Up | NTEN

Best of 2012: Nonprofit Technology Grows Up | NTEN: think that the best thing that happened in 2012 was that some of the 2010-2011 "bleedng edge" conceptual technologies stood up and proved they weren't fads.

Give as you Live research identifies six online charity supporter profiles | Third Sector

Give as you Live research identifies six online charity supporter profiles | Third Sector: Polly Gowers, chief executive of the direct donations website, says its research would help charities choose the right digital channels

Online charity supporters can be grouped into six different types, such as "industrial heartland Clive" or "wealthy professional Jacqueline", emerging research indicates.

Give as you Live, a website that allows online shoppers to direct donations, which are made by retailers, to the charity of their choice, is carrying out research asking charity donors about topics including what inspired them to give, how they spent time online, their online giving habits and their general lifestyle.

Why You Need to Stop Talking About Yourself On Social Media (Video)

Why You Need to Stop Talking About Yourself On Social Media (Video): I’ve got another installment of my Social Media Pet Peeve video series today, and this time I’m talking about why you need to stop talking about yourself on social media.

Self-promotion on social media is a tricky business, and finding the right balance between tooting your own horn, tooting the horns of others, and sharing useful information others can use can be a tough balancing act — but it absolutely must be done.

Monday, December 10, 2012

ASAE Technology Conference: The End of Command and Control: Associations Now

ASAE Technology Conference: The End of Command and Control: Associations Now: Last week’s ASAE Technology Conference & Expo generated plenty of conversation on a variety of topics. But for me the discussions seemed to coalesce around one theme: Control.

Or, rather, your lack of it.

How Nonprofits Can Use Data to Solve the World’s Problems | TIME.com

How Nonprofits Can Use Data to Solve the World’s Problems | TIME.com: Edna McConnell Clark, which doled out $53 million in grants this year, is among a legion of foundations pushing nonprofits into the data-driven future by awarding money to organizations that have found ways to turn their lofty stated goals into specific data points measuring impact. Youth Villages, a grant-winner that provides housing and programming for at-risk children in the foster care and juvenile detention systems, measures success not by the number of young people served but by the percentage of those young people who are successfully living at home 12 months after being discharged. Students who go through the program are surveyed 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months after leaving. Data gathered is used both to measure success and to highlight areas where program structure could be improved. “We didn’t just want to give kids a happy experience,” says CEO Patrick Lawler. “We wanted to give kids a happy life.”

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Is Social Media Shifting Giving from the Cause to the Individual? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Is Social Media Shifting Giving from the Cause to the Individual? - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: n Fast Company, Rachael Chong interviews Shaun King, the founder of HopeMob, a new charity platform on which users can create fundraising projects and receive 100 percent of the proceeds collected. The website uses a point system to highlight 24 stories which have received the most “story points” from the online community. HopeMob does not give the donated money directly to recipients, but pays for the project’s costs itself. The HopeMob model is similar to crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter, StartSomeGood, and Indiegogo; in fact, King actually raised the funds to launch HopeMob from a Kickstarter campaign.

Counting Aloud Together | Stanford Social Innovation Review

Counting Aloud Together | Stanford Social Innovation Review: If you’re a nonprofit leader, you understand that the pressure to build data-informed practices—and to improve your services using data—has never been greater. You’re also strapped for the time and resources needed to enhance your organization’s systems and gain sophistication in reporting. If you’re a grantmaker, you’ve requested extensive reports from grantees, but you haven’t prioritized helping those organizations get more data for the sake of learning. You’ve invested in client services, but you’ve neglected to fund the structures that hold those services together—things like staffing, evaluation strategy, and up-to-date technology.

TripAdvisor Combines Philanthropy And Marketing By Letting Reviewers Give A Free $25 Kiva Microloan | TechCrunch

TripAdvisor Combines Philanthropy And Marketing By Letting Reviewers Give A Free $25 Kiva Microloan | TechCrunch: TripAdvisor is demonstrating what Shah calls a “a very big trend”. Rather than writing one big check, companies and high net worth individuals can greater leverage their contribution by putting in the hands of others. In March 2012, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman put up $1 million to let other people try Kiva. He drove 47,840 new signups to Kiva, and since then, those people have lent an addition $417,000 of their own money.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Use QR Codes to Thank Holiday Supporters | Inspiring Generosity

Use QR Codes to Thank Holiday Supporters | Inspiring Generosity: I have another idea for thanking donors over the holidays, and it involves one of my favorite digital tools: QR Codes.

Social Media Power #GivingTuesday Holiday Giving Effort - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Social Media Power #GivingTuesday Holiday Giving Effort - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: While it is too early to tally how many charities are participating and how much money has been raised, it’s not too soon to monitor the considerable social-media buzz for #GivingTuesday, which has been a popular tag on Twitter and has been dominating Facebook conversations.

Mobile Strategy: One App, or Many Apps? | AssociationCentric

Mobile Strategy: One App, or Many Apps? | AssociationCentric: Mobile Strategy: One App, or Many Apps?
Posted on November 7, 2012 by Cecilia Satovich
As associations ponder their mobile options, a frequent question I get asked is, “Should we look for one app that represents our association? Or multiple apps? Which is better?”

The argument goes something like this:

Pro “one app” guy – “You should do one app so members don’t have to download multiple apps, and it’s all there in one place for them. I didn’t know that X group had this other app once, and I missed it”
Pro “multi app” gal – “That’s silly, I have 6 Google apps on my phone and love them all. Multiple apps is the way to go because then each app specifically does the one thing I need from it”

Networking Your Nonprofit: The Basics

Networking Your Nonprofit: The Basics: Things to Think About

The following are some questions from our article — Networking 101: Understanding Your Needs — that might help to guide your network planning process by taking stock of what you have and need:

NPD Canada - Home

NPD Canada - Home: This year, all Canadians were encouraged to participate on a Twitter contest by tweeting how they were changing the world to hashtag #npdTELUS. The five most inspiring tweets earned the sender a $500 contribution to their favorite charitable cause. The five tweets selected are:

‘Tweet Me in St. Louis’ Is This Web Site’s Goal - NYTimes.com

‘Tweet Me in St. Louis’ Is This Web Site’s Goal - NYTimes.com: The effort is being made through a new nonprofit organization, Rally St. Louis, that was introduced this month by Aaron Perlut and Brian Cross, two managing partners at a public relations agency in St. Louis named Elasticity. Unlike the traditional, top-down civic betterment campaigns that are backed by the likes of chambers of commerce, Rally St. Louis is taking a bottom-up approach

Charity Develops New Crowdfunding Platform - Tech Europe - WSJ

Charity Develops New Crowdfunding Platform - Tech Europe - WSJ: U.K. blood cancer charity Leukemia and Lymphoma Research is attempting to turn one of the main traditional means of fundraising on its head. Instead of somebody deciding to take part in an activity then looking for sponsors, the new Pledgeit platform enables people to challenge their friends to complete task in return for donations.

On ‘Giving Tuesday,’ big donors shed light on why, when and how they give - The Washington Post

On ‘Giving Tuesday,’ big donors shed light on why, when and how they give - The Washington Post: On Tuesday, the firm, which was founded in 2000 by former Bain & Co. chief executive Thomas Tierney, launched “Conversations with Remarkable Givers,” a series of video interviews with some of the nation’s biggest philanthropists, including AOL co-founder Steve Case and his wife Jean, Peter and Jennifer Buffett, media mogul Ted Turner, eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein and actor Michael J. Fox. Each of the more than 50 participants was asked a series of questions about their strategy and insights regarding their philanthropic work. The edited video responses range from 30 seconds to four minutes long.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Finale Near for Chase 2012 American Giving Awards

Finale Near for Chase 2012 American Giving Awards: Twenty-five charities are ready to receive votes in the Chase 2012 American Giving Awards.

Fans and friends can vote for their favorite charity on Facebook from November 27 to December 4. Chase online customers can also vote on the Chase website. The five top vote-getters will receive grants ranging from $125,000 to $1 million.

Monday, November 19, 2012

CHICAGO: Capital One, Common Impact, Points of Light, and Taproot Foundation Launch Online Tool to Increase Impact of Pro Bono Volunteer Services for Nonprofits Across the Nation | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online

CHICAGO: Capital One, Common Impact, Points of Light, and Taproot Foundation Launch Online Tool to Increase Impact of Pro Bono Volunteer Services for Nonprofits Across the Nation | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online: CHICAGO — Corporations across the U.S. are estimated to provide more than $15 billion in pro bono volunteer services to nonprofits across the country in 2012, according to the Taproot Foundation, and 66 percent of nonprofits in America say they need pro bono volunteer services more than any other kind of volunteering. To better leverage these skilled services, today the Nonprofit Collaborative launched the Readiness Roadmap, an online guide that assesses, prepares and connects nonprofit organizations with key tools and resources to engage skilled volunteers and maximize their time.

Large charities should develop cloud solutions for the sector, says IT expert

Large charities should develop cloud solutions for the sector, says IT expert: Large charities should band together to create cloud solutions for the sector as a whole, a leading IT expert has said.

Speaking at the Charity Technology Conference this morning, Roger Camrass, IT expert and futurist, said the charity sector could learn from lessons from the building society world.

Friday, November 16, 2012

6 Tips for Managing Project Requests from Staff without Losing Your Own Priorities | NTEN

6 Tips for Managing Project Requests from Staff without Losing Your Own Priorities | NTEN: f your job involves doing projects for other staff – such as posting online content, IT tech support, or database management – you may find it challenging to manage your own daily To Do List and to plan farther ahead. Juggling competing deadlines and projects, you may often delay your own assignments to make way for more immediate needs or to keep your “clients” happy.

Here are a few tips for setting and sticking to your priorities while also getting done the work you need to do for others

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Review: Online tools make Sandy fundraising easier - CBS News

Review: Online tools make Sandy fundraising easier - CBS News: The Sunday after Sandy made landfall two weeks ago, I was supposed to run my 50th marathon in New York, 10 years to the weekend since I had run my first marathon, also in New York. It would have been a celebratory affair. Then Sandy came along, and after days of intense debate, the marathon was abruptly canceled. I channeled my energies instead toward raising money for relief.

Of the several sites I could have used to organize my fundraising campaign, I chose Crowdrise because I could link my efforts with a broader campaign by the marathon's organizers to turn the event into a Race to Recover.

Tumblr, Photo Blogger Raise $100K for Hurricane Sandy Relief | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Tumblr, Photo Blogger Raise $100K for Hurricane Sandy Relief | News & Opinion | PCMag.com: In less than 24 hours, a joint Hurricane Sandy fundraising effort from Tumblr and New York photo blog Humans of New York (HONY) has topped their goal of raising $100,000 for victims of the storm.

CRM’s value grows with addition of social | TMA Resources

CRM’s value grows with addition of social | TMA Resources: While the utility of CRM systems has long been established, the rise of social media has made the technology even more valuable to organizations, as a recent study revealed.

Social and CRM
Destination CRM reported that the study, conducted by Nucleus Research, found that development and deployment cycles for CRM are becoming increasingly fast and CRM tools are yielding richer insight, thanks largely to the growing integration of social media capabilities.

Friday, November 09, 2012

As Sandy Became #Sandy, Emergency Services Got Social | Fast Company

As Sandy Became #Sandy, Emergency Services Got Social | Fast Company: As New Yorkers took to Twitter to voice concerns, request aid, and offer real-time help, organizations were--more than ever before--there and ready to respond on their native platforms. Here's how the Red Cross, the City of New York, and Occupy Wall Street ratcheted up their Hurricane Sandy relief via the social web.

Want To Make Conference Learning Stick? Try Gamification!

Want To Make Conference Learning Stick? Try Gamification!: Want To Make Conference Learning Stick? Try Gamification!

Recovers.org, a Marketplace for Disaster Relief - Businessweek

Recovers.org, a Marketplace for Disaster Relief - Businessweek: O’Neill’s startup, Recovers.org, has set up websites in four New York City boroughs to manage relief efforts and prevent the logistical chaos that often follows catastrophes when well-meaning volunteers overwhelm government officials and relief organizations. Before Sandy, the company, less than a year old, had tested the site in only a handful of communities, including Forney, Tex., and West Pasco County, Fla. Coordinating an operation in the aftermath of a major natural disaster is like “inventing the wheel as the vehicle is in motion,” says Rebecca Williams, who organized aid for tornado survivors in Joplin, Mo., in 2011.

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Nonprofit Web: Was That Really My Hair? - TheNonProfitTimes

Nonprofit Web: Was That Really My Hair? - TheNonProfitTimes: Websites today “really are connected to marketing and brand strategy,” she said. “It’s interesting to see what next step will be,” said Trompeter, who presented a session titled “Is It Time to Redesign Your Website? How to Tell and How to Fix It?” during the annual Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) held in San Francisco, Calif.

An integral part of the website redesign process is setting goals. Things that good nonprofit websites have always had in common was knowing what the goals and audiences are, being consistent in brand design, and how you portray yourselves differently, said Trompeter. “That’s changed as the tools have changed but the basic ideas have remained,” she said.

2012 Giving Season Give Back Video Contest

2012 Giving Season Give Back Video Contest: What Does Giving Back Mean to You?
2012 GuideStar Giving Season Give Back Contest

It's the giving season, the time of year when many people give back by stepping up their charitable giving. Which led us to wonder:

What does giving back mean to you?

NYC leverages social media to map evacuation info for Hurricane Sandy | SmartBlogs SmartBlogs

NYC leverages social media to map evacuation info for Hurricane Sandy | SmartBlogs SmartBlogs: The City of New York utilized its Open Data platform to help residents deal with the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The effort, which is part of the Digital Road Map the City launched last year, integrates geographic information systems (GIS), social media and other private and public assets to inform New Yorkers about the dangers posed by the storm. Highlights of the program include a Hurricane Evacuation Map and an accompanying Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder residents can use to see if their location is at-risk of flooding and plan an evacuation.

Monday, November 05, 2012

Harvard University Students Running NYC Marathon in Boston for Hurricane Sandy | BostInno

Harvard University Students Running NYC Marathon in Boston for Hurricane Sandy | BostInno: On Sunday, Baker and Whitmore, both Harvard University seniors, did their own 26.2-mile marathon, here in Boston, while raising money to support those in need who were impacted by the furious October storm.

They started a fundraising page on Indiegogo.com and have pledged to give all of the proceeds they collect to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts in NYC.

Friday, November 02, 2012

Facebook Gifts Now Supports Charitable Donations | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Facebook Gifts Now Supports Charitable Donations | News & Opinion | PCMag.com: Facebook today launched a new feature that allows you to make charitable contributions through Facebook Gifts.

The test feature is launching with about a dozen partners, including the American Red Cross, Blue Star Families, Boys & Girls Club of America, DonorsChoose.org, Girls Inc., Kiva, Livestrong, Oxfam America, RAINN, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, and Water.org.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Launch Day | Idealware

Launch Day | Idealware: We had hoped that our latest report, Consumers Guide to Low Cost Content Management Systems, would be the biggest news of the week, but Hurricane Sandy trumped us. We’re keeping our friends, families and constituents affected by the storm in our thoughts, but releasing the report today anyway. Published in partnership with Beaconfire Consulting, it offers detailed reviews and comparisons of 11 Content Management Systems for nonprofits.
The report is free to download

PHILANTHROPY 2173: (More) Tech and #Sandy (part 5)

PHILANTHROPY 2173: (More) Tech and #Sandy (part 5): More) Tech and #Sandy (part 5)

Still more examples of technology communities' contributions to, and use of social media by, hurricane #Sandy relief efforts. Earlier posts from yesterday and this morning.

PHILANTHROPY 2173: (More) Tech and #Sandy (part 5)

PHILANTHROPY 2173: (More) Tech and #Sandy (part 5): More) Tech and #Sandy (part 5)

Still more examples of technology communities' contributions to, and use of social media by, hurricane #Sandy relief efforts. Earlier posts from yesterday and this morning.

Ky. Voices: Support local non-profits by donating to online challenge | Op-Ed | Kentucky.com

Ky. Voices: Support local non-profits by donating to online challenge | Op-Ed | Kentucky.com: As the holidays approach, it's the perfect time to support the local charities that make our community great. That's why Blue Grass Community Foundation and Smiley Pete Publishing developed the GoodGiving Guide Challenge — to make it easy and fun for the whole community to give. This online giving campaign is a fast, simple way to support 68 local charities.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Facebook sets up $500,000 foundation to deliver services in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven - San Jose Mercury News

Facebook sets up $500,000 foundation to deliver services in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven - San Jose Mercury News: Facebook is delivering on its promise to create a charitable foundation that will distribute $500,000 to community nonprofits serving East Palo Alto and Menlo Park's Belle Haven neighborhood.

The social network company's investment is part of a deal it struck with the city of Menlo Park for permission to almost double the number of employees at its main campus at the intersection of Bayfront Expressway and Willow Road.

Short-Form Stories Sizzle on Social�Media - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -

Short-Form Stories Sizzle on Social�Media - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -

Technology news,�events,�jobs,�and�company�profiles - Techvibes.com

Technology news,�events,�jobs,�and�company�profiles - Techvibes.com: We learned this morning that Salesforce was "decimating" Radian6's marketing and social community departments. According to a source familiar with the matter, people from the vice-president level down are facing layoffs "left and right" today at Radian6, which Salesforce acquired for more than $300 million last year.

YouTube Unveils New Fundraising Tool for Nonprofits: Associations Now

YouTube Unveils New Fundraising Tool for Nonprofits: Associations Now: For associations that have tried using social media to fundraise, the YouTube Nonprofits Program could prove a valuable complement to existing campaign strategies, especially in the area of relationship building, said Amy Sample Ward, membership director at NTEN, the Nonprofit Technology Network.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

3 Critical Skills Community Managers Can Learn from “Whose Line Is It Anyway”? � The Community Manager

3 Critical Skills Community Managers Can Learn from “Whose Line Is It Anyway”? � The Community Manager: Successful (and hilarious) improv is more like Community Management than you might think.

In both, you need to be able to work together with another person (or a group of people), often in the moment, to solve problems with uncontrollable factors including your environment and any shared & internal feelings.

In Mobile World, Tech Giants Scramble to Get Up to Speed - NYTimes.com

In Mobile World, Tech Giants Scramble to Get Up to Speed - NYTimes.com: Today almost half of Americans own a smartphone, according to comScore — an astoundingly fast adoption since Apple introduced the iPhone just five years ago. The amount of time people spend on their phones surfing the Web, using apps, playing games and listening to music has more than doubled in the last two years, to 82 minutes a day, according to eMarketer; the time spent online on computers will grow just 3.6 percent this year.

“What has caught people off guard has been acceleration of the multitude of things that you can do with a smartphone,” said David B. Yoffie, a Harvard Business School professor who studies the technology sector.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Why Did Salsa Labs Fire Its CEO and Co-Founder? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Why Did Salsa Labs Fire Its CEO and Co-Founder? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: n a move that has relevance for nonprofits engaged in issue campaigns, Salsa Labs fired CEO and co-founder Chris Lundberg. The Salsa Labs organizing platform (and before it, Democracy in Action) was the creation of Lundberg and April Pederson. Salsa Labs went from a nonprofit at which Lundberg and Pederson sacrificed their salaries to a privately-held for-profit with thousands of clients using it as an integrated platform for “nonprofits [to] build, organize & engage a base of support with tools to communicate, fundraise, advocate & build community,” as stated on Salsa’s Twitter account.

Foundation Center - Nonprofit Collaboration Database

Foundation Center - Nonprofit Collaboration Database

Monday, October 22, 2012

Charity notebook: Jowonio wins $8,500 grant to buy technology that will help special needs children communicate | syracuse.com

Charity notebook: Jowonio wins $8,500 grant to buy technology that will help special needs children communicate | syracuse.com: he CNY85 Giving Project was created to engage the public in the foundation's 85-year anniversary celebration and draw attention to the many nonprofits that benefit Central New York. The online campaign invites visitors to its websiteto vote for a project once a day during the designated month.

The grant to Jowonio was the third awarded this year as part of CNY85. Previous winners have included Orenda Springs Experiential Learning Center and the Madison County Office for the Aging.

Social Media and Fundraising: Metropolitan Ministries � AFP Suncoast Blog

Social Media and Fundraising: Metropolitan Ministries � AFP Suncoast Blog: The next stop on my journey to discover how social media is impacting AFP member organizations and whether it is helping to raise dollars was at Metropolitan Ministries. There I had the pleasure of talking with Justine Burke, Director of Marketing, and Jim Alexander, Digital Marketing Coordinator.

Friday, October 19, 2012

YouTube reaches out to nonprofits with Campaigns tracking tool | ZDNet

YouTube reaches out to nonprofits with Campaigns tracking tool | ZDNet: YouTube continues to beef up analytics support on the front and back ends of the video sharing platform with the introduction of Campaigns.

Described as a "digital thermometer," essentially this tool can be used to set goals for the number of desired views with real-time tracking for pinpointing progress.

Google Wallet Ushers in a New Era in Online and Mobile Fundraising for Nonprofits � Nonprofit Tech 2.0 Blog :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits

Google Wallet Ushers in a New Era in Online and Mobile Fundraising for Nonprofits � Nonprofit Tech 2.0 Blog :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: Now, there are numerous mobile wallets out there (Square, Visa, Isis, etc.), but Google Wallet does appear to be the first one to empower nonprofits to fundraise online. In the future, my guess is that when donating or shopping online we will be able to choose which wallet service we want to use with one-click – similar to how we now choose which credit card we want to use when donating or shopping online.

More small businesses dedicating time to social media - latimes.com

More small businesses dedicating time to social media - latimes.com: It started with an injured rescue dog, $125 in cash and an old silk screen machine.

Inspired by the dog, David, Donny and Darren Hendrickson used the money and the machine to launch an online skateboard and apparel company that donates a chunk of its profit to animal causes. To raise awareness for their endeavor, the 25-year-old brothers — they're triplets — turned to Facebook.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Dark Social: We Have the Whole History of the Web Wrong - Alexis C. Madrigal - The Atlantic

Dark Social: We Have the Whole History of the Web Wrong - Alexis C. Madrigal - The Atlantic: his means that this vast trove of social traffic is essentially invisible to most analytics programs. I call it DARK SOCIAL. It shows up variously in programs as "direct" or "typed/bookmarked" traffic, which implies to many site owners that you actually have a bookmark or typed in www.theatlantic.com into your browser. But that's not actually what's happening a lot of the time. Most of the time, someone Gchatted someone a link, or it came in on a big email distribution list, or your dad sent it to you.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Bringing the benefits of technology to Austrian nonprofits - Microsoft Citizenship Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

Bringing the benefits of technology to Austrian nonprofits - Microsoft Citizenship Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs: Technology donations for nonprofits made easy: What has benefited German nonprofits for nearly four years now, is now also available in Austria. As of late September, the online technology donation portal Stifter-helfen.at – IT for nonprofits went online with a press conference in Vienna and media coverage in various print and online titles. It gives Austrian nonprofits access to over 100 products from three software companies. Among those three: Microsoft. The company was also among the three initial donors in Germany, and it was instrumental in setting up the donation platform in the early 2000s in the US with the American non-governmental organization (NGO) TechSoup Global.

Friday, October 12, 2012

CRM must deliver cross-channel experience | TMA Resources

CRM must deliver cross-channel experience | TMA Resources: Crossing channels
Speaking to TechTarget, Natarajan, global head of CRM enterprise solutions for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), said offering a cross-channel experience is one of the greatest challenges that many organizations face.

Numerous studies have indicated that customers now expect organizations to offer services through multiple channels. In addition to traditional forums, such as the telephone and email, clients now want to be able to reach out to a firm via live webchat, text messaging, social media and more. If these options are not available, individuals may feel the organization is not paying sufficient attention to their needs and desires.

Typical Twitter user is a young woman with an iPhone & 208 followers — Tech News and Analysis

Typical Twitter user is a young woman with an iPhone & 208 followers — Tech News and Analysis: witter’s endless funnel of data is producing an equally endless series of studies — including on Twitter itself. The latest study offers fun tidbits about who is using Twitter and why.

In “An Exhaustive Study of Twitter Users Around the World,” analytics firm Beevolve claims to have crunched data from 36 million Twitter profiles. What they found probably corresponds to what you suspected: most Twitter users are young iPhone users from English speaking countries.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Nonprofit Sector “Short on Innovation?” Bull! - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Nonprofit Sector “Short on Innovation?” Bull! - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Ben Rooney begins a piece on nonprofits using relatively new digital and social media tools made possible by the Internet with this intro: “If big data and other technologies are transforming enterprise, then what effect will they have on the not-for-profit sector? It is an area that is typically strong on good will but short on innovation.” Wow! Mr. Rooney, may we introduce you to the nonprofit sector?

This opening body slam on the sector would be fine if Rooney offered any evidence to support such a generalization, but he doesn’t.

Coding for the community: techie-style philanthropy comes to Manchester | UK news | guardian.co.uk

Coding for the community: techie-style philanthropy comes to Manchester | UK news | guardian.co.uk: Over a warm autumn weekend in Manchester, around 20 designers, coders and lovers of all things techie gathered to share their skills with three local community projects - for free. The 'Good for Nothing' weekender which took place at Madlab last week, aims to help community projects build their profile and equip them for an increasingly competitive funding market.

Not-for-Profit Sector Gets Internet Savvy - Tech Europe - WSJ

Not-for-Profit Sector Gets Internet Savvy - Tech Europe - WSJ: A new breed of organization born in the heart of the digital disruption is using all the tools that the Internet, and in particular social media, afford to drive fundraising, raise awareness and more important, to help boost efficiency, delivering more returns.

The recruitment poster boy for these Young Turks is Charity: water, a campaigning group set up by Scott Harrison, a former nightclub promoter, to bring clean drinking water to the world’s poor. For Mr. Harrison, who built the charity into a multimillion-dollar operation, technology is transformative through its ability to link individual projects to individual supporters.

Crowdfunding 101: A Comparative Look at Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Razoo - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Crowdfunding 101: A Comparative Look at Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Razoo - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Crowdfunding 101: A Comparative Look at Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Razoo

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

It’s Time to Break the Bandwidth Monopoly | Tech News/Trends content from Meetings Net

It’s Time to Break the Bandwidth Monopoly | Tech News/Trends content from Meetings Net: Technology has invaded face-to-face events. If you stand in the back of a breakout session and observe attendee behavior, you’ll see what I mean. Today’s attendee brings a smartphone plus an iPad or laptop to every event. She is a hyper-connected multitasker, a member of the new “on-demand” generation. She expects to be able to check e-mail, post tweets, and stay productive at all times.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Lasa report showcases top digital tips from sector leaders

Lasa report showcases top digital tips from sector leaders: Lasa has launched an online report exploring the potential of technologies for the sector and urged others to share their thoughts.

Titled Digital: What Every Charity Leader Should Know, the report asked 31 relevant parties to summarise their top five digital insights using one digital presentation slide. The report includes contributions from Martha Lane Fox (chair, Go On UK and the UK's digital champion), Nigel Lewis (CEO, AbilityNet), and Karl Wilding (head of foresight, NCVO).

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Your Facebook Fans Are Hiding Your Posts At An Alarming Rate | Fast Company

Your Facebook Fans Are Hiding Your Posts At An Alarming Rate | Fast Company: We are all counting numbers around our communities. After all, a thousand fans looks better than a hundred. But have you personally ever hid a post from a brand you're a fan of? And have you, as a marketer, ever wondered how many of your fans do the same thing?

There are four types of negative feedback on Facebook ranging from undesirable, to worst for a marketer, starting with:
● Hide: hides a single specific post from the user’s newsfeed
● Hide All: hides all the posts by that page from the user’s newsfeed. This used to be known as “unsubscribing”.
● Unlike Page: “unfan” the page
● Report spam: user thinks your page is spam

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Get Engaged at npEngage | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog

Get Engaged at npEngage | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog: Change is the one constant and this blog is no exception. Today, Blackbaud launches an excited new site called npENGAGE that will take things to a whole new level.

Medium, Twitter Co-Founders' New Site, Will Open to Public Next Year - Lauren Goode - Media - AllThingsD

Medium, Twitter Co-Founders' New Site, Will Open to Public Next Year - Lauren Goode - Media - AllThingsD: The trio touched upon varying aspects of the future of digital content production and distribution, topics that would probably be boring to normal folk but enthralled the who’s-who of New York’s tech and digital media scene.

A few key points: Williams would like to keep Medium relatively high-quality, though he recognizes that, in publishing, low barriers to entry feed the content machine by making people feel good, thus spurring them to share more content (Instagram, Williams noted, is a key example of this). Also, he believes more and more media consumption will come via networks and platforms instead of individual websites.

Willie Matis – Turning your STAFF into online advocates

Willie Matis – Turning your STAFF into online advocates: Turning your STAFF into online advocates


Have you ever noticed that sometimes it is easier to get external supporters to be better advocates for your cause than your very own staff??

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Improved customer engagement via social media a key goal for marketers | TMA Resources

Improved customer engagement via social media a key goal for marketers | TMA Resources: Organizations of all kinds – private and public, corporate and nonprofit – are increasingly striving to utilize social media. Facebook, Twitter and other social networks can offer significant benefits to organizations, while ignoring these channels can lead to missed opportunities.

5 Ways to Make LinkedIn Board Connect Work for Your Nonprofit | Beth’s Blog

5 Ways to Make LinkedIn Board Connect Work for Your Nonprofit | Beth’s Blog: Note from Beth: Last week, I wrote about the launch of LinkedIn’s Board Connect tool that helps nonprofit identify potential board candidates through searching the networks of their board members on LinkedIn. In the comments, there was some thoughtful discussion about best practices for identifying, screening, and cultivating board members. Geri Stengel who has written guest posts about LinkedIn on this blog offered to share some tips. An excellent addition to my collection of curated LinkedIn resources.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

3 Reasons Your Blog Needs to Get More Visual | Social Media Today

3 Reasons Your Blog Needs to Get More Visual | Social Media Today: . The growth of visual engagement

The deeper trend though across social media is towards visual engagement:

Based on an analysis of 10,000 social marketing campaigns, Wildfire found 6 core practices that helped produce superfans on Facebook. The use of images as one of the six ways to improve engagement.
Dan Zarella likewise reports that posts with photos gets more likes, comments and shares.
Similar figures are reported by an infographic from mBooth; but they also highlight that 42% of all Tumblr posts are photos.

LinkedIn as a Multi-Dimensional Fundraiser’s Resource - Resource Center - AFP

LinkedIn as a Multi-Dimensional Fundraiser’s Resource - Resource Center - AFP: When LinkedIn launched in 2003, most professionals saw it as little more than an online resume—those days are long gone. Nicknamed the “Facebook of Business,” it has evolved into a highly productive tool for both for-profit business and social-profit philanthropy.

LinkedIn has over 175 million members in 200 countries. The net worth of the average user is more than that of Facebook and Twitter combined. Major gift fundraisers, are you paying attention? The prospecting power of the “advanced search” function allows you to look up donors, volunteers and supporters in dozens of ways. This is search engine optimization at its best.

Twitter Cofounder Suggests A Replacement For The Follower Count

Twitter Cofounder Suggests A Replacement For The Follower Count: Twitter cofounder Ev Williams — who remains on the company's board — hinted Monday that follower counts may soon become the second most important number to users.

"The thing I think would be more interesting than followers is... retweets," clarifying that a simple measure of followers "doesn't capture your distribution."

"The dream metric," he said, "is how many people saw your tweet."

Monday, September 24, 2012

Zaw Thet: The Global Good Challenge -- Engaging New Networks of Supporters on Global Issues

Zaw Thet: The Global Good Challenge -- Engaging New Networks of Supporters on Global Issues: These accelerating trends are fascinating in and of themselves, but in the context of empowering modern philanthropy, engagement is a game-changer. By meeting people on their devices, we can foster positive change. With a new cross-sector approach, we are able to apply the best practices from multiple disciplines, maximizing our ability to realize the promise of social media for social good.

The latest example of this new approach was launched today, when we and the United Nations Foundation unveiled the Global Good Challenge (unf.org/good, #GlobalGood, @unfggc) at the Social Good Summit.

Third Sector Research Centre starts online debates on the future of the sector

Third Sector Research Centre starts online debates on the future of the sector: opics to be considered include whether the voluntary sector has special or distinctive characteristics, how it is being shaped by its changing relationships with the state and whether it should speak with a consistent voice in order to negotiate its future.

Each subject, or dialogue, will be considered over the course of about a month through online debates and seminars in London before a ‘sounding panel’ of voluntary sector experts, chaired by Pete Alcock, director of the TSRC, meet to discuss the findings.

Social Charity Index: Charities begin to harness networked power | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

Social Charity Index: Charities begin to harness networked power | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: What could not-for-profits be capable of achieving if they had free access to over 12 million connected and engaged people? That's the number of social media savvy follows, subscribers and likes the top 100 social

charities are getting in the UK today, according to the second annual Social Charity Index.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Are Online Philanthropy Contests Worth the Effort? - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Are Online Philanthropy Contests Worth the Effort? - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: After this year’s Chase Community Giving contest closed after a troubled start, some nonprofit leaders debated the costs and benefits of participating in these type of vote-driven corporate philanthropy contests in The Chronicle’s LinkedIn group.

Some nonprofit leaders say they have had success with the contests, while others are skeptical of whether the campaigns benefit nonprofits or the corporate donor.

Here are some highlights from the debate:

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Redesign or Realign? Four things to consider to improve your website | TechSoup Canada

Redesign or Realign? Four things to consider to improve your website | TechSoup Canada: Last week’s Toronto Net Tuesday, titled “Redesign or Realign? Four Things to Consider to Improve Your Website” focused on just this predicament. Presented by Chris Wulff of Patience and Fortitude Consulting, the session delved into questions that nonprofits are faced with time and time again:

“We’ve got a site, now how do we make it better?”
“Where do we go from here?”
“What’s next?”

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Charities get smart on the planet of the apps

Charities get smart on the planet of the apps: Digital technology is being used by charities in increasingly creative ways to raise awareness of their work or to seek support for their causes. Sylvia Rowley looks at the latest trends and asks what will come next

From virtual protests to augmented reality smartphone apps, digital communication is rapidly changing the way that charities campaign, fundraise and even deliver projects.

Adobe to offer charity's software at reduced prices

Adobe to offer charity's software at reduced prices: Richard Craig, chief of the Charity Technology Trust, which runs the CTXchange scheme, says access to design software will be useful to charities

Charities with an annual income of less than �6m will be able to use professional software including Photoshop and InDesign at a fraction of their retail cost after the firm Adobe joined the Charity Technology Trust’s CTXchange programme.

The scheme gives eligible charities and housing associations a limited number of licences for computer software programmes, which have been donated by major software companies including Microsoft and Symantec.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Reality Check: 10-15% Of Brands’ Social Media Fans, Likes And Reviews Will Be Fake By 2014, Says Gartner | TechCrunch

Reality Check: 10-15% Of Brands’ Social Media Fans, Likes And Reviews Will Be Fake By 2014, Says Gartner | TechCrunch: Fake fans, fake “likes” and fake reviews are some of the worst aspects of social media — or at least for those of us earnest enough to take user-generated content and the will of the crowd seriously. Now, new research from Gartner lays bare the fact that it’s only going to get worse, as paid social media interactions become a more established industry unto themselves. The analysts predict that by 2014, some 10%-15% of all social media reviews and other forms of engagement will be fake, paid for by the companies getting endorsed.

Monday, September 17, 2012

LinkedIn Launches Board Connect for Nonprofits, Revolutionizes Board Member Matching - Forbes

LinkedIn Launches Board Connect for Nonprofits, Revolutionizes Board Member Matching - Forbes: Today, LinkedIn announced Board Connect, which helps nonprofit leaders easily identify connections to potential board members. In an interview with LinkedIn’s Head of Social Impact Meg Garlinghouse, we discussed the inspiration behind Board Connect, how the new program will work in practice, lessons she brought to bear from her own experience serving on nonprofit boards, and more.

Experts disagree over the utility of dashboards for BI programs | TMA Resources

Experts disagree over the utility of dashboards for BI programs | TMA Resources: However, as ZDNet recently highlighted, industry experts disagree over the value of BI dashboards. While some argue that they represent a shortcoming in BI technology, others believe they are invaluable tools for BI users.

Friday, September 14, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO: Global Survey Reveals Why NGOs Are Moving IT to the Cloud | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online

SAN FRANCISCO: Global Survey Reveals Why NGOs Are Moving IT to the Cloud | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online: AN FRANCISCO — TechSoup Global (www.techsoupglobal.org) announced today the results of its 2012 Global Cloud Computing Survey of 10,500 nonprofits, charities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 88 countries — the most extensive technology survey ever conducted of NGOs worldwide.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

One-on-one relationships critical for successful social strategies | TMA Resources

One-on-one relationships critical for successful social strategies | TMA Resources: Yet the expansiveness of social media can also cause problems for organizations, as it is easy to focus so much on the sheer scope of the audience that firms lose sight of one of its most important components: the ability to connect with individuals on a one-on-one basis.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Chase Online Contest Draws Ire for Technical Glitches - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Chase Online Contest Draws Ire for Technical Glitches - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Chase Online Contest Draws Ire for Technical Glitches

September 10, 2012, 6:24 pm

By Cody Switzer

The prospect of winning a grant from the annual Chase Community Giving contest prompts many small nonprofits to aggressively encourage their supporters to vote in the online competition. Small charities that get the most votes from their online supporters are eligible to win up to $250,000, and a total of $5-million will be awarded through the competition.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Powerful Online Tool Will Highlight Local Nonprofits

Powerful Online Tool Will Highlight Local Nonprofits: TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Sept 10, 2012 – The Community Foundation of North Florida is excited about launching FindLearnGive.org, the community’s first comprehensive online database of local nonprofits. The website will connect the community with local charities and help donors and citizens research organizations and their needs. The Foundation encourages local nonprofits to complete their organization profile on FindLearnGive.org prior to the November launch.

Non-Profit Humour: Study says most “top ten” fundraising lists insanely obvious

Non-Profit Humour: Study says most “top ten” fundraising lists insanely obvious

What’s the Best Way to Measure Influence? DIY Not�Klout! - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -

What’s the Best Way to Measure Influence? DIY Not�Klout! - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -: As nonprofit senior leadership starts taking social media more seriously to engage supporters, they are also starting to ponder their own organization’s influence. Fair enough. If your organization is going to devote staff resources and time in social media, you should have a solid understanding of the audiences you are reaching, and how strong those relationships are. For example, if I were the Executive Director of an environmental organization working on climate change, I would want to know that the people who my organization and I engaged with on social networks, like Facebook and Twitter:

1 | Infographic: The Astounding Power Of Pinterest | Co.Design: business innovation design

1 | Infographic: The Astounding Power Of Pinterest | Co.Design: business innovation design

Disaster Relief Of A Different Kind - West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio

Disaster Relief Of A Different Kind - West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio: Seventeen West Virginia Office of Technology employees are working long hours in Louisiana lending an IT helping hand following what Hurricane Isaac left behind.

The workers volunteered for the service and state Chief Technology Officer Gale Given says they've been busy since they arrived.

"They are helping intake centers distribute food stamp cards," she said. "They may be pulled away to do other things but that's what they are doing right now."

Thursday, September 06, 2012

The Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) Joins the Integrated Marketing Advisory Board - MarketWatch

Press Release

The Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) Joins the Integrated Marketing Advisory Board - MarketWatch: AUSTIN, Texas, Sep 06, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Integrated Marketing Advisory Board (IMAB) today announced that The Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) has joined the IMAB. The Integrated Marketing Advisory Board is a collection of 12 industry-leading organizations with deep expertise in integrated marketing both in the nonprofit sector and the for-profit sector.

Privacy and Data Management on Mobile Devices | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

Privacy and Data Management on Mobile Devices | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project: Overview

More than half of mobile application users have uninstalled or avoided certain apps due to concerns about the way personal information is shared or collected by the app, according to a nationally representative telephone survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Online Contributions

Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Online Contributions: Recording Contributions

There are a number of options for generating online contributions and each has advantages and disadvantages (see the right column for more information):

The nonprofit's own Web site
Application service provider ("ASP") or third-party service bureau
Giving Web sites
This update includes trends and analysis on over $30 million in donations to more than 20,000 charities through the Network for Good platform in the second quarter (Q2) of 2012. The platform includes donations to Network for Good’s nonprofit customers through their own websites; other nonprofits through more than 40 corporate partner websites; and Network for Good’s giving portals, NetworkforGood.org and SixDegrees.org.

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Social Media and Fundraising: The Florida Aquarium � AFP Suncoast Blog

Social Media and Fundraising: The Florida Aquarium � AFP Suncoast Blog: The truly exciting bit is that coverage of major gifts could be used in all sorts of ways with the digital display. Major donors could be interviewed, benefits touted and pictures displayed. Mark couldn’t resist another benefit of the digital donor recognition board – revenue! When the Aquarium hosts events the board can be rented out. Plug and play makes it all possible.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Online philanthropy boosts educators | Tallahassee Democrat | tallahassee.com

Online philanthropy boosts educators | Tallahassee Democrat | tallahassee.com: Howell turned to the Internet for help. Though a combination of social media and the website Donorschoose.org, she was able to raise the money she needed in two days. Donors Choose is a charity website where teachers can post their needs as projects in the hopes of finding donors.

“Other colleagues of mine have had great success with the website,” she said. “The website even tells you projects under $400 tend to get funded quicker.”

Donations to Singapore Red Cross now possible at iNets kiosks

Donations to Singapore Red Cross now possible at iNets kiosks: Charitable individuals can now make their donations to the Singapore Red Cross on-the-go at 96 iNets Kiosks islandwide.

How does your org measure up to others? | Research Benchmark Tool

How does your org measure up to others? | Research Benchmark Tool: NTEN's Nonprofit Technology Benchmarking Tool is based on our annual research on technology staffing and spending, and it provides you with dynamic reports, customized to your organizational staffing and budget levels.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Charity Grants Can Help Tech Solve Social Ills In Africa - Ventures Africa

Charity Grants Can Help Tech Solve Social Ills In Africa - Ventures Africa: Loren Treisman, trust executive for grant-making foundation Indigo Trust, believes that time has come for more charitable organisations to tap into technology to tackle social issues in Africa. Indigo Trust funds tech projects that seek to bring about social change on the continent.

“Information technologies have the capability to achieve social impact at scale and at a relatively low cost,” she says. “One can deduce that when people are able to access, share and create information, they are empowered to make the changes they would like to see in their own lives and communities.” She hopes that Indigo Trust and other organisations can use technology to put power into the hands of African citizens.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Reddit is getting a fundraising button - Technolog on NBCNews.com

Reddit is getting a fundraising button - Technolog on NBCNews.com: Now, for the first time, Reddit users will be able to execute some of these fundraisers within Reddit-branded pages.

Why Social Media Matters: Networking and Engagement - Resource Center - AFP

Why Social Media Matters: Networking and Engagement - Resource Center - AFP: Networking is the new professional currency in our increasingly connected world, says Beth Kanter, and successful charities are changing their mindset to emphasize social media, openness, engagement and authenticity.

Kanter, author of The Networked Nonprofit and her forthcoming Measuring the Networked Nonprofit, will be one of the featured presenter at the 2012 Nonprofit Management Institute, Sept. 11-12, cosponsored by AFP and the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Google launches crisis map anticipating hurricane Isaac | Fox News

Google launches crisis map anticipating hurricane Isaac | Fox News: To do its part, Google has launched the new website aggregating info on tropical storm Isaac as part of its Crisis Response project.

While No “Holy Grail,” Razoo Reports Fundraising Success - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

While No “Holy Grail,” Razoo Reports Fundraising Success - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Razoo, a platform providing online giving methods and solutions to nonprofit organizations, has been the driving behind 15 “Give to the Max” events across the country. These Give to the Max days are 24-hour races in which regional nonprofits compete to raise the most money, and the events have raised awareness and funds for organizations from Greater Washington to Minnesota to Alabama, as NPQ noted earlier this year. Since 2007, Razoo has helped 14,000 organizations collect a total of $100 million. “People tend to think of online as removing the personal quality of giving, but it does provide us with powerful ways of continuing to engage donors post that first donation,” says Razoo Executive Director Lesley Mansford. “So it’s the beginning of a dialogue and relationship.”

Monday, August 27, 2012

Boston’s Philanthropic Youth: How Tech Leaders Give Back Early | BostInno

Boston’s Philanthropic Youth: How Tech Leaders Give Back Early | BostInno: Three months ago, the Wall Street Journal ran a poignant article called Young, Rich, and Charitable, focusing on the recent giving habits of Silicon Valley’s young tech elites. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Mark Benioff of Salesforce both have written $100M checks to charity this year. VC firm Andreesen Horowitz announced that all six of it’s partners will give away half of their wealth. A handful of young tech entrepreneurs, such as Elon Musk (PayPal), signed the Giving Pledge offering up their entire wealth across their life time. Add to that Sergey Brin of Google offering a $1M matching donation and Jack Dorsey of LinkedIn fronting a huge event for BUILD, and it’s clear to see that the tech community is looking to not only change the face of

Report Explores Nonprofit Social Media Trends - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Report Explores Nonprofit Social Media Trends - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Sponsored by the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), Common Knowledge and Blackbaud, the “2012 Nonprofit Social Network Benchmark Report” has been released.

Stretching Your Tech Dollars: Save a Penny, Lose Nine Cents? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Stretching Your Tech Dollars: Save a Penny, Lose Nine Cents? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Nonprofit organizations are experts at squeezing every last bit of value out of an asset. After all, a penny saved is a penny earned. A penny earned by spending a dime, however, is a 900 percent loss.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Text-to-donate: charitable giving in 8 characters | TechSoup Canada

Text-to-donate: charitable giving in 8 characters | TechSoup Canada: I’ll come back to this, first the facts:

Text-to-donate in Canada is made possible through the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada (MGFC), a registered charity whose purpose it is to enable text message donations for the benefit of other registered charities in Canada. Text-to-donate is only possible through the strategic partnerships that MGFC has established with:

the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association;
the Mobile Giving Foundation U.S.;
the Canadian Wireless Operators;
and the charitable organizations and qualified donees running mobile giving campaigns.

OMG! You’re Not Using Text Messaging to Reach Constituents? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

OMG! You’re Not Using Text Messaging to Reach Constituents? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: And it’s not just for kids. As text messaging has grown ubiquitous, so too has its popularity as a simple, inexpensive way for nonprofits to reach their constituents. A great deal of attention has been focused on the use of text messaging to raise funds following huge natural disasters, but organizations have also been uncovering innovative ways to leverage text messaging to engage community members in their work. From text-based applications to mobile customer relationship management platforms to simple one-to-one communications, text messaging has suddenly become sexy again.

Best Practices for Association Microsites

Best Practices for Association Microsites: Micro web sites and sub branding seem to go hand in hand, as does the angst and elation both bring to trade association marketing departments. I completely support micro site development; it just seems many are launched without strategic goals to support a sub brand, and many have an expiration date. I am not alone in my love/hate relationship with micro web sites (micro sites). In our research for the “Sub-Brands and Micro Web Site Use by U.S. Associations 2012: Benchmarks and Best Practices,” white paper, we found that nearly one-half of U.S. associations have deployed micro Web sites to promote sub brands, and many of the association marketing execs I talked to mentioned a host of issues with the sites, including a lack of strategic tie back to the master brand.

Friday, August 17, 2012

40% of Association Members’ Online Time is in Professional Communities [Research]

40% of Association Members’ Online Time is in Professional Communities [Research]: A new research project from the Society of New Communication Research called, The Social Mind, examines the rise of new social behaviors and interrelationships between individuals, organizations, and influencers. The three year series of studies surveyed more than 400 professionals and highly educated people in North America who participate in social media networks.

The research found that 40% of professionals’ online time is spent engaging in peer-to-peer online communities, followed by interacting with friends at 31% and family at 13%.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Crowd-funding campaigns gaining popularity with Canadians | News | National Post

Crowd-funding campaigns gaining popularity with Canadians | News | National Post: TORONTO — A burlesque troupe, a film about female Palestinian race car drivers and a bullied American bus monitor — as diverse as those topics are, they all share a common Canadian thread.

All three projects sparked crowd-funding campaigns, an Internet-based trend thrust into the spotlight recently by a Toronto man’s wildly successful fundraising effort for a Rochester, N.Y., grandmother.

How to Raise Funds Through Crowd Funding Platforms | Social Media Today

How to Raise Funds Through Crowd Funding Platforms | Social Media Today

Razoo raises $100M for social causes without dancing, PBS, or Milton Berle | VentureBeat

Razoo raises $100M for social causes without dancing, PBS, or Milton Berle | VentureBeat: Crowdfunding-for-causes platform Razoo hit the $100 million mark today. It raised more than half of this amount in the past nine months, ever since veteran gaming executive Lesley Mansford took over as CEO and applied her unique expertise to fundraising for social good.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

AFP Suncoast Blog

AFP Suncoast Blog: Social Media and Fundraising: Tampa Metropolitan YMCA

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Y of N.Y. Uses Social Media to Collect Stories—and Donors - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Via the Chronicle of Philanthropy
Y of N.Y. Uses Social Media to Collect Stories—and Donors - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A story from the YMCA of Greater New York’s timeline project

To celebrate its 160th anniversary, the YMCA of Greater New York is offering free T-shirts to people willing to share their stories of how the Y has made a difference in their lives.

Within 48 hours of issuing the appeal by e-mail and social media, the organization received nearly 300 stories recounting childhood swimming lessons, triathlon training, exercise programs started after injuries, and long-ago summer camps.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Social Media: I’m Sooooooo bored. And Worried, Too - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Social Media: I’m Sooooooo bored. And Worried, Too - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: ocial media has a role in relationship building. But not everyone wants to link up through social media. Social media can help you bring people together sometimes. But, as Malcolm Gladwell wrote, “The revolution won’t be tweeted.” For that, we still have to gather together physically and demonstrate and march.

As Infographic Fatigue Strikes, Is The Craze Over? � FutureComms

As Infographic Fatigue Strikes, Is The Craze Over? � FutureComms: The visual web has exploded this year, and with it the number of infographics. You can hardly visit a website nowadays without being exposed to an infographic of one kind or another and it’s starting to feel like we’ve reached saturation point. Whereas only six months ago an infographic was relatively progressive, attracted a lot of attention and was therefore pretty effective as a communications tool, now every man and his dog is using them to present pretty much anything. And as a result, they’re starting to suffer from white noise syndrome.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Detroit4Detroit: Citizen Philanthropy for a�Digital�World | Xconomy

Detroit4Detroit: Citizen Philanthropy for a�Digital�World | Xconomy: Citizen Effect, the Washington, D.C.-based microphilanthropy organization that is perhaps best known for its work in India, has just launched a new initiative called Detroit4Detroit, which aims to fund 150 community-improvement projects using a strategy that’s heavy on social networking and other digital tools.

How to Reach Young Supporters Using Social Networks - Live Discussions - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

How to Reach Young Supporters Using Social Networks - Live Discussions - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Most donors in their 20s and 30s prefer to learn about nonprofits through social media, according to a new survey.

But it's a challenge for nonprofits to figure out how to build strong ties and how to choose the networks that are most likely to help you advance your cause.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

NFPs Becoming More ‘Tech Effective’ - US Study | Pro Bono Australia

NFPs Becoming More ‘Tech Effective’ - US Study | Pro Bono Australia: A US Not for Profit technology staffing survey has found a sharp increase in the number of organisations with a formal technology plan.

The annual NTEN Nonprofit Technology Staffing and Investments survey reports that more than half (55 per cent) of respondents reported that their organisation has some type of formal technology plan compared to just 40 per cent last year.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Viral Philanthropy: The Impact of Crowdsourced Compassion

Viral Philanthropy: The Impact of Crowdsourced Compassion: Bus monitor Karen Klein didn’t ask the world for sympathy, and she definitely didn’t request money. But once Internet users watched the heartbreaking viral video of young students harassing Klein, they reached for their wallets.

This is viral philanthropy, through which users of online communities, such as Reddit, Facebook, Twitter and other platforms, spread awareness and raise money for those who need it.

7 secrets to increasing fundraising results - TheNonProfitTimes

7 secrets to increasing fundraising results - TheNonProfitTimes: Online fundraising has become a popular and successful method for nonprofits trying to increase revenue and acquire new donors. While it does not yet amount to even close to the majority of fundraising for most nonprofits, online giving grew by 13 percent from 2010 to 2011.

Frank Barry, Internet strategy manager for Blackbaud in Charleston, S.C., has seven tips that will help your organization improve online fundraising efforts.

Staying Attached To Untethered Donors - TheNonProfitTimes

Staying Attached To Untethered Donors - TheNonProfitTimes: More people are reading emails on mobile devices than on desktop computers. It’s no longer an option but a veritable requirement to code emails for mobile optimization. If your organization can’t afford to make an entire mobile-friendly website, at least optimize a few pages for mobile.

Monday, July 09, 2012

Technology - Howard Rheingold - What the WELL's Rise and Fall Tell Us About Online Community - The Atlantic

Technology - Howard Rheingold - What the WELL's Rise and Fall Tell Us About Online Community - The Atlantic: lash forward nearly three decades. I have not been active in the WELL for more than fifteen years. But when the word got around in 2010 that I had been diagnosed with cancer (I'm healthy now), people from the WELL joined my other friends in driving me to my daily radiation treatments. Philcat was one of them. Like many who harbor a special attachment to their home town long after they leave for the wider world, I've continued to take an interest -- at a distance -- in the place where I learned that strangers connected only through words on computer screens could legitimately be called a "community."

I got the word that the WELL was for sale via Twitter, which seemed either ironic or appropriate, or both. Salon, which has owned the WELL since 1999, has put the database of conversations, the list of subscribers, and the domain name on the market, I learned.

Friday, July 06, 2012

What Makes a Blogger Credible? | Social Media Strategy for Nonprofits and Businesses

What Makes a Blogger Credible? | Social Media Strategy for Nonprofits and Businesses

Can Technology Help Build Neighborhoods? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Can Technology Help Build Neighborhoods? - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: Watertown, Mass. is joining nine other cities across the United States in an experiment in online community organizing. Watertown has launched CommonPlace, billed as a place residents of a community can share and connect with their neighbors. Watertown residents can now trade names of babysitters, share ladders and track down lost pets using the power of technology. But the site aims to go one step further, and “connect communities on a civic organization to citizen basis.” In other words, the site offers a hub for community groups to reach all citizens rather than having to build out their following on social media or on their websites.

How A Gaming Guru Is Powering Up The New Social Philanthropy | Fast Company

How A Gaming Guru Is Powering Up The New Social Philanthropy | Fast Company: How A Gaming Guru Is Powering Up The New Social Philanthropy
BY Lydia Dishman | 07-06-2012 | 9:30 AM
Razoo CEO Lesley Mansford is an interactive entertainment and gaming veteran who’s now challenging nonprofits and individuals to raise the bar (and bigger donations) on social fundraising.

Refuge's abuse film deserved to go viral - Civil Society - Fundraising - Blogs - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Refuge's abuse film deserved to go viral - Civil Society - Fundraising - Blogs - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: So Refuge should be applauded for their canny move in asking make-up artist to the YouTube audience, Lauren Luke, to front their latest campaign to combat domestic violence - 'Don't cover it up'. Their reward of going viral, with almost 500,000 hits in one week, and coverage on Sky News, Channel 5 news, Telegraph, Guardian, Huffington Post, gossip magazine Jezebel, and of course civilsociety.co.uk, is well deserved.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Facing $600K in cuts, Philadelphia-area high school seeks to raise funds through eBay listing

Facing $600K in cuts, Philadelphia-area high school seeks to raise funds through eBay listing: LANGHORNE, Pa. — Forget magazine drives and candy sales. A cash-strapped high school near Philadelphia hopes to raise money by auctioning itself on eBay.

The starting bid of just under $600,000 for The Learning Center in Langhorne, Pa., is designed to offset steep budget cuts. A tongue-in-cheek listing describes the alternative school for at-risk teens as "pre-owned" and "slightly used."

Video: Charities should be the gold standard of transparency | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

Video: Charities should be the gold standard of transparency | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: Video: Charities should be the gold standard of transparency

NCVO's Karl Wilding discusses the cultural shift needed for charities to embrace open data and how data can help decision-makers. From the Guardian's bringing your data to life seminar, in association with TechSoup Global, on Wednesday 13 June 2012

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Consumers, i.e., Donors, Starting To Like Tumblr - TheNonProfitTimes

Consumers, i.e., Donors, Starting To Like Tumblr - TheNonProfitTimes: Tumblr, to me, is a great platform to reach a new, young audience,” said Rochee Jeffrey, FB’s social media coordinator. FB’s Tumblr has between 25,000 and 30,000 (number of Tumblr followers are not made public), compared to 22,000 Facebook fans and 20,000 Twitter followers. “The virality factor is fairly high. We’ve had more success spreading messages on Tumblr than Twitter or Facebook,” said Jeffrey.

Monday, July 02, 2012

GISuser.com GIS Location Technology - Microsoft Local Impact Map helps nonprofits illustrate the difference they make in a visual, dynamic

GISuser.com GIS Location Technology - Microsoft Local Impact Map helps nonprofits illustrate the difference they make in a visual, dynamic: To meet that need, Microsoft is making the Microsoft Local Impact Map available to nonprofits to help them share their stories in a compelling way on their websites. Originally developed to help showcase the impact of Microsoft Citizenship programs in more than 100 countries around the world, the map application is now being offered at no cost for licensing and a $15 monthly fee to host the map online via the Windows Azure platform. The Bing Maps-based user interface allows people to explore impact stories by category or by zooming in on a continent, country or region. The program includes a content management system that makes it easy for nonprofits to publish and manage their stories.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Tweet by Tweet, Building Nonprofit Awareness - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.

Tweet by Tweet, Building Nonprofit Awareness - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active and engaged democracy.: The blogger used Facebook as a base for people to send messages in order to allow people to elaborate on their stories (thus bypassing Twitter’s 140 character limit), and he then utilized the fast-paced, infectious nature of Twitter hashtags to spread his message. Looking at the extensive list of nonprofits that were touted, which you can view here, the social media campaign was fairly successful and channeled some inspiring and passionate tweets on behalf of a number of nonprofits, from Action Against Hunger and Alex’s Lemonade Stand to Vision of Children and the World Federation of UN Associations.

Over 150 Irish charities sign up to new code of practice - RT� News

Over 150 Irish charities sign up to new code of practice - RT� News: Between 2009 and 2011, INKEx built the first-ever and only comprehensive data repository for the non-profit sector.

It included digitised governance and financial information on more than 8,000 public benefit companies.

It was compiled and updated daily by re-using public information and publishing it on a free, searchable public website.

How A Web App Can Help Nonprofits Tell Better Stories And Raise Cash | Co.Design: business innovation design

How A Web App Can Help Nonprofits Tell Better Stories And Raise Cash | Co.Design: business innovation design: Nonprofits depend on successful outreach campaigns to survive. They must consistently generate support for the work they do--and despite the advantages of Facebook, Twitter, email, and other cause-oriented platforms in reaching out to receptive people, the web’s design and technology capabilities have expanded faster than advocacy groups have been able to use them. Sparkwise is a new data visualization and outreach platform that aims to help nonprofits, independent media organizations, and individual activists communicate their initiatives and accomplishments with visual clarity, statistical tangibility, and aesthetic verve.

New tool puts nonprofit storytelling on the map - Microsoft Citizenship Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

New tool puts nonprofit storytelling on the map - Microsoft Citizenship Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs: It’s why today, we’re launching the Microsoft Local Impact Map for nonprofits and for commercial organizations who wish to showcase their Corporate Social Responsibility programs. Originally developed to help showcase the impact of our Citizenship programs in more than 100 countries around the world, we’re now offering the application to nonprofits at no cost, with a monthly charge of just $15 to host the map online via Microsoft Azure. Using the built-in content management system, nonprofits can now create their own customized maps to showcase their work in local communities around the globe incorporating text, pictures and videos. The map also includes a host of social media capabilities so stories can be easily shared and promoted.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Q&A: mGive on Text Message Philanthropy | Wireless Week

Q&A: mGive on Text Message Philanthropy | Wireless Week: Wireless Week spoke with mGive Executive Director Jenifer Synder about the foundation’s role in mobile philanthropy, its new initiatives and whether it plans to support campaign contributions for the upcoming election season.

This is an edited transcript of their discussion.

CCNI releases social media guidance for charities - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

CCNI releases social media guidance for charities - Civil Society - Governance - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI) is providing charities with tips to ensure that their social media use does not break the law or jeopardise reputations.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Twitter Invests in Young Women with ‘Girls Who Code’ - The Daily Beast

Twitter Invests in Young Women with ‘Girls Who Code’ - The Daily Beast: Twitter is marking its first foray into funding philanthropy, giving an undisclosed sum to a new program, Girls Who Code, that will give an 8 week, 8-hours-a-day computer science crash course and mentorship to 20 at-risk high school girls this summer.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Marc Chardon and Hal Williams: The Imperfect Storm: Define by Results (Series Post 3)

Marc Chardon and Hal Williams: The Imperfect Storm: Define by Results (Series Post 3): In our initial blog post, we identified five key shifts affecting the environment for nonprofits that have co-mingled with the economy to create the potential for continued rough times. The last post covered Shift #1: Nonprofits Need to Engage Their Donors. In this post, we'll explore how nonprofits need to change how they're telling their stories.

Shift #2: Nonprofits need to define themselves by their results

Friday, June 22, 2012

Social media can improve organizations’ internal communications | TMA Resources

Social media can improve organizations’ internal communications | TMA Resources: As social media expert Steve Nicholls recently highlighted, however, there is another major advantage to the medium that many firms overlook. Social media, he argued, can significantly improve internal communications within an organization.

Information sharing

Speaking to Daily Business Buzz, Nicholls argued that by using social media internally, an organization or association has the potential to significantly improve its information sharing capabilities. According to Nicholls, this is an area that many firms struggle with, but it is extremely important to the overall success of the organization.

Social media 'should not just be for fundraising' - Civil Society - IT - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

Social media 'should not just be for fundraising' - Civil Society - IT - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Charities should be using social media to deliver services, according to research carried out by social enterprise Connect Assist.

According to a survey carried out by the contact centre solutions organisation, 80 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds and 73 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds use Facebook, Twitter and the internet to get financial, social or emotional advice.

Teens turn from Facebook to fresher social-media sites – USATODAY.com

Teens turn from Facebook to fresher social-media sites – USATODAY.com: Facebook appears to have competition for teens' attention, and they're drifting to other social-media sites as evidence mounts that the growth of the world's largest social network is slowing.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The AFP Blog

The AFP Blog: Rebooted!

AFP TechKnow, our inaugural conference on fundraising and technology, was great. If you didn’t get a chance to attend, you can experience online some of the things you missed through our TechKnow Review page on the AFP website.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

4 Strategies that Helped The Ellie Fund Win Twive & Receive | Inspiring Generosity

4 Strategies that Helped The Ellie Fund Win Twive & Receive | Inspiring Generosity: Last week Razoo conducted a national fundraising campaign where 162 nonprofits competed to win a share of $30,000 in prize money. The Ellie Fund (based in the home of the RedSox, thank you) won first prize for raising over $53,000 in 24 hours!

Do Daily Deals Work?

Do Daily Deals Work?: Some merchants who've used Groupon or LivingSocial have grumbled about lack of sales from the daily deals model. But non-profits dig it, and it's not just for the money.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Techies can seem slow to embrace philanthropy - News from USA TODAY

Techies can seem slow to embrace philanthropy - News from USA TODAY: Philanthropic agencies last month eagerly anticipated Facebook’s initial public stock offering, which tech industry analysts said might create some 850 new millionaires.

They hoped they’d get to “like” some of the newfound wealth, too.

While the early performance of the stock has fallen below expectations, anticipation remains high in the non-profit community.

Running for Charity Takes Mobile Turn

Running for Charity Takes Mobile Turn: You don't have to wait for that run or walk for charity in two weeks. If you have a smartphone, your daily stroll or run can earn money for charity.

An article at Mashable gives the low down on Charity Miles, an exercise app that nestles nicely on your Apple or Android phone.

Wish You Could Change the Name of Your Nonprofit’s Facebook Page? Now You Can � Nonprofit Tech 2.0 Blog :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits

Wish You Could Change the Name of Your Nonprofit’s Facebook Page? Now You Can � Nonprofit Tech 2.0 Blog :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits: There’s a sixth upgrade I want to add to the recent blog post Five Recent Upgrades That Nonprofits Need to Know About – you can now request to change the name of your nonprofit’s Facebook Page by visiting:

Monday, June 18, 2012

Data in service for others

- The Washington Post: The 36-hour hackathon, held last March in the District, was organized by the recently incorporated nonprofit DataKind that looks to match nonprofits with data experts to help improve the work of charities.

By the end of the night, one child advocacy nonprofit turned a spreadsheet of data into an interactive map that shows the well-being of children by neighborhood in the District. An environmental foundation learned to use Google analytics and other software tools to understand the effectiveness of its national volunteer event.

New charity domain name in the pipeline - Civil Society - IT - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

New charity domain name in the pipeline - Civil Society - IT - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: The Public Interest Registry has applied to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers for permission to establish the .ngo domain name for charities and non-profit organisations around the world.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Charities open their finances to donors via smartphone apps – USATODAY.com

Charities open their finances to donors via smartphone apps – USATODAY.com: Potential donors in New Jersey and Washington state can already check out charities on their smartphones before they write checks. Other states are likely to follow, says Patrick Rooney, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Tips on Great Web-Site Design With Donors in Mind - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Tips on Great Web-Site Design With Donors in Mind - Prospecting - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The problems with most nonprofit Web sites today are too much text and not enough great visuals, said Ann-Laura Parks at last week’s AFP TechKnow conference in Orlando, Fla., hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Will QR Codes Reach Their Tipping Point Soon?

Will QR Codes Reach Their Tipping Point Soon?

Good Works Co. - Tools and Resources from AFP Techknow

Good Works Co. - Tools and Resources from AFP Techknow: I’m just back from the inaugural AFP TechKnow Conference, which took place earlier this week in Orlando. It was a jam-packed few days and I’m still processing all the information I took in.

Over the two days of the conference, speakers referred to many tools and websites that could be used for reference, analytics and measurement. As well, a few of us were storifying sessions, and many speakers posted their handouts to Slideshare or the Techknow website. I thought it would be worth pulling all those great references together into one place.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Maximize Unique Strengths of Virtual, F2F or Hybrid for Event Success

Maximize Unique Strengths of Virtual, F2F or Hybrid for Event Success: Have you considered your face to face event objectives in light of the growing popularity of remote attendance and virtual events? More and more it seems that events that have done this are achieving success and getting rave reviews.

The Secret To Marketing Success On Facebook? Advertise Like Your Grandfather | Fast Company

The Secret To Marketing Success On Facebook? Advertise Like Your Grandfather | Fast Company: A new study by Facebook brings some big news that, curiously, at first blush might not seem like much news at all. It's this: If you create successful ads for the social network, just do the same thing you would do if you were advertising on TV. Or in magazines. Or on the radio.

Friday, June 08, 2012

“Storified” Data Collection: Making the Most of Your Results by Sidney R. Hargro of the Community Foundation of South Jersey | Community Techknowledge

“Storified” Data Collection: Making the Most of Your Results by Sidney R. Hargro of the Community Foundation of South Jersey | Community Techknowledge: Use Data Visualization

As digital strategist and nonprofit executive Debra Askanase suggests, data visualization is a very useful form of storytelling for nonprofits. Every day “creative quantification” is on display across social media platforms to encourage us to contemplate the breadth or depth of a social issue.

Thursday, June 07, 2012

Virtual game of life | Bangkok Post: business

Virtual game of life | Bangkok Post: business: Lessons learned in the world of video shoot-em-ups and simulations, it turns out, could have some powerful practical applications in the game of life.

The belief has given rise to a new field of research, which the IT industry has dubbed "gamification".

The idea is to apply game-design thinking to non-game applications, explains Carlos Dominguez, a senior vice-president of Cisco Systems, the US-based networking firm.

He said better knowledge of the way people react to and interact with games could help businesses increase efficiency, customer loyalty or engagement.

4 Ground Rules of Facebook Fundraising : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

4 Ground Rules of Facebook Fundraising : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: The following is based on the Derrick Feldmann's session, "4 Ground Rules of Facebook Fundraising — Hint: Fundraising is Not the Primary Goal," which he presented yesterday afternoon at the AFP TechKnow ConferenceOpens in a new window in Orlando, Fla.)

Is Social Media Right for Your Organization?

Is Social Media Right for Your Organization?: Last month, an anonymous reader asked this question in response to "Who's in Charge of Communications These Days?"

The article confirms what I already knew: my all volunteer group is going to whither on the vine because we have no staff at all. I am 56, not of the social media generation and have to choose between my existing duties (running our small cat rescue) I can't be monitoring 4 different social media sites, blogging & doing what I need. WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

"Wow," we thought, "great question." And then we turned around and posed it to the article's author and four other nonprofit social media leaders. Here's what they said.

Friday, June 01, 2012

Connection Café: How to Use Twitter Better

Connection Café: How to Use Twitter Better

Conference alert: Get to know TechKnow. | DonorDriven

Conference alert: Get to know TechKnow. | DonorDriven: It’ll be fascinating to hear Woz’s eyebrow-raising take about the future of fundraising, with his background in both tech and philanthropy. But what attendees are really coming for are the targeted sessions and workshops. This conference differs from NTen in that it has a narrower scope: it’s tech that’s specifically aimed at fundraising. For its first year, this is turning into a conference packed with on-target workshops and opportunities to network with peers in fundraising.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Steve Rosenbaum: Will Associations Become Filters for Digital Overload?

Steve Rosenbaum: Will Associations Become Filters for Digital Overload?: hat I learned may surprise you.

First of all, associations are a veritable content creation machine. The quarterly print magazine, annual dues, and annual meeting are a thing of the past. These groups of thought leaders are blogging, tweeting, meeting, and plugging in to social media with innovation and enthusiasm that in many ways surpasses many of the media organizations that I know well.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

New Jersey Launches Charity Lookup Mobile App - TheNonProfitTimes

New Jersey Launches Charity Lookup Mobile App - TheNonProfitTimes: New Jersey has become at least the second state to offer a mobile phone application that provides financial information about charities.