AFP Blog: Nonprofit Technology

Technology and Philanthropy Merge at Davos - NYTimes.com

2012-02-01T08:05:00.000-05:00

Technology and Philanthropy Merge at Davos - NYTimes.com: DAVOS, Switzerland — Saying there are a lot of rich people in attendance at the World Economic Forum is like noting that there is a lot of water in the ocean. So where there are millionaires and billionaires, there is also talk of philanthropy.

Failure Shouldn’t be a Dirty Secret | Your Olive Branch News - yobo

2012-01-31T11:39:00.000-05:00

Failure Shouldn’t be a Dirty Secret | Your Olive Branch News - yobo: As an example, MOTECH created a mobile application to support community health workers in uploading data—sending alerts when a check-up was needed, medicine should be refilled, etc. They discovered, however, that many people, women especially, didn’t know how to use their phones at a level that the mobile app required. The health workers found the data upload to be cumbersome and time consuming. In hindsight, and perhaps an obvious lesson, that knowing your community and creating systems to reflect their needs is paramount.

How charities can use social networks to gain engagement, support and action | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

2012-01-31T11:03:00.000-05:00

How charities can use social networks to gain engagement, support and action | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: If you are anything like me, your main purpose when answering emails is to find the quickest way of getting rid of them without perpetuating a flood of further responses, on the quest for the zero inbox. But since Caron, the chief executive of CFDG, tweeted me after we bumped into each other on a train, I've been in touch ever since. Were it not for Twitter, I would not be writing this article. Social media provides a powerful communications channel for building better and more rewarding relationships.

Blackbaud, small firms attract local tech talent, even from each other | The Post and Courier - Charleston, South Carolina

2012-01-30T11:09:00.000-05:00

Blackbaud, small firms attract local tech talent, even from each other | The Post and Courier - Charleston, South Carolina

When Metadata Comes to Twitter | PCWorld Business Center

2012-01-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

When Metadata Comes to Twitter | PCWorld Business Center: What I'm talking about here is metadata--data about data. I'd love for every tweet that's sent out to be categorized in some way by the tweeter. Tweets need metadata in the same way that books need a title. Is this tweet about an interesting new blog post by the sender of the tweet? Or about an interesting blog post by someone other than the sender of the tweet? A tweet about a useful free resource for educators? A new explanatory screencast about open-source software? A tweet about an inspiring video on YouTube? A tweet that'll make me chuckle?

2012-01-26T08:10:00.000-05:00

Making Online Giving Easier and More Fun - Resource Center - AFP

Should You Upgrade to Windows 7?

2012-01-25T07:59:00.000-05:00

Should You Upgrade to Windows 7?

2012-01-24T12:57:00.000-05:00

Amit Gupta, Co-Founder Of Photojojo, Finds Bone Marrow Match With Help From Social Media Campaign: With the help of more than 100 bone marrow drives and a full-blown social media offensive, Amit Gupta has found a lifesaving match, the co-founder of Photojojo announced on his website.

Reboot: Ten Tips for Working with IT Consultants

2012-01-23T12:47:00.000-05:00

Reboot: Ten Tips for Working with IT Consultants: The situation: you want a new website; or you think an app would be useful; or perhaps you want to beef up your organization's e-commerce. It might be time to hire an Information Technology (IT) consultant.

Here's the bad news: working well with an IT consultant will mean some extra homework for you and your team, but not doing your homework can lead to delays and expense.

IRS will eventually catch most online UBI - TheNonProfitTimes

2012-01-23T12:37:00.000-05:00

IRS will eventually catch most online UBI - TheNonProfitTimes: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not caught up to many of the issues raised by Web advertising and merchandising. Yet.

As Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum and Lisa M. Hix of Venable LLP point out, it is likely that the IRS will eventually catch up, and it has already said that its position will be consistent with its policies on off-line revenue.

Gaming for learning | Inquirer News

2012-01-23T11:06:00.001-05:00

Gaming for learning | Inquirer News: Games for learning is an interesting topic because gaming is associated with fun, it’s associated with engagement and the concept that when a student plays a game, the student learns,” said Jason Trump, Microsoft’s education partner director for Asia Pacific and moderator of “Gaming4Good: Education through Gaming” forum.

“If you can simulate anything and it’s fun, people will repeatedly play it,” said Levi Tan Ong, a member of the Filipino team that topped the game design category in the 2010 Imagine Cup, touted as the Olympics of Software.

Understanding, Engaging the Next Generation of Philanthropists, Part 1 : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

2012-01-23T11:04:00.000-05:00

Understanding, Engaging the Next Generation of Philanthropists, Part 1 : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: The hard part is that donor behavior — thanks in large part to technology — shifts from generation to generation. The next wave of philanthropists — millennials (born in the 1980s and '90s) and younger — have differing ideals and aren't as engaged with direct mail as traditional donors; they reside mostly online, namely by utilizing social media. And social media is all about how many friends, followers and connections you have, and how you interact with them.

Nonprofit Fundraising Resolution #2 - Go over to the Dark Side. (a.k.a. Social Media) | Forte Interactive, Inc.

2012-01-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

Nonprofit Fundraising Resolution #2 - Go over to the Dark Side. (a.k.a. Social Media) | Forte Interactive, Inc.

2012-01-23T09:22:00.000-05:00

Exempt Organization Select Check: Exempt Organization Select Check

Exempt Organizations Select Check is an on-line search tool that allows users to select an exempt organization and check certain information about its federal tax status and filings. It consolidates three former search sites into one, providing expanded search capability and a more efficient way to search for organizations that:

4 Strategic Requirements For Corporate Tweeting | Fast Company

2012-01-20T08:57:00.000-05:00

4 Strategic Requirements For Corporate Tweeting | Fast Company: More fundamentally, companies of all sizes are now confronting how Twitter strategies align or don’t align with their larger business strategies. Bottom line: Twitter deserves its own strategic plan as a discrete component of the larger corporate digital media plan. After all, Twitter’s speed, capacity, and influence outsize any other social media channel at the moment.

Google, World Bank use Map Maker to improve Africa's disaster response�( - Internet-based applications and services )

2012-01-20T08:43:00.001-05:00

Google, World Bank use Map Maker to improve Africa's disaster response�( - Internet-based applications and services ): Innhold a-�

Google, World Bank use Map Maker to improve Africa's disaster response
o Michael Malakata
19.01.2012 kl 18:33 | Computerworld Zambia

By providing access to a Web-based community mapping tool and data, World Bank and Google are aiming to improve the ability of African and other developing countries to monitor public services and respond to disasters.

Blackbaud Take Over of Convio - Little Impact on Australian NFPs | Pro Bono Australia

2012-01-20T07:59:00.000-05:00

Blackbaud Take Over of Convio - Little Impact on Australian NFPs | Pro Bono Australia: While the US and UK are abuzz with news that the international software provider to Not for Profits, Blackbaud, has announced a $275 million acquisition of rival company Convio, there’s likely to be little immediate impact in the Australian market.

Google could become a key social network for charities | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

2012-01-20T07:54:00.000-05:00

Google could become a key social network for charities | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: Google's social networking site Google could become a key tool for charities: the search engine recently rolled out new features in the US that may make charities rethink their approach to social networking. The UK is next on Google's plan.

Google says 4.5 million people signed anti-SOPA petition today - latimes.com

2012-01-19T11:17:00.000-05:00

Google says 4.5 million people signed anti-SOPA petition today - latimes.com: When Google speaks, the world listens.

And today, when Google asked its users to sign a petition protesting two anti-piracy laws circulating in Congress, millions responded.

A spokeswoman for Google confirmed that 4.5 million people added their names to the company's anti-SOPA petition today.

Austin Gives program encourages area businesses to share profits

2012-01-18T11:23:00.000-05:00

Austin Gives program encourages area businesses to share profits: The measure aims to encourage area companies of all sizes to pledge — via an online form at austingives.net — to give a portion of their pre-tax earnings to local nonprofit agencies.

Firms that agree to give at least 1 percent of pre-tax earnings will be honored at a "community celebration event," where awards will be presented to businesses in three categories — small, midsize and large.

Becoming a "Web 2.0 Philanthropy" at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Transparency Talk

2012-01-18T11:20:00.000-05:00

Becoming a "Web 2.0 Philanthropy" at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Transparency Talk: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), like many philanthropies today, has embraced social media. We have a Facebook page, YouTube channels, blogs and multiple official Twitter feeds. Our staff also participate directly: more than 40 of my colleagues are regular Twitter users and many have contributed blog posts to popular sites within their fields. Our CEO, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey (@risalavizzo), sets the tone with her regular activity on Twitter.

Charity wins cash in online challenge

2012-01-18T11:18:00.000-05:00

Charity wins cash in online challenge: Charity wins cash in online challenge

By Kim Pemberton, Vancouver Sun January 18, 2012

A Vancouver charity focused on educating members of Generation Y about cancer has won $25,000 in the Mozilla Firefox Challenge.

Any Color You Want … As Long As It’s Black | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits

2012-01-18T10:42:00.000-05:00

Any Color You Want … As Long As It’s Black | The Agitator - Fundraising, Direct Marketing and Advocacy Strategies for Nonprofits: Twitterland, the nonprofit newswires, and my email lit up early Tuesday morning with news that Blackbaud, the largest provider of fundraising software to nonprofit organizations, had announced its plans to acquire Convio, one of its largest competitors, for $275 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of March.

Blackbaud Agrees To Buy Convio For $275 Million - Forbes

2012-01-17T10:15:00.000-05:00

Blackbaud Agrees To Buy Convio For $275 Million - Forbes: There are profits to be made in non-profits.

Blackbaud, a provider of cloud-based software for non-profits, this morning said it has agreed to buy Convio, which provides fund-raising software for the non-profit sector, for $16 a share, or about $275 million. Convio closed last week at $10.74.

Charities' online donations scuppered by broken Charity Choice links - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

2012-01-17T08:58:00.000-05:00

Charities' online donations scuppered by broken Charity Choice links - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: Hundreds of charities may have lost the ability to accept online donations after web-based donation service Charity Choice upgraded its website and changed the links from charities' own sites.

Charity Choice, which is owned by publishing giant Wilmington, provides services including an online basic donation facility to more than 4,200 charities across the UK.

2012-01-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

A Practical Approach to Online Fundraising | Connecting Up Australia: Fundraising is not all about Facebook, Twitter, blogs and websites. Fundraising is about things like storytelling, engaging, asking and thanking. That's why I was so relieved to meet AJ Leon, digital problem solver, New Yorker and sometimes fundraiser, at the International Fundraising Congress (IFC ) in the Netherlands last October.

Real Time Charitable Giving | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

2012-01-12T12:51:00.000-05:00

Real Time Charitable Giving | Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project: Yet while their initial contribution often involved little deliberation, 43% of these donors encouraged their friends or family members to give to the campaign as well. In addition, a majority of those surveyed (56%) have continued to give to more recent disaster relief efforts—such as the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan—using their mobile phones.

An Alternative to .org? Say Hello to .ngo - Technology - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

2012-01-12T08:11:00.000-05:00

An Alternative to .org? Say Hello to .ngo - Technology - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: But now the key organization that manages nonprofit addresses wants charities to adopt the suffix .ngo. It also wants to implement a process that vets organizations to ensure that anybody with the .ngo address is a legitimate nonprofit, saying that now it’s too easy to commit fraud using a .org address because anyone can create one.

The effort to find an alternative to .org comes at a time of big changes in the way Internet addresses are patrolled.

Florida State University to Launch 'The Great Give'

2012-01-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

Florida State University to Launch 'The Great Give': Tallahassee, FL -- Florida State University will launch its first exclusively virtual campaign starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 23. The Great Give is a 36-hour online giving campaign that will involve the entire campus and community in supporting FSU.

The Great Give will run through Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 9 p.m., with a fundraising goal of $161,000. These dates and amounts were chosen in honor of the 161st anniversary of the Jan. 24, 1851, signing of the charter to create the academic institution that would become Florida State University.

Your Tech Game Plan for 2012

2012-01-11T08:33:00.000-05:00

Your Tech Game Plan for 2012: ust as a good coach can't lead his or her team to victory without a plan, neither should you leave your organization's technology decisions to chance. Planning is the best way to avoid mishaps, wasted time, and misspent money.

Of course, this is easier said than done, and the planning process often brings up tough questions. Wisdom holds that those tough questions are good — just the thing to think through to get your priorities straight. But that doesn't make the questions any less difficult.

San Francisco seeks Hellman’s philanthropic successors | Dan Schreiber | Local | San Francisco Examiner

2012-01-06T10:01:00.000-05:00

San Francisco seeks Hellman’s philanthropic successors | Dan Schreiber | Local | San Francisco Examiner: The death of San Francisco philanthropist Warren Hellman was felt across The City by the organizations he helped and the people who benefited from his generosity.

Big Give to review match fund after high demand crashed site - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

2012-01-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

Big Give to review match fund after high demand crashed site - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: The Big Give is reviewing last December’s match fund challenge, which raised more than �11.5m, after unprecedented levels of demand forced the challenge to be postponed for a day.

The Big Give is today contacting the charities that participated in the challenge, which requires them to secure match funding from their own major donors and trustees, to invite them to air their concerns in a review of the challenge which is due to be held in two weeks.

Did You Hear The One About... - TheNonProfitTimes

2012-01-05T08:06:00.000-05:00

Did You Hear The One About... - TheNonProfitTimes: The winners of the first annual NP LOL People's Choice Awards have been chosen. People from across the United States, Canada and Australia went online in December to pick the funniest story and animation of 2011 from the NP Humour Blog.

How Much Money is Raised through Online Giving? | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog

2012-01-05T08:04:00.001-05:00

How Much Money is Raised through Online Giving? | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog: One of the most common questions that I get is how much money is raised through online giving. The answer leads into plenty more questions about who, what, when, when, and why online fundraising continues to grow. The good news is that we can now answer most of these questions.

Here are some important questions, answers, facts and figures about online giving:

Celebrities Competing Online For Donors - TheNonProfitTimes

2012-01-04T09:58:00.000-05:00

Celebrities Competing Online For Donors - TheNonProfitTimes: A dozen celebrities representing as many charities have one month to raise as much money as they can with an ultimate prize of winning $25,000. But the Mozilla Firefox Challenge, launched by Crowdrise and Mozilla, isn’t limited to the 12 celebrities.

Mozilla, the nonprofit behind the open source web browser Firefox, started each celebrity-charity team off with a $5,000 donation.

80 Email Subject Lines from End of Year Fundraising | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog

2012-01-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

80 Email Subject Lines from End of Year Fundraising | Nonprofit Trends with Steve MacLaughlin | a Blackbaud Blog: Back in 2010, I wrote about all the direct mail pieces that I had collected over a year. This time I collected all of the nonprofit emails that I was sent between December 15, 2011 and January 1, 2012. Here’s what I discovered after going through all the email messages.

eJP Launches iPad Optimized Version | eJewish Philanthropy: Your Jewish Philanthropy Resource

2012-01-03T11:13:00.000-05:00

eJP Launches iPad Optimized Version | eJewish Philanthropy: Your Jewish Philanthropy Resource: With the aim of increasing choices, and providing an improved visitor experience, eJewish Philanthropy today launched an iPad specific-version of their website. Built on the same framework as eJP‘s popular touch mobile version, this is not an app, but rather a fast-loading, smooth display designed specifically for iPad reading. Utilizing native touch and scrolling features familiar to all iPad users, this option is based on the latest technologies available, including HTML5, CSS3 and advanced JavaScript.

Save the .NGO Domain for�Nonprofits - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -

2012-01-03T07:52:00.000-05:00

Save the .NGO Domain for�Nonprofits - Online Fundraising, Advocacy, and Social Media -: If you work at a nonprofit, serve on a board of a nonprofit, or have nonprofit clients, you need to hear about this. Next year, the Internet is opening up to allow for thousands of new Internet extensions. Companies, individuals and organizations can register almost anything behind the primary Internet address. (Think .cocacola, .party, .anything).

11 Tips for Gathering Content to Share on Twitter - Engage365

2012-01-03T07:40:00.000-05:00

11 Tips for Gathering Content to Share on Twitter - Engage365: Information is gold in social media. Those who share quality information get noticed. Those who create quality content become leaders. It could conceivably be argued that on Twitter sharing links to quality information is the native tongue.

Give It Forward with The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee - Community Foundation

2011-12-23T10:24:00.001-05:00

Give It Forward with The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee - Community Foundation: December 7, 2011 through January 5, 2012, we’re asking you to remember an experience of charitable or personal giving that was meaningful, joyful or touching. Or, just tell us what giving means to you.

Share your story on our Facebook page for the chance to win a Community Foundation Giving Card, which can be redeemed to support any charity you choose. Every Thursday (Dec. 15, Dec. 22, Dec. 29, Jan. 5) we'll draw randomly from everyone who submitted a story, for a Giving Card ($25 card week 1, $50 card week 2, $75 card week 3, $150 card week 4).

Charitable giving goes high tech - Business - The Boston Globe

2011-12-22T08:50:00.000-05:00

Charitable giving goes high tech - Business - The Boston Globe: But a handful of local tech companies and small start-ups are tapping into a burgeoning appetite on the Web for doing good. They run Internet auctions for causes, use Twitter and Facebook to spur giving, and find pro bono help for Massachusetts nonprofits and social enterprises. With the reach and ease of the Web, anyone in the world can potentially fund a playground project in Roxbury or instantly donate to the American Red Cross when a disaster hits.

Charity encourages tourists to ‘pack with a purpose’ - thestar.com

2011-12-20T12:21:00.000-05:00

Charity encourages tourists to ‘pack with a purpose’ - thestar.com: She returned home with a personal mandate and the name of her Web site, packforapurpose.com

Her idea is simple: travelers put aside roughly five pounds of their allotted luggage weight to pack items needed in the destination they plan to visit. How do they know what’s needed? That’s where packforapurpose.com comes in. T

How Haiti's Earthquake Inspired LinkedIn's Skill-based Volunteer Marketplace | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

2011-12-20T08:57:00.000-05:00

How Haiti's Earthquake Inspired LinkedIn's Skill-based Volunteer Marketplace | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: It’s not just for landing your next job anymore. In the event of a natural disaster, LinkedIn has a new service--LinkedIn For Good--that will connect people in need with people with the skills to help them. It’s all part of their desire to increase volunteerism, and create social change with human capital.

The South Jersey Sun - Goodwill uses technology to help donors in Mt Laurel

2011-12-20T08:50:00.000-05:00

The South Jersey Sun - Goodwill uses technology to help donors in Mt Laurel: To make things more convenient, Goodwill Industries, of Southern NJ & Philadelphia has installed computerized donation kiosks at all of its donation centers and unveiled state-of-the-art iDonate technology that enables donors to track their giving online, 24-7.

CharityVillage� Research: Seven Social Fundraising Stories for the Holidays

2011-12-19T12:50:00.000-05:00

CharityVillage� Research: Seven Social Fundraising Stories for the Holidays: It's an understatement to say that the end of the year is a busy time for the charitable sector. Many charities and nonprofits can anticipate raising a third of their annual overall online donations in December alone. It shouldn't surprise you to hear that the last two days of the year are when most organizations also experience the heaviest volume of online giving.

In the crowded crush of direct mail, television appeals, print campaigns and email blasts, it's not always easy for a digital campaign to stand out. Some organizations have stepped up to the challenge and are reaching out to online communities. Be inspired by these seven stories of holiday fundraising on web and social channels!

Silicon Valley Scion Aims to 'Reboot' Tech-Sector Giving - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

2011-12-19T12:34:00.000-05:00

Silicon Valley Scion Aims to 'Reboot' Tech-Sector Giving - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Silicon Valley Scion Aims to ‘Reboot’ Tech-Sector Giving

December 19, 2011, 10:24 am

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, a child of Silicon Valley who married one of its most successful entrepreneurs, is leading efforts to reshape the high-tech sector as a major philanthropic force, The New York Times writes in a profile

The wife of Netscape founder Marc Andreessen and the daughter of John Arrillaga Sr., the property developer credited with transforming a patch of California farmland into the world’s technology hub, Ms. Arrillaga-Andreessen teaches a class in strategic philanthropy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and has advised Facebook founders Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz and Hewlett-Packard chief Meg Whitman on giving.

Japan Tops the List of Fastest-Rising Charitable Google Searches in 2011 - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

2011-12-19T11:03:00.000-05:00

Japan Tops the List of Fastest-Rising Charitable Google Searches in 2011 - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Google this week released its annual Zeitgeist report, which tallies the 10 most popular and fastest-rising searches in a wide range of categories. To come up with the fastest-rising terms, it compared searches this year to those in 2010.

In Its Fifth Year, an 'Awesome' Video Challenge to Aid Charities - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

2011-12-19T08:44:00.000-05:00

In Its Fifth Year, an 'Awesome' Video Challenge to Aid Charities - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The brothers, who are professional video bloggers (John Green is also a novelist and Hank Green is also a musician and an environmental writer) raised more than $100,000 for charities during the event last year and attracted 10 million views to videos about charities. Their campaign became the most popular topic on YouTube for 36 hours.

The Project for Awesome has similar goals for the 2011 campaign.

“It’s supposed to be fun,” John Green says. “All of my fulfilling experiences with philanthropy have been fun.”

Students Connect with Community by Providing Tech Help

2011-12-14T12:07:00.000-05:00

Students Connect with Community by Providing Tech Help: The founder of Project SPARTA, Raulston seeks opportunities to match unmet technological needs in the Tallahassee nonprofit community with students eager to gain practical experience working in the information technology field.

“The great thing about SPARTA is that it provides students the ability to try multiple career opportunities until they find that one thing that ignites their passion,” Raulston said.

Study Shows Online Giving Has Become Popular Among Donors 60 or Older - Press - AFP

2011-12-13T15:21:00.000-05:00

Study Shows Online Giving Has Become Popular Among Donors 60 or Older - Press - AFP: Study Shows Online Giving Has Become Popular Among Donors 60 or Older

(Nov. 13, 2011) Online giving has become a viable option for donors who are 60 years of age or older, according to a recent online study of donors who had given by any method conducted by Campbell Rinker on behalf of Dunham Company.

Six Social Media Trends for 2012 - David Armano - Harvard Business Review

2011-12-13T08:19:00.000-05:00

Six Social Media Trends for 2012 - David Armano - Harvard Business Review

2011-12-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

Irreverent atheists crowdsource charitable giving | Reuters: Doctors without Borders (DWB), also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres, gets about 4,000 hits on its U.S. website on an average Sunday. Last Sunday that number ballooned to 50,000 as a horde of redditors, subscribers to the social media site reddit.com, thundered across the DWB homepage.

2011-12-12T11:16:00.000-05:00

Twitter's Redesign Offers New Options to Nonprofits - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Twitter’s Redesign Offers New Options to Nonprofits

December 9, 2011, 2:26 pm

By Cody Switzer

Twitter has unveiled a redesign to its site and tools that offers many new features that could affect nonprofits, including the addition of special pages that allow organizations and companies a chance to promote themselves.

New technology will make philanthropists of us all, says white paper | Philanthropy UK

2011-12-12T07:52:00.002-05:00

Some related Mobile Stories

New technology will make philanthropists of us all, says white paper | Philanthropy UK: A white paper suggests that the use of mobile technology could revolutionise the way the arts are funded with more people becoming ‘philanthropists’. The increasing use of smartphones and social media channels provide a powerful platform to engage a wider range of donors, according to consultancy firm Panlogic’s paper entitled entitled We’re all philanthropists now.

Deadline extended for Colorado Gives after nonprofit donors overload computer | The Republic

2011-12-07T13:14:00.000-05:00

Deadline extended for Colorado Gives after nonprofit donors overload computer | The Republic: Colorado Gives Day began Tuesday beginning at 12 a.m. Organizers decided to extend the one-day promotion because high demand on the website led to delays and computer problems.

More than $100,000 in free technology up for grabs for local nonprofits | Crain's Detroit Business

2011-12-02T15:50:00.000-05:00

More than $100,000 in free technology up for grabs for local nonprofits | Crain's Detroit Business

Mobile giving grows up - smartphones, Mobile Apps and Services, internet, e-commerce, e-business, consumer electronics - Computerworld

2011-12-02T07:48:00.001-05:00

Mobile giving grows up - smartphones, Mobile Apps and Services, internet, e-commerce, e-business, consumer electronics - Computerworld: Since the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake, mobile giving has moved beyond disaster aid. Now, people make all kinds of charitable donations and pledges through wireless smartphones and tablets -- and the donations don't have to be done by text, according to industry officials.

Software to Build and Grow Your Nonprofit

2011-11-30T07:29:00.000-05:00

Software to Build and Grow Your Nonprofit: As a fellow nonprofit, those of us at TechSoup understand how important it is to run your organization in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. We hear from young nonprofits and libraries all the time, and we know that making wise and affordable technology investments can play a vital part in building and growing an organization.

To wit: we’ve put together this simple guide to the donated software that most all nonprofits and libraries need in their toolkit, especially when they’re just starting out.

Sojo Studios’ WeTopia social game lets players do good in the real world | VentureBeat

2011-11-29T10:22:00.000-05:00

Sojo Studios’ WeTopia social game lets players do good in the real world | VentureBeat: Sojo Studios is announcing its first online social game, WeTopia, which is designed to be part of a series of games where players can have fun playing while doing good in the real world by raising money for children’s charities.

Local philanthropists look to power of the masses for gift-giving venture - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

2011-11-29T10:06:00.000-05:00

Local philanthropists look to power of the masses for gift-giving venture - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: An Israeli-South African couple is hoping to convince even the most lackadaisical gift-givers to donate to charity online with a few simple clicks.

The English-language website mGifts.org was launched by Arron and Andi Saitowitz this summer, and has hundreds of monthly users in Israel and abroad who are sidestepping the ritual of reciprocal gift exchange and instead financially co

Kindness: Charity, Philanthropy, & Social Responsibility - USATODAY.com

2011-11-29T08:29:00.000-05:00

Kindness: Charity, Philanthropy, & Social Responsibility - USATODAY.com: Companies are beginning to view the season as a core opportunity to combine these two traditions - giving and getting," says Alison DaSilva, executive vice president at communications firm Cone Inc. "By aligning with a cause during this critical commercial time of the year, DaSilva said, retailers are able to "capture the consumers' attention, differentiate themselves from competitors and drive sales."

According to DaSilva, the best campaigns are the ones that are tied to a company's giving efforts throughout the year, especially ones that are integrated into the whole customer experience, are clear about where the money is going and involve credible non-profit partners.

Wichita nonprofits share holiday wish lists online - Wichita Business Journal

2011-11-29T08:25:00.000-05:00

Wichita nonprofits share holiday wish lists online - Wichita Business Journal: Wichita-area nonprofit organizations are making their holiday needs known through a newly created wish-list website developed by marketing and branding firm Greteman Group

Charities Get In On Black Friday Activity - TheNonProfitTimes

2011-11-28T08:42:00.000-05:00

Charities Get In On Black Friday Activity - TheNonProfitTimes: Charities are branching out with technology in hopes of taking advantage of increased Internet and foot traffic on Black Friday, one the busiest shopping days of the year.

CharityVillage� Research: Game On: Charities Toy with New Ideas for Online Engagement

2011-11-28T08:30:00.001-05:00

CharityVillage� Research: Game On: Charities Toy with New Ideas for Online Engagement: You’ve may have noticed that the concept of "Gamification” is a hot topic in the technology community. What is it really, and what does it mean for charities and nonprofits?

Gamified experiences use game-playing techniques to engage users and encourage specific activities. A typical example of gamification might involve gathering reward points, achieving increasingly higher levels, or solving puzzles to unlock new challenges. One well-known example is the geo-location application Foursquare, where users earn badges and virtual rewards for "check-ins” online. Some charities have joined the trend by partnering with a corporate sponsor to co-brand a web or mobile game, or by building their own. Advocacy, raising awareness, and membership-building are only a few of the possible social good objectives for games like these.

5 Reasons YouTube is More Than a Video Hub - Engage365

2011-11-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

5 Reasons YouTube is More Than a Video Hub - Engage365

Working with Technical Volunteers: A Manual for NPOs

2011-11-23T07:55:00.000-05:00

Working with Technical Volunteers: A Manual for NPOs: Editor's Note: This manual was originally drafted in February 2002 but was recently updated by TechSoup.org staff to include more current advice, worksheets, and technical specifications. This document is intended to be a starting point and guide for nonprofits who aim to recruit technical volunteers. We invite you to take it and use what you like, add to it, and make it your own. If there are resources you'd like to see added to the manual on our site, please contact us at lendahand@techsoup.org.

BBC News - Charity 2.0: The social side of giving

2011-11-22T09:17:00.000-05:00

BBC News - Charity 2.0: The social side of giving: ow various organisations, from Justgiving to Virgin Money Giving, have made it easier to organise online donations, while new charities like Help4Heroes and Kiva have shown how it's possible to use the web to promote a cause and get funds flowing rapidly and efficiently.

But it's the social networks, from Facebook to Twitter to LinkedIn, which have given individuals the tools to promote their charitable efforts.

How small charities can capitalise on digital donations | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional

2011-11-22T09:08:00.000-05:00

How small charities can capitalise on digital donations | Voluntary Sector Network | Guardian Professional: I'm always interested to hear about new trends in charitable giving, especially when technology is involved. So I was excited by a recent study by Action for Children, which found that Scottish giving is being spurred on by young people (aged 18-24) because of advances in technology.

App It Up for Nonprofits and Libraries

2011-11-21T13:06:00.001-05:00

From TechSoup

App It Up for Nonprofits and Libraries: App It Up for Nonprofits and Libraries
App It Up for Nonprofits and Libraries

As part of a grant from Microsoft, we've been learning about the kinds of apps nonprofits and libraries are using to engage constituents, tell their stories, and get their work done. On this page, we'll be sharing what we hear and and what we learn about apps in the nonprofit world. Stay tuned for insights and updates, and for some top-notch apps.

Salvation Army Bell Ringers Accepting Mobile Payments - NYTimes.com

2011-11-21T08:10:00.000-05:00

Salvation Army Bell Ringers Accepting Mobile Payments - NYTimes.com: his year, the charity is testing the use of Square, a mobile payments start-up that allows anyone to accept credit card payments via mobile devices.

“A lot of people just don’t carry cash any more,” said Maj. George Hood, the Salvation Army’s spokesman. “We’re basically trying to make sure we’re keeping up with our donors and embrace the new technologies they’re embracing.”

Online Community Managers: When Community Should Be About You — Kommein

2011-11-15T08:23:00.001-05:00

Online Community Managers: When Community Should Be About You — Kommein: I recently wrote a well-received post about how online communities are about the members and not about the community manager. Indeed, the best community managers make sure their communities are front and center and don’t turn their online groups into ego projects. It’s easy to use words like “I” and “my” because we’re so possessive and proud when it comes to our online communities, especially if we grew said communities from scratch. However, it’s not about us, it’s about them.

Walmart Launches "12 Days of Giving" Campaign on Facebook - PR Newswire - sacbee.com

2011-11-15T08:20:00.000-05:00

PRESS RELEASE

Walmart Launches "12 Days of Giving" Campaign on Facebook - PR Newswire - sacbee.com: Who said write-in ballots are only for politics? For the first time, Walmart is empowering Facebook users to write in – or nominate – local nonprofits to receive part of $1.5 million in grants this holiday season. Through its "12 Days of Giving" campaign, the company will accept submissions via Facebook with an eye for local organizations that are providing basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and baby supplies.

Future of Blogging

2011-11-15T08:08:00.000-05:00

Future of Blogging: Vanguard Technology's Ray van Hilst, DelCor's Bill Walker, SocialFish's Maddie Grant, Management Solutions Plus's Jamie Notter, and Principled Innovation's Jeff De Cagna were among the bloggers gathered at the Association Fundraising Professionals HQ for a discussion hosted by DelCor Technology Solutions.

Twitter donors worth the most on social media - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits

2011-11-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

Twitter donors worth the most on social media - Civil Society - Fundraising - News - providing news and in-depth coverage of charities, voluntary organisations and not-for-profits: People who make donations on JustGiving pages after being prompted on Twitter are nearly twice as generous as those who are inspired to give by a Facebook prompt, according to new figures.

In a study on the average gift value of donors directed to JustGiving pages via social media, Twitter prompts came out on top, with an average gift from someone coming from a Twitter link worth �30.26, compared with just �18.33 on Facebook. Facebook, however, remains the vastly more popular social network for JustGiving donors, accounting for 97 per cent of all visits directed through a social media source - in contrast Twitter facilitates a tiny 1 per cent of all visits from social media sources.

College student's idea grows into electronics thrift store with a purpose

2011-11-10T10:21:00.000-05:00

College student's idea grows into electronics thrift store with a purpose: Angela Haas was a senior at St. Louis University when she got the idea to refurbish and resell old computers to other students.

Now, a dozen years later, she's president of a nonprofit that last year recycled 7.5 million pounds of electronics and helped 5,500 families get computers free or for drastically reduced prices.

Who Rules Social Media? A Look At Social Media Impact By Nonprofit Issues

2011-11-09T08:21:00.000-05:00

Who Rules Social Media? A Look At Social Media Impact By Nonprofit Issues

One fundraising database breaks down silos and benefits every department : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success

2011-11-08T10:10:00.000-05:00

One fundraising database breaks down silos and benefits every department : Page 1 of 2 : FundRaising Success: The natural conclusion then is that one database for the whole organization — that crucially meets the specific needs of each department — is the best way to go. And in the case of the fundraisers that responded to the recent Lehman surveyOpens in a new window of fundraising databases, that’s where most people are. The report shows that 71 percent of respondents stated that they used an organizationwide database, which is interesting because almost 80 percent said that they thought a dedicated, fundraising-specific database software would have greater capabilities.

Nonprofit Communications and the Tablet Revolution

2011-11-08T09:37:00.000-05:00

Nonprofit Communications and the Tablet Revolution: What startled me is that I recently received an email from Direct Relief International, that required me to click a link (frankly, a lot of people won't do this) which then opened the newsletter in my iPad browser. I found that the newsletter was published in a magazine format. Here is that link. Try it on your tablet and then on your computer. There are problems either way, but different ones.

Magazine and newspaper apps for tablets vary widely in their usability and navigational tools. Sometimes you swipe horizontally to turn the pages and sometimes you swipe vertically. In some apps, there are tiny section icons that you have to use to move around.

Amit Gupta's Social Media-Fueled Battle With Leukemia Reverberates Around The World | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

2011-11-04T09:39:00.000-05:00

Amit Gupta's Social Media-Fueled Battle With Leukemia Reverberates Around The World | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: ou may have heard this all before. In the past month, Gupta's story has sparked countless tweets, Facebook posts, articles, donor drives, and even a $30,000 reward for finding a bone marrow match, courtesy of Gupta's wealthier friends. It's a powerful example of how social media can make lasting, life-saving change--not just for one man, but for an entire population in need of bone marrow.

It's not hard to see why Gupta's story initially took off; a longtime Internet entrepreneur, he is well-connected (and well-liked) in the social media scene. Gupta originally posted the news about his lack of potential bone marrow matches, but he had no idea how big his story would become.

Giving A Kick-Ass Presentation In The Age Of Social Media | Fast Company

2011-11-03T09:03:00.001-05:00

Giving A Kick-Ass Presentation In The Age Of Social Media | Fast Company: Seven (somewhat snarky) new rules for public speaking in the social media era.

OFBCI: One Stop Shop Portal

2011-11-03T08:02:00.001-05:00

OFBCI: One Stop Shop Portal: Seeking to provide a single location where Indiana nonprofits can access information from varying agencies within state government, the One Stop Shop Web Portal is the first place Indiana's Faith-Based and Community-Based organizations should go to access information about opportunities like:

Fort Worth Zoo visitors check out exhibits online, virtual video conference | The Republic

2011-11-02T11:56:00.000-05:00

Fort Worth Zoo visitors check out exhibits online, virtual video conference | The Republic: The answer for Dorris came by investing in much-needed technology and joining Connect 2 Texas, a network of museums and scientific nonprofit organizations that provide lessons via video conferencing for a relatively modest fee.

These "virtual field trips" have been available, for example, at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Sid Richardson Museum, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas for several years.

Data and Analytics Tweet Chat Recap

2011-11-02T07:41:00.000-05:00

Data and Analytics Tweet Chat Recap: Data and Analytics Tweet Chat Recap
Susan_Chavez
31 Oct 2011 4:00 PM

0

Why does data matter to nonprofit organizations and what data matters? These questions and more were answered in a recent Twitter conversation on data and analytics.

Podcasting as Digital Storytelling: Behind the Scenes Look | NTEN

2011-11-01T07:11:00.000-05:00

Podcasting as Digital Storytelling: Behind the Scenes Look | NTEN: f course, in its most rudimentary form, a podcast is simply a digital audio recording delivered to listeners who can hear it at their convenience. But a podcast can be a vehicle for storytelling, if you make the effort to infuse it with a narrative.

In the case of the “askDeborah podcast,” the narrative began even before the recording sessions. After the CTK team and I had compiled a list of frequently asked nonprofit technology questions, I started emailing and calling some of my favorite colleagues. I'd explain, “It's sort of like Car Talk, except that I'm not two Italian-American brothers. But real nonprofit professionals will submit real questions about their technology challenges. The running joke is that I never know the answer, but that I know whom to call, and in this case it's you. We'll discuss the question, and we'll have

Leadership Limerick: Leave No Media Behind

2011-10-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

Leadership Limerick: Leave No Media Behind

Philanthropy's Role in the Economy - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

2011-10-31T10:42:00.000-05:00

Philanthropy's Role in the Economy - The Giveaway - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Below are some excerpts from the conversation on Twitter. You can view the entire discussion by checking out the hashtag #philchat.

Google Says Pearson's New Learning System Is 'Not a Shared Product' - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

2011-10-31T10:20:00.001-05:00

Google Says Pearson's New Learning System Is 'Not a Shared Product' - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education: But other than routine help it gives to any app in its marketplace, Google is not directly involved with the new learning-management system, and Google officials say they have no plan to jump into developing learning software.

Web the new frontier for activism - CNN.com

2011-10-28T08:07:00.000-05:00

Web the new frontier for activism - CNN.com: I had been skeptical of social networking and didn't have a compelling personal reason to use it. So if you told me two years ago I'd be writing this op-ed, I'd have told you that you were nuts. But that marathon campaign changed my mind. People started coming to us for tips on how to recreate our success. We realized that what we had engineered was out of the reach of most individuals and many nonprofits.

So my partners and I launched CrowdRise. Now, everyone can create "Charitable Life," a personal Web page dedicated to raising money for good causes, in about 60 seconds. Site users can ask people in their own networks to support the cause. It works because people want to help their friends and they want to have fun doing it. Also, it's massively more efficient in cost and labor than traditional fundraising efforts.

Google Connection Brings Youth Charity YouTube Fame - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

2011-10-28T07:17:00.000-05:00

Google Connection Brings Youth Charity YouTube Fame - Social Philanthropy - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

The emergence of e-mentoring - CNN.com

2011-10-26T07:49:00.000-05:00

The emergence of e-mentoring - CNN.com: I Could Be, a New York-based nonprofit, uses online tools to connect students with those willing to lend a hand. It is one of a growing number of groups that specialize in what they call "e-mentoring."

The technology, of course, has existed for years. But the movement is just beginning to find its footing as groups work through various obstacles, such as insuring privacy and safety and establishing that there is, in fact, value in such online relationships.

Love Your Neighbor nonprofit reaches out to Treasure Coast families in need � TCPalm.com

2011-10-25T08:17:00.000-05:00

Love Your Neighbor nonprofit reaches out to Treasure Coast families in need � TCPalm.com: A year ago, Spears decided to harness technology to do just that. She created Love Your Neighbor, a new Treasure Coast nonprofit dedicated to helping local families, by using word-of-mouth and Facebook to spread the simple idea — adopt a family in need for a month — that has turned into a three-county organization.

CharityVillage� Research: Under the Radar: Great Social Good Websites You May Not Have Heard Of — Yet

2011-10-24T08:01:00.000-05:00

CharityVillage� Research: Under the Radar: Great Social Good Websites You May Not Have Heard Of — Yet: Last month I gave you an insider's guide to online resources specifically for nonprofit professionals who are new to the sector or to using social media. As a follow up, this month I'm sharing some blogs and websites.

You've probably already discovered how easy it is to find websites about social media marketing or nonprofit technology. You're likely familiar with great resources like NTEN or Socialbrite.

That Page Really Does Look Different

2011-10-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

That Page Really Does Look Different: That Page Really Does Look Different
There's no need to adjust your computer screen

October 2011

If you look at a nonprofit profile on GuideStar over the next couple of weeks (and if you are not logged in as a GuideStar Premium or GuideStar Charity Check subscriber), you'll see a new look. We're testing different versions of a new summary section that puts the information donors want most front and center.

International Fundraising Congress to focus on skills and social media - Third Sector

2011-10-18T07:57:00.000-05:00

International Fundraising Congress to focus on skills and social media - Third Sector: Four-day conference, starting tomorrow in Amsterdam, will feature panel discussions and audience debates

This year’s International Fundraising Congress will focus on developing delegates’ skills and using social media in fundraising.

The four-day conference in Amsterdam, which starts tomorrow, will be attended by almost 1,000 fundraisers from across the world, according to Neelam Makhijani, chief executive of the Resource Alliance, the charity that runs the conference.

Nonprofit Weekly for Friday, October 14, 2011 - BizTimes

2011-10-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

Nonprofit Weekly for Friday, October 14, 2011 - BizTimes: New social network for nonprofits launches at Nonprofit Center

The Helen Bader Foundation founded MKE123 as a way for the nonprofit sector to collaborate. MKE123 is now housed under the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee.
“The online platform is really designed to meet the needs of the nonprofit community in the Greater Milwaukee area,” said Matt Brown, project director of MKE 123. “What started as a collaboration tool designed for nonprofit organization has transformed into a way for organizations to reach other constituencies within the sector as well.”
According to Brown, friends of nonprofits as well as donors and other supporters as well as clients can be a part of MKE123, as well.

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | The FCC and Nonprofits: Negotiating a Complicated Landscape

2011-10-14T14:31:00.000-05:00

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | The FCC and Nonprofits: Negotiating a Complicated Landscape: On Wednesday, the FCC announced an initiative aimed at increasing U.S. broadband adoption rates among low-income households, rural communities, seniors, and minorities. The Connect to Compete program is a public-private-philanthropic initiative designed to help close the digital divide and reduce unemployment by training individuals in tech skills that are currently in demand by employers. The announcement identified at least 24 foundations, corporations, and nonprofit partners.

Charles Howard: Anonymity in Giving: A Case Study of 52times52.com

2011-10-14T10:21:00.000-05:00

Charles Howard: Anonymity in Giving: A Case Study of 52times52.com: The person on the other end of the phone line is a writer who has chosen to only be known as "Giver Girl." She and husband "Giver Boy" are the mysterious yet inspiring duo behind the website and project 52times52.com.

The premise is pretty straight forward. Starting this past January, they committed to donating $52 to a different charity, each of the 52 weeks of the year.

Summit County Boy Scouts using technology to raise funds | SummitDaily.com

2011-10-14T08:52:00.000-05:00

Summit County Boy Scouts using technology to raise funds | SummitDaily.com: The new program, Buy Local with the Boy Scouts, is similar to Groupon but with a twist: 70 percent of collected fees go to the Scouts. If successful, its creators hope to benefit not only local troops and packs, but residents and businesses with deals and exposure.

Breckenridge Troop 187 assistant scoutmaster Chris John calls the model a “triple win.”

BlackBerry users face third day of woe - Yahoo! News

2011-10-12T17:45:00.000-05:00

BlackBerry users face third day of woe - Yahoo! News: - Sent using Google Toolbar

Microsoft donates $16.7M in cash, software to Calif. nonprofits

2011-10-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

Microsoft donates $16.7M in cash, software to Calif. nonprofits: Microsoft said Tuesday it has donated $16.7 million in cash and software to more than 60 San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits.

Just last week the company kicked off its annual Giving Campaign and announced it had donated more than $949 million to charity last year. During the month of October, Microsoft employees host fundraising events, including a 5k run, 24-hour relay race and an online auction, with proceeds going to local charities.