Thursday, June 14, 2007

Foundations Seeing Results of Evaluating Their Impact

PRESS RELEASE

Foundations Seeing Results of Evaluating Their Impact: "Foundations Seeing Results of Evaluating Their Impact

Case studies highlight foundations using real-time feedback to refine or change course

BOSTON, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annie E. Casey Foundation used an innovative evaluation process to recover more than $2.5 million from predatory lenders for Des Moines, Iowa families. The Ball Foundation in Chicago conducted surveys and focus groups of teachers. As a result, the Foundation changed its approach to teacher development. The Arthur M. Blank
Family Foundation uses web-based mapping to more effectively provide assistance to low income school children. Three different approaches to grantmaking, all highly successful. The common thread? All used evaluation extremely well to achieve great results. These are just a few organizations that FSG Social Impact Advisors studied in its new report 'From Insight to
Action: New Directions in Foundation Evaluation.'"

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Spotlight on DML | Invitation to Virtual World Event on Philanthropy

Spotlight on DML | Invitation to Virtual World Event on Philanthropy: "nvitation to Virtual World Event on Philanthropy

Save the date (22 June, 9am PST) for an historic conversation on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds featuring MacArthur Foundation President Jonathan Fanton and Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale.

I write to invite you to join me in the virtual world of Second Life on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 9am PST (noon EST). With my avatar and a live audio feed, I will be joined by Second Life CEO Philip Rosedale and residents for a discussion on the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds."

Business Day - News Worth Knowing

Business Day - News Worth Knowing: "EVEN though mystery “rent boy” Skye recently removed the list of his alleged clients from a web log (blog) which threatened the reputations of a number of high-profile South Africans, the furore created by the site is still raging.

The website has sparked calls for government regulation of blogs, counter-claims that this would be an attack on the right to free speech, and heated debate over whether anonymity on the web is a good or bad thing."

NP TechnoBuzz -Widgets: The New Black -- More Useful Than Ever

Beth Kanter writes about widgets in the NPT TechnoBuzz

NPT TechnoBuzz: "Widgets: The New Black -- More Useful Than Ever

By Beth Kanter
The Web is increasingly turning into a sort of online mall with its boutiques filled with thousands of useful, off-the-rack accessories of every description and utility. In the age of openness, it's suddenly very fashionable and sexy to accessorize Web sites with widgets: small applications that plug into bigger ones. There are a lot of really fun and innovative widgets out there that can add functionality and effective calls to action."

Monday, June 11, 2007

The Chronicle: Wired Campus Blog: Second Lifers May Soon Get a New Way to Talk

The Chronicle: Wired Campus Blog: Second Lifers May Soon Get a New Way to Talk: "Second Lifers May Soon Get a New Way to Talk

In the virtual-reality world Second Life, cartoonlike characters known as “avatars” communicate through instant messages. Avatars know someone is chatting with them when his or her hands pantomime tapping a computer keyboard while a message appears on the screen.

That experience, however, could become obsolete. Second Life is now testing software that allows avatars to communicate using the voices of their human operators."

The Chronicle: Wired Campus Blog: Introducing 'Tech Therapy'

The Chronicle: Wired Campus Blog: Introducing 'Tech Therapy': "June 7, 2007
Introducing 'Tech Therapy'

In July, The Chronicle will offer a new podcast called Tech Therapy. Scott Carlson, a Chronicle reporter, and Warren Arbogast, a technology consultant who works with colleges, will talk about the headaches, anxieties, and general problems you might be having with technology on your campus."

Does online engagement lead to more money? | NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network

Does online engagement lead to more money? | NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network: "Does online engagement lead to more money?
Submitted by Ali on Fri, 06/08/2007 - 10:20am.
Fundraising | nonprofit technology | NPTech | NTEN

Does online engagement help nonprofits raise money?

At first glance, this seems like a pretty straightforward question: engaging potential donors with your nonprofit’s mission is one of the most powerful cultivation tools you can employ, so it stands to reason that offering people a way to get involved through online advocacy, and keeping them informed with an online newsletter, would naturally garner more money for your organization."

Analysts: 1 Billion PCs in use by end of 2008 | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

Analysts: 1 Billion PCs in use by end of 2008 | Tech news blog - CNET News.com: "Analysts: 1 Billion PCs in use by end of 2008
Posted by Erica Ogg

It's taken 27 years to reach 1 billion PCs in use, and market researchers say it will take only five to reach the next billion.

Forrester Research is set to release a report Monday titled, 'Worldwide PC Adoption Forecast to 2015,' saying that many of those next billion will be used by first-time PC users in emerging nations like Brazil, Russia, India and China. At least 775 million new PCs will be in use in those countries by 2015, according to Forrester."