County nonprofits can apply for computer lab essentials -- Gazette.Net

County nonprofits can apply for computer lab essentials -- Gazette.Net: The Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation will award a refurbished computer lab to a county nonprofit.

The lab will consist of six reconditioned computers with operating systems, flat panel LCD monitors, keyboards, mice and one printer.

Giving in a Digital World | Is there any real future for QR Codes in fundraising?

Giving in a Digital World | Is there any real future for QR Codes in fundraising?: Recent research by Global Web Index apparently showed “Scanned a QR Code” as the mobile behaviour showing the greatest increase from Q2 2012, with 30% of respondents globally saying they had used them. So perhaps there is a future in them – if advertisers and fundraisers start to use them properly.

But, for now, I see no evidence of any successful fundraising application of the technology at all – while the use of good old SMS response on advertising has seen such a resurgence in the UK that it has led to restrictions on the number of charity ads being allowed on London trains.

GitHub, Humanitarian Data Toolkit, big little data, PSI Directive & Millennials & Data #DataDigest | NetSquared

GitHub, Humanitarian Data Toolkit, big little data, PSI Directive & Millennials & Data #DataDigest | NetSquared: This week learn about some cool data tools and find out about “big little data”. The EC is also asking for feedback on their Public Sector Information Directive and a short but great interview about Millennials & Data is featured.

Microsoft lures nonprofits with Office 365 freebie | PCWorld

Microsoft lures nonprofits with Office 365 freebie | PCWorld: Nonprofit organizations will be able to sign up for Office 365 for free or at a reduced price as part of a new program Microsoft launched on Tuesday.

Properly certified nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 41 countries can apply to the Office 365 for Nonprofits program. Microsoft expects to offer the program in 90 countries by July.

It's Time to Update the Definition of a Website - Search Engine Watch (#SEW)

It's Time to Update the Definition of a Website - Search Engine Watch (#SEW): The Definition of a Website Must be Updated
Out With The Old

Unfortunately, the current outdated definition of a website has perpetuated the view of a website as an exercise in technology, rather than a function of business.

BBC News - Gromit charity art trail in Bristol attracts 200,000

BBC News - Gromit charity art trail in Bristol attracts 200,000: More than 200,000 people collected a map to take part in the Gromit Unleashed arts trail in Bristol.

The 80 statues, decorated by well-known celebrities and artists, were being removed earlier having been on display since the end of June.

They will be auctioned off on 3 October to raise money for charity and will be displayed in Clifton later this month.

More than �20,000 has already been raised for Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal by people downloading the app.

Livefyre Acquires Storify, Says The Social Curation Service Will Still Operate As Standalone Product | TechCrunch

Livefyre Acquires Storify, Says The Social Curation Service Will Still Operate As Standalone Product | TechCrunch: "Livefyre, a commenting platform used by TechCrunch and other websites, is announcing that it has acquired social curation startup Storify."

What Your Donors Won’t Tell You about Social Media - Clairification

What Your Donors Won’t Tell You about Social Media - Clairification: Give your donors what they like. I’m not saying you shouldn’t phone or visit them at some point. But you’re better off connecting digitally than not at all. And many donors these days will never respond to a phone call. No matter how often you keep trying.

Video: Young Donors Want Fewer Words but More Information - Marketing and Communications - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Video: Young Donors Want Fewer Words but More Information - Marketing and Communications - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Video: Young Donors Want Fewer Words but More Information
Third in a series of videos

By Cody Switzer

Young donors want a lot of information when they visit a nonprofit's Web site. But they may not want large amounts of text.

Ease your guilty conscience with GiveGab, a social network for volunteers | TechHive

Ease your guilty conscience with GiveGab, a social network for volunteers | TechHive: GiveGab is an under-the-radar social network for volunteers that has been quietly partnering with colleges and nonprofits across the country over the last two years. Quietly is the key word: GiveGab has been focused on growing its network organically and without a lot of fuss. After all, volunteering is serious business.

BlackbaudNews.com: Your Source for Blackbaud News

BlackbaudNews.com: Your Source for Blackbaud News: The Blackbaud Index: Overall Charitable Giving Grew 1.8% in July, Online Giving Was Up 14.5%
Posted on September 3, 2013 by Melanie Mathos

The Blackbaud Index today reported that overall charitable giving increased 1.8% and online giving increased 14.5% for the three months ending July 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012. As reported in the Charitable Giving Report, overall giving grew approximately 2% for the full year 2012 and online giving grew by about 11% in 2012 compared to 2011.

Running Facebook Contests Just Got a Lot Easier

Running Facebook Contests Just Got a Lot Easier: Congratulations, former Facebook promotions rule-breakers–it’s now officially ok to break those rules. Actually, you won’t even have to–Facebook has changed those pesky Promotions Guidelines and made it easier to run and administer contests. Gone are the third party app requirements and restrictions on using the like or comment features as entry mechanisms–businesses can now run promotions either in an app or on their page’s Timeline (but not a personal timeline). Additionally they can:

Making "the Ask" in a Brave New World | Gary Laermer

Making "the Ask" in a Brave New World | Gary Laermer: A key part of reaching and engaging younger donors is exploiting technology to our fullest advantage. Social media and other digital technologies have made it easier and more economical than ever for philanthropic organizations and young people to connect with one other and raise money in a competitive environment. Embracing social media is now and will continue to be essential: a recent survey from the Millennial Impact Project found that eight in 10 young donors have smartphones and use them to read materials from nonprofit groups, and that three in four young donors have engaged with or shared nonprofit content on social networks. If they haven't already, philanthropic entities must redouble their digital and social media efforts to connect with a large group of people who are engaged and technologically savvy.

How Brands Are Using Twitter’s Vine: Statistics, Facts & Tips [INFOGRAPHIC] - AllTwitter

How Brands Are Using Twitter’s Vine: Statistics, Facts & Tips [INFOGRAPHIC] - AllTwitter: Did you know that 5 tweets per second contain a Vine link, and that studies are showing that a branded Vine is four times more likely to be seen than a branded video?

Low sign-ups force postponement of London Twestival

Low sign-ups force postponement of London Twestival: The London Twestival, a Twitter-based fundraising event due to be held this Monday, was called off this week citing low ticket sales and a lack of support from the tech community.

While the organisers of this year’s event, which was due to raise money for BeatBullying, say they are working to find alternative date for later this year, no date is yet fixed.