Nonprofit Tech for Good

JANUARY 30, 2012

The number of low-cost or free, web-based resources and tools available to nonprofits today is astounding. Many nonprofit professionals are overwhelmed by the all choices – and as the Mobile Web and related start-ups continue to grow, prepare to be mind-boggled by all the new technology options available to your nonprofit in coming years. That said, to be alerted of new resources for nonprofits, please subscribe to the Nonprofit Tech 2.0 e-Newsletter.

Fun 261

Fun Resource Mobile Social Media 261

NetWits

JANUARY 11, 2012

At last year’s Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits, Allison Nassour and I presented to a full room on the topic of QR codes. We were thrilled that so many people wanted to learn more about them, but also surprised at how many were already using them at their nonprofits. It seems that QR codes have gone mainstream, or at least hit that tipping point where it’s pretty safe to include them in campaigns.

South Carolina 253

South Carolina Blackberry Portland Mobile 253

Amy Sample Ward

JANUARY 20, 2012

Earlier this week, I had the terrific opportunity to participate on a panel at the US launch event for “Philanthropy and Social Media”, a whitepaper from The Institute for Philanthropy and The Indigo Trust. Download the full white paper or share it using this link: [link] Below are notes from my remarks. The internet is not new. The last few years, though, have been dramatically impacted by the real-time web.

Philanthropy 244

Philanthropy Social Media Media Social 244

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 27, 2012

Lots of people have already weighed in on Blackbaud’s purchase of Convio (two of my favorites: [link] and [link] ). Here my perspective. Disclosures: I have clients that use both companies’ products, as well as products from their competitors, open source products, and homegrown solutions. I don’t invest in these or other companies that I advise on.

Convio 222

Convio Blackbaud Open Source Product 222

Advertisement

Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.

Business

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 25, 2012

Guest Beneblog by Ann Harrison In 2006, the Benetech Human Rights Program was asked to participate in one of the most important human rights data projects in the world. The Guatemalan government human rights ombudsman invited the Benetech Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) to analyze the contents of the estimated 80 million documents in the Guatemalan National Police Historical Archive or the Archivo Histórico de la Policía Nacional (AHPN).

National 206

National Guatemala Online Texas 206

Nonprofit Tech for Good

JANUARY 22, 2012

The new Facebook Timeline design is now available for upgrade to all Facebook users. The design was meant to be rolled out site wide in December 2011, however a lawsuit with Timelines.com is prolonging the mandatory switch – most likely only temporarily. Whatever your personal feelings are about Facebook Timeline, nonprofits would be wise prepare for it’s launch site wide including a likely timeline design for Facebook Pages.

Facebook 246

Facebook Conservancy Nonprofit Design 246

NetWits

JANUARY 25, 2012

Register for our Event Fundraising eNewsletter to receive more practical fundraising tips like these in your inbox. Register Now ! Many summer peer-to-peer fundraising events will be opening registration in the upcoming months (hopefully, yours included). To get the most from your event this year, it’s important to realize that your participants are a diverse group and you need to speak to each group differently.

Raise 226

Raise Money Fundraising Contest 226

Amy Sample Ward

JANUARY 25, 2012

My latest contribution to the Stanford Social Innovation Review is now published. You can read the post and join the conversation on the SSIR Opinion blog , or read the full post below. —– Inevitably, January is filled with predictions and resolutions. We ponder the innovations and evolutions that may unfold in the technologies we use, and consider the issues we want to tackle in our work and communities.

Data 129

Data Report Map Hunger 129

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 9, 2012

NTEN published my somewhat snarky predictions for nonprofits' use of fundraising technologies in 2012. My overall predictions are that most things will be pretty much the same as last year (and 2010 and 2009, etc.): many nonprofits will struggle with out-of-date systems. No surprise -- many will also lack the funding to replace them. But others will fail to see that technology, and people who know how to support and use technology, are necessary investments.

Technology 145

Technology Fundraising Nonprofit NTEN 145

Speaker: Joe Sharpe and James Carlson

Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.

Foundation

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 18, 2012

In November, I wrote a blog post entitled: Why I’m Scared of the SOPA bill. Part of my objective was to show the unintended consequences of Internet censorship bills like SOPA and PIPA (SOPA's Senate buddy bill), responding to alerts from organizations I trust like the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The Copyright Alliance had the courtesy of engaging with multiple comments in favor of the proposed bills, but they failed to directly address (either a deliberate omission or because it was a robot

Site 185

Site Copyright Wikipedia Law 185

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 10, 2012

My Pinboards on Pinterest. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can organize and share images and videos you discover on the web. Think of it as social network of visuals – where you can find images from other people with the same interest or use it to curate your own visual “interest space.” The clean interface and simplicity of its features make it easy to use and gives you a calm feeling which perhaps accounts for its popularity.

Audience 123

Audience Content Tools Images 123

Nonprofit Tech for Good

JANUARY 16, 2012

When Mashable first started buzzing about Pinterest in December 2011, I took a quick look at the site and thought to myself, “Shopping, crafters, and foodies. Not relevant to the vast majority of nonprofits and (whew!) not another site I need to pay attention to.” Now, just two weeks into January, I am completely addicted to pinning boards for social good on Pinterest.

Profile 245

Profile Nonprofit Twitter Social Network 245

Wild Apricot

JANUARY 6, 2012

What are the trends for non-profit communications in 2012? Here's an overview of Kivi Leroux Miller's Nonprofit Communications Trend Report.

Trend 131

Trend Communication Report Profit 131

Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio, Director of Corporate Brand

Is your organization ready to build a recurring giving program that not only sustains but also propels your mission forward? 🚀 In this new webinar with industry visionary Tim Sarrantonio, we’ll guide you through the critical steps to establishing and scaling a successful recurring giving program. Whether you’re starting fresh or enhancing an existing program, this session will provide the strategies you need to deepen donor relationships and secure long-term support!

Giving

NTEN

JANUARY 19, 2012

Jason Shim. Specialty Mentoring Program Facilitator, Pathways to Education. Mosaic Counselling and Family Services. Whether you are a front line youth worker, a parent, or a social media marketer, the question remains the same: "How do you communicate so that teenagers will listen?" A couple of years ago, my colleagues and I were spending over 150 hours a month on the phone trying to reach high school students in our program.

Phone 100

Phone Social Media Media Mentoring 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 19, 2012

Hmmm. The Yellow Pages using spam to get listings? The attachment is a PDF so it's most likely safe but not completely risk free. I searched for subject line and found an example of what I'm guessing is the attachment. The fine print at the bottom says: We are compiling data for Yellow PagesUSA Corp. It is our objective to advertise your company products and service.

Spam 137

Spam Internet PDF Info 137

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 14, 2012

I greatly enjoy talking to students, and I am now in Ottawa, Canada, just having spoken to an incredible group of students, Engineers Without Borders Canada. Now, I had heard of EWB before, but I hadn't grasped how large, sophisticated and ambitious an organization this is! I'm at the annual Canadian EWB conference (each of the EWB country groups is independent of the other), and there are hundreds and hundreds of students here.

Canada 183

Canada Student Africa Hints 183

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 5, 2012

Photo by Beth Kanter, Net Funders Conference, October, 2011. A few days ago I opened the door on a new learning journey. I am very excited about upcoming peer learning projects that I’m working on in 2012, including several for Packard grantees in India, Pakistan, and Africa as well as the e-Mediat project in the Middle East. It is a great opportunity to ponder the question: How to design and deliver learning experiences for nonprofits that connect, inspire, and engage?

Experiment 119

Experiment Learning Create Exercise 119

Speaker: Andrew Olsen, CFRE - EVP, Fundraising Solutions at DickersonBakker | Kat Landa, CFRE, CSD - SVP, Talent Solutions at DickersonBakker

Across the nonprofit sector, organizations invest heavily in donor retention efforts, yet the struggle of cultivating lasting relationships remains. While attracting new donors is crucial, the lack of repeat donors poses significant financial risks. Through a comprehensive analysis of industry data, experts argue that there is a direct correlation between donor burnout, donor retention, and the talent retention crisis.

Donor

Nonprofit Tech for Good

JANUARY 3, 2012

There’s no shortage of year-end-and-beginning blog posts about social media, but I thought I’d throw mine into the mix as well. I took some much-needed time off in December and was able to spend some down time reflecting on the future of social media and mobile technology for the nonprofit sector. The truth is I think it has only just begun and that we’re on the cusp of a radical transformation in how we use the Internet in our personal and work lives as well as how we use it t

Social Media 236

Social Media Media Management Social 236

Wild Apricot

JANUARY 18, 2012

Here are some great tips for creating an “atmosphere of connectedness” that stimulates “serendipitous encounters" with new people and ideas at your events.

Create 119

Create Network Tips Ideas 119

sgEngage

JANUARY 3, 2012

I get a lot of nonprofit email messages through subscribing to lists, working with lots of organizations, and being a donor. That means my inbox gets pretty flooded at the end of each year. 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.

email 95

email Fundraising Gift Attention 95

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 30, 2012

I wrote about a version of this one last year, but the language of this version is so tortured that I have to post it. No official-looking seal this time. Sender: FBI OFFICE (office.fbi3@gmail.com). Subject: FROM IMF HEAD OFFICE. Text: Anti-Terrorist And Monetary Crimes Division. FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Federal Bureau Of Investigation. J.Edgar Hoover Building. 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, Nw Washington, D.C. 20535-0001. www.fbi.gov.

Nigeria 126

Nigeria Money Spam Benin 126

Advertiser: Digital Ocean

Effectively managing cloud technology is getting more complex. From cybersecurity concerns, vendor lock-in, cost increases, or lack of transparency on costs, it can quickly get out of control. Knowing what you can control and finding a platform that’s built with nonprofits in mind is key.

Nonprofit

Beneblog: Technology Meets Society

JANUARY 28, 2012

A Guest Reflection by Dr. Patrick Ball, Benetech's Chief Scientist I am terribly sad to learn today of the untimely death of a friend and mentor, Dr. Karen Ramey Burns. Kar was a forensic anthropologist who specialized in human rights cases, and she was a founders of our Colombian partner organization EQUITAS ). Over the last 17 years, Kar and I crossed paths in Haiti, Guatemala, Colombia, and many times at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, AAAS.

Colombia 133

Colombia Guatemala Haiti Mentoring 133

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

JANUARY 25, 2012

Source: developers.facebook.com via Beth on Pinterest. Remember last September when Facebook announced all those changes to individual profiles, including the timeline? One of the changes was that your friends and fans can do more than “Like” or “Comment” on Facebook. Three new actions were announced at the time, including: Read, Watch, Listen to help people better understand what their friends are doing online.

Music 117

Music Facebook Nonprofit Action 117

Nonprofit Tech for Good

JANUARY 23, 2012

As a follow-up to Google+ Best Practices for Nonprofits and 22 Must-Circle Nonprofit Bloggers and Resources on Google+ , below are 22 nonprofits that are regularly using Google+ effectively to engage and inspire the Google+ community. As traffic continues to grow , new tools and functionality are added almost daily. Google+ is definitely a work in progress.

Google 211

Google Detroit Ireland Kiva 211

Wild Apricot

JANUARY 13, 2012

If you're curious about the outlook for fundraising this year, here's a round-up of recent research reports and predictions on the future of fundraising in 2012.

Fundraising 116

Fundraising Research Report 116

Advertiser: Syncrony

Looking for cost reductions for your nonprofit? Why not consider modernizing with a digital board management system that's designed to work with remote meetings, with immediate cost reductions if you still distribute paper packets to members? Get going in less than an hour on a fully hosted cloud solution built on the latest technology that runs on any device - from desktops to tablets and smartphones - without any installation.

Nonprofit