N-TEN
Nonprofits & Gaming: Playing Your Way to More Funds, More Volunteers, and Solving the World's Problems
Casey Golden, CEO, Small Act What if video games could change the world? They already are. Nonprofits around the globe are using online games not to only educate the public, but to get donations and supporters – and even help find cures for diseases. Why are games important? Games "...may prove to be a key resource for solving some of our most pressing real-world problems," according to game designer Jane McGonigal in The Wall Street Journal. "When we play, we... have a sense of urgent optimism. We believe whole-heartedly that we are up to any ...
The Nonprofit Cloud Computing Summit in San Francisco
For several years, NTEN has led the field in calling for nonprofits to minimize time sent on mundane tasks like server maintenance, instead focusing resources on technology that will actually serve their missions. One of the greatest tools at our disposal to accomplish this is the Cloud. Following the success of our 5-part webinar series, "Nonprofits & Cloud Computing: A Guide to Navigating the Nonprofit Cloud", we're excited to announce a one-day workshop, taking place in San Francisco, where you'll gain the knowledge you need to analyze ...
Things We Like (July 2011)
A monthly roundup of our favorite nonprofit tech resources and other goodies. When we performed a Google search on "nonprofit social media integration" to find a few more links for this section, the top results were posts on our blog this month. The formula we used is simple: Good content = good SEO. Watch out for anybody who says otherwise. So, let's formally start TWL with that old techie crutch, Star Wars. Greenpeace created a great SW-themed campaign aimed at improving Volkswagen's environmental record, complete with gaming elements. They must be ...
How to Use Social Sharing & Events for a Cause
Flickr: lamantinIf you hold an event and nobody comes, what happens to all the cupcakes? An in-person event can be a powerful tool both to spread awareness and raise money for your cause. But if you don't get the word out effectively, all that work to put it together may go for naught. Tamara Mendelsohn, Director of Marketing at Eventbrite, has studied their customers’ sharing habits. At our upcoming webinar, "Using Events and Social Sharing for a Cause", she'll share examples from nonprofits that have successfully used social media to increase ...
Where Is IT Located in Your Organization? Some Trends from the Annual IT Staffing and Spending Report
One of the things we're tracking in NTEN's annual Nonprofit IT Staffing and Spending report is where IT is located within organizations -- as in, where the primary IT staff are in the organizational structure.In our latest report, respondents told us that their IT was most likely housed as part of General Operations or Administration (about a third of all respondents). How does this compare to previous years?Well, it turns out the trends are not what we'd like to see.Looking at these numbers from 2008-2010, we can see the proportion of respondents ...
Now Accepting Session Proposals for the 2012 NTC (Through August 12)
The session proposal submission process for the 2012 Nonprofit Technology Conference is now open. Please take a moment to review the guidelines and other fine print Anna's put together. Then, how about submitting an idea or three? The 2012 NTC will take place in San Francisco, April 3-5. After receiving more than 400 ideas last year, we knew we had to allow a bit more time to tap your wisdom this time around. > Submit a 2012 Session Proposal Of course, if I see a bunch of them rolling through my queue today, I'll know that you're either: a) a very ...
Tech Across Your Org: Shared Technology Vision
[Editor's note: The following first appeared in the June 2011 issue of NTEN:Change. Read the complete issue of NTEN's new quarterly journal for nonprofit leaders by subscribing to the journal for free!]By Rebecca Krause-Hardie, AudienceWorksRecently I was talking with John Michael Schert, Executive Director of Trey McIntyre Project (TMP), about their social media activities. What became abundantly clear almost at once was that I was asking the wrong question. Technology is hugely important, but like investing in a vehicle for transportation, what’s ...
Who Will Win the Fight Between Google "+1" vs. Facebook "Like"? You.
By Cary Lenore Walski, Technology Education and Outreach Coordinator, MAP TechWorks The enmity between Google and Facebook is no secret, and the cold war waged by the two internet behemoths has only escalated in light of the June launch of Google +M. Stories like those of Facebook’s rather petty ban of ads promoting Google+ are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the tactics both sides will employ in an effort to derail the other. So who will ultimately win the day? It’s too soon to tell, but one thing seems certain to me, the consumer will ...
Member Round Up: Doing Good and Using Technology
Flickr:izikWe know our members are social media pros, so I’d like to highlight other ways they are doing good and using technology. This week our members are giving away free HD video cameras, improving free phone service, creating awesome online surveys, and talking tech over breakfast.Have more news to share? Drop us a line or include your links in the comments!Through your Google account you can make free phone calls to computers and telephones. This week, Google enabled a new feature allowing you to make and receive multiple phone calls at the same ...
Getting Beyond the Slacktivism Debate
[Editor's note: The following first appeared in the June 2011 issue of NTEN:Change. Read the complete issue of NTEN's new quarterly journal for nonprofit leaders by subscribing to the journal for free!]By Duane Raymond, FairSayDerogative terms for digital activism like clicktivism and slacktivism have been rapidly adopted over the last year by a growing range of critics.Ironically, months after their criticism, a wide range of digital tools played a small part in the 'Arab Spring' protests. So which is it: ineffective tool or tools that can topple ...
Recap: Engage Donors and Boost Fundraising with Strategic Messaging
The art Step 3: Humanize Your Storyof strategic messaging is one the entire nonprofit sector wrestles with on a daily basis, regardless of the size of the organization. As discussed in our webinar, "Engage Donors and Boost Fundraising with Strategic Messaging", today’s nonprofits must hone their strategic messaging strategy in order to cultivate the type of bond with a donor that converts to action. Adele Cehrs and Menchu Mendiola broke down the conundrum that is strategic messaging into 10 bite-sized but imperative steps to set an organization ...
