Group items tagged

Microsoft Community Affairs and TechSoup recently hosted a webinar focused on how moving to the cloud can benefit nonprofits.

I found this article to be very interesting, especially relating to the comparison of the U.S. and Chinese patent system. China is increasing it's supply of patents, hoping to stimulate innovation and start-up inventions in the country. China is starting to heavily invest in 4G telecommunication. Wadhwa is offering a different perspective on this issue and ultimately plays down the hype of this story. He asks for the U.S. to concentrate on being a leader in innovation, rather than patents, which seem like nuclear weapons in an everlasting tech arms race that doesn't seem to allow for revision.

Finding grants for nonprofits to increase and expand on technology could have never been easier

Only 16% of nonprofits expect to be ready for mobile devices in 2011 so there is tremendous opportunity in 84% of nonprofits. Mobile web use increased 230% from 2008 to 2009 which indicates that many more people are impressed with mobile computing devices and it is here to stay for a while. Websites without mobile connectivity are essentially going to be out-of-date now.

This is supplementary to our first reading assignment which outlines where we are are and where we are going in nonprofit technology

Extensis is a program that allows nonprofits to do more for less. They incorporate Extensis portfolio server and NetPublish into these nonprofits so that they can distribute digital assets more easily. Extensis is an affordable program that improves fundraising, preserves historical records and improves accountability for non-profits.

The data shows more smartphones shipped than PCs in the most recent quarter.  For nonprofit orgs -- and government -- this is important to notice, because it mean strategies previously focused on DESKTOP / LAPTOP devices or apps may need to be revised.  A mobile strategy will be increasing important for fundraising, for communication, for collaboration, and for advocacy.

An increase in demand for EVENTjournal.com (an online journal that helps non profits put together fundraising events) has forced its expansion.

This article covers donor database implementation for a non-profit. Giftworks was endorsed for ease of use. Administrators are happier with a more customized solution when its possible. Microsoft Access was criticized because it seems less directed toward the non-profit sector. It was interesting to note that the competition for donor dollars is increasing. A highly integrated database clearly outperforms segmented data. The online database with a trained rep might be the best choice of all.

This article talks about why the cloud is good for non-profits.

The nonprofit sector is in a bit of a technology evolution/revolution. As the industry looks to reduce costs, increase efficiency and engage with constituents that are living lifestyles that embrace mobile, digital and social technologies as never before. It is here that the benefits and options that cloud computing brings to the table are clear.

This article details results of a fundraising survey for 2010. The biggest finding is that online contributions are rising in 2010. This makes the process more important. It is unclear if the trend is strictly temporary. The increased awareness of events in conjunction with social media appears to be generating more donations. More data is needed to make a definitive assessment than this article provides.

A new, small organization giving out $1000 grants to awesome ideas. The press coverage of it online is bound to help it grow and increase the amount of application requestions. You can apply online at this website to recieve grant money for any idea they find "awesome"

A Senate bill sponsored by: Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] Establishes in the Executive Office of the President an Office of Cyberspace Policy, which shall: (1) develop a national strategy to increase the security and resiliency of cyberspace; (2) oversee, coordinate, and integrate federal policies and activities relating to cyberspace security and resiliency; (3) ensure that all federal agencies comply with appropriate guidelines, policies, and directives from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), other federal agencies with responsibilities relating to cyberspace security or resiliency, and the National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications (established by this Act); and (4) ensure that federal agencies have access to, receive, and appropriately disseminate law enforcement, intelligence, terrorism, and any other information relevant to the security of specified federal, military, and intelligence information infrastructure.

Nonprofits get excited when a celebrity wants to join their advisory board or endorse their campaign. But do celebrity endorsements across different channels work these days?  It depends. (click and read on!)

This article shows how governmental agencies are using technology tools to help gather the taxes that people have failed to pay in the past. This technology tool analyzes the data that has been collected about an individual and uses that to compare the different ways of going about collecting the past due taxes. Using this analyzing tool allows the government to spend less resources trying to collect the taxes and also has proven to increase the amount of past taxes that are collected.