Imagining the Internet

from Mashable: The Future of the Non-Profit Internet Earlier this month, Pew Internet released its annual Future of the Internet report. The survey of 900 leaders forecasts the future direction of online media. In turn non-profit strategists can glean insights into the future, and how to steer their individual programs. This year’s research report dove into five critical areas. Here’s what non-profits need to take away from the Pew report for their efforts: Google Changes the Way We Think; The Internet Changes Language; The Pundits Don’t Know What They’re Talking About; The Internet Will Remain End-to-End – Sort Of; Anonymity and Privacy Will Continue to Be Big Issues. … “The report’s findings reflect the notion that the tools are not going to change much in the near future,... Continue Reading

YouTube Nonprofit Program Expands

Like their American and British cohorts, nonprofits in Australia and Canada can now apply to become part of the YouTube Nonprofit Program. Members receive free branded channels, custom thumbnails, longer video uploads, and call-to-action overlays. For more information, including program benefits and requirements, along with an application link check the nonprofit program section of the YouTube Website. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Limmud’s Global Chavruta Project

Combine globalization and technology and what do you get? Limmud Conference’s first worldwide, 100% virtual team! The Co-Chairs of Limmud’s 2009 Chavruta Project span four continents across fourteen time zones – from New York to Sydney who joined together for a unique collaboration to create Jewish learning that transcended boundaries. The Chavruta project was conceived by Limmud in the UK 13 years ago and has since been exported to Jewish communities around the world. For those unfamiliar, chavruta means ‘friendship’ or ‘partnership.’ It is a form of traditional Jewish learning involving pairs of people, usually with similar levels of ability and knowledge, exploring texts together. At Limmud, these can range from ancient materials to modern scholarship, song lyrics... Continue Reading

Online Giving Up in 2009

We have the first stats from Blackbaud, a major U.S. based software provider, on online giving for 2009. The information comes from approximately 2,300 nonprofit organizations using a combination of Blackbaud online fundraising, email marketing and integrated CRM tools. The analysis represents the largest study of online giving trends in the nonprofit sector: Online revenue grew 46% in 2009 compared to 2008. The first three months of 2009 had a 60% year-over-year growth rate in online revenue. December and May were the two largest months for online giving. 46% of online revenue was processed in the final three months of 2009. December accounted for 30% of revenue and 18% of transaction volume in 2009. The average online gift in 2009 was $144.72. This represents a 5% decline from 2008, but remains... Continue Reading

Getting Serious About Social Media

Here are 10 ways to get serious about social media in 2010: Quit counting fans, followers, and blog subscribers like bottle caps. Learn how to measure stuff, and quit making excuses for why you can’t do it. Learn what case studies can and can’t do for you. Understand the difference between making a business case for social media and chasing the next and greatest fad. Stop lauding social media as the thing that’s going to fix it all. Approach social media methodically. Quit waiting for the water to be perfect before you get in. Think long term, and commit to it. Focus on what you’re good at. Recognize that potential missteps shouldn’t paralyze you into inaction. Excerpted from 10 Ways to Get Serious About Social Media. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Listening Posts: The Six Free Listening Tools You Cannot Do Without

So many more organizations and people are engaged in social media today than they were a year ago. What that means is that so many more people are talking about your company, your competitors, your employees and your brands today than they were a year ago. At least, that’s the potential. According to Forrester Research, the number of US regular social network users has doubled since 2007. So, are you monitoring the conversation? Have you set up your listening posts? Simply put, email alerts (daily, or in real time) are the best way to make sure you are not missing out on any online mentions relevant to you or your company, positive or negative. I’ve compiled what I believe is the “do not miss,” list of (free) email listening tools your organization should use. There are a lot of great paid... Continue Reading

21st Century Touch-Points: Changing How We Communicate

from the Nonprofit Technology Network: The Shrinking Generational Digital Divide The gap between older and younger digital users is rapidly diminishing, especially as boomers explore the vast array of uses for the Internet. Imagine a typical Internet surfer and your first thought might be of a teen or young adult, not a grandparent or retiree. But studies over the past decade show the age gap between who’s online and who’s not has narrowed significantly. A recent study by the Center for the Digital Future, in conjunction with AARP, revealed that 41 to 46 percent of Internet users, spanning all age ranges, cited the Internet as “important or very important” in maintaining social relationships. The same study showed that among older Internet users who are members of online communities,... Continue Reading

Changing the Ways We Communicate

Is social media a fad? Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? [Translate] swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube.com/v/sIFYPQjYhv8&rel=0&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=0", "vvq-2458-youtube-1", "425", "355", "9", vvqexpressinstall, vvqflashvars, vvqparams, vvqattributes); Bookmark:  Read More →

Crowdfunding: What Online Fundraisers Might Learn

from Professional Fundraising (U.K.): Crowdfunding Over the last few years, the development and mass adoption of new web-based services which specifically support collaboration and sharing between users – known as Web 2.0 – has transformed the way in which we can engage with each other, and with brands, online. It has also resulted in the proliferation of a whole new generation of collaboration-related buzzwords, which is great if you like that sort of thing. Personally, as someone who spends a lot of their time working to demystify the complexities of digital marketing to help people do it more effectively, I try not to throw jargon around too much. However, there is one particular Web 2.0 buzzword that I think all fundraisers should know about and understand, because the initiatives that... Continue Reading