Constructive Disruption: Advancing Social Change Through the Cloud

Jane Meseck, Microsoft Corporation

The technology scene today is distinguished by the growing connectivity among devices, mobile phones, the PC, and the browser, which enable people and organizations to access information, communicate and collaborate in more powerful ways.

What we will see over the next 3-5 years is a new paradigm of computing where the use of these devices will be more and more seamless. This new paradigm offers great potential to improve how we all work -- but even greater potential for nonprofits to manage their operations more effectively, deliver a broader array of services and achieve greater impact for the communities they serve.

But how can these technologies be used by social mission organizations, social entrepreneurs, NGOs and nonprofits to benefit the most vulnerable people in society?

The Social Sector Cloud

Lucy Bernholz, Blueprint R+D

Once upon a time, just a little more than a century ago, every factory that wanted to run its systems on electricity had to build its own electrical generating system. Thomas Edison and a few other entrepreneurs put an end to this by building an electrical grid -- so factory owners could focus on making shirts or chairs or widgets and not on running their own electrical plant.

Cloud computing offers us all the same freedom for our information infrastructure. On a broad scale, it will also fundamentally change how we work, where we work, and with whom we work.

Charities in the Cloud: Why the Hype Might Not Be Quite Hypey Enough

David Geilhufe, NetSuite, Inc.

The cloud refers to a number of different technical components from applications to databases to server virtualization to web services, but most folks care about what they can do with cloud solutions.

Simply put, the cloud by its very nature offers you better, more effective software solutions while saving your organization time, money and effort.

Cloud solutions increase the probability of success and reduce the costs of failure. They support and extend the larger trends that are shaping both charity and business operations whether those trends are flex time, impact measurement, real time data, or open APIs and allow you to gain the benefits of those larger trends without really having to think about it much.

Cloud Computing for Small Nonprofits: Lessons Learned from 5 Years in the Cloud

Judi Sohn, C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition

When C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition started in 2005, cloud computing wasn't the buzz word it is today. It was simply the only way we could operate and build the organization.

We have never purchased a server and have no plans for one. The services and tools we use to run and build C3 have allowed us to expand and add programs while keeping our operating expenses low, maximizing every dollar we raise.

In honor of C3's 5 year anniversary we're celebrating this month, I present to my fellow techies in young nonprofits my 5 simple lessons learned from 5 years of operating in the cloud.

How to: Getting Your Head (and Org) into the Clouds

Rob Jordan, Idealist Consulting

You may have already heard all the great things that happen when you move your technical solutions into "The Cloud": Automated back ups; ability to forgo networks; automated upgrades; ability to intermingle hardware; lower maintenance; virtual office space, thicker hair and better dating life. (Well, most of those anyway.)

In roughly three months time, you can shift your most pertinent business operations from "on-premise" solutions (a.k.a. traditional offline software) into the cloud (a.k.a. online software) without too much hassle. Here are four steps that can help guide you through the process.

How Telecommunications Is Changing Work for Nonprofits

Jacob Griscom, BetterWorld Telecom

Thanks to advances in communications technology, the daily commute to work for many people has transformed from a stressful car ride through heavy traffic to an easy stroll to the home office. This growing trend, often described as telecommuting or e-commuting, reflects a fundamental change from the traditional concept of work (performed in an office, on a nine-to-five schedule) to a more adaptive, results-based one.

Telecommunications -- including Internet, mobile, and radio technologies -- is allowing an increasing number of organizations to efficiently operate in ways that previously could only be accomplished in person. The potential impact of this shift in work is financial, social, cultural, and environmental.

Get a Special Rate on the 2nd International Fundraising Conference

The 2nd Annual International Fundraising eConference is coming up May 11-13, and simply by visiting NTEN.org, you qualify for 25% off. Register by April 13th to attend for just $199!

"Why should I attend", you ask? Because you -- and everybody at your organization, for that matter -- can learn the latest and greatest fundraising techniques from some world-class speakers without leaving the comforts of your own office, beachhouse, or bedroom. That's right: the registration fee is for a site license, so your entire staff can attend.

You can view video from 2 of last year's sessions and learn more about the IFC online on their web site. Then, you'll probably want to:

> Register for the 2010 IFC Online at our discounted rate today!

QR Codes: My Favorite SXSWi Find

Being the nerd that I am, nothing tickles me quite like data moving around magically (unless it's a bacon chocolate bar or the sound of my kid & hubby laughing). By now, you've all heard me say that data and our ability to manage, manipulate, visualize, and generally tame it will be the greatest challenge for our sector in the coming decade.

So I was delighted to get to SXSWi and discover QR Codes.

Think of a QR Code as a bar code on steroids. The acronym stands for "Quick Response" Code and the great thing about them is that they can store almost any kind of data -- and are meant to be read by mobile phones, so no special hardware is required to use them.

Guest Post: Next Generation of Donors Meet the Next Generation of Nonprofit Leadership at NTEN

Tad Druart, Convio

Anecdotally and intuitively, you know that changing demographics and technology are driving a shift in your engagement with donors, volunteers, event participants and other people your organization relies on to fulfill your mission. That's one of the reasons you soak up all NTEN has to offer about technology and engagement. Do a Google search and you can find a great deal of research on virtually all aspects of interests, attitudes and aptitudes for Gen Y, Gen X, Boomers and the Matures.

What has been missing is information that how different generations learn about, engage with and donate to charitable organizations -- until now.