NTEN Call for Chapter Proposals: The Tech for Good Guide
1. Introduction
Technology is changing the way the world does business. Nonprofits need to not only keep up with but lead in their creative uses of technology to accomplish their missions and make the world a better place.
Nonprofit leaders need to know how IT can help extend the reach and scope of their organizations. However, few senior leaders have a background in technology and often feel intimidated by the subject. The NTEN Tech for Good Guide is a book to be published by Wiley & Sons in early 2009 to address this need. It will demystify the use of technology in nonprofit organizations, providing its audience with clear, accessible advice, strategies, and case studies in simple, non-technical language.
The primary audiences for this book are executive directors of nonprofit organizations, executive directors in training, as well as program managers and directors at smaller and mid-sized nonprofits.
2. Recommended Topics and Themes
Original papers on all aspects of technology leadership are invited. Submissions must not duplicate work that any of the contributing authors have published elsewhere. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
- Creating the Culture: Most nonprofit leaders will tell you that money and time are the two biggest barriers to technology adoption. But all the money and time in the world won't guarantee the success of a technology initiative. In order to introduce technology in your organization successfully, you'll need to foster the right culture in your organization. We'll discuss the finer points of learning, training, and inclusiveness that can make or break any technology initiative.
- A Focus on Results: What Exactly Is the ROI for Tech Investments?: Assessing the return on investment (ROI) of technology projects is crucial to securing board support and staff buy-in. This chapter will explain how various technologies provide substantial, measurable benefits to nonprofit organizations.
- How To Decide: IT Planning and Prioritizing: This chapter will discuss best practices in planning for technology projects, including needs assessment, the importance of documenting business practices, and budgeting. Steps for effective implementation of new technologies, including staff training, will also be covered.
- Getting the Right People on the Bus: IT and Staffing: Having the right staff in place is crucial to success with technology. This chapter will discuss different specializations within technology, and how to match skills sets with organizational needs for maximum effect. It will discuss recruiting channels, salaries, and evaluating the skills of applicants in the hiring process. Supervision and professional development of IT staff will be covered. Best practices for managing all staff access to technology -- from getting new hires oriented to what to do with former staff email addresses -- will also be covered.
- Budgeting for and Funding Technology – How to Finance Your IT Infrastructure: Setting appropriate budgets and securing resources is one of the most important jobs an Executive Director has, and raising money for technology presents a special set of challenges. This chapter will examine adequate budgeting for different types of organizations and the classification of technological expenses, including what counts towards overhead versus program expenses. Strategies for pitching technology projects will be reviewed, and foundations that fund them will be explored.
- Introduction to IT and Systems: This chapter will introduce the basics of information technology and systems in nonprofits, in simple, easy to understand language. IT areas such as databases, web sites, and back-office infrastructure will be covered. This chapter will provide the reader with a basic understanding of the workings and uses of IT systems and tools in order to provide a foundation for the following chapters, which focus on specific uses of IT in nonprofits.
- The World Online: Where Your Stakeholders Are and What They Are Doing: The Internet has profoundly changed how the world does business and has many implications for nonprofit management. Before diving into the uses of the Internet for program delivery, advocacy, education, marketing and fundraising, it is important to take a look at the evolving culture and capabilities of the Web. Topics to be covered will include the emerging Web 2.0 technologies and philosophies, as well as the trend towards software as a service delivered via the web.
- From Handhelds to Geomapping: The Use of IT in Program Delivery: From bringing mobile devices into the field to empowering clients with searchable online databases of programs, IT is making it possible for nonprofits to reach more people and accomplish their missions more effectively. Strategies and case studies for the use of technology in program services will be discussed.
- Email and They Will Come? The Uses of IT in Marketing: The internet has revolutionized marketing as a field. The creation of web sites, campaigns to drive traffic to those sites, email newsletters, and blogs are just a few ways that marketing has moved online. This chapter will provide strategies, best practices, evaluation, and case studies about online marketing to familiarize readers with the breadth of possibilities and inform their decisions about allocating their marketing budget and staff time.
- Donate Now: Online Fundraising: We will outline strategies for online fundraising, including donations via an organization’s web site and charity portals. Benchmarks will be discussed to facilitate realistic goal setting, and options for outside vendors will be discussed to assist in budgeting decisions.
- The Future Is Here: How to Keep Up: Technology is a fast moving field and executive directors must keep an eye on the horizon in order to keep up. Resources, strategies, and tips for staying current with the field of nonprofit technology will be provided.
- Where Will We Be Tomorrow? The Future of IT in Nonprofits: The trends and products on the horizon will be discussed in this chapter, with an emphasis on their implications for nonprofit management.
3. Submission Procedure
We invite chapter submissions from NTEN members on or before January 24, 2008. Send a 2-3 page introduction to and outline of the proposed chapter to Holly Ross (holly@nten.org). All proposals should include:
- Introduction of Key Concepts
- Barriers and Obstacles
- Critical Success Factors
- Evaluation Guidelines (where appropriate)
- Benchmarks (where appropriate)
- Case Study
Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by February 8, 2008. Full drafts of chapters are to be submitted by March 14, 2008. All chapters will be reviewed by and subject to the edits of NTEN staff and partners. Only proposals from NTEN members will be considered.
Authors will receive a $250 stipend. This book is scheduled to be published by Jossey-Bass, an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
4. Important Dates
- Chapter proposals due: January 24, 2008
- Authors notified: February 8, 2008
- Chapter drafts due to NTEN: March 14, 2008
- Final manuscripts completed: April 1, 2008
5. Contact
Questions should be addressed to:
Holly Ross
Executive Director, NTEN
holly@nten.org
p) 415 397 9000
