What is the NPTech Pipe?
The NPTech Pipe is an experiment in nonprofit content and knowledge aggregation. With the amount of content out there on any given topic, it can be overwhelming if not impossible to find relevant and useful information through traditional searches and online research, such as Google, Yahoo an MSN. While many of us use feed readers such as Google Reader and NetNewsWire to aggregate and read online content, not everyone has the time or interest to wade through thousands of postings to find that one needed nugget of information.

Part vertical search engine, part community feed aggregator and browser, the NPTech Pipe is a tool that aggregates and filters content from scores of websites, blogs, tagging tools and newsfeeds to provide users with the most highly relevant nonprofit technology information.

From information on data management systems to how widgets are being used on websites to raise money, the NPTech Pipe brings the best of the nptech sphere together and provides users a clear context and flexible and dynamic ways in which to engage that content. The NPTech Pipe creates a single focused content stream for nonprofit staff and technology providers to search and efficiently find technology-specific content relevant to the nonprofit sector.

Why did NTEN create this?
Read Sonny's blog post on why NTEN created the NPTech Pipe.

How does it work?
We are using four tools to create the NPTech Pipe:

1. We aggregate all RSS feeds through Newsgator Online. Like many RSS aggregators, Newsgator is a easy way to manage hundreds of feeds, but more importantly it creates a dynamic OPML file (a importable listing of all our RSS feeds). (The Full Pipe)

1. We take that OPML file and put it into MySyndicaat, a powerful RSS/OPML merging, filtering and digesting tool. In MySynidcaat, a team of community editors select the content to add to the filtered pipe. (The Filtered Pipe)

1. The RSS output from both the full pipe and filtered pipe are fed through Feedburner to track subscriptions.

1. Lastly we use an embedded RSS browser called Grazr to create a search and subscription user interface.

What's the difference between the Full Pipe and the Filtered Pipe?
The two "Pipes" derive from the same sources. The Full Pipe contains all postings from all sources in our aggregated feeds. The Filtered Pipe is a collection of posts from the full pipe selected based on being the most relevant to staff and technology providers in the field. A group of volunteer community editors manages the Filtered Pipe. The editorial group is still being put together.

Doesn't this make the Filtered Pipe highly subjective based on the editors' priorities?

Well, yes and no. Our volunteers have been working in the field for many years as well as been blogging about it. It is our hope that through their collaborative efforts that the proverbial cream will always rise to the top. Currently, the community editors are: TBD.

What if I'm not seeing something that I think should be in the Filtered Pipe?

Please tell us. Use the the Suggest a Site/Feed Form with a link to the article/posting and why you think it should be in the pipe.

How to I submit or suggest a site/blog/feed for the NPTech Pipe?
Again, please use the Suggest a Site/Feed Form.