Nonprofit Literature Blog

Software and Technology for Nonprofits

For over six years Idealware has published its Field Guide to Software for Nonprofits, which is based on feedback from actual nonprofit staff members on their favorite software and the input of Idealware's experts. The 2012 edition looks at emerging tools and technologies in a wide range of areas including office productivity, collaboration, donor management, outreach, and fundraising. In this post I'll highlight a few of the newer entries in social media and finance/accounting, and point to other sources of information about software.

Three of the newest entries cover the topics of Social Media Measurement, Google+, and QR Codes, with each explaining how they can be used by nonprofits to further their missions. Perhaps of most interest to nonprofits today is the section on measuring social media efforts on Facebook and Twitter. The Field Guide provides a nice amount of tools you can use for this purpose. Facebook Insights is a reasonably powerful tool available to any organization that has at least 30 fans; and platforms like Hoot Suite and CoTweet provide basic metrics for Twitter.  Other measurement tools mentioned include Klout, which measures your Twitter influence; Booshaka, which measures Facebook interactions; and AllFacebookStats.com which collects general Facebook page data and calculates change rates and other complicated statistics.

What about Google+? The authors state that while this new social media offering launched about a year ago has generated a lot of buzz and is growing quickly, its potential to nonprofits is still unclear. One reason is that initial user registration was by invite only, resulting in a general user base that is spotty. Right now niche groups like early adopters, techies, and photographers are more entrenched and it remains to be seen how the community will grow.

Another new section covers QR Codes. These are square bar codes that can be scanned with smart phones, directing the user to a particular web address. Some nonprofits are using these codes on print newsletters to encourage users to sign up for eNewsletters instead; others are using them in direct mail pieces to provide easy access to online donation sites. One advantage of these codes is that they cost nothing to produce (a simple Google search will result in numerous free QR code generation sites), though the authors warn us that this technology is not yet mainstream and only speaks to smartphone users at the moment.

The Field Guide also discusses financial software applications for accounting and credit card processing.  Some accounting systems for smaller nonprofits include QuickBooks and Fund E-Z. For in-depth coverage of accounting systems, however, you should also be aware of the Nonprofit Times'  Accounting Software Annual Report which goes into more detail and provides contact information for vendors. Credit card payment processors include Click & Pledge, Greater Giving and GiftTool, which are fee-based but allow you to process payments online. The guide also indicates that many mid-tier and advanced donor management packages (e.g. Donor Perfect, eTapestry, and Raiser's Edge) process donations and other payments directly from that software.

Finally, while Idealware is one of the best sources for information on software for nonprofits, they are not the only one. TechSoup provides free information, resources, and discounted software; NTEN is a membership organization of nonprofit technology professionals that facilitates the exchange of tech information through its annual conference, journal, and blog. More sources of technology advice and software reviews can be found in the GrantSpace article "Where can I find reviews and resources for fundraising and other nonprofit software?"

The Idealware Field Guide to Software for Nonprofits can be found under call number 675 IDE in all Foundation Center Libraries.

--Rob Bruno
Catalog/Reference Librarian
The Foundation Center--NY

Shifting and Resetting in Today's Connected World

It seems like every week there is another book or article about social media and technology for nonprofits, with many of them falling into the "how to" category, or focusing on one particular application (like Twitter). However, if you want to step back and see the big picture Brian Reich’s Shift & Reset: Strategies for Addressing Serious Issues in a Connected Society (Wiley, 2011) is worth a look. Reich waxes philosophical about how today’s hyperconnected society is affecting the way we behave and relate to each other, and how social media and other technologies are changing old paradigms of business and productivity.

Throughout the book, Reich offers principles, solutions, and must-read resources on how we can "shift and reset" our attitudes toward education, language, and mobilization efforts, as well as improve our overall game plan in supporting social issues important to us.

In the chapter "Shift Your Education" he cites a Sesame Street experiment that used cell phones to educate children; one reason Sesame Street has maintained its success is that it has kept a disciplined approach to childhood education in the face of significant changes in technology, occupying a state of perpetual "beta" in which they are always willing to experiment with new developments.  Reich also talks about Zappos (in "Shift Your Language") an online shoe/clothing retailer which is highly regarded because of its excellent customer service and relationships. The company has figured out what people expect and what they respond to, leading to a successful business strategy that focuses on the culture (i.e. language) of buying shoes and building loyalty rather than on blind metrics or efficiency standards.   

Reich also describes what the nonprofit sector should stop doing, namely the same old stale and “correct” things. He feels it would be wise if the sector stop creating new organizations and instead find groups that are operating successfully and help them instead; stop (over) using social media, since it alone is not enough for engagement and mobilization; and ignore those case studies, because by and large the success stories they convey aren’t transferable.

Many of the book's ideas and stories are designed to get you out of your comfort zone, which is often the best way to see new solutions. Shift & Reset is available at the Foundation Center’s New York, DC, San Francisco and Atlanta libraries under call no 676 REI.  

Rob Bruno
Catalog/Reference Librarian
The Foundation Center--New York

Here is a Google Books preview:

Arts Marketing in the 21st Century

In honor of Funding for Arts Month at the Foundation Center, I’m going to take a quick look at Eugene Carr and Michelle Paul's Breaking the Fifth Wall: Rethinking Arts Marketing for the 21^st Century (Patron Technology, 2011).  Carr has written extensively on the influence of technology on the arts (Wired for Culture, Sign-Up for Culture, and Web Sites for Culture) but this latest work is based on the premise that the arts now require an entirely new approach to audience development.

Carr argues that Internet technologies (especially social media sites) enable arts organizations to break through the “fifth wall” that “separates the cultural experience from the ongoing life of the audience member” (the “fourth wall” refers to the imaginary separation between stage action and the audience).  He calls it “patron relationship building.” In chapter one, he states that the hands-down winner for driving people to attend and participate in the all things culture has always been—and will continue to be—word of mouth. Social media is simply "word of mouth on steroids."  This idea introduces the book's main theme: how to use technology to amplify marketing efforts.

Arts Marketing explores a wide range of topics. Chapters discuss the online arts patron (who is she? what does she do?), e-mail marketing (the bedrock of digital marketing), web sites, what makes social media work in the arts, Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM) and how cloud computing makes them easily available and affordable. It concludes with predictions about the future of the field.

In the chapter “Social Media Success” Michelle Paul covers the basics of using Facebook and Twitter in an organized, coordinated way.  Some of her tips include not thinking like a marketer when using Facebook: since it was intended for one-on-one interactions, she recommends focusing on creating conversations and not just announcing deals/events.  For those with limited resources and time, “Social Media on a Tight Schedule” offers the bare minimum of what you should be doing on Facebook and Twitter. She also provides suggestions on what data to track to gauge your audience’s interest level and engagement, as well as to find out how far your reach is beyond social media.

Chapter 12, "The CRM Advantage," departs from social media to talk about back-office technology.  It starts by making the claim that "the adoption of Customer Relationship Management systems will create a revolutionary change for the arts and culture world."  How?  By consolidating all transactional and administrative functions onto one system.  Carr argues that while stand-alone systems (ticketing, fundraising, membership, etc.) may be efficient, they do nothing to optimize communication with a patron, since their information is scattered over many different computers. CRM allows you to aggregate data, which is remarkably helpful on fundraising appeals, renewal campaigns, and strategic planning.  Another added benefit is that CRMs are available via the "cloud" so a smaller organization does not need to maintain a server or worry about backups.

Carr ends with an overview of emerging technologies, and how they may influence the work of arts organizations. He talks about mobile phones, live streaming and broadcasting, geolocation, stored-value tickets (perhaps smart-card technology will replace the traditional ticket?) and open platforms such as the one used in Salesforce, a more popular CRM.

If you’re charged with bringing your arts organization up to speed on social media and with technology in general, Breaking the Fifth Wall is a good start.  Find it in our New York,  DC,  San Francisco and  Atlanta libraries under call number 680 CAR BRE.

 

Rob Bruno
Catalog/Reference Librarian
The Foundation Center--New York

NTEN Change: A Quarterly Journal for Nonprofit Leaders

The Nonprofit Technology Network recently introduced NTEN Change, a quarterly e-journal for nonprofit leaders.  In the premier March 2011 issue, publication director Annaliese Hoehling wrote that NTEN Change will include “case studies, in-depth articles on technology changes and best practices, practical tips for applying tools and strategies, leader profiles and interviews, and community feedback and Q&A—all from and for nonprofit leaders.”

Support from Google has enabled NTEN to provide free access to readers in a variety of electronic formats: you can download the journal as a PDF, view it online, or access it from your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone. 

In the March 2011 issue, the tech-savvy authors covered a variety of topics, including software tools for board collaboration and what to do if you’re hacked and become an accidental spammer.  They also provided technology predictions and insights for 2011 and reviewed a recent study of online giving patterns, complete with their own recommendations based on the report’s findings.

The June 2011 issue continues the trend, looking at how Facebook can be used to recruit volunteers, and describing how to get started creating online videos to promote your cause.  It also provides case studies to back up the features:  for Facebook recruiting, the social networking efforts of the New York City Anti-Violence Project are examined.  For online video, they look at how the Downtown Streets Team in Palo Alto, CA produced a series of 1-2 documentary style videos to make their case for addressing homelessness.

Both issues feature lively infographics, comic strips, and embedded hyperlinks to additional online resources. To register for access, visit the NTEN Change subscription page.

 

Robert Bruno

Catalog/Reference Librarian, The Foundation Center

Innovation in Nonprofit Organizations

David Neff and Randal Moss, two experts in the fields of social and digital media, have teamed up to write The Future of Nonprofits: Innovate and Thrive in the Digital Age (Wiley, 2011).

The book provides definitions and strategies of innovation, explains innovation’s “three pillars” and looks to the future of fundraising and communications in the nonprofit sector.

Before undergoing organizational change, it’s important to determine if your organizational structure is ready to innovate; in chapter 6, the authors state that a nonprofit is ready if it’s open to experimentation, encourages and supports staff in investigating new uses of technology, has a consistent and systematic way to evaluate any new ideas, and possesses the ability to reward initiative and creative thinking.

In the chapter “Starting Your Innovation Projects”  Neff and Moss recommend initiating a Skunkworks effort (an internal group given a range of freedom not given to the rest of the organization) and give pointers on igniting and staffing the project.  They also provide a list of specific things to do and goals to strive for, such as enforcing a balance between time used for innovation and for other tasks (Google’s famous “20 percent time”) as well as rewarding all idea growth and rigorously testing the best ideas.

Neff and Moss also peer into their crystal ball with the chapter “Five Major Changes in the Next Five Years” which provides a big picture of the future of nonprofit fundraising in the context of digital innovations.  One area examined is online donations. Today, many nonprofit donation forms take forever to download and require tons of fields to be completed.  Reacting to this, the authors suggest a “Wet Nap” interface approach (no instructions, you just open and use it) through the wide scale adoption of the "payment phrase", basically a shortcut donors can use to store personal information, currency and payment types. This digital signature can then be referred to in all future online donations, bypassing the cumbersome forms.

The book is also chock full of interviews of nonprofit leaders that have initiated or launched innovative projects from organizations like Meals on Wheels and More (Austin, TX), Capital Area Food Bank (Washington, DC) and the Nonprofit Technology Education Network (Portland, OR).

The Future of Nonprofits is well worth the read if you feel your organization is ready to innovate but you’re not sure where to start.  It’s available in the NY, DC, and SF libraries under call number 600 NEF.

 

Robert Bruno

Catalog/Reference Librarian, The Foundation Center

Here is a Google Books preview:

Online Activism and Philanthropy

If you are searching for examples and stories of how the Internet can be used to promote social change, journalist Tom Watson’s new book, CauseWired, may be a good starting point. Watson documents the online support and response in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the rapid growth of the Causes application on Facebook, the rising popularity of peer-to-peer philanthropy (such as DonorsChoose and Kiva), and other case studies. Watson also discusses organized political activism, as well as “flash causes” that occur suddenly online.

-Jimmy Tom

Online Communications: How does your nonprofit organization measure up?

Is your nonprofit’s online communications strategy meeting expectations? Perhaps you might want to compare your results with data from other groups by examining the 2008 eNonprofit Benchmarks Study: An Analysis of Online Messaging, Fundraising and Advocacy Metrics for Nonprofit Organizations. Findings are based on an assessment of 21 national organizations by NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network and M+R Strategic Services. You will learn from the report that the average open rate for e-newsletter messages in 2007 was about 17.6% percent. The percentage of people who then clicked on a link within a newsletter was 3.6%. The average online gift amount was $87.

The full report is available at the eNonprofit Benchmarks Study web site.