NpTech Summary: Finding Time for Emerging Technologies, Overbrook Foundation Report, and Buttbook

Here's some excellent advice that might address the feeling of perpetual anxiety that we may feel about finding the time to explore Web2.0 tools.   Finding time for emerging technology wiki has more.

NpTech Conversations: What do you think?

Here's a summary of findings from two research studies on nonprofit technology.  The first one is about Web2.0 adoption challenges and the second is about hiring IT staff for nonprofits.  What do you think?

The Overbrook Foundation released a report authored by Allison Fine. It is an assessment of the foundation's human rights grantees use of Web 2.0 tools.  The top-line finding:  "a perpetual state of anxiety" among nonprofits about Web2.0 tools.   Jon Stahl speculates why.  David Geilhufe says productize!  What do you think?  Have some thoughts you want to share?  Participate in the Net2ThinkTank.

In a soon-to-be-released report, "The Nonprofit Workforce Crisis: Real or Imagined?,"  by John Hopkins
Institute for Policy Studies, suggests that finding IT people is more difficult for nonprofits than recruiting clerical help.  The reason, says the study's author, is the "myth" of lower wages when in fact some nonprofits may pay higher wages than for-profit companies.  Hmm ... Nptechers, what do you think about the size of your paycheck?  An article summarizing the results can be found here.   

Nancy E. Schwartz, of the Getting Attention Blog, is hosting the next Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants and it's about effective use of Web video.  (Hurry deadline is tomorrow).  The Sea Change Strategies blog has a post pointing to a few excellent examples of nonprofits using web video that are being used as true marketing, communications, and fund raising channels.  And, if you want to look at a terrific example of video contest by a nonprofit, the votes are in over at the Human Society's Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign video contest.

Susie's Blog gives us the run down on some FOSS projects her organization is currently working on. For a world wide view, check out the UNDP's  Compilation of Case Studies on the Use of Free and Open Source Software for Development. 

Dreamforce - a great time and Salesforce.  What else could nonprofit salesforce geeks want?

Google acquired GrandCentral Communications and is embracing their Project CARE initiative.  More here.

Big NpTech news!  The talented Holly Ross is taking the helm of NTEN and best of luck to outgoing ED Katrin Verclas, who no doubt will find success in whatever she does.

And, on a lighter note, the "Just Write Click" blog chuckles from a recent image on the lolnptech site.

Web 2.0

The grokdotcom blog picks up the thread on the Free Ranger Rick campaign and David T. Pierpoint from the NWF invites everyone to explore the question of how nonprofits can effectively work with Facebook and be part of the political discourse by joining the Facebook group called Non-Profits on Facebook.

Girls with Macs blog writes about the challenges of managing a nonprofit's distributed community on multiple groups on Facebook.   These include the issues of branding, control, and effective use of limited resources like staff time.

There is an interesting debate taking place about Facebook between Dana Boyd and Robert Scoble about Facebook's plan to open its profiles to Google search.  Boyd outlines some fundamental concerns with Facebook and Scoble responds.    According to Boyd, nonprofits aren't the only ones being burned by Facebook, some independent artists have been too.  (hat tip to Nathan).  Doc Searls has some commentary about the Facebook/google search policy, "Why Facebook Should Be Called Buttbook"

Yahoo has launched a new tool for teaching sharing according to the SmartMobs blog and is described as a social network for teachers to collaborate on course work and store information.

A video from the Portland Web Innovator's September meeting, OpenID and Digital Identity.

Rik Riel has got the scoop - Anshe Chung has donated a second island to TechSoup's Nonprofits and Second Life Project, Nonprofit Commons.   The first contribution of free office spaces to nonprofits on the virtual world, Second Life, was snapped up in record time and there's a waiting list.  The donorpowerblog offers some advice to nonprofits about Second Life.

JournalMarketing tells us how to avoid getting Wiki-busted.    The Digital Dialogue Wiki includes an excellent collection of tools, resources, and advice on online collaboration in a web2.0 world.

Michele Martin offers some solid advice to nonprofits considering launching their first blog.

A stale state of tagging?  Thomas Vander Wal, tagging guru, thinks not, but there is a long way to go.

The saidia.org blog has posted a radio interview with Kabissa leaders by Walter Turner on the topic of Web2.0, and African Civil Society.  And if you're more of a visual person, check out the Flickr group promoting Creative Commons and sharing of images for Africa.

NpTech Tools

Here's a post from Wild Apricot describing ten tools for conducting surveys on your web site or blog.

Ever try to schedule a meeting via email?  Than you know what a hassle it is.  Check out grouploop.

MyPlick is another multi-media presentation sharing site, similar to SlideShare.

Quantcast is one of many buzz monitoring tools that bloggers and others many use to evaluate and generate traffic to their blogs.

New (to me) Blogs

Strategic Governance, Philanthropy and Planning is a new blog cover topics of interest to nonprofits.

A Life Beyond Traditional Media is Bill Snyder's new blog.

Real World Green, a smart, funny videoblog about steps you can save to reduce environmental impact.

Jocelyn Harmon from NpowerDC has just launched the Nonprofit Technology blog.

The NpTech Tag started as an experimental community tagging project in 2005. A loosely coupled group of nonprofit techies and social change activists decided to use the tag "NpTech" to identify web resources that would create an ongoing stream of information to promote and educate those working in nonprofit technology. Many individuals tag hundreds of resources each week. Through TechSoup's Netsquared project, blogger Beth Kanter, was commissioned to write a weekly summary.

Comments

[eric : realworldgreen.com]

hey thanks for the mention. you can also check out my other web video show Gardenfork, on iTunes or www.gardenfork.tv

Gardenfork, cooking, gardening, and other fun stuff.