power Steering: Technology
June 2008
- An Interview with Gary Chapman
- Determining Your Needs before Acquiring a Database
- Nonprofit Blogs: Getting Started
- Shut Up and Join the Conversation
- Nonprofit of the Month: Planet Cancer
An Interview with Gary Chapman
By Kimberly Caldwell, Greenlights
The video interview you’re about to watch represents an interesting confluence of events. Back in January, I decided to write an article on the different generations in the work place for this month’s PowerSteering. When it came time to work on the article, Anne Rickard, my partner in crime on this endeavor, told me this was a technology-themed issue. It immediately became clear what we needed to do: Put together an online video of an interview with Gary Chapman! Gary is the Director of the 21st Century Project at the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs and a faculty member at the LBJ School. He talks and writes about technology and its role in how the generations work together, and the use of a new medium of technology for our e-newsletter seemed like icing on the cake.
After some interesting learning on the job as we tried to put together this first-ever videotaped interview, we captured forty-five minutes of really interesting conversation with Gary Chapman. Forty-five minutes of insight and ideas about engaging the generations and how to effectively communicate with diverse populations using technology … we taped all that.
The last words Gary says on the tape are “good luck.” He was referring to the process of editing the conversation down to our initial goal of 5 – 7 minutes. Of course, those words got cut, as did most of the words, and a lot of the awkward close-ins that Anne did on my face, probably for the best.
But not to worry – you can see more of Gary Chapman when he presents at this year’s Crossroads Conference. Registration is open now, and Gary and I would both love to see you there!
Without commercial interruption (hooray for Greenlights!), we submit to you a brief and scintillating conversation with Gary Chapman.
Determining Your Needs before Acquiring a Database
By Jason Schmittler, eTapestry
There are untold numbers of technology companies marketing products to nonprofits these days. The June issue of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Advancing Philanthropy has a section on fundraising technology providing a side-by-side comparison of fifty-one tech companies listing ninety-three products. Most executive directors and development directors identify with the need for a practical and functional means of tracking constituent data, but the difficult task is deciding which kind of service will best suit the organization. I have the distinct pleasure of speaking at the June 26th Greenlights Lunch & Learn on how nonprofits can leverage fundraising technology during tough economic times. There will be no leveraging, however, if an organization is not in possession of the appropriate technology. Outlined below are what I deem as key practices every nonprofit should consider before making the decision to acquire fundraising technology.
Think Cost, Not Price. It might be surprising to know the number of organizations who make a decision solely based upon price (this is why it’s not always the best idea to task the search to the CFO). Price is important, but it is not a true determination of need. Shoppers should also consider “cost” when reviewing “price.” The real cost of programming something in certain systems, for example, may be hundreds of hours costing the organization tens of thousands of dollars. That stated, a cheaper solution is not necessarily the worst option while conversely, a more expensive solution does not automatically indicate a better product.
Know Your Resources.
Time
- How much time is available to implement, develop, maintain, and manage a new system?
Technology
- What level of technology is already in place and will it need to be replaced before acquisition?
- Will the purchase be primarily software or is a large part of the investment hardware related?
Staff
- Will staff be able to manage the system?
- Will certain staff be designated to operate the system?
- What type of training and support might be needed?
Budget
- Are expectations realistic (either expecting to spend too much or deciding to spend too little)?
- How much is acquiring a new system worth to the organization?
- Can hard-dollar justification be determined?
Analyze Organizational Context.
What kinds of things are happening that should not be happening?
- Is it difficult to search for data?
- Is date being entered multiple times?
- Is it difficult to aggregate data quickly?
- Are past donors losing interest?
- How quickly are gifts being addressed?
What kinds of things are not happening that should be happening?
- Is it apparent who is connected with whom within the database?
- Should the database integrate with your website?
- Are processes streamlined?
- Are routine tasks being automated?
- How easy is it to produce historical analysis?
- Are all contacts recorded and accessible?
An organization should have a firm grasp on all of this information well before the search for a database begins. Bring questions, the determined answers, and all other discovered issues to the salesperson. A good salesperson should help to identify needs, not dictate them, and the same goes for a database. Be prepared.
Prospect Tracking: A Cautionary Tale. A good database should allow for quick and easy access to all contact information. The ability to quickly access communications is a key function in maintaining or further cultivating individual relationships. A good friend of mine, who is the CEO of a local company, was approached a number of years ago by his alma mater as a major gift prospect. My friend shared his hopes, dreams, and vision for the institution during a lunch meeting with the development officer. A year later, my friend was approached, again, by a new development officer and the scene was repeated. When approached a third time by a third person, my friend declined his gift; a gift that would have easily paid for a system ten times over enabling that university to better organize its relationships with constituents.
Look to the Future. Finally, the quest is to satisfy needs and not to simply acquire features. There is a need, however, to envision future needs and growth. Look for options that allow for adding and subtracting the features that suit needs specific to the organization. An organization should seek a product with the capability to grow as it grows and with the capability to customize as it changes. There is an unwritten rule with regard to databases called the eighty/twenty rule that states: Eighty percent of an organization’s activity is generally accomplished with twenty percent of a typical database’s features. With that said, it is important to have a firm grasp on what the organization truly needs.
Acquiring the appropriate database gives you more time to do what no form of technology will ever be able to do – cultivate individual relationships. And that is where the money is.
Jason Schmittler will lead Greenlights' June 26th Lunch & Learn: Weathering a Tough Economy by Leveraging your Fundraising Technology.
Nonprofit Blogs: Getting Started
By Anne Rickard, Greenlights
We couldn’t send out this techno-centric Power Steering without mentioning one of the simplest ways nonprofits can use technology to get the word out about their mission and work: blogging. If you’re like me, you may find that there are just so many blogs and ideas about blogs out there it’s intimidating to jump right in. Blogging is a fine idea in theory, but how do you get started? The best approach may be to get your feet wet first – find a couple of blogs that interest you and take it from there. Eventually, you can reach the point where you’re ready to start one for yourself and start virtually tooting your nonprofit’s horn.
With that in mind, here are a few nonprofit-focused blogs (in no particular order) to dip your toes in:
- NTEN Connect Blog – A blog from the Nonprofit Technology Network, a group of technology professionals who help nonprofits use technology more effectively to meet community needs and fulfill their missions.
- Rosetta Thurman’s Perspectives from the Pipeline – An emerging nonprofit leader blogs about her observations of the nonprofit sector, offering career advice, management resources, and new ideas to inspire others.
- Just Cause blog – A social networking site for people who want to make a difference. They post individual blogs from both the editors and their members.
- Donor Power Blog – A blog for fundraising professionals about how to more effectively raise money from donors.
- Wild Apricot technology blog – A blog on how to use web technology and social media to help your nonprofit achieve more with less. This blog is directed at all individuals involved with or interested in nonprofits, not just the tech-savvy.
- Community Engagement Blog – A local blog by United Way Capital Area and Hands on Central Texas addressing community issues.
And if none of these have caught your eye, try the Nonprofit Blog Exchange, a blog on blogging. It provides links to other blogs and articles of all different topics, all nonprofit-related, of course.
Shut Up and Join the Conversation
By David Neff, American Cancer Society
I would like to share three technology platforms and three tips with the readers of this eNewsletter. The main thing driving all three technologies is that you should “shut up and join the conversation.” By this I mean one simple key point: don’t preach to the choir; instead, join the conversation your supporters are already having about you.
The people who care about your organization are already out there. They are no longer hiding under rocks and in caves, and you no longer need to buy a $5,000 email list to reach them. All you need is Google. And once you find them, all you need to do is listen and when the time comes simply join the conversation. So often we think as nonprofits we need to own the message. What we need to do in this modern environment is know our subject matter so we can intelligently tell our story. But the minute we try and own the story it will slip away from us.
So let’s talk about three ways technology can help us to join the conversation.
1) Blogs. This is the simplest way to join the conversation. Get on Google blog search. Yes it’s in Beta. Yes it’s buggy. But try it out. Find three blogs talking about your nonprofit or your subject matter. Read them for a week. Then sign up for an account. Then leave some comments and identify who you are. Want to go a step further? Email the Blogger and open up a line of conversation with them. Send them links they would think are interesting. Then when your next event happens send it their way and see what they think. Join the conversation.
2) Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook already, create an account. Play around with it. Change your photo around. Add an application or two. Add some people you know. Now search around for groups of people talking about your nonprofit or subject matter. Now go join those groups and read what they are posting about. See what events they think are important (sometimes you will find they are re-posting your official events on Facebook). And once again introduce yourself to the community. Email the group admin and offer your assistance. Anything you can do to join the conversation
3) Twitter. If you’re not on Twitter already, go create an account. Upload a photo of you and your dog as your profile picture (all the good nonprofit people own dogs). Now once again turn to the search bar or one of the many searching applications for Twitter and seek out people talking about your nonprofit or cause. Follow those people. Check out their updates on the Web or on your phone if you really like them. Start small on your own updates. Once again introduce who you really are. Post some links you like. Tell us a funny story that happened while you were helping a volunteer or do what I am known for, which is posting the nonprofit rockstar link of the day. This basically points to nonprofit rockstars doing good work. After awhile you will start to own the space for your particular cause and you can join the conversation that way.
So let me leave you with these tips no matter the tech: experiment, don’t preach to the choir, and join the conversation.
Nonprofit of the Month: Planet Cancer
This month, Greenlights highlights a nonprofit that has been using technology to provide its services from its start. Planet Cancer began in 2000 as an online community for young adults with cancer – a place they could talk, ask questions, and find peer support. All along it made sense that their programs should center around the Internet, because that’s where their clients hung out, both physically and psychologically. Those clients are young adults, aged 18-40 (although all ages are welcome at Planet Cancer), who are placed in the particularly difficult position of being both diagnosed with cancer and falling into an age group that is much smaller and more physically scattered from each other than other cancer patients. When we think of someone being diagnosed with cancer, for example, we might imagine a young child battling leukemia, an older person in their 60s and 70s, or perhaps a woman in her 50s fighting breast cancer. We almost never think of someone in his 20s or 30s – those are supposed to be the healthiest years of our lives. Planet Cancer recognizes that young adults with cancer often feel isolated, walking into support groups where their “peers” are decades older and don’t have the same questions, issues, and fears to deal with.
This innovative nonprofit has found a way to connect hundreds of individuals in a way that fits with their lifestyle. People who fall in this age range are used to immediate results, thanks to the Internet and other technologies, and want to get support when they want and need it, not at a specific previously agreed-upon time (such as a Thursday night support group). Planet Cancer gives them that flexibility and immediate support. With users all over the country and the world, on any given day at any given time, people can get on the website and find others who are experiencing what they’re experiencing and feeling what they’re feeling, whether its anger, hope, frustration, or just plain silliness. The internet also provides them anonymity and the ability to ask questions they couldn’t otherwise ask or that doctors might write off as unimportant or vain.
Planet Cancer started as a simple online forum, where people could post and respond to questions. The nonprofit now runs three main programs: their website, face-to-face retreats, and advocacy. The first-of-their-kind retreats take place across the country for 18-25 year olds, 25-40 year olds, and even young couples facing cancer. Planet Cancer also advocates for its clients by talking to healthcare professionals about early diagnosis, the lack of clinical research, and the unique physical and psychological needs of young adults.
As for the website, which started it all – it has continued to expand and evolve to fit the needs of Planet Cancer’s clients. The website originally had a core group of frequent users, but most people came and went. In 2002, they launched message boards, and then this past March launched a new social networking platform to include many of the applications and features you would expect on MySpace or Facebook. Planet Cancer is now fully equipped with groups, blogs, photo albums, videos, and many more options for people to interact and engage with each other. Users can join different groups based on their location, their type of cancer, and many other categories, or form their own group, such as one for “people who couldn’t have gotten through this without their pets.” Since the new platform was launched, nearly 1,400 members have joined, using it and spending much more time on the site than before.
From the newly diagnosed to the cancer free to their friends and families, there is a place for everyone at Planet Cancer. Greenlights is pleased to highlight them as June’s Nonprofit of the Month.
To learn more or to join the Planet Cancer community, visit www.planetcancer.org.