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Friday Sep 29, 2006
Nonprofit 2.0
Nowadays it feels like you can’t go online without references to Web 2.0 popping up all over the place. It’s been pretty hard to miss the huge growth in sites like MySpace, Flickr and Digg and it really feels like how we use the web, and how sites interact with their users, is changing rapidly.
I was at a new media fundraising conference earlier this week and it was great to see some examples of how non-profits are using emerging web 2.0 type technologies to connect and interact with their audiences. Various different examples cropped up, from Unicef pod casts to a website redesign workshop looking examining different approaches to engage donors.
However, it does seem like here in the nonprofit world (particularly in the UK) we’re at the tip of the iceberg in terms of how we can take advantage of this new and exciting world.
Paul Lamb from CNET has some interesting ideas as to how we can apply the growth of social networking sites to society as a whole, and makes a great point about the larger social good, rather than commercial gains, driving how we connect and interact with each other.
For me, the growth in user created content, the eager uptake of social networking tools and the way technology is changing the way we live our lives represents a massive opportunity for charities to reach and interact with more people. Whether its donors, beneficiaries or other nonprofits from around the world, we should be at the forefront of these advances. Apart from the obvious issue of funding, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be – after all aren’t we all about engaging with our audiences in a meaningful way?
I think what’s needed is enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and make occasional mistakes, and an acceptance of a higher level of risk in terms of allowing the people that use your site to contribute (a lot of cash is also pretty helpful too).
So who’s out there pioneering new and emerging technology for nonprofits? I think MySociety are doing some great work here in the UK and other really interesting examples overseas include Youth Noise in the USA and The Salvation Army in Canada.
Here at YouthNet we think we’re doing a good job as well – do-it.org.uk has used technology to offer people volunteering opportunities on their doorstep and TheSite.org gives young people support and guidance on their PCs and on their mobiles, as well as peer to peer support on the discussion boards.
Has anyone else got any good examples?
Posted by Sam Thomas ( 4:29 PM ) Link to this post Comments[4]
(Sorry for the shameful self promotion) I offer training through my venture - MediaSnackers - to close the knowledge/skills gap between youth professionals/organisations and web 2.0/new technologies. There's such a wealth of free online resources/platforms which can be used to do things better, faster and more dynamically.
When are you guys going to start podcasting then?
:-)
Posted by DK on September 29, 2006 at 07:28 PM GMT+00:00 #
We've got some audio files up already - you can check them out here: http://www.thesite.org/multimedia.
I'm liking the new site btw - hope it's all going well!
Posted by Sam Thomas on October 01, 2006 at 06:06 PM GMT+00:00 #
Posted by Henry Kruz ( on August 22, 2007 at 07:23 AM GMT+00:00 #
Posted by Mobile phones on August 22, 2007 at 07:27 AM GMT+00:00 #