9 questions to ask before starting a nonprofit technology project

Whether you’re a tech professional who wants to lend your time to a good cause, or an NGO that needs a new web site, your online efforts can benefit not just one organization, but many organizations facing similar challenges and opportunities. These 9 questions will ensure your nonprofit project has the maximum impact.

Social media and the health sector: an introduction with case studies

Social capital, understood as the density of relationships and trust within a community, is a key determinant of health. Individuals are happier and healthier in communities with high levels of social capital, and high social capital communities have stronger economies and more stable political systems. This post provides an introduction to the role of social media in building social capital, illustrated with examples of how health care organizations are using social media for storytelling, connecting and knowledge management.

Engagement planning worksheets to engage your users and move them to action

It’s often hard for nonprofits to figure out how they can engage people effectively online. It’s hard enough to get visitors to your site or social media presence, let alone drive them effectively towards action. This post gives you two tools that can help: a user profile worksheet, and an engagement planning worksheet.

6 best practices for non-profits using web 2.0

“Which nonprofits are using Web 2.0 technology in an innovative way to listen and talk with their clients and constituents and further their missions?” I answer this question with 6 best practices we’ve observed among our clients and colleagues.

Choosing a platform for the telecentre.org network

When we recommended Drupal as the platform for telecentre.org back in 2005, we anticipated the emergence of what is now one of the most widely-used tools for nonprofit technologists. The process we used to evaluate platforms, and the questions we asked, are the same questions you should be asking about your software choices today.