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Technology
7 Dos And Don’ts For Nonprofit Technology
Apr 16th
Nonprofits have embraced technology, but that doesn't mean they have all done so with open arms. It's this factor that will determine whether or not your organization will have success with the various new devices and software available.
Holly Ross, former executive director of the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) in Portland, Ore., and now head of the Drupal Association, set out a list of Dos and Don’ts to make dealing with technology much easier:
Do:
Holly Ross, former executive director of the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) in Portland, Ore., and now head of the Drupal Association, set out a list of Dos and Don’ts to make dealing with technology much easier:
Do:
- Let mission and strategy be the guides when making technology decisions.
- Establish strong systems. Staff can’t get mission-critical work done if they have to reboot the system every half-hour.
- Plan. A crystal ball isn’t necessary to plan for technology needs.
- Evaluate continuously. Learning from experience isn’t possible without stopping to reflect from time to time.
Don't:
- Make technology decisions based solely on cost. It is only one factor in determining the value and expense of technology.
- Forget to include staff in technology decisions. Allies will be needed while new systems are being implemented.
- Select mission-critical software such as a donor database without first documenting key business processes.
Google To Add Nonprofits To Knowledge Bar
Apr 11th
Last year, Google rolled out its "Knowledge Bar," a section on the right-hand side of your search results that contains information about the person, place, or company for which you searched. Nonprofits were not included in the Knowledge Bar at the time, but that all changed this week.
The search engine giant announced Tuesday that nonprofits would begin to be included in the Knowledge Bar. While the feature is still in its roll-out phase, many of the larger organizations already have their information online. For example, a search for the Livestrong Foundation will provide the following information:
The search engine giant announced Tuesday that nonprofits would begin to be included in the Knowledge Bar. While the feature is still in its roll-out phase, many of the larger organizations already have their information online. For example, a search for the Livestrong Foundation will provide the following information:
- A short blurb of the nonprofit's history via Wikipedia.
- The founder of the organization.
- The founding date.
- Tax deductibility code.
- The latest post from their Google+ page (if applicable).
- Similar organizations.
The most significant thing about the Knowledge Bar is that it has the potential to increase the number of followers for a nonprofit's Google+ page. Facebook remains a giant in the social networking field, but this change could bring more nonprofits to Google+ since they will know that people searching for them will see their posts.
What do you think about this announcement? Do you think it will make a difference for organizations in the long haul, or will it just be a cosmetic change?
The Problem With Personal Devices
Feb 7th
The proliferation of easily portable communication devices has changed the working landscape dramatically, but not all changes have been for the good.
Speaking during the 2012 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits, Cecil Lynn of Littler, Phoenix outlined some of the problems employers have encountered by providing employees with personal devices at work or allowing employees to use their own devices on company business. This practice is referred to as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).
Lynn said that although cost saving is the major motivation for BYOD, some employers have found that it has increased their costs rather than lowering them. There are also problems with employment law and organizational security.
He offered the following recommendations for BYOD that can help avoid problems or lessen their consequences:
- Decide whether all employees should be permitted to participate in a BYOD program or whether certain groups should be excluded;
- Install mobile device management software on dual-use devices;
- Require employees to consent to the company’s access to their data on the device;
- Modify or create employee agreements;
- Restrict employees from using cloud-based apps or cloud-based backup or synchronizing with home PCs for work-related data;
- Ensure that use complies with wage-and-hour obligations by prohibiting off-the-clock work and ensuring pay for all hours worked;
- No use by friends or family members;
- Training; and,
- Revise exit interview processes.
7 Ideas For Website Content
Jan 22nd
One of the age old battles of the Internet is whether a website with bad design but great content is better than one with amazing design but weak content. This battle is still raging on with no clear end in sight, but one thing is clear: You do need some content on your page to remain relevant.
The textbook definition of a great website is one that the user wants to come back to every day. For that to happen, the site has to have constantly updated content, and not just anything will do the trick. As Robbin Zeff explained in “The Nonprofit Guide to the Internet,” your content needs to be interesting, relevant and, most importantly, new.
There are many different forms of content, and it’s up to you and your webmaster to determine what needs to be on your site. Zeff suggested starting off with the following 7 ideas:
The textbook definition of a great website is one that the user wants to come back to every day. For that to happen, the site has to have constantly updated content, and not just anything will do the trick. As Robbin Zeff explained in “The Nonprofit Guide to the Internet,” your content needs to be interesting, relevant and, most importantly, new.
There are many different forms of content, and it’s up to you and your webmaster to determine what needs to be on your site. Zeff suggested starting off with the following 7 ideas:
- Identity: Who you are – your mission statement, a listing or profiles of staff;
- Programs and Services: What you do – your programs, projects, meetings, seminars, conferences, etc.;
- Contact Information: How you can be reached – address, e-mail, telephone numbers, office, hours, etc. If you have chapters or member organizations, list how they can be reached;
- Available Resources: What material you have for free or for sale – newsletters, magazines, publications, t-shirts, posters, etc.;
- Current activities: What information you want to highlight – press releases, news reports, etc.;
- Links to related sites; and,
- Help requests: What your needs are – donations of time, information, or money.
5 Best Practices For Selecting Software
Dec 10th
The trends are always changing in the world of technology. Who would have thought just a few years ago that tablets would become more desirable than laptops? Yet that's exactly what has happened, with major developers like Microsoft developing innovations meant for that device.
Most nonprofit managers would love to bring the latest "must-have" software to their organizations, but that's simply an unrealistic proposition. To be successful in today's rapidly changing world, it is imperative to decide which technologies best fit your organization.
In "Nonprofit Management 101," Holly Ross, executive director of Portland, Ore.-based Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), wrote that the key to selecting new software is understanding and documenting your needs. This would seem to indicate a length process, but it can actually be done by following five best practices:
Most nonprofit managers would love to bring the latest "must-have" software to their organizations, but that's simply an unrealistic proposition. To be successful in today's rapidly changing world, it is imperative to decide which technologies best fit your organization.
In "Nonprofit Management 101," Holly Ross, executive director of Portland, Ore.-based Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), wrote that the key to selecting new software is understanding and documenting your needs. This would seem to indicate a length process, but it can actually be done by following five best practices:
- Identify your top needs. If you are looking for graphics software, for example, will you be making graphics primarily for the Web or for print?
- Can your existing software already do it? Before you head out into the software selection process, be sure to evaluate existing software to see if it can get the job done.
- Find out what your peers are using. Referrals can be the best way to find the right piece of software for your organization.
- Identify some scenarios and test. Most software packages and vendors allow you access to a demo or trial version.
- Decide whether this software will meet your needs. You should look for software that will best meet your critical needs.
5 Suggestions For A Modest Website Redesign
Oct 18th
When you hear the words "website redesign," images of major overhauls and hours upon hours of work come to mind. This is often the case for sites that have serious problems but, thankfully, that doesn't necessarily describe your nonprofit's webpage.
This was exactly the point that Jono Young and Rahell Guba of Blackbaud made during their session, "Better Nonprofit Websites: 52 Tweaks in 52 Weeks," during the 2012 Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) in San Francisco. As the title of the session suggests, Young and Guba offered 52 tweaks that nonprofits can make to their websites without having to commit major resources.
Here are five of those suggestions that you can use immediately that will make a world of difference when it comes to your website design:
This was exactly the point that Jono Young and Rahell Guba of Blackbaud made during their session, "Better Nonprofit Websites: 52 Tweaks in 52 Weeks," during the 2012 Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) in San Francisco. As the title of the session suggests, Young and Guba offered 52 tweaks that nonprofits can make to their websites without having to commit major resources.
Here are five of those suggestions that you can use immediately that will make a world of difference when it comes to your website design:
- Use fifth grade language: Clean, simple, understandable external language. Making it relatable is better than making it likable.
- I don’t just want your money: Provide alternate ways to support in addition to donations, such as social media, email, word of mouth, blog about us, templated messages.
- Pictures speak louder: Visualize your achievements, goals, mission, appeals and campaigns. Use an infographic approach and make content digestible.
- Content approval workflows: Have a second, or third or fourth, set of eyes review your content before it goes public.
- Social your confirmation pages: These are your top supporters – help them brag about what they just did and market your organization for you.
Is Your Nonprofit’s Data Safe?
Oct 17th
Chances are your nonprofit's database has a plethora of files containing sensitive donor information. With hackers constantly in the headlines, it's important that you keep your data secure.
There is no foolproof way to completely secure your files from hackers, but there are ways to significantly reduce the risk of data breach. Jon Biedermann, vice president of Softerware Inc., recommended five practices that can be used when information is stored on an organization's own computers or with a hosted backup provider.
The five practices are:
The five practices are:
- Backup, backup, backup. The greatest risk is not because of hackers; it’s data loss from computer failure, fire or other accident. Complete backups should be performed every day.
- User ID and password security. Some of the most stringent requirements are used by the healthcare industry under the Health Information and Patient Privacy Act (HIPPA). Included in this act: passwords are at least seven characters, with a nonalphabetical character; passwords are not displayed on screen; passwords should expire and be changed every 60 days; no more than three unsuccessful log-in attempts; access to data should be limited to certain subsets.
- Audit trails. A database system should be able to provide a security audit trail of user login.
- Physical security. This includes not only computers and servers but also access to printed records.
- User security awareness training. Make users aware of “phishing” schemes.
5 Ways To Improve Your AdWords
Oct 9th
There's a lot that goes into improving traffic to your nonprofit's website. One of the techniques that is most effective is the use of Google Grants AdWords, a program that allows you to purchase cost-per-click (CPC) advertising that will appear based on popular keywords.
According to Kristie Ferketich, Google Grants senior strategist, there are ways to optimize your AdWords to get the most out of them. Speaking at Nonprofit Technology Network's (NTEN) recent Nonprofit Technology Conference, she explained that organizations should keep the following things in mind when working with AdWords:
- Think like a user. See what ads catch your attention the next time you do a Google search.
- Use variations and common misspellings. Google will usually correct someone – but the AdWord will show for the search anyway.
- Include negative keywords. This eliminates your ads from popping up for certain searches, cutting down on unwanted impressions.
- Look at the stats. Analyze the cost and impressions for each AdWord you use. Are you hitting your goals? Is it costing too much to run some words?
- Optimize keyword-matching options. Certain punctuation around search terms will bring up different options. For example, your search results for [animal adoption] would bring up results only for that exact term. A search with “animal adoption” would bring up for that phrase, even if other terms were included in the search. Learn how the search punctuation can help, or hinder, your goals.
- Test, test, test. And for good measure -- test again. Search terms for your AdWords may work one month and sag the next.
5 Reasons Your Nonprofit Needs To Go Mobile
Oct 2nd
Remember when the only thing a cell phone could do was make calls? That seems like a foreign idea these days, with smartphones dominating the mobile landscape. These devices can not only make phone calls, they can also send text messages, take pictures, and surf the Internet.
That last point is of particular importance for nonprofits, as users now have on-the-go access to their websites. Yet unless your site is designed for mobile, it won't be too appealing to the eye. If you haven't yet optimized your website for mobile use don't worry, it's not as hard as it sounds.
As Heather Mansfield explained in her book "Social Media for Social Good," updated technology has made it easier than ever to stream mobile websites. She listed five reasons that your nonprofit needs to get to work on creating a mobile site:
That last point is of particular importance for nonprofits, as users now have on-the-go access to their websites. Yet unless your site is designed for mobile, it won't be too appealing to the eye. If you haven't yet optimized your website for mobile use don't worry, it's not as hard as it sounds.
As Heather Mansfield explained in her book "Social Media for Social Good," updated technology has made it easier than ever to stream mobile websites. She listed five reasons that your nonprofit needs to get to work on creating a mobile site:
- To improve group text messaging campaigns: Linking web pages on which readers can “Learn More” or “Take Action” need to be designed so that they can be read quickly and efficiently on smartphones.
- Making smartphone apps more functional: Make sure that the navigation of the website is easily readable on a smartphone being that it’s a small screen. Polish everything to make it easy for the viewer.
- Empower QR code campaigns: If nonprofits are asking supporters to use smartphones to scan a QR code that links to a webpage, a QR code needs to be implemented to link to a mobile site.
- Improve location-based community campaigns: Giving the viewers a mobile site where they can see lists of places, checks-ins, and venues, offers them an opportunity to follow the campaign through the community.
- To optimize search engine browsing: Customize the key search terms for maximum optimization for search engines. The mobile browsers are hungry for new content, so jump on the bandwagon.
19 Ideas To Prevent Cyber Attacks
Sep 26th
Remember the good old days when the biggest security concern for businesses was someone stealing from the petty cash box? With most organizations relying heavily on the Internet, another concern has popped up: Cyber Attacks.
Online crime can have disastrous results for individuals and nonprofits. All it takes is one security flaw in your system, and valuable (and often confidential) data could go missing. There are no ways to completely immunize yourself from cyber attacks, but there are ways to make sure you are as safe as possible.
During a recent Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits sponsored by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, George E. Constantine III of Venable LLP in Washington, D.C., discussed the danger of cyber attacks, and he offered a look at protective measures:
Online crime can have disastrous results for individuals and nonprofits. All it takes is one security flaw in your system, and valuable (and often confidential) data could go missing. There are no ways to completely immunize yourself from cyber attacks, but there are ways to make sure you are as safe as possible.
During a recent Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits sponsored by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, George E. Constantine III of Venable LLP in Washington, D.C., discussed the danger of cyber attacks, and he offered a look at protective measures:
- Dual Controls: Have at least two persons in charge of certain accounts, cash collection and cash payment systems.
- Internal Internet Use Policy: Make it good, follow it closely and include telecommuting.
- Have a privacy policy.
- Use Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards for data security.
- Software: Keep all software, especially security and financial, up to date.
- Hardware: What is allowed to connect to your system?
- Conduct employee training regularly.
- Know what to protect.
- Control access privileges, change passwords, use best available authentication.
- Free protections.
- Identify responsible manager in case of breach.
- Assess risks and vulnerabilities; establish a response plan.
- Train employees to identify and report.
- If problems occur, think of insurance, statutory obligations and public and client/member relations.
- Note that almost all states have data breach notification laws.
- Comply with laws of states of affected individuals, not just where the organization is located. Statutes will dictate content, method and deadlines.
- Generally, the burden is on the "owner or licensor" of data.
- Do background checks.
- Support whistleblowers.
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