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Current News

Toward a Conceptual Framework for Evaluating Social Change Networks

In their case study of the Oilwatch Network, entitled Toward a Conceptual Framework for Evaluating Social Change Networks (7 page PDF), Martha Nunez and Ricardo Wilson-Grau propose four criteria: (1) Democracy, (2) Diversity, (3) Dynamism, and (4) Excellence. These criteria are applied to three major aspects of the network's operation: (1) political purpose and strategies, (2) organisation and management, and (3) leadership and participation. Posted: 11/16/05; 7:13:36 PM #

Selecting an Online Donation Tool

Idealware has released their first report: Selecting an Online Donation Tool. It's a careful, Consumer Reports style examination of a number of low cost online donation tools (under $100 a month of fees other than those related to transaction). I particularly liked their guidelines for choosing among the recommended options: (1) Consider whether donations are just a small piece of a larger puzzle. (2) Decide whether to use a vendor’s merchant account or your own. (3) Calculate the size and volume of donations you expect to get. (4) Decide if the donation form needs to look like your website. (5) Weigh the time required to import donations into your donor database. (6) Decide on critical features. Posted: 11/16/05; 7:01:59 PM #

The More They Give, the More They Love You
	It's amazing to me how often nonprofit folks get the psychology of giving backwards. Most likely due to their own issues about money, they think that it taxes the good will of a donor to be asked. But as Jeff Brooks (and Ben Franklin) will tell you, the more they give, the more they love you. Posted: 11/16/05; 6:56:50 PM #

FourDocs Guides to Video Documentary Preparation

Britain's Channel 4 has a fascinating project called FourDocs, which is dedicated to promoting and broadcasting four minute documentaries. To that end, they have a set of Guides on how to plan, shoot, edit and compress your documentary. I consider most of it superb advice for the production of any kind of nonfiction video. If you're in the business of real life story telling -- and most nonprofits are, in one way of another -- this is an invaluable resource. Posted: 11/16/05; 6:53:23 PM #

Nonprofit Online News Journal: November 2005 Edition

We have just published the November 2005 Edition of Nonprofit Online News Journal. This month we offer five articles: My own Twelve Ways To Fail at Email follows a key principle of mine, which is that its often easier to remove barriers to success than to assemble new engines to plow forward. Marc Stenlin's "Knowledge Management Feng Shui" explores the role of physical infrastructure in promoting sharing. The Danish government has documented the role of ICT in helping meet the Millenium Development Goals. (I still hold out hope for those goals, despite having been undermined recently by the United States.) Rick Cohen doesn't pull any punches in his advice to the world of philanthropy. Finally, Tom Kelley's "Ten Faces of Innovation" gives us a framework where everyone can participate in moving an organization forward. We have our usual features, including 35 resources, 5 book reviews, and a new Quicksheet: a radical revision of the Workflow of the Email Savvy Organization. Posted: 11/16/05; 5:29:50 PM #

Achieving Success in Online Communication

I'm delighted to announce that I will be in Kansas City on November 29th, teaching an all day workshop on Achieving Success in Online Communication, under the auspices of the DonorEdge program of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. We'll be covering all the essentials: The Email Newsletter Marketing Model, the Modern Nonprofit Website, Frictionless Fundraising, Communication Centered Technology Planning, and the Role of the Executive Director in Nonprofit Technology. If you're in the area, I suggest you check it out. DonorEdge is a great program and they are offering steep discounts to their member organizations. Posted: 11/16/05; 4:10:36 PM #