Nonprofit Technology Roundtable Series

Convincing people that systemic technology solutions are necessary
Works with a grassroots network of organizations & people working together and needs a centralized website, but doesn’t have funding to create a website
Has big technological needs they would like to solve more effectively, wants to identify funding sources
Usually buy-in needed to do tracking & data management, needs language for funders, benchmarks on budgeting, to project what can be expected
Wants to find out what npo’s need to make npo software
Knows that organizations have need for custom web development & wants to find them
Trying to network.
Quantifiable answer on ROI of upgrades.
How best to reach nonprofit customers in South Bay.

Points of pain:

Helping people dream & know what’s possible. Explaining the benefits of being ahead of the curve as well as the drawbacks.
We don’t really get paid to help people dream, but we end up doing it anyway.
Someone who wants to do something very cutting edge, and it’s very difficult to explain to funders what you’re trying to do.
Having costs associated with possibilities. Listing the real wants & needs.
Speaking data to people who don’t speak data, who don’t understand that in those terms
Bridge building – understanding the organizational culture *People are really stuck “we’d like to do that but our people only use Excel”

Count:
Nonprofits: slightly less than half
Vendors/Service Providers: 1/3
Funders: 1
Lawyers? School.
Why isn’t someone coding yet (WISCY)?
When you spend more time in design, you spend less time in implementation.

NTRS 2: Participant Evaluation Synopsis

elio — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 18:27:01 -0400

Nonprofit Technology Roundtable Series
Navigating Technology Costs: Affording Technology Projects as Nonprofits and Service Providers
March 9, 2006
Participant Evaluation Synopsis

Eric Leland facilitated a group of 36 people; 6 were from CompuMentor. Nonprofits represented slightly less than half of the participants while vendors/service providers represented about a third. There was one funder and one lawyer. Eighteen participants filled out the evaluation form.

NTRS 2: Navigating Technology Costs - Whiteboard Notes

elio — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 18:11:41 -0400

Todayâ€™s Agenda

WelcomeÂ Â Â
What brings us here
Investments vs. expenses
Strategies
Resources

Concepts to ExploreÂ

Help each other understand â€˜technology feeds the poor
Hire someone expensive to hire someone cheap
Technology is an investment, not an expense
Phased approach to NPO technology is essential

Â
Points of Pain

NTRS 2: Navigating Technology Costs - Resources

elio — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 18:03:50 -0400

Let’s continue the conversation!

Contribute your thoughts, resources, and learnings on this topic going forward right here!

http://www.consultantcommons.org/node/380

Technology & Funding resources
Articles on Funding Technology
http://www.techsoup.org/howto/articles/funding/index.cfm
Technology for Fundraising Discussion
http://www.techsoup.org/community/index.cfm?cg=header&sg=community

NTRS 1: Optimizing the Nonprofit-Consultant Relationship - Resources

elio — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:50:25 -0400

Selecting a Consultant or Vendor

Choosing the Right Consultant
http://www.techsoup.org/howto/articles/consultants/page1412.cfm?cg=searchterms&sg=consultant
Focuses on what to ask in the interview process
Do You Really Need A Consultant?
http://www.techsoup.org/howto/articles/consultants/page1418.cfm?cg=searchterms&sg=consultant
Questions to explore when deciding among consultants, in-house staff or volunteers

Managing your Consultancy

NTRS 2 Resources

elio — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 17:44:26 -0500

Nonprofit Technology Roundtable Resources

"Navigating Technology Costs: Affording Technology Projects as Nonprofits and Service Providers"

Let’s continue the conversation!
Contribute your thoughts, resources, and learnings on this topic going forward:
http://www.consultantcommons.org/node/380

Managing your Consultancy

NTRS November 2005 - Salient points and potential future topics

elio — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 19:38:03 -0500

Nonprofit Technology Roundtable Series
Optimizing the Nonprofit – Consultant Relationship
November 11, 2005

Overall, there was a lot of external interest in the Roundtable idea. Salient points and potential future topics:

Technology must be incorporated into all program budgets. A certain percentage of technology should be integrated into every grant proposal.
NPO staff need tools to help others understand that technology feeds the poor. Technology is an investment, not an expense. This message must be sold beyond funders to leaders, executive staff and public.
A brokerage role is missing – somewhere between the sales team and the engineers. NPOs should hire someone expensive to help them hire someone cheap. The triaged, phased approach to NPO tech (think construction and medical worlds) is essential. Mentoring relationship is vital to someone following best practices.
Trust is a big issue. Should a centralizing agency certify NTAPs?
NPOs must show ROI for funders. How do we figure out metrics to help NPOs calculate ROI so that NPOs can incorporate in their grant proposals?

What’re the next steps?

Navigating Technology Costs - a Bay Area Nonprofit Technology Roundtable

smokinggoat — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 20:12:23 -0500

The next Nonprofit Technology Roundtable is Thursday, March 9.

It'll be held here at the CompuMentor office (435 Brannan Street) from 2:00 to 4:00.

In this second event of the series, Eric Leland, TechCommons’ new Director, will facilitate an exchange of ideas about “Navigating Technology Costs: Affording Technology Projects as Nonprofits and Service Providers.”

Space is running out, so register soon !

Managing your Consultancy