Picks of the Week: September 30 - October 6, 2012

Website of the Week -- FIELD at the Aspen Institute
FIELD's mission is to identify, develop and disseminate best practices in the microenterprise field, and to educate funders, policy makers and others about microenterprise as an anti-poverty strategy. FIELD is a project of the Economic Opportunities Program (EOP), which is a policy program housed at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. EOP focuses on advancing strategies that connect the poor and underemployed to the mainstream economy.  FIELD was created in 1998 to build on the momentum generated by the Self-Employment Learning Project (SELP), an evaluation and public education program that was the leading information resource on microenterprise in the U.S. at that time. Given those origins, many of SELP's senior staff and consultants played critical roles in the creation of FIELD, and remain in key positions today. For more information, go to: http://fieldus.org/index.html.

Publication of the Week --  Measuring the Networked Nonprofit: Using Data to Change the World by Beth Kanter and Katie Delahaye Paine
From the publisher:  Having a social media measurement plan and approach can no longer be an after-thought. It is a requirement of success. As nonprofits refine their social media practice, their boards are expecting reports showing results. As funders provide dollars to support programs that include social media, they too want to see results. This book offers the tools and strategies needed for nonprofits that need reliable and measurable data from their social media efforts. Using these tools will not only improve a nonprofit's decision making process but will produce results-driven metrics for staff and stakeholders.

·         A hands-on resource for nonprofit professionals who must be able to accurately measure the results of their social media ventures

·         Written by popular nonprofit blogger Beth Kanter and measurement expert Katie Delahaye Paine
·         Filled with tools, strategies, and illustrative examples that are highly accessible for nonprofit professionals

This important resource will give savvy nonprofit professionals the information needed to produce measurable results for their social media. 

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Click to preview this book onAmazon.com.


Trend of the Week – Nonprofits and Cloud Computing
In 2012, TechSoup Global and its network of partners conducted a survey of NGOs, nonprofits, and charities around the world. The goal of the survey was to better understand the current state of their tech infrastructure and their future plans for adopting cloud technologies. More than 10,500 responses from 88 countries were received. The key results of the 2012 TechSoup Global Cloud Computing Survey include: 

·         90% of respondents worldwide are using at least one cloud computing application.

·         53% report plans to move a “significant portion” of their IT to the cloud within three years.
·         60% say lack of knowledge is the greatest barrier to greater use of the cloud.
·         79% say the greatest advantage is easier software or hardware administration.
·         47% say cost-related changes and ease of setup would be the greatest motivators for moving their IT to the cloud.
·         NGOs in Egypt, Mexico, India, and South Africa have the most accelerated timetables for moving their IT to the cloud.

For more information, go to: http://www.techsoupglobal.org/2012-global-cloud-computing-survey.

Resource of the Week – More Money for More Good - Free Nonprofit Fundraising Guidebook
To raise more money, nonprofits need to tell donors how the organizations’ work is making a difference, counsels a new fundraising guide. The guides More Money for More Good gives nonprofits concrete ways to put Money for Good II findings into action and raise more money. The manual is based on a study that found donors would be willing to shift $15-billion in giving to high-performing nonprofits if they had easy access to good information about the organizations’ work. The study, conducted by GuideStar, the nonprofit online publisher of data on charities, and Hope Consulting, was based on surveys of more than 5,000 donors, 875 donor advisers, and 725 foundation officials.  To download the free guide, go to: http://www.guidestar.org/rxg/give-to-charity/money-for-good-ii.aspx.

Tech Tip of the Week -- Free Microsoft Office Tutorials
The Goodwill Community Foundation, a program of Goodwill Industries of Eastern NC, Inc.®,  has made available “online learning opportunities to anyone who wants to improve the technology, literacy and math skills needed to be successful in both work and life.” 
Their free courses include interactive lessons and videos and are an excellent way to learn Microsoft Office as well as some other important topics such as Mobile Apps and Google Docs. Check it out:  www.gcflearnfree.org/office