Note from Beth: I've written about the importance of building resilience in networks given the complex and connected environment we live in today. So, when Pat Brandes from the Barr Foundation sent me this thought piece on building resilience of networks, it resonated on many different levels. Lessons Learned About Resilient Networks from Super Storm Sandy by Pat Brandes, Executive Director, the Barr Foundation As Hurricane Sandy was barreling up the Atlantic coast of the United States, a … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2012
A Fundraising Cliff? What does the data say?
Note from Beth: Here's a guest post from my colleague Steve MacLaughlin that is a great example of "data informed fundraising." A Fundraising Cliff? What does the data say? A Guest Post by Steve MacLaughlin Over the past few months I've been asked a lot of questions about giving trends: What explains the flat trend in overall fundraising? Is it the economy? Was it the election cycle? What about Hurricane Sandy? Are we approaching the fundraising cliff? Will it get better? When will it … [Read more...]
VolunteerMatch: How Real-Time Data Visualization and Learning Improves Impact
Last week, I had the pleasure of doing a Brown Bag Lunch Book Talk for Measuring the Networked Nonprofit hosted by VolunteerMatch at their offices. After the session, I sat down with VolunteerMatch's President Greg Baldwin to learn more about how they use data, measurement, and learning to measure and improve impact. This is part of my preparation for a session we are doing at next month's Media Impact Forum, a day long session for funders, technologists, media makers and social … [Read more...]
Does Your Nonprofit Need Some Data Therapy?
[slideshare id=15468357&doc=rahul-infohub-pecha-kucha-121203102734-phpapp02] Earlier this week, I participated in a meeting hosted by the Knight Foundation that brought together a small group of amazing thinkers in Silicon Valley -- nonprofits, for-profits, activists, bloggers, and others interested in technology for civic engagement that builds connections between residents and our governments. It's all related to its TechForEngagement summit last year. (Lucy Bernholz, who also … [Read more...]
GiveMN 2012 Giving Day by the Numbers
Note From Beth: I'm a huge fan of Giving Days because they raise the awareness, engagement, and donations to nonprofits and being generous. Last week, we watched as a national day of giving and awareness campaign for "Giving Tuesday" unfold and spur spikes in donations. As I wrote back in September when first covering Giving Tuesday, Giving Days are not a new idea and have been successful in local communities and entire states, like GiveMN which raised many millions of dollars in 24 … [Read more...]