Mobile Payments

New startup called Square–you may have seen these iPhone (also works on other phones) plug-ins at food trucks–becomes an option for off-site payments via card. At 2.75% fee, this seems like a competitive option for non-profit events.

Revving Up with LinkedIn

Non-profits can have both profiles and groups on LinkedIn. In order to learn more about leveraging both for more conversations and connections, I started exploring more about what other NPO gurus had to say.

Here’s my reading list:
NTEN’s way-old intro overview
via DIOSA, an overview of what NPOs can do with LinkedIn
Everything our favorite NPO techie, Beth, has to say about LinkedIn
A Chronicle podcast on best practices as of 12/2010
The best page for getting a non-profit started with LinkedIn comes from WildApricot’s blog–plus they have other LinkedIn posts, too.
LinkedIn’s own non-profit guide page

Petition Sites

In an effort to get the word out that Colorado is holding somewhere around $76 million in reserves (of TANF, or ‘welfare’, federal funding) (for what?!, a rainy day?? Isn’t that now?!), a group of folks wanted to put out an online petition.

I thought I’d do a little self-education and come up with some recommendations and next steps. Here’s what I’ve learned:
– Online petitions are best at public awareness-raising or gathering contact info of supporters.
– Very few petitions are effective–most never even leave the website and thus don’t reach any intended target.
– Petitions can be directly delivered to the target’s email box, but how effective is the same form letter delivered en masse to an inbox?! That seems more annoying

Here are some free sites to post petitions:
Care2’s Petition Site
Change.org
CitizenSpeak

Ignite Again

Today’s repeat of a ‘how to do an Ignite’ presentation’ was originally conducted last year. Check out the links in this post and ask questions here.

Some new links, too:
How to Ignite from O’Reilly Media
See Chipotle’s non-commercial given right here at DU.

This year’s presentations are due September 24 (drafts on July 30).

25 Things List on Communications

I just wanted to say that I love this list from Teaming for Technology Colorado.

Summarizing learnings from this year’s NTC, it’s a great list of using tools to increase organizational productivity.

I’ve shared it, printed it, posted it, mailed it, copied it, read it, linked to it, and used it.
And now it’s here for safekeeping, so when I want a refresher or have a moment to ponder some of the tips more deeply (yes, I know I can use GoogleForms, but where could I use this in my work right now?), I’ll know where to find it!

Conference Shakeup

You’ve been to conferences before, and likely even have had a hand or two in putting some together.

What would YOUR conference think about this:
“The format at the #140conf events is unique. Individual talks 10 minutes, keynotes are 15 minutes and panel discussions are no more than 20 minutes. During the course of the two days more than 140 people will share the stage at the 92nd Street Y in about 70 sessions.”

I can only imagine the wide eyes and guffawing! So, see, integrating a little tweeting to a conference is a nice compromise, I’ll be able to say.

See more at the #140conf update site, live from NYC: http://www.ustream.tv/nyc140conf

Love Your Librarian!

I do–they teach me about things like drop.io

Did you know you can call from your cell phone and leave an MP3 file for someone?!

For those without readily available internet or computer access, but with ubiquitous cell phone access, this can be away to interact online with peers and colleagues. I imagine there are other uses, but a school librarian who shared this with me is having her students call in their original poetry for National Poetry Week.

And this may yet add to my VOIP iTouch cell phone toolbox!

While built for larger collaboration ideas, drop.io is one of those ‘no way!’ amazing internet tools. Wonder how else we can use it??

Sharing the Wealth

I’m taking time these days to grow a baby non-profit, so it hasn’t left me a ton of time to post here. But, a glass of wine and friends do great things for motivation, so here’s a shout out to some of them who make the world go ’round.

Debra – spot-on non-profit tech blogger and virtual friend
Brooke – took a gamble on her upcoming social media project for ALF and presented to tonight’s mass tech project for some help
Katie – who keeps the staff at Groundwork Denver going

I’m proud of you!

Beautiful Graphics

Does well-done graphic design make your heart all a-flutter?

It does mine. And fitting with my too-long absence from this page, I return in the year of ‘architecture & design’ as my personal theme with a lovely site and tool.

I am enamored of Nicholas Feltron’s ingenious conversion of the annual holiday letter into a personal annual report. I’m a data geek, I must admit, but the wonderfully simple graphics just make me salivate to think of the possible applications.

But wait–there’s more: DAYTUM. Feltron’s free graphic generator for your data. How clear are these messages?!

So, what will you track? Share your Daytum pages here so I can get inspired, too–where to start?!

The Gift of Creativity

I ran across this online presentation today in my web wanderings, and thought of you.

I hope it gives you information and rejuvenation to start the new year fulfilled!

Creator Seth Godin is a blogger that I follow and respect, and not only has he invited wonderful content, he is using his internet marketing savvy to give the gift of awareness to lots of his colleagues. I can only hope to replicate this cleverness someday.