Comments on: 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/ Social media strategy, content management, widget-y goodness. For geeks. In nonprofits. Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:06:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: The after “glow” of #sxsw and moderating #dgtltribe http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-44 The after “glow” of #sxsw and moderating #dgtltribe Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:06:17 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-44 [...] etc. I’ve run across a few interesting post-articles: Eight Scintillating Lessons from SXSW, 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits, SXSW 2011: The artists, quotes and fights that made an impression, The Guardian @ SXSW2011, SxSW [...] [...] etc. I’ve run across a few interesting post-articles: Eight Scintillating Lessons from SXSW, 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits, SXSW 2011: The artists, quotes and fights that made an impression, The Guardian @ SXSW2011, SxSW [...]

]]> By: 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits « Nonprofit Online News http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-43 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits « Nonprofit Online News Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:53:51 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-43 [...] twitterpated, participants. One of the calmer summaries was produced by Matt Kolterman, who shares 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits: (1) Tell stories about your constituents that speak to the heart and inspire action. (2) Ensure [...] [...] twitterpated, participants. One of the calmer summaries was produced by Matt Kolterman, who shares 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits: (1) Tell stories about your constituents that speak to the heart and inspire action. (2) Ensure [...]

]]> By: From the Idealware Blog: A Year End List of Lists | gardner-madras | strategic creative http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-40 From the Idealware Blog: A Year End List of Lists | gardner-madras | strategic creative Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:34:01 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-40 [...] 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits — Nonprofit Geekery [...] [...] 10 Take-Aways from SXSW for Nonprofits — Nonprofit Geekery [...]

]]> By: Nancy Quinn http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Nancy Quinn Thu, 22 Apr 2010 06:34:59 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-35 I wasn't lucky enough to go. I appreciate this great summary. Sometimes short, sweet and to the point lists are the best! I wasn't lucky enough to go. I appreciate this great summary. Sometimes short, sweet and to the point lists are the best!

]]> By: Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy Technology Program » Blog Archive » What Can the Nonprofit Technology Conference Do for YOUR Camp? - A Program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy Technology Program » Blog Archive » What Can the Nonprofit Technology Conference Do for YOUR Camp? - A Program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:42:54 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-34 [...] to learn more? This brief recap of the SXSW® Interactive 2010 Conference in March gives 10 quick takeaways from that conference for nonprofits that dovetail nicely with the [...] [...] to learn more? This brief recap of the SXSW® Interactive 2010 Conference in March gives 10 quick takeaways from that conference for nonprofits that dovetail nicely with the [...]

]]> By: joemueller http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-31 joemueller Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:49:45 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-31 Matt,<br>Great list. Nos. 8 and 10 are critical. Nonprofit communicators can utilize all channels more effectively by recruiting and developing teams of volunteers. Staff must be executive producers, not copy writers, designers or coders. Get more brains in the game. Get more shoulders to carry the load. Engaged volunteers will build communities and networks as well or better than staff. Matt,
Great list. Nos. 8 and 10 are critical. Nonprofit communicators can utilize all channels more effectively by recruiting and developing teams of volunteers. Staff must be executive producers, not copy writers, designers or coders. Get more brains in the game. Get more shoulders to carry the load. Engaged volunteers will build communities and networks as well or better than staff.

]]> By: joemueller http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-32 joemueller Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:45:19 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-32 Matt,<br>Great list. Nos. 8 and 10 are critical. Nonprofits must effectively leverage these efforts by developing teams of volunteers to help staff carry the load. Get more brains in the game. Nonprofit communicators must be more like executive producers, not copy writers and designers. Matt,
Great list. Nos. 8 and 10 are critical. Nonprofits must effectively leverage these efforts by developing teams of volunteers to help staff carry the load. Get more brains in the game. Nonprofit communicators must be more like executive producers, not copy writers and designers.

]]> By: Ashley Messick http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Ashley Messick Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:13:34 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-30 Similar to your #5 about supporting other nonprofits involved in your cause, one of my big takeaways from SXSW was to support other nonprofits in your community! I work for a community blood center in the Bay Area. It's great connecting with other blood centers, especially since it's a pretty niche nonprofit. But it's also great to connect with other nonprofits in Northern California. Our donors are obviously interested in helping their community so it makes sense to share info about other ways they can help besides donating blood. It's also great for us to connect with the other health centers (including for profit hospital systems) in our area who use the blood our donors give to treat their patients. I guess my main point is connect, connect, connect! There is so much good to come from collaboration! Similar to your #5 about supporting other nonprofits involved in your cause, one of my big takeaways from SXSW was to support other nonprofits in your community! I work for a community blood center in the Bay Area. It's great connecting with other blood centers, especially since it's a pretty niche nonprofit. But it's also great to connect with other nonprofits in Northern California. Our donors are obviously interested in helping their community so it makes sense to share info about other ways they can help besides donating blood. It's also great for us to connect with the other health centers (including for profit hospital systems) in our area who use the blood our donors give to treat their patients. I guess my main point is connect, connect, connect! There is so much good to come from collaboration!

]]> By: Matt Koltermann http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Matt Koltermann Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:05:31 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-29 I hear you. Clearly, a lot of resistance to innovation in the nonprofit sector comes from the idea that our resources are limited (such as time, money, and staff), and that devoting what few resources we have to experimentation seems too risky. <br><br>But, consider the idea that NOT experimenting is even riskier than maintaining the status quo.<br><br>It's a challenging cultural shift, no doubt. But, if you consider the most effective nonprofits out there, what they all have in common is both a bold approach to doing things differently and a keen sense of making incremental adjustments to their messaging and outreach strategies.<br><br>We must resist getting sucked into the trap of doing things simply because it's the way we've always done it. <br><br>So, if I had to prioritize two areas for nonprofits to focus on for experimentation, though, it's (1) re-evaluating the way we communicate our core messages with shorter, more focused information and calls to action, and (2) making sure that our content is easily sharable. <br><br>There's a post on the Harvard Business Review called "Why Business Don't Experiment," and it's great read about this topic. And here's a poignant quote: "Experiments require short-term losses for long-term gains." Check it out at <a href="http://ow.ly/1ql2g" rel="nofollow">http://ow.ly/1ql2g</a>. I hear you. Clearly, a lot of resistance to innovation in the nonprofit sector comes from the idea that our resources are limited (such as time, money, and staff), and that devoting what few resources we have to experimentation seems too risky.

But, consider the idea that NOT experimenting is even riskier than maintaining the status quo.

It's a challenging cultural shift, no doubt. But, if you consider the most effective nonprofits out there, what they all have in common is both a bold approach to doing things differently and a keen sense of making incremental adjustments to their messaging and outreach strategies.

We must resist getting sucked into the trap of doing things simply because it's the way we've always done it.

So, if I had to prioritize two areas for nonprofits to focus on for experimentation, though, it's (1) re-evaluating the way we communicate our core messages with shorter, more focused information and calls to action, and (2) making sure that our content is easily sharable.

There's a post on the Harvard Business Review called “Why Business Don't Experiment,” and it's great read about this topic. And here's a poignant quote: “Experiments require short-term losses for long-term gains.” Check it out at http://ow.ly/1ql2g.

]]> By: Matt Koltermann http://npgeekery.org/2010/03/10-take-aways-from-sxsw-for-nonprofits/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Matt Koltermann Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:03:55 +0000 http://npgeekery.org/?p=297#comment-28 Hey, thanks for the support! Hey, thanks for the support!

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