Non Profits & Technology

Along with AEC1131, I am also enrolled in AEC1182: "Teaching and Working in Non Profits and Public Sector Organizations." This course has exposed me to a wealth of knowledge about the nonprofit sector, and the numerous challenges faced by such organizations. Funding and staffing are just a couple of the big concerns faced by the nonprofit sector, but throw the internet into this mix and you've got a whole new set of issues!

I think this quote from Sherida's paper on the Online Social Economy really addresses some of the key concerns on nonprofits and internet use:

"The majority of nonprofit associations have limited resources, both human and financial. They rely with varying degree on volunteers, who often have an uneasy relationship with technology. This lack of familiarity with information and communication media has also been a characteristic of many nonprofit managers and decision-makers in funding agencies. Organizations that do not have technology champions in positions of leadership tend to be wary of emerging technology (Corder, 2001). Added to this, nonprofit organizations have traditionally engaged in hands-on activity, often with the disadvantaged who have limited, if any, access to the Internet. All of these factors can make it difficult for nonprofits to justify investment in technology as a priority." (Ryan, 2008).

I think it's easy to forget that while technology is a useful thing, ignoring the 'hands-on' aspect of most nonprofit work denies the original purpose of such organizations; to address the needs of a community and assist its members on a face-to-face basis. While I say this, I am equally aware from this class and my day-to-day life, that there is no way to ignore the need for technology resources to supplement and inform people about the face-to-face services that nonprofits provide.

A great web resource for Canandian nonprofits is Techsoup Canada. (http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/)

I found this through some online browsing, and was pleasantly surprised to find out what Techsoup does for the nonprofit community. Techsoup is a nonprofit technology asssitance agency. Their mandate is to provide assistance to nonprofits in acquiring, using and sustaining technology for their organization.

I think the work of Techsoup is necessary for nonprofits to have both a face-to-face and online presence in the current social landscape. The ideal situation is for nonprofits to be able to maintain that fine balance between a meaningful online presence and serving their community's needs.

Techsoup even has a presence in the online virtual community of SecondLife! Here's a short video on Techsoup & SecondLife:




ENJOY!