The Nonprofit Matrix is an online directory and guide to Application Service Providers (ASPs) and portals offering web-based services for nonprofits and charities.
MATRIX
NEWS 
April 30th, 2010 at 06:38am
The 2010 eNonprofit Benchmark study has been released by M+R Strategic Services and NTEN. This rolling yearly study is one of the most significant trend-tracking resources available to the sector. The 2010 report surveyed 31 nonprofits about their online fundraising and advocacy to reveal what is working, what is not working and what long-term trends are evident that can help nonprofits with their forward-looking strategies. This year’s report includes studies focused on Mobile/Text Messaging and on Social Media.
Steve Peretz, Senior Analyst at M+R Strategic Services, offers this summary of the highlights:
- The average study participant sent 4 emails per subscriber per month, but Environmental nonprofits sent their subscribers 5.2 emails per month, while Health nonprofits sent just 2.1 emails per month, on average.
- Email fundraising response rates were .13%, and email advocacy response rates were 4.00%.
- The average gift size for a one-time online gift was $81.33.
- Annual email file churn was just under 17%.
- Online fundraising grew overall by 4.5% between 2008 and 2009.
- For half of the nonprofits in our study, online revenue either held steady with 2008 or declined. This decline was driven by a drop in the average gift size.
> Visit the report website
April 12th, 2010 at 09:46am
A joint study by Convio, Edge Research and Sea Change Strategies analyzing mobile trends and adoption rate across Gen Y, Gen X, Baby Boomers and Mature donors.
This report includes findings from a national survey of US charitable donors that was conducted the week after the earthquake in Haiti occurred and during intense fundraising efforts for emergency relief. This data indicates that mobile philanthropy, while not universally accepted is gaining traction with younger generations, and the text-to-gift efforts around Haiti could be the tipping point for greater adoption.
Download the full report to see the data behind the rapid adoption of mobile giving and the implications for nonprofits that want to use this channel.
March 30th, 2010 at 11:57pm
Newly released from NTEN:
The nonprofit sector works hard to maximize the effective use of
technology. Organizations face difficult challenges –from insufficient data and lean budgets to
overworked staffs — just trying to keep up with changing technologies
and trends, and with the rest of the sector.
To help them cast an analytical eye on technology decisions, NTEN and
The NonProfit Times came together to create the Nonprofit IT Staffing
and Spending Survey. It gives us a good look at the state of nonprofit
staffing, and helps us provide organizations with information to help
evaluate the state of their IT spending.
> Get
the Report. It’s Free!
February 16th, 2010 at 08:08am
Nonprofit online communicators, activists and techies with an active LinkedIn profile should check out a few of these groups:
Social Media for Nonprofit Organizations (4,209 members)
This Group is for anyone interested in how nonprofit organizations are utilizing social media. Members can post resources, share information and/or ask questions or seek advice.
Facebook for Nonprofit Organizations
This Group is for anyone interested in how nonprofit organizations are utilizing Facebook. Members can post resources, share information and/or ask questions or seek advice.
YouTube for Nonprofit Organizations
This Group is for anyone interested in how nonprofit organizations are utilizing YouTube. Members can post resources, share information and/or ask questions or seek advice.
Twitter for Nonprofit Organizations
This Group is for anyone interested in how nonprofit organizations are utilizing Twitter. Members can post resources, share information and/or ask questions or seek advice.
Google Products for Nonprofit Organizations
This Group is for anyone interested in how nonprofit organizations are utilizing any of Google Products [Buzz, iGoogle, Reader, News, Maps, Groups, Google Grants, Mobile, etc.]. Members can post resources, share information and/or ask questions or seek advice.
Web 2.0 Webinars for Nonprofit Organizations
This Group is for anyone interested in finding or posting Web 2.0 Webinars for Nonprofit Organizations.
September 8th, 2009 at 01:42pm
Duane Raymond, online campaigning guru at UK-based agency fairsay provides a solid overview of benchmarking for nonprofit organizations and activist causes, an he says “that people love to throw around at work, but very often is misunderstood.” In this blog post, Duane outlines the practice of benchmarking (what IS and what IS NOT benchmarking) as well as common approaches, and forms of analysis used in benchmarking.
There are generally a two different styles of benchmarking:
- Internal benchmarking: where results are compared internally over multiple different activities, time periods, geographical areas, etc.
- Peer Benchmarking: where results are compared between organisations in the same sector
Furthermore, benchmarking can either be:
- Quantitatively-oriented: where metrics are calculated and compared e.g. what is a good performance level and who was closest/furthest to it. This is generally data-right (more initiatives compared) but context-poor (less information about each initiative being compared).
- Qualitatively-oriented: where processes and perception is critiqued and compared e.g. what “best” looks and/or feel like and who was closest/furthest to it. This is generally data-poor (fewer initiatives compared) but context-rich (more information about each initiative being compared).
> Read the full post
September 4th, 2009 at 01:41pm
NTEN recently announced two major events in the technology for nonprofits field – the launch of a new resource guide for nonprofit leaders, and an upcoming 2-day online conference for nonprofit technical managers and field staff.
“Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission”
Written by and for nonprofit technology staff and nonprofit leadership staff, this collection of case studies, analyses, and guidelines shows how technology can be strategically deployed in their organizations to better accomplish a nonprofit’s mission.
> Learn more and order the book here
Online Nonprofit Technology Conference – Sept 16/17
The online conference will cover what Tech and IT Leaders need to know to hone their skills and understanding in order to make better informed technology decisions. Those who attend this conference will leave better able to act as leaders in managing the intersection of mission and technology unique to their organization.
> Learn more and register here
August 31st, 2009 at 01:38pm
Anna Jaegar at Techsoup, writing on the GreenTech theme, introduces us to the world of cloud computing and provides a list of reasons and green benefits for nonprofits who are bold (and brave) enough to consider a seismic shift in how they manage their technology.
I bet many of you are using a form of cloud computing without knowing it. Current examples are Gmail, Yahoo mail, Google Docs, Salesforce, and Microsoft Office Live Workspace. They are often called Software as a Service (SaaS). A company provides access to their software applications over the Internet and you access it through your web-browser. If you are using email hosted by a company, like one of those mentioned above, you and your staff don’t have to manage an in-house email server like Exchange. You simply sign up for the accounts and all the back-end stuff is handled for you.
Jaegar outlines a variety of aaS (“as-a-Service”) options for nonprofits to consider for moving hardware, software and data management to a virtual environment, and ends with some practical advice: “Not every IT function should be migrated to “the cloud,” so you should discuss your situation with your IT staff or a consultant. The concept may be a bit scary for some, but once you get over that hurdle and realize that you are already using cloud computing, I think you will start seeing other ways you can use it to help your nonprofit get your work done efficiently.”
> Read the full article on TechSoup
June 29th, 2009 at 10:23am
Bioneers blogger Kim Spence has posted an impressive list of dozens of “Click to Donate” sites that raise money for causes and charities based on viewers clicking on links to view sponsors’ advertisements.
With a struggling worldwide economy, “Click To Donate” is FREE and it’s a simple way you can help to fight hunger, cancer, poverty, and support animal conservation, education, and save the environment. Step away from the camera, the set, the script, the editing room, the sales meeting, the power lunch, etc… and take a moment to click and make a difference.
When you click on the sites listed below, the site displays ads from their sponsors. Advertising money then goes to fund the programs in need of support!
YOU CLICK! MONEY’S DONATED FREE!
Some years ago a list of ‘Click-to-Donate’ service providers was an active category on the NonProfit Matrix, but interest in the model dried up .. perhaps a renaissance is underway with the rise of social networks?
> View the full blog post
June 10th, 2009 at 03:08pm
An impressive, focused and comprehensive guide to strategic use of Twitter has come out from Arielle Holland and Marc Reuben of M+R Strategic Services.
The “Twitterverse” is going supernova, exploding with the power and energy of more than five million people worldwide reaching out for a way to stay connected. Unique website visitors to Twitter.com from the U.S. alone have clocked in at more than 17 million. So who are these millions? They’re not just teenagers and college students. A recent study pegs their median age at 31. And you know those folks that make something go “viral”? Yeah, well this is them. They’re more likely than any other online segment to share information and links online.
Contents summary:
- Beware of the bandwagon
- Staff strategically
- Build your base
- Return the follow
- Keep the conversation moving
- Tweet it forward
- #Tag it!
- Hijack popular #hashtags
- Target your tweets
- Engage, don’t broadcast
- Tweet on the go
- Actors and athletes
- Ignore “rules” about tweets per day
- Think “value”
- Be patient
> View the full guide (pdf, 10 pages)
May 31st, 2009 at 04:22pm
“Open-source software has won the argument. Now a new threat to openness looms“
It is now generally accepted that the future will involve a blend of both proprietary and open-source software. Traditional software companies have opened up some of their products, and many open-source companies have adopted a hybrid model in which they give away a basic version of their product and make money by selling proprietary add-ons (see article). The rise of software based on open, internet-based standards means worries about lock-in have become much less of a problem.
But now there is the danger of a new form of lock-in. “Cloud computing”—the delivery of computer services from vast warehouses of shared machines—enables companies and individuals to cut costs by handing over the running of their e-mail, customer databases or accounting software to someone else, and then accessing it over the internet.
> Read the full article
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