Week 8 Assignment - Reflecting on Web 2.0 for Non-Profits

There are plenty of articles to be found discussing the use of Web 2.0 tools by non-profit organizations.

A blog I found interesting is found here.

http://nonprofitconsultant.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-web-20-is-important-to-small-local.html

This one hits home because it talks directly about using Web 2.0 tools in a non-profit organization, the likes of which I currently work for, and have been a board member/chair for in the past. The article generally favours the use of the technology. I would tend to agree. Communicating with the people of the community is paramount, and doing it via the social networking schemes available does have merit.

This sentiment is carried also in the following article which discusses specific tasks that can be achieved through a more interactive social approach, including fundraising, and promoting services:

What does Web 2.0 Mean For Your Nonprofit?
By Tiffany Meyer: Dec 11, 2007

A third article was:

Can Web 2.0 change the world?
Nonprofits embracing technology that built MySpace and YouTube
By Michael Rogers
Columnist
Special to msnbc.com

This column also suggested that Web 2.0 technology fits well because, one, it is generally cheap or free, which fits nicely with the non-profits' usual lack of money situation, and two, gets them "moving towards what they have the most of (people and community)".

This article basically talks about a gathering, in a conference setting, of a group called NetSquared. There is a web community called NetSquared.Org which I would like to check out, but haven't yet. It has been established to help non-profits to use the technology to support their cause.

Another article (sorry, lost the reference) sort of poo-pooed the idea that Web 2.0 could do much to help basic social assistance type organizations, saying that basic technology like photocopiers and telephones are probably more powerful tools for them. Makes sense, when the people you are helping probably don't have, or even have access to, computers and cell phones.

For the most part I am in agreement with the opinions and ideas presented in these articles. I do believe that Web 2.0 has a place in the non-profit organization. However, not just for the sake of it. It is important that implementation fit in with strategic planning for the organzation. The fact that I have been selected to take this course, in order to learn more, and presumably apply it some day in my job, is testament to the fact that my organization is taking a closer look at using these tools. However, there must be board buy-in. There will be resources required to support implementation (human and equipment). Most certainly, there will be challenges on both those fronts.