NetSquared recently followed up with the N2Y3 Featured Projects to develop these short case studies, with the goal to expand the knowledgebase of best practices for applying social media in the nonprofit context. We interviewed participants from the N2Y3 Featured Project teams to gain a better understanding of the way they used social media to increase their reach and carry out their missions. We are very happy to bring you their stories!

Today's spotlight: MoveSmart!

Project Details:

• Name of Organization: MoveSmart.org
• URL: www.MoveSmart.org
• Location: Chicago, IL

Project description:

MoveSmart.org is a start-up non-profit organization that fosters vibrant and diverse neighborhoods by empowering housing seekers to move to opportunity. When launched, the site will layer information on neighborhood amenities, quality of life indicators, affordable housing opportunities, and the services and programs of community based organizations over an interactive map. These maps will be complimented by guides, tools, calculators, worksheets, and an innovative social network that will connect new residents with community-based organizations and new neighbors, making MoveSmart.org a one-stop resource for housing seekers looking for a better neighborhood.

Social media tool or tactic used:

MoveSmart.org is currently just a blog, but when we launch will feature a Google maps mash-up, a geo-tagged blog, and interactive guides. On our project site IntegrationAgenda.org we use multiple Wagn wiki, multiple Point campaigns, a twitter feed and blog, and a Change.org/ideas widget; on BroadShouldersUpdate.com we use a Sprout widget and a RSS aggregator Wordpress plug-in.

How was it used?:  

Too early to tell.  

Outcome:

Frankly, it's still too early for us to tell. IntegrationAgenda.org and BroadShouldersUpdate.com just launched and MoveSmart.org is still under construction.  

Lessons Learned:

Still too early, but one from the construction phase:

• Dip your toe in the water before jumping in: we spent hours building a complicated YahooPipes aggregated RSS feed only to learn after a few weeks that the feed would regularly fail. We should've tried just a bit, tested the waters, and then made a decision. In the end we had to find a new way to accomplish our goal.

For more information:

• See the full list of N2Y3 Featured Projects here.    
• Read all of the N2Y3 Case Studies as they are published.

The work to create this case study series was funded by a grant from the Packard Foundation.