Many of the tools we are integrating into the Grassroots.org Toolbox are open source, and thus have been freely downloadable for years. However, “Free” though they may be, these tools cost thousands of dollars to install, learn, configure and support. In short, these tools may have no list price, but they are far from free to implement. The result? They're not empowering as many nonprofits as they could be.

The Toolbox will automatically:
• provision and install these technology tools,
• configure them correctly for immediate use,
• host them permanently,
• -provide comprehensive training and support resources (both in traditional text and in new media, such as screencasts and training videos)

All for free.

To achieve this, we'll build an integrated user interface to manage Toolbox applications and services, under which we'll develop a flexible and scalable automatic provisioning system. We are assigning multiple staff members to develop exhaustive training and support materials in response to the needs of incoming clients and creating a publicly-available end-user guide for each of the tools we offer. The goal is the technological empowerment of nonprofit organizations everywhere.

We want to make it dead simple for social entrepreneurs to integrate amazing online media into their sites and to find an audience interested in their stories. Our media platform is built on Wordpress MU, SimplePie RSS, and a variety of web services like Amazon S3. We use a process called “assisted podcasting” to enable even the least tech saavy, busiest social innovator to tell their personal story online by recording podcasts with their ordinary telephone.

We are developing a system enabling organizations to not only create their own content for their web sites, but to simultaneously pull in relevant feeds and stories from other organizations and sites.

Current technical components of YouthAssets are: (1) Collaborative website that will include user profiles and shared spaces (Drupal or other)  (2)  Collaborative database that will integrate existing data as well create an interface to add new data on youth in Africa and resources available (SQL server or Oracle, ESRI, etc.)  (3)  Maps of aggregated data into visual format (Google Earth or other)  (4)  Use of software to be used on mobile devices

The goal of FamilyFarmed.org is to fully develop the site into an interactive web community. Content expansion will include improved farmer bios and product descriptions, a photo “album” or video tour of the farm instead of a single photo, and an “Ask a Farmer” column. Producers will also be given the oppportunity to manage the content on their site. More advanced changes will focus on building community by creating an environment where visitors can not only find information, but also share it. This could include the opportunity for consumers to rate and give feedback on the farms and artisinal food producers in our network.We will also develop blogs for farmers, users, and familyfarmed.org staff and may add regular news feeds and other means to keep site content fresh in order to encourage more traffic and participation.

A revolution in Web-delivered digital maps and map-based analysis is under way and will change the way nonprofits solve social, environmental, and humanitarian problems. It is vital that nonprofit and humanitarian teams leverage these proven and powerful technologies.

I am not sure I understand the question but here is my vision. Web 2.0 is the rage. It is often promoted as a place where users can (1) network (2) make friends. I am adding a third component:(3) make a difference The project adds value to web 2.0 by leveraging the power of social networking to solve some serious problems in Africa.