Thanks for your votes!

Hi all, thanks for your comments on our project posting.

First of all, I wanted to say that we are definitely not and have never been on the "nonprofit gravy train" :)

From the beginning, TakingITGlobal has generated sustainable revenue by licensing our technologies and sharing our expertise with other organizations. We generate a significant portion -- 40-50% -- of our funding by providing services to educators, organizations, and events.

To learn more about our funding & budget, you can look at our
2005 Annual Report - our 2006 report will be done in the next few weeks.

In terms of the profile of our members in developing countries - the average is around 65-75% male, 25-35% female - which is reversed (~35/65) in most of the developed countries. The majority of users are in their mid-20s, and are accessing the Internet from cybercafes or telecentres.

Fostering development and education is a big part of what we are focused on both in the developing and developed world.

In developing countries, we hope that by inspiring young people to take local action, and linking them to opportunities to explore their interests (events, scholarships, organizations, volunteer/work opportunities, etc.) we can support them in pursuing their goals. For those without IT skills, we are launching our Creating Local Connections program across West Africa next month to provide peer-to-peer ICT skills training across Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone - with funding provided by the Open Society Institute.

In the developed world, we are providing educators with training and tools to integrate Web 2.0 technologies, social network, and global content into their instruction. The goal is to provide rich, interactive learning experiences for students, connecting them with global peers, and developing a sense of awareness of the rest of the world, with a focus on the Millennium Development Goals.

You do good work, and are well known for it. But you need to be clear as to why you want to grow and not just grow for growth's sake. Is there a particular demand you have indentified that ONLY you can fill. What is behind your expansion decision. What is your long term goal and vision?

Second, it is every nonprofit's wet dream to get an endowment. If you can get one great. But as an entrepreneurial organization you should instead think more practically about how you can leverage your capabilities and existing partnerships to build the organization out. You certainly have the name and connections to grow, just need to get off the nonprofit gravy train and figure it out. If anyone can figure it out, you guys can!!!

This is very interesting work, and the organization has been cited by a number of groups for its vision and impact.

I suppose I'll start with a mundane question: what is TakingITGlobal's annual budget (if possible, in USD not counting in-kind contributions)? What are your major sources of funding?

On a more theoretical note, I like to know more about how TakingITGlobal fosters human development and education. What is the profile of your user base in developing countries? Do they have their own computers or do they use computers at school, library, house of worship? How does TakingITGlobal connect the online and offline worlds for these young people? Do you have partnerships with schools, etc.?

Sandra Dickinson

You indicate that you generate a 'significant amount' of earned income to support your mission from licensing your technology platform and from (sounds like) consulting services in re: community-building and engagement.

My first question is: can you describe more fully the features and functionality of the technology platform that you license?

My second question is: how do you work with your community-engagement clients, and what are your fees?

I ask these questions for a number of reasons:

In my own project, I am looking to build a platform - but and so are some of the other projects.  I think we don't all need to reinvent the wheel - if the features/functionality of our fellow's platforms meet our own project needs.

In my own project, one of my immediate "obstacles" is participant engagement .  This is an area where my project needs expertise that your project may be able to provide.  [I mean, if my project ends up being funded from the Technology Innovation Fund, I sure would like to spend it on services I need coming from folks I have met thru this application process! (and I'm discovering that participant engagement is also critical factor for a number of other projects I have reviewed - we all work together so much more effectively!)]

Finally - my own project Selearninggames is dedicated to increasing the profitability of earned income ventures.  Because earned income is a significant factor in your financial sustainability model -- your comments and feedback on my own project would be right on target.  Please take a look and let me know what you think.  Thank you.