I am writing to invite you to participate in an experiment of sorts... a scan aimed at understanding how innovation works in small (<$500,000) and mid-size (<$2.9m) nonprofit orgs. This project was created to collect and share information how organizations come up with innovative ideas and new solutions and to ascertain whether or not organizations currently use innovation strategies (specific tools and practices) to support social innovation.

Helping Nonprofit Technology Blog author, Jocelyn Harmon, spread the word about her org's upcoming award deadline . . .

"Is Your Nonprofit Using Technology to Fundraise, Communicate, Advocate, Collaborate – Change the World? Then we want to hear from you!

Ashoka's Changemakers and Global Water Challenge Need Your Vote in Tapping Local Innovation: Unclogging the Water and Sanitation Crisis

 Join us in our search for the most innovative approaches to clean water and sanitation worldwide.

Log onto www.changemakers.net and vote for your 3 favorite finalists. Winners will receive $5,000 in funding and be invited to the global Change Summit.

Your voice is vital. Vote today!

"Our goal is to raise a new field of Web-enabled, Web-based social benefit projects."--Daniel Ben Horin, Founder and co-CEO of TechSoup, from "The Amazing Freecycle Story."

Here are NetSquared, we're honing our focus a bit towards fostering web-based innovation that has a social impact by connecting web innovators with members of the Innovator Support Network and creating opportunities, like N2Y2, that will accelerate projects' progress.

Here's some info about the Global JAM on Online Communities for Social Innovation from Nancy's White Full Circle Interaction Blog:

If you are interested in social change and innovation, I encourage you to participate in this (FREE) event coming up next week. The "price of admission" is filling out a survey by the 15th, so jump on this now! Here are all the details...

July 18-19 Global JAM on Online Communities for Social Innovation

You are invited to the first Global JAM on Online Communities for Social Innovation, July 18-19 . A JAM is an online discussion that is time limited, asynchronous, moderated, and subsequently analyzed.

The goal of this event is to collectively identify technology requirements for effective online communities to better support those working in social change and innovation. The intention is to share what we learn quickly and broadly.

Read the rest of the post.

Map of Online Community by D'Arcy Norman

Thought I'd pass on this info about the Global Institute for Social Innovation that the folks from StartingBloc sent over this week:

StartingBloc (www.startingbloc.org), a non-profit dedicated to educating and connecting socially conscious young leaders, is bringing together 100 young professionals and undergraduate students from more than 25 countries during its first-ever Global Institute for Social Innovation in London from July 18-22, 2007.

The Institute, which will be held at London Business School, will explore the latest theories and case studies in corporate social responsibility, social innovation, social entrepreneurship, cross-sector collaboration and sustainability. Seminars, keynotes and workshops will be facilitated by leaders from Google, AccountAbility, General Electric, Business in the Community and the World Resources Institute among other pioneers in social innovation.

According to the Second Life Insider blog, Linden Labs, the creators of Second Life, are accepting nominations between now and July 22nd from the Second Life open source community for the 2007 Linden Lab Innovation Awards.

Here is how it is going to work:

Hi, Evonne Heyning here liveblogging from the Tech Innovation room at N2Y2 for the last session of Tuesday's event.  During the break we had a great discussion on participation in these sessions; for those of us who are in the audience there have been many questions on the backchannel on how the audience can be more effective participants in this process.  Billy @ TechSoup and Jean ~NurtureGirl~ Russell had some great comments on ways that VCs, foundations, busiensses, nonprofits and technology gurus can come together to add value to these discussions.

Please note that we are liveblogging here; not every word is here but I'll get as much as possible along the way. 

The N2Y2 sessions have begun; this is Evonne Heyning blogging live from San Jose for NetSquared Innovation spotlights. I will be liveblogging from the detail sessions later today but first, an intro on why this gathering is unique.

The future of organizing networks and activist media will be redefined by many of these 21 innovating social ventures presenting here at N2Y2. Here are a few of the culture-shifting approaches that these groups are pioneering:

A moment of personal exoterica before we launch into the N2Y2 events in San Jose; tonight I'm packing and now all of you are privy to my sundries:

* Laptop w/bag (liveblogging from San Jose)
* Camera (to remember what you beautiful people look like)
* Shoes (never forget the good shoes for dancing)
* Clothes (magenta and red, a fiery feeling)
* Books (any suggestions?)
* AMO Game (always connecting the dots)
* Chocolate (the raw cacao powder this time)
* Hand Cream (see Beth Kanter's tips for liveblogging post)
* I heard I love you! card (ask Jean Russell for more info)
* Virtually Delicious (our Second Life design team cards)
* Saving Grace (a gift for a friend)
* Go Green Guide (playa planning 101)
* Delight (for manifesting good cheer)