As social media tools like Twitter and Facebook become core components of nonprofit communication strategies, there is a corresponding need to assess how well programmatic messaging and organizational identity are propagating in those channels: “We Tweet; is anybody listening?”

In addition, nonprofits have an increasing need to know on what blogs, websites and other online venues they and their issues are being mentioned and discussed, both favorably and less favorably.

In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, the American Red Cross raised over $32 million in donations through $10 text messages. This figure smashed the existing mobile fundraising efforts and amazed even the champions of mobile advocacy.

Based on experiences in Samoa and Haiti, I’m trying to come up with best practice for how to organize tweeting staff in a disaster context so that there is a maximum benefit for the organization.

I have identified four different approaches:

- The organizational approach
- The personal approach
- The CNN approach
- The List approach

read more about the advantages and disadvantages that I see in each approach on Social Media 4 Good:
http://sm4good.com/2010/02/15/twitter-disasters-organize-staff/

November isn't over yet so there is still time to participate in NTEN's Member Appreciation Month activities and Epic Change's TweetsGiving campaign is this Tuesday-Thursday.  But, those aren't the only ways to say, "thanks."  At this time of year many organizations send messages of thanks to donors, supporters, volunteers, and their wider community.  In this month's

The United Nations Joint Inspection Body recently spoke to web professional in 40 UN agencies to identify what the most common problems are and how to fixed them. The result is an impressive document that can be used by many non-profit organizations to address similar problems in their own organization.

Warsaw, Poland - Have you ever experienced that dreamy, hungry look on the face of non-profit staff when you say: “I have experience in fundraising”? No matter whom you speak to, be it directors or campaigners, the chances are good that you’ll grab their attention. Better yet, if you offer to help their fundraising efforts as a volunteer, they will veer between the wish to hug you and the attempt not to seem too enthusiastic. But once you go into detail, talking about fundraising strategies, possible financial sources and so forth, this lovely atmosphere might be replaced by misunderstanding. Are European non-profits stuck in the Dark Ages of online fundraising?

Hey All,

So I received a few responsest to my post last week about how can N2 engage the community better.  Most came privately to my email address, and it is a theme in those emails that I want to use as this next engagement email.   Here is what one person wrote to me (this is only a portion of a much longer email about a variety of topics):

July 15th, 12 Noon Eastern time, the Chronicle of Philanthropy will host an online event, Building Your Online Presence on a Tight Budget. 

Beth Kanter and Jonathon Colman will facilitate the discussion.  Here are their bios from the Chronicle of Philanthropy site:

NTEN's "Be the Media" project that we mentioned last week has been renamed, We Are Media: The Social Media Starter Kit for Nonprofits.

This week they are looking for your ideas about Thinking Strategically About Social Media.

Some of the questions they are trying to answer are:

I was given a review copy of "Getting to First Base" a social media marketing how to book by Darren Barefoot and Julia Szabo.    The books provides great advice on the following topics:

• Bring more visitors to your website
  Increase your company’s visibility online
  Engage with online influencers