Non-Profits & Technology
A while back an intern @timbrauhn walked into The 1010 Project. He was supposed to be apart of our grant-writing team. During his time with us he wrote & received our first funded grant. That grant was a huge success, but only a small part of his contribution to the organization. Tim has a gift for developing online community, Social media if you will. His talant and passion inspired a lot of us, but the work that Tim & Mark Mann were able to do was unmatched.
Mark Mann, now of Denvelopers, has continued to share that passion by helping me dig into the online world. Now it is almost comical. Other organizations and even government agencies have contacted me asking for advice or pointers on how to optimize their web presence. Without hesitation I begin rattling off information, ideas, and terms that I have heard or discussed with Mark.
Through all of this I have become thoroughly excited & engaged in the way non-profits are utilizing technology today. A few months ago I consulted with an organization looking to launch a Technology Assistance Grant Program providing affordable mobile internet non-profits. My most significant recommendation was to keep the application as short & simple as possible. I also hoped to see the grants focus on smaller organizations.
This week Boulder based Mobile Citizen launched their competitive grants program in Las Vegas, NV and Portland, OR. Grantees will receive Mobile Citizen’s unlimited usage wireless broadband for only $10/month or $120/year per account, and a variety of other benefits like a free one-year membership to NTEN, a nonprofit technology network, ongoing information and news as well as access to a support community. It looks like they will also have access to some webinars.
Mobile Citizen’s program is a unique idea. I wish the service could be completely free for grant winners. Spread the word, share it with any of your non-profit friends in Las Vegas & Portland. It looks like they will open this up to Denver org’s next year.
Check It Out
Sweet! Thanks for the heads up!
Nice work. Great concept and will help nonprofits to connect. Completely free not always the best and this is extremely reasonable. By “investing” organizations show commitment.
Grace, You are absolutely right. The buy-in may be one of the wisest components of their strategy. Most micro-credit agencies require community buy-in/investment from their clients. The same logic could apply here!