Strategy

Within the last year, MCS eliminated all of its technology infrastructure by moving our applications to “the cloud”. For those of you not familiar with cloud computing, its essentially hosted software applications and associated data on the Internet in a models. Such models are also known as “software as a service” or as IBM coined “on demand computing” (for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing). MCS’s move is indicative of major changes underway in the technology world and could be a model for nonprofits.

What is the financial health of your organization?  Recently, the Boston Foundation (TBF) report “Passion & Purpose” raised concerns about the nonprofit sector.   According to TBF, nonprofits rightfully focus on mission – but they need to manage financially to deliver on their mission.

Michael Richards writing (MCS Intern, MBA in non-profit management at Brandeis University's Heller School):

MCS is planning a couple of informative summer lunchtime
programs, and an exciting fall schedule of training and education events,
including the “Networked Non-profit Series”, a leadership development program
for IT managers and leaders, and a new series on “Information Technology for
Non-profits”.

Please be sure and bring your lunch for our first summer
brown bag networking and education lunches ("Drowning in Paperwork") on Wednesday, July 16 (there are 3 deli’s within half a block
of MCS, 6 Beacon St., Beacon Hill) from noon to 1:30pm, and again on Wed.
August 13 (exact title coming soon). Look here on the MCS web site
for discussion groups regarding these lunchtime programs.

Nonprofit leaders are becoming more familiar with the 2.0 tools and strategies that are creating a new paradigm for constituency engagement.  A simple look at a nonprofit employment website shows a proliferation in new positions with titles such as "online community manager" or "new media communications associate".  Even if an organization has yet to adopt the new technology, there is a growing awareness of a brave new world in which the organization must seek to engage.   

MCS hosts leadership groups for nonprofit leaders. The group asked me to develop a list of terms for an upcoming training so that we're all starting from the same page. I figured it would make for a good blog post. Here's the cheat sheet:

Over the last couple of months, I have seen more and more job postings from innovative nonprofits that are hiring for online community manager positions. This is a welcome sign that we are fast reaching an inflection point in the adoption of 2.0 technologies. Whether creating new positions or adjusting current positions, nonprofits are adjusting their human resources to meet the growing demands of building online community.

There a number of skill sets that one ought to look for when hiring the online community manager: