John Lyman, Associate, Google.org
Last month, Google and Google.org gathered a group of development NGOs together in Washington D.C. to discuss and learn about new technology tools. Because non-profits' budgets are tight and available funds usually go towards mission-related programs, many organizations don't prioritize technology. Google's goal was to highlight free or cheap technologies that NGOs can use and let NGOs share experiences on how they have effectively used various technologies.
There were a few lessons learned:
- There's a huge hunger in the non-profit sector for more help in this area. Even hands-on sessions for an hour can make a real difference.
- Although technology tools are getting easier to use, many NGOs need an initial, gentle push into taking advantage of them.
- Development NGOs, like other NGOs or businesses, have different technology needs based on size, mission, and budget. There is no one-size-fits-all model that works for them.
Permalink | Links to this post |