NetSquared teaming up with Sun Microsystems to produce global Hack Days. Sao Paolo, Brazil was a success on October 1, stay tuned for an update. Next up, China!
NetSquared is an initiative ofTechSoup
NetSquared enables social benefit organizations to leverage the tools of the social web.
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YNPN Information Network
Supporting organization:
Denver Young Nonprofit Professional Network (YNPN)
URL:
www.ynpn.org/denver
City:
Denver
State/Region:
Colorado
Country:
USA
Project Vision Statement & Potential Social Impact:
The primary goal of Denver YNPN is to support the advancement of young professionals entering the nonprofit sector to ensure community organizations are able to successfully meet current and future community needs. Developing young professionals is key to promoting the culture of giving and increasing the capacity of the nonprofit sector to offer innovative and effective services to the community.
With over 1,400 YNPN members in Metro Denver and a rapidly growing network of affiliates across the nation, the YNPN Information Network will revolutionize how the nonprofit sector communicates, collaborates and creates social change. As future leaders of the Independent Sector, we hope to use online technology to build alliances, share information, and harness the talent of young, changemaking professionals.
Sustainability (financial) model:
Denver YNPN has a sustainable, balanced financial model. Our volunteer board of directors includes young executives from community foundations and funds, development professionals, and program directors. With our collective experience working in nonprofit organizations, we are keenly aware of the importance of sustainable funding.
Revenue break-out:
- $15,000 in Community Foundation Grants
- $7,500 in Sponsorships (will exceed projection)
- $2,500 in individual gifts
- $5,500 in program fees
- $3,000 in Event revenue
Potential obstacles:
Denver YNPN has built a highly regarded social and professional support network. The typical obstacles of a membership organization (member recruitment, member services) are not an issue. We have 1,400 members from over 400 local nonprofit organizations. Most of our current obstacles center around the need for CRM technology to manage our operations more efficiently.
- Effectively moving our current online services (website, listserv, e-newsletter) into a new management system.
- Building an Information Network is a complex process for any organization but especially for a young organization run by a board of directors and volunteer committees.
- Making sound development choices when choosing between custom-built technology or existing CRM services.
- Creating a platform for Denver that can be extended to meet the needs of the growing national network.
- Funding a technology project while meeting our overall organizational goals.
Resource Needs:
- CRM technology
- Webinar service
- Graphic design services
- Funding
- PR roll-out to membership and public
Key Milestones:
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In February of 2007, Denver YNPN became a project of Colorado Nonprofit Development Center. As a project, we have 501(c)(3) status, are able to accept tax deductible donations, and have cost-efficient governance and financial services.
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Survey membership to identify key Information Network services and prioritize needs.
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Send Information Network brief to national YNPN affiliates to assess barriers to a national CRM/information sharing network.
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Select a technology provider.
- Manage the switch of current technology services (website, listserv, e-newsletter) to the new system.
- Publicize roll-out of new system to membership, sponsors, collaborators and public.
- Manage a "profile building campaign" with incentives for members to utilize the new system.
- Create a national roll-out plan for YNPN affiliates.
Project Summary:
From its beginnings in 1997 as a small, informal gathering of peers in San Francisco, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) has grown to become one of the nation’s largest associations of nonprofit practitioners. The demand for an early-career professional network to support the growth, learning, and leadership development of young nonprofit professionals led to the establishment of YNPN in San Francisco. Then, driven almost entirely by word-of-mouth and local, volunteer leadership teams, the YNPN concept spread to New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Denver.
Denver YNPN’s project is developing an efficient Information Network to manage our membership relationships, communicate efficiently, and allow our members to share expertise and skills to enhance our work as nonprofit professionals. The YNPN Information Network will be specifically directed to meet the needs and preferences of young professionals: an online network conducive to collaboration and idea sharing.
Our goal is to build an effective and efficient network in Denver that will roll-out into a national YNPN Information Network. Sharing resources and offering cost-effective professional development on a national level will benefit the nonprofit sector and all who are involved with social change.
