NetSquared's fiscal year begins July 1, so every summer I look back at the previous year of the community's activity to identify trends and lessons learned. This time I'll be looking at FY19, which covers July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.

NetSquared is TechSoup’s global network of volunteer-led nonprofit technology meetups. We're the answer to the question “where can I get support to use technology effectively at my nonprofit?” Event attendees build their networks and learn practical digital skills to support their programs, marketing and fundraising.

NetSquared by the Numbers

Here's all the numbers for July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.

• ​# of events: 1,154 (vs 1,119 previous year) ⬆️3%
• # of RSVPs: 10,279 (vs 11,529 previous year) ⬇️️11%
• # of active groups: 125 (vs 120 previous year) ⬆️14%
• # of countries with active group: 41 (vs 34 previous year) ⬆️4%
• # of meetup.com members: 68,154 (vs 58,212 previous year) ⬆️17%
• # of new groups created: 48 (vs 30 previous year) ⬆️60%

Many of us put our groups on pause for the summer, but now's the perfect time to plan for the fall. September and October are the busiest months on Meetup, so posting a strong trio of events is the best way to grow your local community.

Here's a possible schedule for your group:

September: Social Media Strategy — social media is the most popular topic five years in a row!

October: Google Analytics: Measuring What Matters — tracking conversions is vital for fundraising success.

November: Giving Tuesday: Year-End Fundraising Campaigns — leverage the energy of the global #GivingTuesday campaign, which is on December 3, 2019.

June has wrapped and with it TechSoup's fiscal year for 2019. Here's the latest numbers from the NetSquared community:

• 839 RSVPs
• 86 events
• 45 active groups

Find your local NetSquared #Tech4Good meetup or start your own group (it's super fun!)

Hosting a summer social is a great way to bring your members together so they can network and chill out. It’s also really easy to plan!

What You Need to Do

• Make a group reservation at a local pub or bar.
• Invite your members to a buy-your-own-booze gathering.
• Circulate, socialize, and make sure everyone’s having a great time!

That’s it. No presenters, no agenda, no money required.

Get sample event descriptions and graphics in the Organizer Guide.

Erica Woods (Tampa) and Eli van der Giessen (Vancouver) offer tips on how to partner with other organizations to grow your community.

SLIDES

NetSquared stats for May. We’re now consistently hosting events in more than 50+ cities every month!

Build the digital skills of nonprofits in your community by becoming a NetSquared organizer. It's a great way to share your skills and build your network. http://page.techsoup.org/why-start-a-group

Almost everyone has Google Analytics installed on their website... but do they know how to use it to track goal conversions, rather than vanity metrics? The Measuring What Matters event template makes it easy to host a workshop.

And once your members understand Google Analytics the next challenge is applying and setting up Google Ad Grants. Help local nonprofits use Google's $10,000/per month donation. It's available in 52+ countries, but most organizations aren't using this free marketing tool.

TechSoup's reach continues to grow! In April 2019 our 128 chapters:

• Hosted 79 events in 45 countries,
• Had 799 people RSVP.
• Helped grassroots nonprofits with their digital transformation by providing hands-on help and in-person community.

For many nonprofits it's almost the end of their fiscal year – that's why this month's suggested event is Finance and Accounting for Nonprofits. Quickbooks and other accounting topics are surprisingly popular – every year it's the most attended webinar from TechSoup, with more than a thousand RSVPs. It could be a hit in your city too.

May Updates

• TechSoup is now offering the Open Collective platform – a virtual bank account and expense management system.
• Make sure your members know how TechSoup can save them money by opening with these tour slides (or watch the webinar).
• Discover which event topics are most popular in the 10 slide quarterly report.