Nonprofit 2.0 Unconference

Did you miss the NonProfit 2.0 Unconference or just want to relive it? Our friends and sponsors Captico and NextGenWeb covered it all. Check out  Captico’s Corrie Davidson’s fantastic video detailing the highlights of the NonProfit 2.0 Unconference by some of our favorite folks in the community like Beth Kanter, Clint O’Brien of Care2.com, Shireen Mitchell, Chris Abraham of Abraham and Harrison, Allison Fine, and more. Also be sure and view the keynote by Wendy Harman of the American Red Cross who talked about the organizations experiences raising $30M by leveraging texting and social media after the earthquake in Haiti. You can also check out Beth and Allison’s keynote conversation here.

Difference. Being different. Celebrating the fact that people are different.
If we don’t talk about differences, we might get social inequality.

What does Minority mean?

• Less than the majority
• marginalized
• powerlessness
• discomfort with terms
• representation in democracy
• outsider
• federal designation for grants
• federal contracting grant-making
• gives a community more of a face by being specific instead of using the word minority – La Clinica del Pueblo serves young gay latinos

What does diversity look like in the non-profit sector

• 82% of EDs are white
• 86% of board members are white
• 94% of foundation CEOs are white
• 92% of CEOs of ntl orgs locally headquartered are white
• 1/3 of nonprofit managers are black

*From: Urban institute racial diversity collaborative

What can we do to promote diversity?

• Create our own culture – same culture. In a circle – everyone is in  a circle. Everyone is included in activities.

• Less of an ethical issue – more of an economic issue.

• Diversity can fall on deaf ears. Companies are doing diversity – but why aren’t n-profs more like them.

• Job posting – don’t get a diverse group of applicants.

• If you have a hard time getting your board/staff diverse, your org is not connected to your community.

• Is it affected by the size of your organization?

• Jobs don’t honor families taking time off.

• 3-4% of foundation dollars go to people of color – led organizations combined.

How to use the technology tools.

• People of color don’t use online job listing tools. Word of mouth. Well – known brands. Social networks.

• Unless we act with deliberateness, we will still be having this conversation.

• What are the key messages EDs need to hear in order to be more deliberate about this.

• Check out: Joe Gurstant’s blog – Our time to act.

• Brookings Institute on job openings – said people of color and women are encouraged to apply. We don’t take unqualified applications. What does this imply?

• How are you recruiting?

• Reaching out through network – who is a person of color? Specifically targeting people.

• At conferences who is represented in panels reflects the audience. Am I welcome in this space?

• Do have connections to people that do have diverse networks.

• Who are all the invisible people in a sector that we’re missing because we don’t think they would fit in the org?

As Ambassadors of diversity what can we do to encourage this?

• Keep the job process going until you get the diversity qualification filled.
• Reach out to your personal networks and the personal networks of those people.

Session notes by Ben Merrion

Allison Fine and Beth Kanter led a thoughtful keynote conversation moderated by Shireen Mitchell during the first annual NonProfit 20 Unconference.

Fine and Kanter told attendees that nonprofits need to empower their free agents (volunteers who are passionate about your nonprofit) to help organizations further their mission.

Nonprofits should embrace free agents to raise money for your organization, said Fine and Kanter and Kanter.  Kanter highlighted Roger Carr as a prime example.  Prior to becoming a board member for the Arthritis Foundation he was an active volunteer (aka free agent) with the organization and spent his free time raising money for the organization. Why did Carr became a free agent for the Arthritis Foundation? Because he had a very personal connection to the issue.

Kanter and Fine also warned nonprofits to stop obsessing over control. “The one thing in this world that nonprofits can’t do is control free agents but you can build strong relationships along the way, educate them about your issues, and set them free.”

Before you engage free agents though it’s important that you listen to them first. “This allows you to distinguish between who are the real free agents passionate about your cause and who the trolls are, said Kanter.” You need to mentor and nurture the free agents.

Are Nonprofits Adapting to Social Media?

The shift is beginning to happen, said Fine. The organization and cultural change is extremely hard. It takes time, courage, and patience.

Fine cited a couple of organizations who have done a good job at changing the culture within their organization and leveraging social media. The American Red Cross has benefited from social media to connect with people out of crisises such as the earthquake in Haiti and has raised well over $30 million. Planned Parenthood has also been successful at using social media to leverage new donors and reach new members.

The Four I’s: Measuring Social Media Impact

At the end of the day, nonprofits want to be able to measure ROI. What are they really getting in return for investing time in social media? Kanter recommends looking at the four I’s.

Return on Insight: What you are getting back is learning about how people feel about your organization and the issues you work on.  Sometimes nonprofits don’t value this enough.

Return on Interaction:  How well you are engaging with people.

Return on Investment: Are you converting people into supporters? Examining conversions will help you learn how to do social media better and where to invest your time.

Return on Impact: Track all the results online and on land.

Notes by Allyson Kapin. Originally published on Care2’s Frogloop blog.

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