Are you trying to reduce your IT costs? Did you join TechSoup?

TechSoup.org is itself a nonprofit making software donations exclusively to other nonprofits from 42 major technology providers, including Microsoft, Cisco, Symantec, Intuit, Adobe and Sun (for an administrative fee which is usually 5% of retail cost). They have enabled nonprofits to save more than $1.8 billion in IT expenses since 2001!

To qualify, organizations must be a 501(c)3 or a library.

Here are some helpful links:

· How to Join, Register, Quality and Use TechSoup

· Archive of Recorded Webinars – Outreach and Marketing, Technology Planning, Using the Internet, Advocacy, Constituent Management, Fundraising, Digital Divide, GreenTech, Organizational Management.

· Refurbished Computer Initiative – Low-cost, high-quality computers with a new operating system and up-to-date software (covered by a 90-day warranty).

Additionally, Techsoup has founded NetSquared which is working on and offline to connect the global community at the intersection of technology and social change. I have recently opened a NetSquared local group in Memphis. If you are looking to connect, share ideas, and collaborate with other nonprofit professionals offline, your place is with us. Join here.

Date: November 4^th

Time: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Location: Alliance For Nonprofit Excellence, 5100 Poplar Ave #502, Memphis, TN

Agenda: The first meeting will offer an opportunity to share about your work and learn about others in the area. Come tell us about your effort, your concerns, and what you need and want from a collective of like-minded individuals and organizations. Future meetings will also provide presentations on web tools that better enable communities and organizations to mobilize for change.

Click Here to Register for the Memphis Group

 

 

My Best March Readings

I would like to start a new tradition and share with you some of my favorite readings from around the web. So, a few days late, here are my best March findings:

1. Google Voice transcribing system enables all men to now give birth to a child.
2. This is a good resource from one of my favorite nonprofit technology organizations, NTEN. You should definitely download the 2009 IT Staffing & Spending Report .
3. A great video on how to embed a YouTube video in Power Point from Beth’s Blog.
4. A must read for every organization with a website, 10 tips to improve your “about” page (visit Cloud for Good‘s website)
5. 4 ways nonprofits can use Google Buzz and 5 ways nonprofits can increase engagement with YouTube.
6. Do you follow me on Twitter? You should! Here are 10 Twitter tools for your organization.
7. Foundations and donors are online, are you?
8. Hook Memphis Up! Check out my interview for the Memphis Commercial Appeal: Leaders say Google Fiber Network could transform Memphis.
9. If you ever wonder why your organization should float in the clouds, this is another great read from NTEN.
10. Does your organization blog? Here is some good advice on how to create a successful blog.

I just opened a Fan page for Cloud for Good in Facebook, fan us!