Author: Eli

Lean Principles for Nonprofits: Because Your Annual Plan is a Fraud

Starting, building and operating a nonprofit organization is done under conditions of extreme uncertainty, but we plan with confidence. Enormous energy is put into Five Year Strategic Plans, Annual Plans and Quarterly plans, but then real life intrudes and the reality is that there’s only the vaguest resemblance between our plans and our actual work. So much wasted time! There’s got to be a better way.

Kayvon Khalilzadeh of Lean Startup Vancouver will introduce us to the concept of the lean startup

Lean Startup is a methodology that favors experimentation over elaborate planning, customer feedback over intuition, and iterative design over traditional “big design up front” development. Although the methodology is just a few years old, its concepts—such as “minimum viable product” and “pivoting” have quickly taken root in the start-up world. Now it’s time for the nonprofit sector to adopt this innovative approach.

We are going to discuss topics like:

  • What is Lean Startup?
  • Why is Lean important? What is the point?
  • What is Lean for Nonprofit? Is it any different than for the private sector?
  • Learn about Lean processes
  • Discover Lean tools

Background Reading

This session is for:

  • Nonprofit Executives who want to manage their organizers more effectively
  • Nonprofit Staff need to increase the level of innovation so that they can meet their mission
  • Web and online staff who are delivering website and online products for their organization

RSVP on Meetup.com

When: Tuesday, March 4, 2013, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Where: HiVE Vancouver, #210 – 128 W Hastings St.

RSVP on Meetup.com

AGENDA

  • 5:30 – 6:00 PM: Networking and snacks
  • 6:00 – 7:00 PM: Presentation
  • 7:00 – 7:30 PM: Q&A and Wrap

TWITTER

  • Event hashtag: #Net2van
  • Host: @Net2van
  • Presenter: @kayvonk
  • Venue sponsor: @HiVEvancouver
  • Food sponsor: @iATSPayments
  • Social sponsor: @NTENorg

ACCESSIBILITY

Mobility Access: This venue does not have ramps and elevators and is not wheelchair accessible.

Hearing Access: Speakers at this event will use microphones.

Sight Access: Contact the organizers if you need an advance copy of the presentation.

We want everyone to be able to participate in the Net2Van community and events. Please don’t hesitate to let us know what we can do to accommodate your needs.

February’s Nonprofit Tech Events

Hi folks!

Net2van has three free events scheduled for February. We are especially excited for our afternoon workshop on video storytelling co-presented with Pull Focus Films.

Net2-Vancouver-logo

UPCOMING EVENTS

Social Media Success with HootSuite

When: Tuesday, February 4, 5:30 PM
Where: HootSuite Headquarters, Vancouver BC.
Waiting list: http://goo.gl/6H5ZmA

NOTE: this event is SOLD OUT, but you can get on the waiting list.

Join NetSquared and HootSuite for a Social Media Surgery. Get personalized and hands-on assistance with your organization’s social media strategy. Whatever your challenge or skill level we’ll have social media experts from HootSuite available to answer your questions!

WORKSHOP: Video for Nonprofits: The Essential Elements of Storytelling

When: Tuesday, February 11. 1:30 –4:30 PM
Where: Pull Focus Film School, Vancouver BC.
RSVP: http://goo.gl/mN4r0d

This workshop will look at the essential elements of storytelling including three act structure, character, tone, and plot development. Participants will learn about specific approaches to capturing the emotional, human angle of their story, and how to inspire and engage their audience with a call to action.

Community Management Forum

When: Monday, February 24. 6:00 PM
Where: SAP Executive Briefing Centre, Vancouver BC.
RSVP: http://goo.gl/5F0lUO

Details TBA, but it’ll be awesome and feature Kei Baritugo.

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That’s it for now. See you soon!

Be Understood: Free Workshops on Plain Language for Nonprofits

Community Plain Language Services is offering a free introductory workshop to Plain Language communications.
This 4-hour workshop is open to people who write for the public and work in community organizations. There is no fee to attend but your association must be a non-profit or public agency.

Date: Wednesday, 12 February 2014 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
RSVP: http://goo.gl/dES0uw

Can’t make it? There are also workshops planned for March and April.

Thanks to Cheryl Stephens for the opportunity.

EVENT REPORT: Raiser’s Edge Therapy: Year-End Tax Receipts

It’s that time of year again – time to issue those year-end tax receipts. We recently hosted Kirk Schmidt, Director of Professional Services with Method Works Consulting. He went over some tax receipting best practices and offered some useful tips and tricks on how to do consolidated tax receipting using Blackbaud’s The Raiser’s Edge.

VIDEO 1: Canada Revenue Agency Charitable Tax Receipting Guidelines

VIDEO 2: Consolidated Tax Receipting in The Raiser’s Edge

SLIDES

[TICKETS] Social Media 101: Creating a Social Media Strategy

Our friends at University of Invoke (and co-producers of the Community Manager Forum) are offering a range of practical half-day courses to help equip individuals with the same knowledge and tools that Invoke Labs uses to help their clients succeed.

Social Media 101: Creating a Social Media Strategy

Date: Wednesday, 5 February 2014 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Promo code: NonProfitFriend – 30% off 🙂
RSVP http://goo.gl/3fGkNa

With Invoke Labs seasoned practitioners at the helm, you’ll learn what really grows and strengthens a community, as well as develop your own social media strategy. The course comes complete with a constructive 1:1 feedback session, and a 1 hour follow up consult to ensure that the strategy is transforming into action.

The University of Invoke is a new education initiative from Invoke Labs. We will be offering a range of practical half-day workshops to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools that we use to help the companies that we work with succeed.

Social Media 101: Creating a Social Media Strategy is the first of these courses to be offered.

Platforms and mediums to produce content, solidifying brand identity and a brand voice, identifying and connecting with target demographics and proving validity through measurement…

Gone are the days when social media was a task marketers did in their spare time. Today, social media is a key channel for building brand awareness, customer acquisition, retention and support for large and small brands alike. Developing an actionable plan specific to your product/service is as much a vital step as actually executing it.

In this course, you’ll learn from industry leaders and senior level practitioners on what really grows and strengthens a community, as well as develop your own social media strategy complete with a constructive 1:1 feedback session.

What is included?

  • A half-day workshop delivered by industry leaders
  • Snacks and refreshments on the day
  • A 1-hour follow up consultation with one of our expert staff
  • A follow up networking event approximately 2 weeks after the workshop to discuss progress and challenges with the group
  • A selection of materials to read before attending
  • A selection of materials for follow up reading

Who should attend?
This course is designed for anyone who is responsible for managing or contributing to an effective social media strategy. Marketing managers, community managers, social media co-ordinators, or anyone that wants to get a better return on their social media investment.

Net2van Conference Date Options

Net2van is gonna hold a super awesome one-day conference this May on how nonprofits can use technology to get things done. Help us select a date!

Also, are other events with similar topics already scheduled for the same time? Let us know so that we don’t step on each other’s toes.

EVENT REPORT: What You Need to Know About Online Donations

Your kids will never write a cheque, and in a few short years neither will the majority of your donor base. While it used to be acceptable to collect money “any way possible” online, the data is telling us that donors want a donation experience that is easy to follow, on brand and connects the donor with the cause. How we accomplish these things without compromising security, CRA compliance and more is not always straightforward. This session will cover the basics of:

Compliance and Law with respect to donation processing and the CRA The 101’s of payment processing terms, security and must knows How you can get the most out of your online donation experience

PRESENTER: JEFF GOLBY
Jeff has worked in one form or another of credit card based donation processing for Charity for around eight years on the charity side, for profit side and back again now on the charity side. Currently he works for Chimp Foundation an online tool that allows you to manage and amplify your charitable giving. His role there is to create a space where law, charity, money and trust come together in a way that inspires and motivates people to give.

Connecting for Quality: Social Media and Health Care

sm4health posterOn Feb. 3rd, the eHealth Strategy Office (Faculty of Medicine, UBC) and the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council are hosting a free public forum called Connecting for Quality: Social Media and Health Care. We are inviting health care providers and family care givers to come share their ideas on how social media can be used to improve health care and patient safety in BC.

Register at: http://connectingforquality.eventbrite.ca

Or attend the live webcast: http://bit.ly/1iaUOSa

Date: Monday Feb. 3, 2014
Time: 7-9pm (sign-in and reception at 6pm)
Place: Paetzold Health Education Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Main floor of Jim Pattison Pavilion South

Join the conversation on Twitter with #sm4health

Video for Nonprofits Workshop: The Essential Elements of Storytelling

Whether you’re making a fundraising video or a video for your website, you have a story to tell. And with most people turning to the web for their news, information and entertainment needs, great video content is key to getting your message out. So how can you make the most of it?

The web loves comedy, brevity and surprise. It also thrives on originality, featuring stories that are often counter-intuitive.

This workshop will look at the essential elements of storytelling including three act structure, character, tone, and plot development. Participants will learn about specific approaches to capturing the emotional, human angle of their story, and how to inspire and engage their audience with a call to action.

Format: This event will include a lecture portion and an interactive portion to practice and implement your skills.

NOTE: this workshop is limited to 40 participants.

Steve Rosenberg is the Executive Director of Pull Focus Film School. He has produced over 50 videos for non-profits and charities.

RSVP on Meetup.com

When: Tuesday, February 11, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Where: Pull Focus Film School, 306 Abbott St, Vancouver, BC.
Fee: Suggested donation of $10 collected at the door

Snacks and beverages will be provided.

RSVP on Meetup.com

TWITTER

  • Event hashtag: #Net2van
  • Host: @Net2van
  • Presenter: @pullfocusfilms

ACCESSIBILITY

  • Mobility Access: This venue is NOT wheelchair accessible.
  • Hearing Access: Speakers at this event will NOT use microphones.
  • Sight Access: Contact the organizers if you need an advance copy of the presentation.

We want everyone to be able to participate in the Net2Van community and events. Please don’t hesitate to let us know what we can do to accommodate your needs.

PROPOSAL: Net2Van Conference and Camp in May 2014

NetSquared Vancouver has been holding NetSquared Camp unconferences since 2010. These Barcamp-style events consist of programming created by the participants, which means the format is a great way to feature the collective wisdom of Vancouver’s nonprofit technology community. Plus, they’re super fun!

However,Session Grid 2the format means the event is inevitability uneven and roughly hewn. Some people are comfortable with that, but others need a bit more polish to get that they need from an educational event. So, let’s polish! I promised fewer, but better events in 2014 and this is what it could look like.

Proposal: a two-day event in May consisting of a conference and a camp

What do you think? I plan to noodle this problem over during the Christmas holidays and I’d love your feedback.

DAY ONE: Conference

A full day event held in a conference-style venue.
The day will feature around five innovative thinkers in the nonprofit space who are experienced public speakers. They will each present for 1 hour. The day will be capped by a keynote speaker who is probably flown in.

  • When: A Friday in May. 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM with evening social
  • Venue: conference-style room with lecture or banquet seating
  • Catering: Coffee, snacks and lunch provided
  • Price: Between $50 and $100

DAY TWO: Camp

A community-driven summit organized using open space technology. NetSquared Camp LogoThe day will follow the model of previous NetSquared Camps.

  • When: A Saturday in May. 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Venue: The HiVE or similar venue
  • Catering: Coffee and snacks provided, but you’ll have to take care of yourself for lunch
  • Price: Cheap!

Net2 Pacific Northwest

This gathering will also be a great excuse to bring together NetSquared organizers from across the Pacific Northwest and California. Using a travel bursary offered by TechSoup Global I intend to invite NetSquared organizers from San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Victoria to join me on the Wednesday before the conference for a one-day community powwow. Our guests will then be invited to join us for the next two days of nonprofit technology goodness.

Questions to Be Answered

When will the event be held?
I expect the event to be held on one of the following sets of dates:

  • Friday, May 2 – Saturday, May 3
  • Friday, May 9 – Saturday, May 10
  • Friday, May 16 – Saturday, May 17

What will be the theme of the conference?
This is still being decided. I’m kicking around these ideas:

  • Survive and Thrive: The Transition to Online Fundraising
  • Why Should We Care?: How Your Organization Can Become a Master Storyteller
  • Postcards From the Future: What Nonprofits Need to Do Now to Prepare for a Digital Culture
  • Digital Strategy: Getting Beyond Facebook and Twitter

Who is the target audience?
We want to reach managers and Executive Directors of small and medium-sized charities who are looking for insight into how they can develop an effective digital strategy for their organization.

What will the conference cost?
Somewhere between $50 and $100. A screaming deal for a full day event!

Where will the conference be held?
TBD. But the floors will be clean and we’ll provide lunch.

How many attendees will there be?
We expect between 60 and 100 attendees.

OMG! That sounds amazing! How can I become a sponsor?
Don’t be shy. Email eli@net2van.com