We in the nonprofit community are incredibly fortunate to live in a time when impactful, relevant technologies are both available and affordable. Internet connectivity is nearly universal, with speeds growing exponentially, while competition continues to drive down cost. A crowded marketplace and device miniaturization have transformed the hardware space, also reducing costs while expanding capabilities and ranges of use. Finally, the ability to consume software as a service based on need (rather than purchasing a perpetual license) has expanded the range of solutions available to nonprofit organizations while dramatically reducing or even eliminating the need for capital and infrastructure expertise.
We believe the missions of the nonprofit organizations we serve deserve access to any technologies that allow them to reach more people, provide more services, and impact more lives. Yet, while access to relevant, affordable technologies offers the opportunity to expand the social impact of a nonprofit organization, it must also be combined with access to experience and expertise to allow an organization to fully leverage the related benefits. 501tech and the nonprofits we serve benefit greatly from the thought leadership provided by organizations like IdealWare, NTEN, TechSoup, Technology Affinity Group, and other similar organizations.
Great TED talks for nonprofit leaders
“A new way to judge nonprofits”, Dan Pallota at TED2013
“What nonprofits can learn from Coca-Cola” Melinda French Gates @ TEDxChange
“How to start a movement.” Derek Silvers @ TED2010
“The antidote to apathy.” Dave Meslin @ TEDxToronto 2010