Collaborating with businesses and universities to build websites for nonprofits
Abstract
Collaboration between AmeriCorps*VISTA, national and local nonprofit organizations, universities, and high-tech companies can be mutually rewarding. Teaming For Technology San Francisco shares its recipe for providing community-based nonprofit organizations with commercial-quality websites, which can greatly increase the effectiveness and sphere of influence organizations have in their communities.Issue
Many community-based nonprofit organizations often share similar frustrations regarding the use of new technology. The organizations feel they are far behind the technology curve due to their lack of resources and training. Yet their donors and founders expect more efficient operations at a time when competition for funding grows increasingly fierce.Action
San Francisco Teaming for Technology worked with local nonprofits to help them partner with high-tech companies to create commercial-quality websites and help get them ahead of the curve.
Teams of students in the San Francisco State University Multimedia Studies program paired with local nonprofit organizations to develop high-quality websites to meet their course objectives. The local United Way chapter was instrumental in coordinating the collaboration logistics. IBM provided grants for each participating nonprofit organization to purchase technology equipment and provided technical training. The participation of IBM lent credibility to the program, which in turn influenced the participation of other high-tech companies.
Steps for Implementing a Teaming for Technology Project
Follow these steps in the order presented:
- Research the social, economic, and cultural conditions in your local community
- Identify possible collaborative partners — United Way, high-tech and multimedia industries, local colleges and universities, and other potential interested partners
- Design a win-win collaborative model by identifying how each stakeholder will benefit from the collaboration
- Design a sustainable program model
- Make sure the "price of entry" for partners is much less than their perceived benefits
- Identify specific benefits for each partner
- Identify specific outcomes for each partner
- Approach each partner and make your sales pitch
- Work hard to keep the collaboration going
- Have outgoing AmeriCorps*VISTA members train new AmeriCorps*VISTAs members to take over job functions
Benefits of collaboration for universities:
- Generates positive publicity and helps attract potential students and donors
- Decreases workload and allows professors to concentrate on area of expertise
- Offers students greater opportunities for cultural and social exchange and valuable learning experiences
- Promotes "brand name" through free publicity and word of mouth support
- Expands marketing since each website created in the program displays national and local United Way logos and URL links
- Increases public perception as an innovative leader in the nonprofit sector
- Attracts attention of potential new donors
- Creates opportunities to network with other organizations that serve particular ethnic, cultural, or language populations
- Public perception of having "social consciousness" effective in swaying consumer selection
- Generates positive publicity and recognition
- Creates a more positive perception of the company in a diverse ethnic market
- Builds relationships with the nonprofit organization's board of directors, whose members may also be desired customers
Context
Teaming for Technology is a collaborative effort of AmeriCorps*VISTA, IBM, and the United Way of America. These three organizations have joined forces to bring non-profits up to date technologically in 16 cities nationwide.
In San Francisco, Teaming for Technology joined with the Northern California Council for the Community and the Multimedia Studies program of San Francisco State University to develop websites for local non-profits.
Citation
Harper, Deborah. A Recipe for Teaming Technology with San Francisco State University. San Francisco: Teaming for Technology. 2000.Outcome
After the first semester of the program's implementation, four community-based organizations had new commercial-quality websites to assist their clients and promote their services. Another eight organizations will receive websites by the end of the following academic year.
Websites can help nonprofit organizations:
- Publicize programs
- Accurately portray the culture, history, and contributions of the group
- Advocate for a cause
- Form alliances with other community-based organizations
- Role model and mentor other nonprofit organizations serving the same populations
- Streamline staff paperwork and answer repetitive questions from the public
- Expand the sphere of influence from local to national and global
- Increase funding possibilities
- Move to a social enterprise model of generating revenue
- Attract new sources of funding
- Provide staff with computer and Internet skills
- Educate clients and supporters on possibilities of Intranet and new technology
- Help bridge the digital divide
Evidence
The effectiveness of the website project for community-based organizations is best expressed by the testimonials written by the executive directors of agencies receiving websites, available in the resource, A Recipe for Teaming Technology with San Francisco State University (see citation below).Posted On
March 19, 2001For More Information
Resources
From The Resource Center library:
A Recipe for Teaming Technology with San Francisco State University
Item number: R1844
See also resources from Campaign Consultation, Inc.
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