Internet, Online Community, Virtual Volunteering, Social Networking

Articles and book excerpts on this subject

Special: A free copy of the Keyboard Roundtable article that was published in the Oct-Dec 2007 issue of e-Volunteerism: Why Can't We Persuade Our Field to Interact Online?

11 Steps to Success with Social Networking by Katya Andresen & Stacie Mann, Network for Good (2008)
Formulating a Web Strategy from The Nonprofit Guide to the Internet
Frictionless Fundraising: How the Internet Can Bring Fundraising Back into Balance by Michael Gilbert
How Charities Can Raise Money With Twitter and Other Social-Networking Tools. transcript of live discussion in Nov. 2008 held by The Chronicle of Philanthropy
How to Handle Online Criticism, by Jayne Cravens (2006)
How to Hide Email Addresses for Action Alerts or Mailing Lists from NetActivism Notes
Internet discussion groups for volunteers, by Jayne Cravens
NetActivism from NetActivism
"Online Power for Volunteer Action" and "Capacity Building in the Digital Age through Volunteer Involvement," essays written by Susan Ellis for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Conference on Volunteering and ICTs, December 2003
Reach out with Google Earth Outreach by Jennifer Anthony for TechSoup (2007)
Rewards and Benefits of Online Volunteering: Some Testimonials -- a YouTube video from Macdonald Youth Services, Canada (2007)
Social-Media Workshop: How Nonprofit Groups Can Use Online Tools to Build Awareness and Raise Money, transcript of a live online discussion by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, February 2009.
Using Real-Time Communications (VoIP, Chat, Instant Messaging, Etc.) With Volunteers, by Jayne Cravens (2006)
Virtual Volunteering: Current Status and Future Prospects, by Vic Murray and Yvonne Harrison of the University of Victoria, 2002 study about online service in Canada (PDF)
Virtual Volunteering Resource Guide, by Jennifer Uscher, AARP (2006)
Volunteer Management Mistakes to Avoid, a TechSoup special report for working with IT volunteers
Volunteering On-line: A Digital Opportunity to Participate and Volunteers Donate Time from Home, for Developing Countries - two articles by Jayne Cravens summarizing three years of UNV's online volunteering efforts (2000-2003).
VolunteerMatch: An Online Service Helps Everyone Find a Great Place to Volunteer, report from the Carnegie Corporation, 2008
Who Says Your Email Can't Smile?, by Scott Ginsberg (you'll need to register with your email address to access this article).

Free electronic books on this subject

Bridging the Digital Divide - Connecting Volunteers
Short handbook developed for volunteers in Brazilian charities in Sao Paulo providing basic, practical information for making the most of e-mail and the Internet in their service. Available in English and Portugese versions.

The Virtual Volunteering Guidebook (pdf file): How to Apply the Principles of Real-World Volunteer Management to Online Service by Susan J. Ellis and Jayne Cravens.
Comprehensive look at how to develop and manage an online volunteer program.

Available in Spanish (la traducción de la Guía de Voluntariado Virtual de Susan Ellis y Jayne Cravens) at:
http://evoluntas.wordpress.com/2006/08/31/guia-de-voluntariado-virtual/

Impact of Information and Communications Technology on Volunteer Management
http://nonprofitscan.imaginecanada.ca/files/kdc-cdc/harrison_report_eng.pdf
Study by Vic Murray and Yvonne Harrison of the University of Victoria, for the Canadian Centre on Philanthropy, 2002 (free PDF).

Volunteering in the Information Society
Report by Manuel Acevedo on worldwide involvement of volunteers in information and communications technology (ICT), especially related to human development. (October 2005)

Youth as E-Citizens Report
Report by American University's Center for Social Media (155-pages, 2004) about how an online youth civic culture, largely unnoticed by the general public, has taken root on the Internet and is fostering Generation Y's participation in U.S. politics and community affairs.

Web sites with useful information on this subject

ammado
http://www.ammado.com/
ammado connects nonprofits, socially responsible companies and engaged individuals in an interactive and unique environment, harnessing the power of the Internet to accelerate communication, awareness and fundraising. It started in 2007 and is available in 12 languages.

Care2
http://www.care2.com
A social network site that makes "it easy for everyone to live a healthy, green lifestyle and impact the causes they care about most." Example of a thriving online community (over 10 million members).

CharityHowTo

http://www.charityhowto.com

Provides instant-access video training guides and courses to help nonprofits
to utilize the Internet in easy, and often free, ways to engage their constituency, communicate their mission, and develop relationships that ultimately help to acquire and maintain donors.

Convio Connection
http://www.convio.com/site/PageServer?pagename=news _newsletter
Sample articles from free bimonthly newsletter for nonprofits on how to attract constituents, drive action, and build loyalty through online relationship management.

Coyote Communications Technology Tip Sheets
www.coyotecommunications.com/whatsnew.html
Jayne Cravens, the guru of virtual volunteering, has been maintaining this personal Web site since 1996 amd offers a wealth of tips sheets on all sorts of Internet-related subjects for nonprofits in general and volunteer program managers in particular. Always on the cutting-edge of technology, Jayne has provided a wonderfully welcoming and informative podcast, talking about how podcasts can be used by nonprofits, and just how easy it is to do. http://www.coyotecommunications.com/podcasts/jayne_01.mp3.

ePhilanthropy Foundation
www.ephilanthropy.org
Educational organization helping nonprofits to use best Internet practices in online fundraising and communication, and to foster the effective and safe use of the Internet for philanthropic purposes. (Acquired by Network for Good in July 2008)

Handbook for Online Volunteers
http://www.serviceleader.org/vv/handbook/
Reference information and tools to help online volunteers during their service with nonprofit organizations. Other agencies are welcomed to use this handbook as a resource for their own online volunteers, per the credit request at http://www.serviceleader.org/new/virtual/2003/04/000122.php.

Handheld Technologies and Volunteering
http://www.unites.org/Html/Resource/unites/unites0.htm
Information compiled by the United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS) on how PDAs or handheld computer technologies are used around the world in community service/volunteering/advocacy.

NetAction / The Virtual Activist
http://www.netaction.org/
Site dedicated to helping activists use Internet technology. Includes an archive of articles from 1996-2003 and a self-guided training course on "Using the Internet for Outreach and Organizing," available in English and Spanish at: http://www.netaction.org/training/versions.html

NetSquared
http://www.netsquared.org/
An initiative of TechSoup Global, this site wants "to jumpstart the leading edge of online technological change -- and to help nonprofits use that edge to change the world!" Explains the new generation of online tools available that make it easier than ever before to collaborate, share information and mobilize support.

Network for Good – Social Networking Learning Area
http://www.fundraising123.org/social-networking
Articles, updated tips, and case studies on how to use blogs, social networking sites, and other online tools to raise and communicate with supporters.

nfpSynergy
http://www.nfpsynergy.net/our_free_research/default.aspx
Download the excellent free reports on "Virtual Promise -- From Rhetoric to Reality" and >"Touch & Go: The internet, digital TV and mobile telephony as tools for maximising the impact of charities" from this UK consulting and rersearch firm.

Nonprofit Commons Project
http://npsl.wikispaces.com/
Managed by TechSoup Global, this a virtual community of practice for nonprofits to explore the opportunities and benefits of Second Life. You do not have to have an office in the Nonprofit Commons to get involved! This site provides documentation and other helpful information not only for NP Commons tenants, but for any nonprofit that is interested in learning about Second Life.

Online Community Toolkit
http://www.fullcirc.com/community/communitymanual.htm
Although not written for volunteer managers, provides a wide range of materials on fostering "online community." A nice tool for fostering volunteer community.

Online Volunteering (OV)
http://www.onlinevolunteering.org/
A free service provided by the United Nations Volunteers programme that connects development organizations with online volunteers. The site contains many tips about online volunteering, both for volunteers and host organizations.

Publicus.net
http://www.publicus.net/articles.html
A site devoted to "public strategies for the online world," this link takes you an archive of articles about e-citizenship. Also see archive of postings to DoWire.org --"Democracies Online": http://www.publicus.net/dowire.html

Reaching Volunteers on the Internet
http://1800volunteer.blogspot.com/
Search Engine Optimization, Marketing and Mass Email tips and best practices on using the Internet to help volunteers find their perfect volunteer opportunity. From 1-800-Volunteer.org.

Sanchez Elementary School Online Mentoring Program
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/sanchezov/index.html
This resource was developed by Jayne Cravens for Sanchez Elementary School in Austin, Texas through the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin. This online mentoring program is no longer operational but these Web materials have been preserved to help other schools develop their own online mentoring programs.

Senior Corps Tech Center
http://seniortechcenter.org/
Resources for American Senior Corps programs focusing on the use of the Internet for recruitment and training.

ServiceLeader: Virtual Volunteering
http://www.serviceleader.org/new/virtual/
Home of the original Virtual Volunteering Project and still a major site focused on online service, with information on all aspects of virtual volunteering.

SixDegrees.org
http://www.sixdegrees.org/
Any one person is connected to any other person through six or fewer relationships, because it's a small world. SixDegrees.org (founded by Kevin Bacon and Network for Good) is about using this idea to accomplish something good (social networking with a social conscience). Support favorite charities by donating or creating fundraising “badges” — as well as check out the favorite causes of other people, including celebrities.

Social Citizens Blog - Glossary 2.0
http://www.socialcitizens.org/blog/what-is-a-blog-anyway
Site utilizing the most innovative online technology for "social citizenship" offers this page defining blogs, wikis, and other tools (includes videos).

TechSoup.org Learning Center
http://techsoup.com/learningcenter/index.cfm
The "technology place for nonprofits" -- an overall great site. The Using the Internet page of the learning center has articles that discuss email, Web 2.0 and social netowrking tools.

Urban Survival Project
http://urbansurvivalproject.googlepages.com/about
The project's goal is to create a virtual volunteering website that is accessed through social networks like Facebook to bolster the support system for inner-city kids by solving the problems of commitment, localization and physicality that act as barriers to volunteering. Centered on a blog.

Virtual Volunteering Project Archive
http://energizeinc.com/art/subj/VVArchiveCon.html
The Service Leader Web site was revised in 2003 and older information--particularly about online mentoring-- was removed. Energize has received permission to archive these pages here.

Volunteerism and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Library
http://wwv.icvolunteers.org/index.php?what=library
Extensive collection of original papers written for the for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Conference on Volunteering and ICTs, December 2003.

VoVici
http://www.vovici.com/resources/survey-best-practices.aspx
A variety of articles on how to conduct online surveys and gain more participation from respondents.

Wiki That!
http://www.wikithat.com/
This site proclaims itself "a simple, seamless, enjoyable PROCESS for civic and enterprise groups that actually DO stuff!" It's a blog that introduces "wikis"--a form of online interaction for nonprofit and enterprise organizations to improve the effectiveness of groups and activities.

YouTube Video Volunteers

http://www.youtube.com/videovolunteers

With the growing popularity of YouTube and the increasing ease of posting streaming video to Web sites, more nonprofits are discovering the benefits of getting their message out with moving pictures. But it still takes expertise and creativity to produce a memorable, effective video clip. The YouTube Video Volunteers project matches video-skilled volunteers with nonprofits wanted to develop a video message.

Youth as E-Citizens
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/ecitizens/index.htm
Online "tour" identifies and analyzes almost 400 websites, created for and in some cases by young people, that engage youth in civic activities.