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 Martin Schneiderman
has served as technology editor,
industry analyst, and regular contributing writer for
Foundation News &
Commentary, the membership
publication of the Council on Foundations.
IAA conducts regularly scheduled presentations on a wide
range of technology and philanthropy related topics at
international, national and regional conferences.
In this section you'll find
articles and presentations about technology, industry trends, surveys, and links to resources
for foundations and nonprofit organizations.
To view these resources download and install Adobe's free  Acrobat
Reader.
 INTEGRATED
FOUNDATION INFORMATION SYSTEM SERVICE PROVIDER CHART
Click this
chart to see the major North American service providers of integrated
foundation information systems
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Avoiding
and Solving Problems Selecting and Implementing Integrated Philanthropic
Information Systems
In this 21st century quickly evolving information age, selecting,
migrating data, configuring, personalizing, testing, and providing
ongoing support of new full featured integrated philanthropic systems is
proving to be a major challenge. In this frank and practical session, IAA
has identified many of the most common real-world problems that
grantmaking professionals are encountering. We've worked with the session
attendees to identify the causes, solutions, and practical things that
they can do to avoid and remedy these problems.
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Strategies
and Deal Breakers for Choosing an Integrated Grants Management System
With so many Web-based integrated grants management systems now on the
market, how do you make a well informed decision
about which one is best for your grantmaking organization? What are the
pros, cons and deal breakers that grantmakers need to carefully
consider when selecting a new or upgraded cloud-based grants management system?
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Selecting
and Implementing Cloud-based Services with your Integrated Foundation
Information System
The development, selection, configuration, and implementation of
cloud-based integrated foundation information systems are key trends for
grantmakers, philanthropic leaders, and their IT support staff. This is
sure to continue and expand in the future. Access to this information and
integration with a foundation s operational systems is now enabling
grantmakers to efficiently conduct due diligence, see and understand data
and trends, and to present information in graphical formats to facilitate
decision-making.
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Selecting
and Implementing Cloud-based Integrated Foundation Information Systems
Many grantmakers are now planning to migrate to externally hosted
integrated foundation information systems. While this has many advantages
there are significant differences between these types of systems that
grantmakers need to understand, carefully consider and plan for.
This
presentation will help you to understand real world lessons learned (pros
and cons), the key questions to ask when selecting and migrating to fully
Web-based integrated systems, how to make well-informed decisions, and
how to effectively manage systems on an ongoing basis.
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Digital
Dashboards: Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Nowadays the development and implementation of digital dashboards of
current and historical grant information is a high priority for
grantmakers. The best of these graphical systems: are personalized for
different types of system users, are easy use, present data clearly, and
enable drill down capability.
See a variety of the major digital dashboards showing best practices in
how each can be used for different targeted audiences. What works, what
doesn t work and why?
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What's New in
Grants Management Software and Services
There are now many experienced and new vendors developing online
applications and Web-based grants management systems. They enable
grantmakers to take advantage of new features and functions to save time,
reduce costs, and to streamline operations. This presentation provides an
overview of major trends plus new features and integration with external
systems.
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Establishing the NGOsource
Equivalency Determination Information Repository (EDIR) on Non-U.S. Based
NGOs
Learn about this sector-wide service that now streamlines the equivalency
determination process and has established a sharable repository of
information on non-U.S. based nonprofit organizations (NGOs). A high
level of support for this collaborative project has been provided by U.S.
grantmakers, NGO leaders and international giving service providers. See
the FAQs for more
information.
Information
Age Associates  has served as the
NGOsource project leader and strategic consultant since inception. TechSoup
Global was selected by the Council on Foundations as the NGOsource
host organization.
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Online
Information Resources for Grantmakers and Grantseekers
An overview of online information resources and analytical tools for
grantmakers and grantseekers. Multiple searchable databases with charting,
graphing and mapping capabilities are presented showing detailed
information about grantmakers, U.S. nonprofits and international NGOs.
Use these tools to identify funding partners and make better informed
decisions. Try out the new interactive maps
and charts
that Foundation Center eGrant
Reporters get for free.
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Emerging
Technology Trends and Choosing the Right Integrated Grants Management
System for Your Foundation
How does a foundation select and implement their next generation integrated
foundation information system? What are the significant trends and key
questions you should ask to make an informed decision? Presented at COF
Annual Conference 2006 and AGM 2007.
View a
chart describing the products and services offered by the vendors of
grants management and online application systems and services.
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Implementing
a Multilingual Grants Management System
A case study of how Belgium's King Baudouin Foundation selected, adapted,
enhanced, and successfully implemented an integrated multilingual
(French, Dutch, German and English) grants/project management system.
Presented at the 2006 European Foundation Center Conference in Brussels.
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USA
Patriot Act - Impact on Nonprofits and Philanthropy
An overview of how U.S. anti-terrorist legislation and the November 2005
revised U.S. Treasury Department Voluntary
Guidelines are impacting nonprofits and philanthropy.
Click
here for the US Treasury Department's Questions and Answers about the
Patriot Act and Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) checking.
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Lessons
Learned from Managing the Grand Challenges in Global Health Program
How this $436 million milestone-based program was managed by implementing
integrated online systems to solicit and process 2,000 proposals from
researchers in 98 countries and conducting 6,000 critical online peer
reviews by internationally renowned scientists.
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Technologies That Enable
Knowledge Management:
Understanding the Options and Taking the First Steps
An overview of different technologies that can and are being used by
grantmakers to implement integrated systems to facilitate knowledge
management. It includes an overview of the overlapping and complimentary
capabilities of many different commercially available products and
services.
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Beyond Project
Management: Create More Impact With What You
Know
Best practices in knowledge and grants management (a.k.a. "Project
Management" in Europe) for European foundations. Covers system
capabilities, design and implementation, and European software and
service providers. Presented at the 2004 European Foundation Center
conference in Athens. Also see the Bertelsmann Foundation case
study.
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Seeking Safe Harbor
How some foundations and corporate grantmakers are using technology to
facilitate compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and the Executive Order
13224 intended to disrupt the support of terrorism.
Presentation at COF 2004 about
the USA PATRIOT Act and
Implications for Grantmakers and a description of selected compliance verification
services.
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Googling Your Grantee: Due
Diligence and the Web
Learn about how grantmakers are using Web-based tools to conduct research
and due diligence of nonprofit organizations. This presentation includes
comprehensive survey results of US philanthropic organizations.
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Funding Technology:
Lessons Learned
Lessons learned by foundation program officers about helping nonprofits
to develop strategic plans and make effective use of technology to meet
their organization's goals.
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Maximizing
Use of Grants Management Software
A Web broadcast at the TAG 2003 annual conference that provides an
overview of market trends and new opportunities for interoperability
between grants management systems and other foundation applications.
Click RealPlayer
or Windows
Media Player to play the Webcast now.
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Designing Your Next
Generation Foundation Website
Would you like to take your foundation's website to the next level? These
best practices to emulate and pitfalls to avoid can guide you through the
process and minimize headaches.
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Key Technology
Trends for Grantmakers
An up-to-date review of the key technology trends for grantmakers. This
presentation includes graphical highlights of the recently released
results of the 2005
TAG/COF Grantmaker Information Technology Survey Report and Executive Summary.
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Trends in Grants
Management Software and Services
An overview of the leading market trends in commercial grants management
software and services. It includes a detailed chart that describes the
major vendors' products and services. Click here to learn about the
strategic directions and product enhancements that vendors say are on the
way. Reader
feedback
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Grants Management
Software: How to Manage Your Existing System in the
Midst of Product and Market Changes
A presentation at the Council on Foundations 2003 Annual Conference.
Learn about key market trends, ASP services, new development platforms,
capabilities of the best grants management systems, plus common pitfalls
and mistakes.
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Broadening Communications -
Redesigning Your Web Site to Reach Diverse Constituents
Your first-generation Web site needs a redesign. You now want to
communicate your message to all of your target
audiences. See and learn how foundations have designed cost-effective
sites that are broadly accessible, easy to navigate and manage, and
facilitate online collaboration.
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Some Words to Remember
and Live By
This collection of quotes shows how hard it is to predict where
technology will take us, and how important it is to learn from mistakes
we've made.
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Realizing Potential
Today practically all nonprofits depend upon information technology tools
in their day-to-day operations. Unfortunately, many don't come close to
realizing the full potential of these systems. It's time to take a fresh
look at proposals for technology assistance.
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Telecommuting in
Philanthropy
In the past few years foundations have moved quickly to provide telecommuting
capabilities to their staff. Learn about the latest summary statistics
and the key factors that have influenced this.
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Telecommuting / Teleworking in Philanthropy
Presentation
A multimedia presentation concerning the trends, attitudes, issues, and
practices about telecommuting in philanthropic organizations. Also view
the detailed results of a telecommuting survey
conducted in Spring 2002.
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Take a Bite Out of Spam
Spam, spam, spam, e-mail and more spam. How do
spammers operate and what can you do to minimize it?
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Online
Strategies for Foundations and Grantseekers
Grantmakers are now using the Web to disseminate information about their
foundations and solicit grant applications online. Grantseekers are also
turning to the Internet to conduct research and identify potential
sources of funding. "Fundraising on the Internet" - Jossey-Bass
Publishing 2002
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Emergency Preparedness
Now is a good time to think about a back-up for your back-up plan. Learn
about real-world emergencies that foundations and nonprofits have
experienced in the past few years. Which could happen to you?
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How to Quit the Commute
What to know before deciding whether telecommuting is right for your
organization. (And it's not just a question of technology)
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Are you Ready for
E-mail Publishing?
Practical
steps for getting the word out in the most cost-effective and timely way.
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Choosing A Technology
Consultant
Before
your foundation or nonprofit can be well connected, it needs to be
plugged in. Here's a guide to finding the right outside expert to advise,
analyze and evaluate.
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Brave New Broadband World
The demand
for affordable high-speed Internet access is exploding. Broadband
communications such as a digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modems,
provide "always on" Internet access. Includes a chart of
broadband options.
Reader feedback
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Donating Used Computers
Most
grantmakers donate their used computers to nonprofits,
but doing so is more complicated than you might think. That s why
this expanded Technology column looks at some of the nitty-gritty details
of giving directly to a nonprofit, working with an intermediary
organization or letting staff members take them home. Reader feedback
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Grants
Management Software Moves to the Web
An
update on the status of grants management software products and their
Internet-enabled capabilities in 2000. It includes a detailed chart with
references to the latest commercial products and services.
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How Corporate
Givers Are Taming Technology
Learn
about corporate grantmakers' latest plans to
use technology in their grantmaking operations. There have been some big
changes in 1999 and 2000.
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Upgrade Your Technology
Skills
Practical
suggestions for learning how to make optimal use of your computers and
software to improve your productivity.
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Using Web-Based Surveys
Several
grantmakers have successfully implemented Web-based grant application
forms. Learn about what they've done and some of the key issues facing
grantmakers and grantseekers.
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Getting Your E-mail
Under Control
This
article describes "Ten Steps to E-mail Heaven. " It provides
practical tips on how you and your colleague can improve your
productivity by reducing unwanted e-mail and respond to messages much
faster.
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Technology
Planning for 2001 and Beyond
Thirteen things foundations need to consider when looking for near-term
technology needs. Read about how some foundations are making exemplary
use of technology to streamline their operations and improve their
grantmaking.
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Setting an Electronic
Standard
The Foundation Center believes that grant reporting should be as simple as
pushing a button. That's why it's working toward establishing some
universal data protocols and a more efficient reporting process. The
effort involves a lot of technology talk-but it is really
about achieving greater accountability in philanthropy.
Click
here to learn more about the e-grant reporting standard that is used
by almost 600 of the largest U.S. grantmakers to report a total of 2.2.
million grants online.
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Anti-virus Testing
- Evaluate your e-mail defenses using a benign EICAR
test virus.
Cell Phone Tower Search. -
A listing of U.S. cell phone towers as registered with the FCC. The
information is compiled it into a searchable database and shown using
Google Maps.
Council on Foundations - This is a nonprofit
membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. The
Council is committed to promoting knowledge, growth and action in
philanthropy.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy - A leading news source, in print and online, for
charity leaders, fund raisers, grant makers, and other people involved in
the philanthropic enterprise.
Cynthia Says - An online tool
that enables the review of Web sites to evaluate their accessibility for
handicapped users as established by the U.S. Government's Section 508
Standards.
E-mail Blacklist Check
- Enter your e-mail server's IP address into MXToolbox's
service to find out if your server is on one or more of 100+ e-mail blacklists.
This may explain why some messages being sent to you are not getting
through or bouncing back to the sender.
European Foundation Center - The EFC serves a
core membership of more than 230 members, associates and subscribers, 250
community philanthropy initiatives, plus 48,000 organizations linked
through a network of information and support centers in 37 countries
worldwide.
Forum of Regional Associations of
Grantmakers - A membership association of twenty-eight RAGS from around
the country, assists RAGS in providing local leadership to grantmakers on
the issues of public policy, promoting the growth of new philanthropy,
technology, and measuring effectiveness and impact.
Foundation Center - The Center is
responsible for collecting, organizing, and communicate information on U.S.
philanthropy. They also conduct and facilitate research on trends in the
field and provides education and training on the grantseeking process.
Grants Managers Network - The Grants
Managers Network (GMN) is an association of foundation professionals
responsible for grants management. The Network provides a forum to exchange
information about grants management and its relevance to efficient and
effective grantmaking.
GuideStar - The GuideStar Web site
contains detailed searchable information about the operations and finances of
nonprofit organizations. It includes the subscription Charity Check service
that verifies the current US Treasury Department status of U.S. nonprofits.
Idealware - This May 2016 detailed consumers
guide and November 2016 update
supplement about grants management systems summarizes the features of
Windows and fully Web-based systems available from 24 different providers
(but not for community foundations) used by grantmakers to track proposals,
reviews, requirements, payments, and all related files, with prices and a
comparison chart.
There is also another new 2012 detailed 63 page consumers guide and executive
summary specifically about grants management systems for community
foundations. This report focuses on 5 different systems.
Information Age Associates was a significant contributor to all of the Idealware reports listed above.
Independent Sector - A
national coalition group that is committed to promoting philanthropy,
volunteering, and citizen action, by bringing together nonprofit
organizations, foundations, and corporate giving programs.
Internet Speed Test - Test
the upload and download speed of your dialup, DSL, cable, fiber optic and
satellite Internet connections. Here's another test that lets you check
bandwidth to/from locations worldwide.
National Center for Charitable Statistics
- NCCS is the national repository of data on the
nonprofit sector in the United States. Its mission is to develop and
disseminate high quality data on nonprofit organizations and their
activities for use in research on the relationships between the nonprofit
sector, government, the commercial sector, and the broader civil
society.
Network Security Testing - Gibson Research's
top-rated ShieldsUp security testing and
information service. Use it to check your system and identify potential
vulnerabilities.
NPower - Through partnerships it is a
national network of independent, community-based organizations dedicated to
helping nonprofits better serve their communities through technology.
Office
of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - of the US Department of the Treasury
administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign
policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries,
terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and those engaged in
activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Philanthropy News Digest (PND) - A weekly online publication in the field of
philanthropy. Includes a searchable archive.
Project Streamline - Project
Streamline is a collaborative effort of grantmaking and grantseeking
organizations working to improve grant application and reporting practices.
Download and read the excellent landmark report Drowning in Paperwork,
Distracted From Purpose full report and executive summary.
Secunia
Software Inspector - Detects insecure versions of applications
installed, verifies that all Microsoft patches are applied, and assists you
in updating your system and applications. It's free, runs through your
browser and no installation or download is required.
TechSoup Global - TechSoup Global
is one of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit technology assistance
agencies. They provide comprehensive online technology resource for
nonprofits. They offer the NGOsource
service to determine if non-U.S. based NGOs meet U.S. Treasury Department
requirements to be equivalent to U.S. nonprofits. They also provide a low
cost product
donation service that enables registered nonprofits to purchase
hardware and software at very low cost.
Technology Affinity Group (TAG) - An
affinity group of the Council on Foundations that serves as a technology
forum for professionals working in philanthropy. TAG has also partnered to
establish the Simplify project to
establish data sharing and standards. Also see the complete TAG/GMN 2014 Grantmakers Information
Technology Survey and the report's executive summary
USIG. United
States International Grantmaking (USIG) is a
project of the Council on Foundations in partnership with the International
Center for Not-For-Profit Law. The USIG project
facilitates effective and responsible international grantmaking by U.S.
foundations.
Web Site Link
Checker - Download and use Xenu to check your Web site regularly for
dead links.
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