Our Digital Futures
Steve Bridger
Third Sector Forum - 6 May 2009
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/charmermrk/3085808659/

(I know that you know) Web 2.0 means
things you can do
people you know
2
Jessica Hagy

The challenge: the boundaries
of traditional charities are
under assault by new patterns
of communication and
association... regardless of
how the individual technology
pieces change
3

social media provides an architecture for participation -
not just a new channel for more of the same
4

but charities structured for
‘transactional’ relationships,
not for conversations
volunteer donor /
fundraiser
campaigner / activist beneficiary
5

right now, we’re feeling some
real pain
6
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmaddison/67234056/

but we need to recruit people into roles like these...
7

while you
talk of doom
were
& gloom
sleeping
8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceruleandepths/1693238000/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flash_nerd/3488024255/

This i
s not
anoth
er cyc
le; it’
sa
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Image by Francis Tiangsun; reproduced with permission

people are more connected
in a recession
10
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/10/underground-restaurants-london
http://www.flickr.com/photos/browners/3304257382/ with permission

and (still) have expectations of being able
to change the landscape quickly
experiences
11

digital team
silos & turf wars
12
organisational dependency on hierarchy
graphic adapted from Gobillot, 2006

the social web is disruptive, but some
members of the SMT are still resisting
13
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s83Roxf wPFg

the new normal - deal with it
14
original doodle by Dave Gray; remixed with permission

innovation
from the
‘messy’ edges
perfection does not lead to participation
15
original doodle by Dave Gray; remixed with permission

As supporters increasingly
want to mix giving their
time, money, activism &
influence... the time has come
for charities to re-structure
to reflect this
16

net works will gradually replace institutions
17
graphic adapted from Gobillot, 2006

perso
nal id
centra entity
l to n
ew ru
engag les of
emen
t
we are becoming ever more focused on ourselves as
individuals yet yearn to be members of communities
(indulgence + philanthropy)
18

need to focus on one-to-one, highly
personal approaches; one person, one
connection, one conversation at a time
(but how to scale?) 19

“the message is not about the
charity; it’s about why the
messenger cares” (Katya Andresen)
20

OLD WAY: join us because we kick ass
NEW WAY: join us because we want you
to kick ass
21

real engagement =
when people do things for the
cause you didn’t ask them to do
22
http://www.flickr.com/photos/krypto/3321950347/

participation is marketing
23

(scalable)
role changing from conversations
broadcasters to around your
aggregators appeals
should all charities
release an API?
individual goals
realised through
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your work adapted from a David Armano graphic | darmano.typepad.com

let your people work socially rather than assume in
advance that none of it is any use to you
make resources go further by encouraging employees
to embrace & develop their personal brands
think about how programmes & communications can
be articulated through grassroots net works to
25
deliver your mission

trust the hiring decision
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/jfchenier/428825569/

I’m not advocating
throwing the baby out
with the bath water... but
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikefischer/168105454/

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/petereed/138369750/

what’s the
Return On
Ignoring?
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/heather/976689760/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/russelldavies/375434178/

Please let me know what
you think :-)
@stevebridger
mexicanwave@gmail.com
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/russelldavies/375434178/