Techsoup is a global nonprofit that provides technology resources and knowledge to other nonprofits. It has created the Nonprofit Commons in the virtual world Second Life as a learning community for nonprofits, providing free virtual office space. The Commons has over 400 members from 60 countries. It allows nonprofits to explore new ways to use virtual worlds for outreach and collaboration. Going forward, Techsoup aims to expand the Commons to connect more volunteers with nonprofits and experiment with diverse uses of virtual worlds.

1. Techsoup - A Global Initiative Date/year TechSoup & The Nonprofit Commons in Second Life

2. Overview About TechSoup Introduction to Nonprofit Commons The Future of Nonprofit Commons Nonprofit Commons Tour

3. 1. About TechSoup

4. We are working toward a time when every nonprofit and NGO on the planet has the technology resources and knowledge they need to operate at their full potential. Confidential – For Discussion Purposes Only

5. TechSoup builds NPO capacity by connecting corporate giving to nonprofit needs. Creating Connections, Delivering Results and Advancing the Field Partnerships with Corporate & Philanthropic Sources Vision & Leadership Operational Excellence Infrastructure for Product & Knowledge Distribution Presence in & Understanding of the Nonprofit / NGO Sector Leveraging Our Experience for Greater Reach and Impact

6. TechSoup projects emphasize community involvement. MaintainIT: a project to sustain public access computing in libraries NetSquared: promoting Web 2.0 in the NPO sector

7. Techsoup initiatives combine knowledge and community with our donation services. Healthy & Secure Computing Networked Organizations Clean and Green IT

8. A Comprehensive Technology Resource for Nonprofits Software donation program (TechSoup Stock) Refurbished Computer Initiative (RCI) Program Learning Center articles TechSoup Community Nonprofit Commons NetSquared (Net2) Public Computing & Libraries (MaintainIT Project) Free Downloads TechSoup Global

9. Today, we operate in 14 countries on 6 continents. Currently operating in 14 Countries on 6 Continents

10. We leverage the broad mix of relationships…

11. $251 million retail value of technology product donations distributed $239 million potential savings for NGOs 846,000 technology products distributed 28 TechSoup product donor partners 150,000 documents downloaded 40,000 organizations received product donations 500,000 unique monthly visitors 190 countries of origin of visitors 23.4% of overall traffic to TechSoup from outside U.S 100,000 monthly TechSoup online forum visitor sessions IMPACT REACH … to make deep change across the social benefit sector. Confidential – For Discussion Purposes Only

12. TechSoup Community Network Extending community beyond TechSoup site Reach out to constituents on other online community platforms that they already frequent Expand our community to wider range of nonprofits Provide community members with further networking and collaboration opportunities Leverage social media tools towards social change

13. Where in the World is TechSoup?

14. NetSquared (Net2) TechSoup’s Web 2.0 arm Spur responsible use of social media tools for social change Annual conference Monthly Net Tuesday events Community blog International reach with local groups and events

15. 2. Introduction to The Nonprofit Commons 400+ Total Members Demonstrated interest from 60 countries 1300 people attended 40 meetings in world 235 unique avatars attended since Mar 2006 70 NPC Tenant Organizations 2208 unique visitors to the NPC Blog 100 avatars in world and 70 people in the RL room at the Mixed Reality Event Volunteers have donated an estimated 6000 hours(5000 for meetings and 1000 for maintenance) to this project in the last year.

16. Glitter testifies: Video responses http:// www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId =165604 http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =e9nyJCYrP6w&eurl=http://www.nonprofitcommons.org/node/217

17. Nonprofit Commons in Second Life

18. Bernhard Drax: Second Coming of Second Life http://blip.tv/file/850344

19. Nonprofit Commons in Second Life creates a Learning Community Providing Free Office Space Creating a Cooperative Learning Environment Exploring new ways for Nonprofits to use virtual world environments

20. Organizing, Displaying, and Documenting Work No group, just “npsl” tag Easy way to communicate a visual concept that might be unfamiliar Outstanding promotional vehicle Record of activities to demonstrate impact to board members and constituents

21. Creative Potential and Implications for Nonprofits in SL Encourage Volunteering and Leadership Contests and Competitions Combine Second Life with Other Outreach Channels

22. Go Beyond the Classroom Model: An immersive, interactive, open content environment presenting many opportunities for moving beyond the classroom lecture model of teaching with successful experiments involving peer-to-peer interaction Sandbox Learning: Team building activities by organizing small teams of avatars to build something with minimal guidance, Rich, long-lasting lessons for students through activities that challenge them to create something on their own, using the various tools available to them in Second Life Use Avatars to Explore Identity Issues: Create opportunities for identity play and self expression through avatar creation and manipulation. Generate empathy: by putting people literally in the shoes of others and explore existing avatar choices to bring up issues of gender and racial representation or use nonhuman avatars to address issues of discrimination. Potential and Implications for Nonprofits in SL

23. A Valuable tool for Nonprofits Free Safe Anonymous Reducing Carbon Footprint Broadening Audiences Extending Reach Engaging International Community

24. Real wealth, virtual philanthropy, and the birth of the Nonprofit Commons Anshe Chung is the first Virtual Philanthropist Second Sim donated by TakingITGlobal

25. Nonprofit Commons 2: ALOFT, our second sim A seedbed for innovation Tremendous Volunteer spirit Expanded to 70 organizations

26. Community meetings and guest speakers Continued weekly meetings have grown to over 45 avatars a week

27. Hold Virtual Events in-world Help Nonprofits produce events Hold Mixed Reality Events at RL conferences such as NetSquared Streaming live audio and video between RL and SL Mixed reality events

28. Virtual sandbox for experimentation Experiment with different ways to bring support and awareness to a cause Example: Lower Eastside Girls Club of NY developed Second Life presence as pilot project for new program Second Life another possible way to help organizations achieve their mission

29. Leadership role for your organization Opportunity to become thought leaders and innovators in your area of expertise Global Kids runs virtual workshops on global issues and leadership to teens Best Practices for bringing this type of education to Second Life

30. Reduces Your Carbon Footprint Carbon (and cost) savings of participating in event from own computer screen OneClimate’s Virtual Bali Conference this past Dec. In-world speeches, press conferences Alternative for people who cannot attend in person to participate without carbon cost of flying

31. What works? Activities that take advantage of 3-dimensional interactivity of virtual world that the web can’t match Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC)’s Gone Gitmo installation Virtual representation of Guantanamo Bay gives avatars temporary simulated experience of being imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay Teaching tool about issues of habeaus corpus

32. Best Practices: What we have learned Holding events is a great way to bring avatars to our offices, and builds alliances amongst members. It’s important to maintain a presence on the mainland, for foot-traffic, versus being on our own private island Freebies/branded tools are a great way to draw traffic, and can spread your message In-world fundraising was our initial goal, but it hasn't worked out for most. You can’t please everyone– the biggest lesson! Belligerent Learning Curve, challenge scares many newbies away. (need mentor)

33. Multiple Entry points to community: Connecting RL and SL

34. Impact This is a great community, on both professional and experiential levels. We have been donated free office space as well as significant building and scripting services from community technical experts and volunteers to establish our virtual office (viewed as an extension of our internet site at www.givingcircles.org ), in which we have already had 124 visitors (even before the launch of NPC 2), several from throughout the world (Japan, Australia and other countries). We are also conducting a survey of the impact of NPs in SL and from SL on RL, the results of which we will publish for the benefit of the Nonprofits in SL community. - Giving Circles Network (Anika Pastorelli):

35. 22% of Nonprofits in NPC are non-US Organization Country RoSa Library Belgium Humanbe France White Ribbon Campaign, Yorkshire UK Disability Info Resource Center Australia Toronto Philharmonica Canada Bridges for Women Canada Sri Lanka Foundation Sri Lanka Alzheimer’s Society if Ontario Canada PC Donation Project Japan

36. But isn’t Second Life just a game? Often a matter of convincing board members and funders of its value Finding more ways of obtaining statistics and measuring impact Medium fosters innovation and creativity through combination of audio, text, and visual technologies Nonprofits continuing to develop new ways to build awareness and reach people

37. The Future of the Nonprofit Commons

38. The only way that Virtual Worlds will survive Must be simple Must be mobile Must be interoperable with other tech/web Must be globally integrated/accessible Must leverage 3-D, not just 2-D in 3-D environment Must highlight the niche communities that it hosts by enabling connections Must traverse multiple virtual worlds, not just SL

39. Areas of Exploration 1. Diversity 2. adaptable teaching environment 3. research 4. field training 5. awareness-building 6. community building 7. recruitment 8. distance education 9. Reducing of carbon footprint

40. Goals and Metrics 1. Learning community of practice 2. Repeatable branded free tools 3. International representation 4. Publicity 5. Excerpts from white paper 6. Support from Linden Lab

41. Going Forward 1. SLCC panel 2. Other conferences 3. SL developer network for nonprofits 4. Webinars 5. Virtual volunteer audio tour 6. Academic research on discourse analysis 7. Campaigns for actions 8. Applying for grants and awards to get support for program 9. Spur innovation by providing honorariums to volunteer SL Developers 10. Support special scripting and SL development

42. Techsoup’s Goal in this Project To be the Convener To create a seedbed for experimentation To connect volunteers and nonprofits

43. Tour of Nonprofit Commons and other locations in Second Life

44. Newly launched second location

45. Contact Susan Tenby Senior Manager – Online Community Development, TechSoup Network [email_address] (415) 633-9333 SL avatar: Glitteractica Cookie http:// www.nonprofitcommons.org http:// npsl.wikispaces.com / http://www.techsoup.org/community