The document summarizes common problems nonprofits face with technology and provides recommendations for solutions. It discusses issues such as lack of social media strategy, using paper forms, not having a database, password management, website updates, data backup and accessibility, and lack of user training. Recommended solutions include creating an editorial calendar, using Google Forms and Spreadsheets, password lockers, WordPress for websites, Google Drive for file storage, Dreamhost for web hosting, and attending training brown bags.

1. Technology Assessment
Cohort Final Meeting
June 25 2012
HandsOn Tech Seattle
NPower NW
vistastaff@npowernw.org

2. 5:30pm Introduction and Welcome
5:45pm 8 Common Problems and Solutions
6:10pm Strategy Maps
6:25pm Discussion
● What are the next steps for your nonprofit?
● What feedback do you have for this project?
● What worked? What didn't work?
6:40pm Celebrate with Food!

3. 8
Common Problems
&
Common Solutions
Just for you!

4. Social media woes
● No clear social media strategy
● Too many social media channels
● Different content can be found on different
platforms
● Create an editorial calendar
● Use the hub and spoke model

5. Paper forms...
● Organization still uses paper forms
● Data entry is time consuming
● Paper forms might not ever get digitized
● Can't spot trends or perform analysis
● Google Forms!
● Can be embedded on website or emailed out
● Use cases: event registration, volunteer
intake, etc.

6. No database?
● Data is in multiple places, or nowhere
● Emailing Microsoft Excel documents around
● Critical data may not be backed up or secure
● No resources for a big database
● Google Spreadsheets!
● Won't replace an actual relational database,
but a great starting point
● Can share it and edit the same data at the
same time.
● Secure

7. Remembering passwords...
● Passwords are hard to remember
● Passwords are weak
● Passwords have to be shared
● Word / Excel documents are not a good place
● Password lockers!
● KeePass, LastPass, 1Password

8. Updating the website
● Difficult to update
○ Add/Remove staff
○ Events/News
● Archive past events, resources, or posts
● Allow multiple people to post or update
● WordPress rocks!
● Add Pages for static content
● Add Posts for everything else
● Create user accounts for staff / authors

9. Is your data safe? Is it accessible?
● Emailing files to self
● Not sure about back-ups
● Can't access files from home
● Multiple versions of the same file
● Google Drive or Dropbox!
● One pretty darn safe place
● Files are version-controlled
● Share them and access them from anywhere!

10. Web hosting!
● Who hosts your website?
● How much does it cost?
● How easy is it to install / set up Google Apps or
WordPress?
● We really, really like Dreamhost
● It's free for nonprofits

11. Staff / users lack training
● Who has time to learn new things?
● Where are the resources?
● Come to our brown bags!
● 12 (noon) to 1pm on Wednesdays
● Upcoming brown bags:
○ 7/11 Google Analytics
○ 7/18 Search Engine Optimization
○ 7/28 Social Media Intermediate
○ 8/1 Facebook 101
● Check out our Knowledge Center too