Lucy Bernholz

Technology and Disasters (#sandy) Part 2

Earlier tonight I posted a quick list of communities using various technologies to respond to Hurricane #Sandy, as history has shown that disaster preparedness and response often yields very interesting uses of ICT. 1) Did you see the picture of the flooded yard complete with shark? Yeah, me too. It

Technology and natural disasters (#Sandy)

We've come a long way with regard to technology and natural disasters. As Hurricane #Sandy rages across the eastern seaboard, I'll try to track new uses of ICT in natural disasters. Please send anything interesting you find my way. #hurricanehackers are already collecting data into a

A picture worth $3.8 billion

(From The Hewlett Foundation) The Hewlett Foundation is launching a free, Creative Commons licensed tool for looking at grants data. It's hosted now, on their web site, and makes it much easier (and more fun) to find patterns among the 7,148 grants that the Foundation has made

What's Public, What's Private, and Who Decides?

There are probably a dozen posts on this blog with this same title. "What's public, what's private and who decides?" is the question that has animated my work for more than two decades. I was reminded of this last night when I attended a

Passing on philanthropy in San Francisco

At least three foundations in San Francisco have recently announced that they will spending out the "parent" foundation into separate foundations managed by the third or fourth generation. The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund started the process in 2011 upon the death of Mr. Goldman and will close

charitycase

Rules, Tools, and More - a reading list

I'm moderating a panel at Stanford with Beth Kanter and KD Paine on their new book, Measuring the Networked Nonprofit. October 18, 2012 (Today) - 5 pm - open and free to all. It will be recorded and available from Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society for

assumptions

Things we can no longer assume...

No one in the room has a video camera. People in one house share a phone number.   Every American wants to own a car. A college education will pay for itself. Home ownership is the best long term financial investment. We will work until we retire. The planet can provide

Libraries and the future

(Photo from Imgur ) Two notes on libraries that got me thinking about technology and communities: 1) The Digital Public Library of America is several years into trying to figure out and launch a digital public library of America. Is it all online? What materials? Who are the stakeholders? What'

Let's Play "Let's Predict the Future"

Last year several studies looked at the the possible effects of changes in the tax law on American giving patterns. As I noted in November 2011 the studies found a range of giving decline of between $.8 billion and $5.6 billion (the high number estimate is only about 2%

Let our data define us - part II

Here's the second part of my "screed" on data from Markets for Good. Pasted in below and you a link to  part one. "In Part I of “Let Our Data Define Us”, guest blogger Lucy Bernholz charged the social sector to be the standard-bearer for

Let our data define us

Information is power. As we become surrounded by data, as data get counted as are assets, as data access, synthesis, ownership and privacy must be recognized also as issues of fairness, justice, and equity the independent sector should be leading data initiators, educators, users, consumers, and sharers. We who care

Please...disrupt this

I wrote this about Square last week. Then eBay and Grameen announced a mobile payment network system. (HT @kanter). And Simple was launched at #XOXO conference (which raised operating funds on Kickstarter).   Some people agreed and suggested much more. Others disagreed. I think it's high time we took

Video for Good

Have you seen Caine's Arcade? If not, watch below.  If you've already seen Caine's Arcade then skip to the second video and watch Caine's Arcade II and check out The Global Cardboard Challenge.  It will make your week (or your year, Happy

The Rules that Matter

[Part 5 of 5 on technology and philanthropy in the coming year. Over the last 5 days I've been thinking out loud about the year ahead in technology and philanthropy. These short pieces will help me write the technology section of my annual industry forecast, Blueprint 2013, which

Technology for Evil - Special Insert Part 4.5

Don't forget - technology can be used for evil as well as for good. We are reminded of this every day. The possible role of low-cost video and worldwide distribution in the events in Libya and Egypt yesterday brings the point, ever so sadly, home. And the difficulty

New Skills for Giving

[Part 4 of 5 on technology and philanthropy in the coming year. This week I've been thinking out loud about the year ahead in technology and philanthropy. These short pieces will help me write the technology section of my annual industry forecast, Blueprint 2013, which will be available

Filters and Finding Things

[Part 3 of 5 on technology and philanthropy in the coming year. This week I'll be thinking out loud about the year ahead in technology and philanthropy.These short pieces will help me write the technology section of my annual industry forecast, Blueprint 2013, which will be available

Cloud Philanthropy

[Part 2 of 5 on technology and philanthropy in the coming year. This week I'll be thinking out loud about the year ahead in technology and philanthropy. These short pieces will help me write the technology section of my annual industry forecast, Blueprint 2013, which will be available

How Square Changes Everything

[Part 1 of 5 on technology and philanthropy in the coming year. Over the next 5 days I'll be thinking out loud about the year ahead in technology and philanthropy. These short pieces will help me write the technology section of my annual industry forecast, Blueprint 2013, which

Data overload (not really)

Wow - what a week for data and philanthropy.  Resources you'll want to track: 1) Beth Kanter and KD Paine have a new book coming out - Measuring the Networked Nonprofit. In preparation for launch Beth has been sharing her wisdom on SSIR and on her blog. I&

Mayurhpatel

Challenging Lessons in Innovation

The Knight Foundation is in the midst of their News Challenge focused on Mobile (applications due by September 10) You can apply, get  tips on submitting a great proposal, attend "office hours," and review lessons the Foundation has learned from past challenges. It's fun to have

What can data do for philanthropy?

(Photo from Alliance Magazine) I had the privilege and fun of co-editing with colleagues from The Foundation Center the special issue of Alliance Magazine, "What can data do for philanthropy?" The issue is out to subscribers and online now. In addition to editing, which I was involved in

EdSurge

EdSurge is a commercial news source focused on education technology. Investors include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Washington Post Company,  New Schools Venture Fund, and Paul Allen & Company (among others). It's a good example of philanthropists providing investment capital right alongside business investors in a

Trying to solve problems

One of the unfortunate realities for foundations is that they don't have enough money to do what they want to do. I know, I know everyone on the fund seeking side of the table reads that sentence and thinks "Oh, cry me a river," about poor

Networked - By Lee Rainie

My review of Lee Rainie's book Networked has been published over at SSIR. Take a look. And read the book.