News from NPower Charlotte Region

Managed Services
Community School of the Arts
Foundation For The Carolinas
Mental Health Association of Central Carolinas
POST
Seigle Avenue Partners
The Duke Endowment
The Lynnwood Foundation
Athletes United for Youth
YWCA
The Light Factory
Arts & Science Council
Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Tech Infrastructure Set-Up
Bechtler Museum

Virtual Library Design Foundation For The Carolinas

Web-Based Nomination System
Metrolina Theatre Association

Web-Based Registration
Community School of the Arts

Web-Based Resource and Volunteer Center
Urban Ministry Center

Website Development
Arts and Science Council
Carolina Raptor Center
Women's Impact Fund

Greetings!

At NPower, we have much to be thankful for this time of year. Project Ignite continues to gain momentum as we help more nonprofits achieve their missions through technology education and collaboration.

We are also excited about our upcoming Digital Ball 2010 and are already selling sponsorships to those technology companies who wish to participate in this exciting, annual event.

Internally at NPower, we continue to add new and talented people to our staff to better serve our nonprofit clients.

We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and thank you for supporting NPower.

Chris Meade

Executive Director
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Chrisjmeade

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/cmjeade

Technology Trends

It Is Easy Being Green

If you listened to Kermit the Frog, you might agree it "isn't easy being green." However, with new technology advancements, Green IT can not only be easy but also cost effective for many nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Green computing or Green IT allows organizations to use environmentally friendly computing in their everyday business practices. We can all play a vital role in adopting Green IT practices that will ultimately make being green a little easier - and make our world a little better.

Read more.

Digital Ball 2010

Connecting the Technology Community to Nonprofits

NPower is pleased to present Digital Ball 2010 on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at CenterStage@NODA. Recognized as the premier networking event for the technology community, the Digital Ball brings together CIOs and other local business and technology executives to support NPower and keep technology services affordable for nonprofits.

This year's Host Committee Chair is A. R. Mullinax, CIO of Duke Energy. The event is expected to draw 350 attendees from 50+ companies.

Digital Ball 2010 sponsorships are now available. Participation in the Digital Ball events provide sponsors the opportunity to:

Improve your company's visibility in a crowded field, meet local CIOs, and network with peers and business partners
Jumpstart relationships beyond buyer and seller with other NPower supporters
Help nonprofits harness the power of technology, assuring a strong, better community for us all
Entertain clients or reward employees with a night of exciting entertainment and stimulating company

More on Digital Ball 2010.

Project Ignite

Technology that Transforms Communities

Project Ignite Forums:
Learning from the Experts
At our most recent Project Ignite Forum on October 28, more than 50 participants representing 40 distinct nonprofit organizations discussed incorporating technology into their business planning.

Attendees participated in small breakout sessions led by subject matter experts to discuss business planning for their organizations. There was a tremendous amount of interest in this topic and the majority of participants stayed for more than 30 minutes after the forum to continue the conversation with other nonprofit leaders.
Read about our next Project Ignite Forum on Cyber Security.

Collaboration Groups:
Solving Common Problems Together
NPower recently formed a new Project Ignite Collaboration Group on nonprofit social networking to further facilitate discussions among nonprofits about technology. Participating nonprofits will learn how and when to use social networking to further their mission and prioritize which social media channels they should engage in to reach donors, volunteers and constituents.
More information on Collaboration Groups.

Managed Services:
Stablizing Infrastructure
As part of Project Ignite, Collaboration Group participants apply for Managed Services scholarships to support their technology needs. The number of Collaboration Group scholarship recipients continues to grow with eight organizations now taking advantage of this opportunity to expand their use of technology.

Client Update

YWCA Forsees Greater Efficiency from Project Ignite Collaboration Group Work

When NPower approached Jane McIntyre, former CEO of the YWCA of Central Carolinas, to participate in a Project Ignite collaboration group, she didn't immediately commit, although she was intrigued.

"I love technology, but I was not sure about the time commitment," said McIntyre, who was recently named executive director of the United Way of Central Carolinas. "I finally decided to partner with Project Ignite, and it turned out to be one of my best decisions."

The YWCA is one of five nonprofit agencies that make up the After School Collaboration Group, which is working on a solution to address program registration challenges of nonprofits. Each of the members of the collaboration group offers after school programs and faces common needs related to signing up youngsters to participate and then monitoring them over time.

For some, registration means parents fill out paperwork, which is then entered in to a database by a staff member. Others know they have clients in common, but there is no easy way to share information. The collaboration group expects to implement a technology solution to meet these challenges in early 2010.

McIntyre believes that in the long term, this solution will help the YWCA staff become more effective and efficient. Working closely with other nonprofit agencies has helped participants understand the things they have in common and the things that make them different, she said.

"Project Ignite means that the YWCA can move up a level - or maybe even two levels - in communications and service to program participants, donors, board members, volunteers and staff," she said. "It is opening up endless possibilities for the YWCA, all of the people it serves and all the people who support its mission."