[liberationtech] Boston area: Pro bono strategic technology services for small nonprofits offered through the Data Collaborative

[Deborah Elizabeth Finn]

Dear Liberation Tech Colleagues,

Many nonprofit professionals in the Boston area have asked me about
pro bono services, and I am delighted and excited to announce that,
thanks to the Data Collaborative, they will be available again this
fall!

The Data Collaborative would like to support small nonprofit
organizations that need and can use strategic technological planning,
and will therefore underwrite a two-hour planning session for ten
organizations in the Boston area over the next quarter.

The Data Collaborative is a software consulting organization that has
been providing data solutions to non-profit and for-profit
organizations nationally and around the world since 1999.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Do they have the human and financial resources to utilize
information and communication technology?

2. Would they be able to obtain this support on their own, without the
Data Collaborative donation?

3. Do they have specific, achievable goals?

4. Is the organization's mission consistent with the mission of this program?

5. Is there a Data Collaborative staff member who is particularly
interested in working with this organization?

I will be the strategic technology consultant providing the service,
and whenever possible, will be accompanied by a specialist from the
Data Collaborative who will also contribute expertise if relevant.

Here's how the consultations themselves work:

*  A typical session kind consists of sitting down with me for an hour
or two, alone or with key members of your nonprofit's team. If you
prepare a list of strategic technology problems, concerns, or
questions in advance, I'm often able to make recommendations on the
spot. During these sessions, I can also walk you through a discussion
that will help clarify how to subordinate your technology
infrastructure to your mission.

*  In many cases, I can recommend products, services, and vendors that
would be a good match for your needs. I do not ever take a commission
on any products and services that I recommend, and will not make any
sales pitches. In every case, my concern will be to ensure that your
information and communications technology is helping you achieve your
organization's programmatic goals.

*  I cannot provide hands-on tech support in these sessions. (I'm not
really that good at it.)

*  Your organization will not be under any further obligation - to
follow my advice, or to contract for additional services.

*  After your consultation, I will be available to you by email and
telephone for brief follow up questions. In some cases, I may do
follow up research for you, and report back via email with additional
information and recommendations.

* The Data Collaborative will be forming an alumni group of nonprofit
organizations that receive these strategic technology consultations,
in order to offer still more follow up and support.

Our goal is to provide you with the greatest possible benefit from a
single session on a pro bono basis, and in almost every case a one or
two hour consultation is all that a small nonprofit needs.

The deadline for applying is August 1, 2012; all applicants will be
notified about whether they are eligible by September 15, 2012. To
apply for a consultation, please follow this link:
<http://www.datacollaborative.com/NonProfits/donatedService> .

It is a great pleasure and privilege to be able to help small
nonprofit organizations in this way. If your organization has a great
mission, is strapped for cash, and needs strategic technology help –
then I hope that you will apply!

Best regards from Deborah

Deborah Elizabeth Finn
Strategist and Consultant
Technology for the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector

Please note new mailing address:
304 Newbury Street #275
Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA

Email: deborah.elizabeth at finn.com
Skype: Deborah909
Twitter: Deborah909
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah909
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Deborah.Elizabeth.Finn
Mobile phone:  1-617-504-8188
Voicemail: 1-617-958-1959

I bring resources and needs together for nonprofits and
philanthropies, mostly through strategic use of information
and communication technologies.