HandsNet Approach for Nonprofits “Coming of Age in the Information Age”

…The day-to-day realities of running a community-based organization make it extremely challenging for nonprofit leaders and their staffs and boards to tap into and use the vast array of information that is now available to them from an ever-growing range of sources. Most nonprofits know they should be learning more and thus are missing out on important information for their organization…

This document is built upon a number of findings from a series of focus groups with small to mid-sized community based organizations conducted by the Pew-Partnership. The findings of the study “Coming of Age in the Information Age” reinforce much of what HandsNet has experienced in being an information aggregator and “knowledge broker” for the human services sector for the last fifteen years. The article is available at http://www.pewtrusts.com/.

The most significant challenge for HandsNet has been introducing new means for nonprofits to incorporate knowledge acquisition and learning into severely time-starved environment. Through a combination of human expertise and experience and technological innovation HandsNet has developed and implemented a number of offerings to approach these challenges.

• Moderated Online Discussions
• WebClipper Email Digest
• Clippings Email
• Human Services Professional Library

One of the most important aspects of the HandsNet approach is the mutually supportive nature of all of the offerings. Rather than providing episodic support for transient issues, HandsNet seeks to be a permanent fixture, a storehouse of aggregated information where relationships can be built and nurtured to develop comprehensive solutions to community issues.

…In terms of information, nonprofits are hungry for the “real story.” They want to hear about the struggles, failures, obstacles, and barriers others faced, not just the seamless success story…

With the support of the Ford Foundation, HandsNet was given the opportunity to develop capabilities in moderating online discussions on substantive issues (in this case on the impact of Welfare Reform on Working Families) of interest to a broad range of human services professionals. The organization developed expertise in structuring, marketing and outreach, recruiting experts and facilitating online discussions.

The participants; researchers, policy advocates, direct service providers and government workers, valued the opportunity to hear real voices, make connections and discover what was really happening in the field and at the policy level.

…Nonprofits see a role for a knowledge broker—someone who can routinely sift and sort through all the available information and give them the most relevant and valuable nuggets…

HandsNet has acted as a knowledge broker since its inception, combining discussion facilitation with organized and filtered content. The organization has focused on providing information in the format and through mechanism most appropriate for the end user.

WebClipper Digest

The WebClipper Digest is HandsNet's weekly overview of crosscutting human services news from throughout the World Wide Web.

Human Services Professional Library

HandsNet maintains an index of over 750 Websites selected by editorial advisors -- professionals from organizations such as the Center for Law & Social Policy, Child Welfare League of America, Food Research & Action Center, the Enterprise Foundation, Families USA Foundation and dozens more. The Website collection, the contents of which is fully searchable, emphasizes the types of information human services professionals value most -- timely news, research, funding notices, legislative and policy analyses and model program descriptions.

Clippings Email

HandsNet delivers customized information that users specify from the Professional Library as the Websites are updated. Users may construct their own searches or use the HandsNet developed “knowledge sets” to ensure they receive information most relevant to their needs.

…Most nonprofit leaders view the new technologies as invaluable tools for their organizations, though with regard to the Internet most of them do not use it very often, except for e-mail…

HandsNet’s curriculum and mobile technology classroom provides the ability to meet nonprofit professionals where they are in two respects. HandsNet training has always focused on providing context for using the Internet specific to the tasks that nonprofits and particularly human services professionals perform. Particular emphasis is placed upon making translating technical concepts for real people. This is the case with basic skills-based courses (Internet basics, Web searching…) as well as more conceptual coursework (Strategic communications, 2nd Generation Websites…). The Mobile Technology Classroom provides the capability to travel to where nonprofits congregate. Training can be delivered at conferences and other venues to decrease the barriers of cost and geography.

To discuss how HandsNet can work with your organization please contact Michael Saunders, Executive Officer at msaunders@handsnet.org.

Copyright © 2005 HandsNet