Archive for September 2008
The Five-timers Club
Every survey we do attracts organizations that haven’t participated before. We need that new blood, and we’re grateful for it. There has been, though, a faithful group that has participated in all five tech surveys. That elite club is:
Affordable Comfort, Inc.
Allegheny Regional Asset District
FISA Foundation
Flying Mammal Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Gateway to the Arts
Mental Health America – Allegheny County
Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA
Mon Valley Initiative
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
Southwestern PA Human Services
The Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh, Inc.
Thanks, five timers!
Data Glimpse: Communication Tools
Here is some hoped-for-but-not-necessarily-expected news: nonprofits in the region are using “new” interactive IT tools more in 2008 than in 2006. The survey collects data on the use of a whole menu of communication tools from the fax (remember that? charming device) to print and phone and blogs and podcasting and text messages. The data for this year shows increased adoption of newer tools. The rates of increase over 2006 for selected modes of communication:
- Podcasting up 170%
- Text messaging up 96%
- Managed email systems up 20%
- Interactive or e-commerce web pages up 56%
Plus, in what may be a nod to higher fuel prices:
- Video conferencing up 74%
Many of these increases are offset by declines:
- Managed email systems may be eating away at the use of direct email, which is down nominally by 5%
- Interactive web sites outpaced the growth of “regular old” web sites by 50 percentage points
The nuance in this data comes in how frequently organizations use the various tools. You’ll have to wait for that nuance until the full debut of the data at TechNow. In the meantime, get back to recording your podcast.
Video Camera Winner
You may be wondering who won the digital video camera in this year’s tech survey drawing. We’re happy to report that it is Kristin Peorschke of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor. We thank all participants and wish everyone could win.
Kristin won our hearts by identifying her title on her survey as “Bookeeper/Office Manger/TechNovian”. If you weren’t able to join us at TechNow last year, you won’t know what a TechNovian is. To find out, join us at TechNow 2008. Register today!
