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Spring Research Forum, March 15-16, 2001
The Impact of Information Technology on Civil Society
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC

Plenary and Session Highlights

Register Now for the 2001 Spring Research ForumOpening Plenary - Thursday, March 15, 8:30-10:30 am
Charting the Future of New Technology: Implications for Civil Society

  • Tae Yoo, director, Community Develop Program, Cisco Systems, Inc., keynote speaker  [transcript]
  • Mark Wilson, chair, 2001 Spring Research Forum, associate professor, Michigan State, moderator  [transcript]
  • Trabian Shorters, Technology Works for Good  [transcript]
  • Marianne Becton, manager, Verizon Washington DC, Inc.

Session Summary: With his greetings and introduction of the conference, Mark Wilson gave an elaborate and imaginative description of the Internet including the politics and geography of cyberspace, posed the questions to be discussed, and introduced Tae Yoo. Ms. Yoo discussed the difficulty of integrating technology into nonprofit organizations and the incredible amount of access that technology has given civil society. With this enlarged scope, she also noted that increased fundraising for non-profits could be achieved. Trabian Shorters then addressed the increasing capacity of nonprofits to master the technology that will help them grow and achieve their goals. Marianne Becton acknowledged the traditional boundaries that can be crossed with e-philanthropy, but described how nonprofits need to establish a sustainable relationship with technology in order to continue advancing. The panelists in this discussion all addressed the difficulty of integrating technology into nonprofit organizations and the positive outcomes that can result once it is accomplished.  [session transcript]


Plenary - Thursday, March 15, 3:15-5:00 pm
Creating Vibrant Spaces for Civil Society Organizations on the Internet After E-Commerce

  • Howard Tuckman, dean, Faculty of Management, Management Education Center, 
    Rutgers University, moderator  [transcript]
  • William Galston, professor and director, Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, 
    University of Maryland  [transcript]
  • Larry Kirkman, president, Benton Foundation  [transcript]
  • Vinay Bhagat, CEO, Convio  [transcript]
  • Edward Lang, vice president, strategic partnerships and technology, CVENT  [transcript]

Session Summary: Howard Tuckman served as the moderator for this plenary session. The first speaker, Larry Kirkman, spoke of bringing nonprofits to life in a digital versus analog environment, and using the Internet as a communications tool for social change. William Galston followed with his view of the potential risks to democracy posed by the Internet. He ended his talk by offering possible solutions. Vinay Bhagat presented, “Applying Internet Technology to Create a Sustainable Support Base for Nonprofits”. He presented the advantages the Internet can, if used effectively, bring to nonprofits in terms of capacity expansion. The final speaker, Edward Lang rounded out the session with his presentation “Getting it Done!” As part of this presentation, he offered guidance to nonprofits regarding implementation of an effective eBusiness.  [session transcript]


Plenary - Friday, March 16, 10:15-noon
Building Community: Is Technology a Unifying Force?

  • David Eisner, vice president, corporate relations, AOL Time Warner; senior vice president, AOL Time Warner Foundation, keynote speaker  [transcript]
  • Simon Rogers, deputy editor, Guardian Unlimited, moderator
  • Mike Whitlam, chief executive, Mentor Foundation  [transcript]
  • James Austin, chair, Initiative on Social Enterprise, Harvard Business School  [transcript]

Session Summary: Technology is an important component of civil society and will become even more so in the future, according to the panelists in this plenary session. David Eisner described the power of the Internet to build community, but he cautioned that there are many barriers the technology industry needs to overcome before this can be an inclusive community. Nonprofit organizations also need to overcome barriers, according to Mike Whitlam. Limited core support funding restricts an organization’s capacity to develop and invest in a long-term technology strategy. James Austin painted a picture of what e-philanthropy looks like now and how it will be changing in the future. Guided by Simon Rogers, the panelists addressed access, fraud and abuses, international collaboration, and commercialism.  [session transcript]


Closing Plenary -  Friday, March 16, 3:15-5:00pm
At the Speed of Light: Online Philanthropy and Resources Serving the Common Good
Friday, March 16, 3:15-5:00 pm

  • Elizabeth Ramrayka, editor, NCVO News, moderator
  • Randi Shade, co-founder, Charitygift  [transcript]
  • Nick Allen, president, Donordigital  [transcript]
  • Jay Backstrand, president and CEO, ImpactOnline  [transcript]
  • Putnam Barber, president, The Evergreen State Society  [transcript]

Session Summary: According to the panelists, non-profits must adjust, take heed, and take advantage of the philanthropic possibilities provided by the Internet. Nick Allen pointed out the cost savings and new market exposure available through e-philanthropy and technological costs could be overcome by working with for-profit online companies. Continuing on that topic, Jay Backstrand reiterated the importance of collaboration between dot-coms and dot-orgs, and between dot-orgs, but also focused on these collaborations occurring as a result of the consolidation of many Internet companies. Randi Shade offered a different perspective by asserting that non-profit organizations should be cautious about which companies they collaborate with and to invest only in what they need to keep up with the evolving technologies. Putnam Barber spoke to the need for non-profits to conduct studies in order to analyze the structure of their organizations and to make changes that allow for the opening of the lines of communication. Doing this means redefining jobs and reorganizing the structure of the organization but the positive results can far outweigh the struggle for change. With the help of Lisa Ramrayka, the panelists addressed the Internet revolution occurring in the world of philanthropy.  [session transcript]


Breakout Sessions - Thursday, March 15, 10:45am-noon

[Read the Working Papers from the Breakout Sessions using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Order a printed copy of the Working Papers by calling 888-860-8118.]

Practicing Advocacy in the Electronic Age - Congressional B

Here Technology Comes, Ready or Not - Executive

What will XBRL, UCOA, and NPC mean to nonprofit organizations and those who fund, support, and study them? Learn the latest on the rapid changes in technology affecting nonprofit reporting, including electronic filing of the Form 990, the Unified Chart of Accounts for standardized accounting and reporting, and a new classification system that focuses on activities and program that nonprofits will use to self code electronically.

  • Russy Sumariwalla, moderator
  • Linda Lampkin, program director, National Center for Charitable Statistics, The Urban Institute
  • Arthur "Buzz" Schmidt, president, GuideStar
  • Chris Sullivan, MIS director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

Facing Change: Nonprofits and the New Economy - Hampton

Back to schedule

 

Breakout Sessions - Thursday, March 15, 1:45am-3:00pm

Changing Times, Lessons Learned - Congressional B

Overcoming the Digital Divide - Hampton

E-Learning in the Workplace - Executive

Back to schedule

 

Breakout Sessions - Friday, March 16, 8:45am-10:00pm

Using Information Technology Effectively in Nonprofit Organizations - Hampton

Using Information Technology to Foster Democracy - Congressional B

Rallying the Troops From Their Keyboards - Diplomat

Online grassroots advocacy efforts have taken the nonprofit world by storm. While environmental protection organizations were among the first to effectively use the Internet for citizen mobilization, a wide variety of groups from across the ideological spectrum and representing nearly any imaginable cause are now using the Web to engage and empower online activists. What separates the truly effective advocacy sites from the rest of the pack? Join us for this lively discussion and learn how online advocacy can help your organization achieve its legislative goals, while helping to recruit new members and energize your existing membership base. 

  • Edward Batista, executive director, NTEN, moderator
  • Sheeraz Haji, vice president, business development, LocusPocus 
  • Douglas G. Pinkham, president, Foundation for Public Affairs 
  • Vincent Stehle, program officer, Nonprofit Sector Initiative, Surdna Foundation

Back to schedule

 

Breakout Sessions - Friday, March 16, 1:45am-3:00pm

New Technology, New Models - Hampton

Information Technology in Action—
The United States and International Experience
- Congressional B

Can Information Technology Be Used to Empower Local Communities? - Diplomat

Back to schedule


2001 Spring Research Forum


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