March 21, 2013
In this continuation of our series on Technology, Scott Smith offers a “user’s guide” of sorts in this technologist’s view of what we need to build a robust infrastructure. He also challenges the sector to revisit specific perspectives on data practice to be sure that we establish durable pillars for...
March 20, 2013
In this edition of “Notes From The Field,” Catalina Escobar, Co-Founder and Executive director of the nonprofit consultancy Makaia, describes the ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) challenges facing nonprofits today and introduces a new web platform for data sharing, Nodo Ká. …
March 5, 2013
How is technology drawing us closer to meeting needs on the groun? We count on it to connect us in ways not previously possible, but the recurring question is, “What are we doing with it?” Daniel Ben Horin surveys this landscape through the dual lenses of data and technology for...
February 26, 2013
Gisli Olafsson, Emergency Response Director at NetHope describes a large-scale project underway that is using open data to transform and coordinate humanitarian crisis response: the Open Humanitarian Initiative. If you’re involved in humanitarian work and/or crisis response, feel free to add your comment here on ways that you’re working with...
February 25, 2013
Amid the rampant “datafying” of things, we would like to keep cool heads as we witness the (welcome) proliferation of tools and platforms and attempt to place them on a landscape of utility. This particular moment is a marked evolution as the web catches up with history to discover that...
February 20, 2013
This paper, offered in full text for Markets For Good, was originally published by Alliance Magazine. Many thanks to the author, Buzz Schmidt, and to Caroline Hartnell, Editor of Alliance Magazine. The paper proposes in detail a version of an upgraded information infrastructure for the social sector – squarely...
February 19, 2013
We find ourselves in the flurry of activity that is to be expected of the dawn of any movement. On this ground, there is an equalizing factor as the social sector, business, and government are all staring into an opportunity that demands immediate ramping of high-quality data practice. In that...
February 18, 2013
Markets For Good talks with Jeannine Corey , Director of Grants Information Management of The Foundation Center for an update on the Reporting Commitment, an initiative launched by a group of the largest U.S. foundations. We read many announcements of start-ups, projects, and initiatives; but, it’s good to check in...
February 13, 2013
The following post begins a new series: Notes From The Field. Here, we will take a look at various initiatives and organizations, or applications and tools on the landscape of the information infrastructure. We start with Elizabeth Clay Roy, Deputy Director of Opportunity Nation, discussing the “Opportunity Index.” If there is such...
February 11, 2013
Recently I had the opportunity to sit with Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM). The conversation landed squarely on the information infrastructure in the social sector, particularly as it concerns knowledge networks. How do you build and maintain one that works for your organization? How...
