I read with great interest Sunday’s New York Times article on the mobile Web. The subject is of great interest to me.

The real mobile Web has actually stepped forward. Things have changed over the last year, with the standards for mobile maturing, real business models emerging, and not least a passionate debate about the role and place of transcoding and adaptation in helping mobile users enjoy an experience of Web sites that were not designed with mobile in mind…

Still, accessing the Web on most mobile phones is an unreliable, and expensive experience. It still has a long way to go, but it’s coming, that’s for sure. Keep an eye on mobile web advances and while doing so, check out text-based giving options for non-profits. Text to Give is a great example of this type of service, as is Justgiving. Supporting a cause will get easier!

Convio has identified a security attack against their GetActive software systems that has resulted in constituent data for 92 clients being accessed by an unauthorized third-party. In other words, email addresses and member passwords were downloaded without authorization from 92 GetActive clients between Oct. 23 and Nov. 1. (Convio acquired GetActive in February 2007).
 
According to Convio, no credit card or other personal data was stolen. Convio is recommending that its clients notify any constituents with user-created passwords that might have been compromised. The company is also warning GetActive users to be alert for potential phishing emails that appear to be from nonprofits. 

Convio has also posted information for affected individuals on its website.

Google is offering Google Checkout to nonprofit organizations. Through the end of 2008, nonprofits can process online donations at the fine rate of $0.00 per transaction and 0.00% fees — can you believe it, a true 100% of the donation goes to the organization!

Here are a few words posted on the Google Checkout Blog about this:

“Besides being free, Checkout for Non-Profits is designed to make the entire donation and collection process more efficient. For donors, it enables you to complete a donation with just your Google login, and it helps you track your giving in a convenient and central place (a feature that should be particularly useful for those of us who tend to start our tax returns on April 14).”

I look forward to taking the system for a test drive.

The true value of the Internet for any nonprofit organizations is in creating and sustaining constituent relationships to ensure ongoing support. This is achieved by implementing an online Constituent Relationship Management (eCRM) strategy to involve constituents — especially donors — in more than one activity so they can provide support for the organization in multiple ways at different times. An effective eCRM strategy not only raises funds online but also:

• Helps drives online and offline giving
• Increases donor lifetime value
• Reduces communication and fundraising costs
• Supports major giving
• Contributes to the success of other activities, e.g., advocacy, volunteering and outreach to new constituents and donors

This is a very interesting article by: Vinay Bhagat

Techsoup (the site that provides tech advice to nonprofits) has published an article on What is Web 2.0 anyway? covering blogs, RSS, tagging, social bookmarking and AJAX. The author Alexandra Krasne writes:

Web 2.0 tools are important, but their impact goes much deeper than their gadget-y novelty might suggest. Individuals and organizations alike are finding new and increasingly effective ways of connecting through Web 2.0 technology. This is the human side of this technical transformation.

  Even the smallest organization has a story to share and voices to amplify. Web 2.0 can help you be heard. This new Web of connections is already allowing nonprofit supporters to build movements for social, environmental, economic, and political change. Don’t let your movement leave you behind.”

As a blogger and an entrepreneur, I strongly believe that the emergence of these social technologies (the so-called Web 2.0 trends) will change the ways nonprofits and foundations work and thrive in the Information Age.