Wild Apricot Blog


	This blog is for volunteers, webmasters and administrators of associations and nonprofits. We discuss issues and trends in web technologies that help your organization do more with less. The blog is brought to you by Wild Apricot. Our web software helps you manage the 'boring stuff' like membership and contact records, payments, donations, website updates, event registrations, mass emails and more. Wild Apricot starts at just $25 a month (flat monthly fee; tech support and version updates are free). Take 10 seconds to sign up for a free trial and see for yourself.

02 July 2009

Best of AJam - Association Links for June 2009

In the spirit of " 30 Great Links for Associations ," here are some of the most popular blog posts, articles, presentations, and other web resources submitted to AssociationJam.org in June 2009 — one hot link from each topic category: Membership , Events , Board , Volunteers , Fundraising , Social Media , Technology , Other and, of course, Fun! Membership New Members and Twitter Rookies — Why Do They Leave Us? : Reid All About It New users of Twitter leave for some of the same reasons that new members Read More...

Posted Thursday, July 02, 2009 4:24 PM by Rebecca | 1 Comments

Filed under: Associations, Non-profit technology, nptech, Association Jam

30 June 2009

NonProfit Blog Carnival - NonProfit Technology Edition

Welcome to the June 2009 edition of the NonProfit Blog Carnival, a monthly showcase of great blog posts for and about nonprofits. The 10 articles highlighted here were chosen to give a variety of viewpoints and usable information on Nonprofit Technology. Read More...

Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2009 7:36 PM by Rebecca | 3 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, nptech, social media, nonprofit blog carnival

30 June 2009

Wild Apricot Software News - June 2009

About Wild Apricot Software Wild Apricot is web software for small associations and non-profits. It automates the 'boring stuff' such as managing contact records, membership renewals, processing payments, website updates, tracking event registrations, and sending out receipts and reminders. Wild Apricot starts at just $25 a month with free upgrades and support. There are no long-term contracts, setup fees or processing. Sign up for a free trial in 10 seconds and see for yourself! Wild Apricot Development Read More...

Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:02 PM by Chief_Apricot | 0 Comments

28 June 2009

Should Websites Show Your Passwords in Plain Text?

You know how, when you type your password into a website form, it shows a line of asterisks or bullets instead of the characters you’re typing? Usability expert Jakob Nielsen says it’s time to stop masking passwords, and show them on screen in plain text. Read More...

Posted Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:07 PM by Rebecca | 4 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, Usability, nptech, websites, security

25 June 2009

Portable Apps: Free Software on a (USB) Stick

If you work at times on different computers, carrying a USB loaded with free portable software can save you time and help to ensure security - there's no need to download and install the software you need or to risk your data on someone else’s hard drive. Read More...

Posted Thursday, June 25, 2009 3:39 PM by Rebecca | 3 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, nptech, open source, software

23 June 2009

What are Your Non-Profit's Goals for Social Media?

For every hour your non-profit invests in social networking, an hour is lost to other projects that might further your cause more effectively. How can you know if social media is the best possible use of that time, unless you’ve first figured out what you want to achieve? Read More...

Posted Tuesday, June 23, 2009 6:38 PM by Rebecca | 2 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, nptech, Social networking, Non-profit Communications, social media

19 June 2009

Amazon Offers Free Online Payment Processing to US Non-Profits

We’ve talked before about some of the most popular online payment processors suited to smaller non-profits who want to accept donations or sell fundraising products on their websites. Now there’s another payment option you might want to look at: Amazon Payments. Read More...

Posted Friday, June 19, 2009 11:59 PM by Rebecca | 5 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, Fundraising, nptech, websites, online payments

17 June 2009

Non-Profit Technology Report: Size Doesn't Matter

Smaller non-profit organizations get some encouraging news in NTEN’s newly released 2008 IT Staffing & Spending Report -- when it comes to being on the cutting edge of non-profit technology, size doesn’t matter. Read More...

Posted Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:44 AM by Rebecca | 2 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, General non-profit interest, nptech, Staffing, research

13 June 2009

Free Popcorn: a Case Study in Social Networking

I just received a real-world lesson in social networking done right — and a free bag of popcorn — thanks to Love Your City, a community outreach program by churches across Canada. What does this have to do with using social media to recruit new members to your non-profit? There are a number of lessons here. Read More...

Posted Saturday, June 13, 2009 6:15 PM by Rebecca | 4 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, General non-profit interest, nptech, online community, Social networking, case studies, Non-profit Communications, membership, websites, social media

10 June 2009

New on Facebook: Usernames for Custom URLs

Facebook has just announced that it will be offering custom usernames (“vanity URLs”) for Facebook Profiles and Pages, starting at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Custom usernames are a big deal for many Facebook members, who have long been frustrated by hard-to-remember Page and Profile addresses made up of random strings of numbers. Directing people to your Facebook page can be as easy as telling them your username. For organizations who want to publicize their Facebook presence in a Read More...

Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009 4:05 PM by Rebecca | 4 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, nptech, Marketing, Facebook, publicity, social media

08 June 2009

Should Your NonProfit Charge for Twitter Content?

Super Chirp , a service that lets Twitter users earn money from private “premium tweets” to paying subscribers launched yesterday. At first glance, it's an interesting idea for non-profits with avid supporters who might be willing to “donate” for access to special content — but will Super Chirp fly? And if so, could it be a good fit for your non-profit? It's been a couple years in the making, apparently, but Super Chirp is not an entirely new concept. Back in mid-April, TwitPub floated a very similar Read More...

Posted Monday, June 08, 2009 5:38 PM by Rebecca | 10 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, Fundraising, nptech, Twitter, social media

04 June 2009

Wanted: Your Blog Posts on Non-Profit Technology

Wild Apricot Blog is pleased to host the next edition of the NonProfit Blog Carnival, a round-up of the month’s best blog posts for non-profits. This month’s topic? Non-profit Technology , of course! Deadline for submissions is June 26, and the Carnival round-up will be published on June 30. This is a chance to showcase your recent blog posts about: Case studies; Best practices; Opinions and Editorials; Tutorials and “How to” guides; Low-cost or free web-based or desktop tools; Best web resources Read More...

Posted Thursday, June 04, 2009 4:18 PM by Rebecca | 1 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, General non-profit interest, nptech, Non-profit Communications, publicity, crowdsourcing, nonprofit blog carnival

02 June 2009

30 Great Links for Associations

We've rounded up 30 of the most useful and interesting stories filed at AssociationJam.org in the past month, just a sample of the resources for associations you’ll find at the portal site. It was quite a challenge to pick out just 3 links in each category for Membership, Events, Board, Volunteers, Fundraising, and Technology — in fact, Social Media gets a double dose! The list is topped out with 3 articles on miscellanous other aspects of running a not-for-profit organization, and 3 more links that Read More...

Posted Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:13 PM by Rebecca | 3 Comments

Filed under: Associations, Non-profit technology, nptech, Marketing, online community, membership, Association Jam

29 May 2009

Is Your Charity Tweeting for Twollars, er, Dollars?

Twollars, the Twitter-based "currency of appreciation," stepped into the spotlight this week with a new site design, a write-up at Mashable, and even a mention in Business Week. CharityWater.org scored over $1,500 US from Twollars — but will those virtual micro-donations add up to real-world funds for other charities? Read More...

Posted Friday, May 29, 2009 9:12 AM by Rebecca | 7 Comments

Filed under: Non-profit technology, Fundraising, nptech, Social networking, Twitter, social media

27 May 2009

Wild Apricot Software News - May 2009

About Wild Apricot Software Wild Apricot is all-in-one web software for associations and non-profits. It helps you with the 'boring stuff' such as managing contact records, membership renewals, payments, website updates, event registrations, mass emails and other communications. Wild Apricot starts at just $25 a month, including free upgrades and support. There are no long-term contracts or additional fees. Sign up for a free trial in 10 seconds and see for yourself. Wild Apricot Development updates Read More...

Posted Wednesday, May 27, 2009 12:31 PM by Chief_Apricot | 0 Comments