Imagine launching a website that allows any of its visitors to edit content online? That simply is a wiki.

The massive free encyclopedia Wikipedia is a collaborative user-built website that users can create and edit online content without requiring extensive technical skills.

For nonprofits, the wiki software is definitely worth paying attention to. It's a very useful tool and can benefit organizations tremendously. Some nonprofits have used wikis to create public communities of practice, a group of like-minded people who collaborate to discuss an issue or solve a problem. Other organizations are using private wikis to organize and document internal projects. 

For example, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario launched a wiki for their chapters, and in just six months, the ASO's wiki became the primary communication tool for the nonprofit's 39 chapters.

Another example is The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership. They also use their wiki as a primary information source for their conference planning (to store all information about upcoming conferences, including potential and confirmed speakers; decisions that have been made; and a to-do task list.)

If you're still not sure whether wikis are worth your time and efforts, then read Techsoup's article on Nonprofits Share Their Wiki Success Stories, by Brian Satterfield. The article and the wiki success stories it covers might just provide you with the inspiration you need to get started.

Read the whole article, it's worth your time. Got a wiki story you'd like to share with us? Post a comment!