Online Organizing

Action Alerts: Best Practices

Writing an effective action alert means staying focused on specific actions you want your supporters to take. This article talks about several best practices when writing an action alert.

Movement as Network

In early 2004, ONE/Northwest’s executive director, Gideon Rosenblatt published a paper called “Movement as Network: Connecting People and Organizations in the Environmental Movement.” This think piece represents much of the philosophical underpinning of ONE/Northwest’s work in the decade ahead.

Guidelines For Using CSS In Email Newsletters

This article will explain the pitfalls to avoid and the methods to employ in order to get email newsletters to display consistently across many email clients.

Moment Stories and Movement Stories: Four Rules for Effective Email Alerts

Four key elements for effective email alerts, drawn from a talk by Ben Brandzel, former Advocacy Director of MoveOn.org

"The Wired Wealthy" - Great Report!

An in-depth study of mid-level and large online donors from Convio, Sea Change and Edge Research. A must-read for anyone seeking to do online fundraising for social change.

Putting Email To Work

Nonprofit organizations of all sizes and budgets are exploring how to integrate email into a comprehensive communications and fundraising strategy. Some are far along the road of doing so; others are just starting out. This article provides an overview of why and how to use email in your fundraising program

Tracking "Ladder of Engagement" Organizing With Salesforce

How we are using Salesforce databases to model "Ladder of Engagement" organizing strategies.

Surveying The Digital Future

A major study of how people use the internet for civic engagement shows intriguing results.

Creating the Relationship-Centric Organization

A great piece by Paul Hagen on making the leap from "donor databases" to "constituent relationship management."

Communications Toolkit for Nonprofits

Cause Communications from Santa Monica, California has recently released their Communications Toolkit for Nonprofits. It's a great resource for nonprofit communication strategy and tactics.

NTEN's 2006 Nonprofit IT Staffing Report

A great report about nonprofit IT staffing practices.

A Strategy for Using Email Lists

Is your organization using email lists as well as it could? Read on to find out how we think EVERY Northwest environmental group should use email lists every day.

CAN-SPAM For Nonprofits

Tips for nonprofits to comply with the CAN-SPAM act

New Guidance on Nonpartisan Voter Guides

The IRS has recognized the Christian Coalition's voter guides as valid nonpartisan, nonprofit activity. Their ruling offers guidance to other nonprofits considering doing voter guides. Gregory Colvin of Silk, Adler & Colvin explains.

Why the Web Matters

The web can be a powerful communications tool but integrating it into your organization can be a challenge. One of the most important things to understand is how to fit a website into your organizations communications infrastructure and day to day operations.

Why You Should Publish News, Not Press Releases

Here's a great anecdote that illustrates the power of publishing your own news stories as news stories, instead of writing press releases and hoping that someone else will turn them into news.

How to Gather Email Addresses From Your Members, and What To Do With Them

Specific suggestions for how conservation groups can build their list of members' email addresses, and how to use email to communicate more effectively with your members and allies.

Finding Technology Funding

While technology has become vastly more affordable in recent years, finding the funding to effectively implement both the up-front and ongoing costs of technology is a challenge. Here are some suggestions, targeted specifically for Northwest conservation groups, but also more broadly applicable to nonprofits everywhere.

Seven Characteristics of an Online Organization

Seven important characteristics that effective "Online Organizations" share. A blueprint for any nonprofit that is trying to improve the way they use technology.

An Activists' Strategy for Effective Online Networking

A basic high-level strategy for effective use of online organizing tools.