Comments on: Throwing Code Over the Wall to Non-Profits http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/ From the Berkman Center at Harvard Law School Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:34:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Leo http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-49387 Leo Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:10:59 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-49387 interesting interesting

]]> By: Giatas http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-49359 Giatas Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:54:19 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-49359 Sorry :( Sorry :(

]]> By: Stratis http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-48231 Stratis Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:25:03 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-48231 Cool. Cool.

]]> By: Dan MacNeil http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-27919 Dan MacNeil Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:29:45 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-27919 We (http://thecsl.org) are an organization like the one you wish for. We've been around for 5 years. We do some stuff that fits into the web 2.0 buzz category (http://mvhub.com), but our current focus is 1980s tech like backups, reliable email, etc. We’re working on Gene’s problem of making local networks usable without full time staff. Our problem is that we are grossly under capitalized. An VISTA gets their first year or two of Software Development or System Administration experience with us. We commit to some contracts to pay them 30K/yr, hit a short contract dry spell and lose the talent. We could use 20-40K of buffer. We (http://thecsl.org) are an organization like the one you wish for. We’ve been around for 5 years.

We do some stuff that fits into the web 2.0 buzz category (http://mvhub.com), but our current focus is 1980s tech like backups, reliable email, etc. We’re working on Gene’s problem of making local networks usable without full time staff.

Our problem is that we are grossly under capitalized.

An VISTA gets their first year or two of Software Development or System Administration experience with us. We commit to some contracts to pay them 30K/yr, hit a short contract dry spell and lose the talent.

We could use 20-40K of buffer.

]]> By: ed bice http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-26888 ed bice Sat, 01 Sep 2007 23:19:44 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-26888 right on. i might add that there is also an angle we at meadan have been taking--the ability of those with a social mission and NP status to get research labs to release code that would otherwise not be particularly accessible. hope meadan can become a version of what you have expressed here...except a loft space in the presidio... -e. right on. i might add that there is also an angle we at meadan have been taking–the ability of those with a social mission and NP status to get research labs to release code that would otherwise not be particularly accessible.

hope meadan can become a version of what you have expressed here…except a loft space in the presidio…

-e.

]]> By: Oliver Day http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-26591 Oliver Day Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:20:31 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-26591 This is interesting in that I've been contemplating a non profit idea called Secure Hope for the last year which would provide security services to other non profits. The revenue model you propose is precisely what I was thinking about mixed with grants from DHS or other national interest funders. I was also hoping to tap larger corporate organizations who have employee volunteer programs to gain more resources. This is interesting in that I’ve been contemplating a non profit idea called Secure Hope for the last year which would provide security services to other non profits. The revenue model you propose is precisely what I was thinking about mixed with grants from DHS or other national interest funders. I was also hoping to tap larger corporate organizations who have employee volunteer programs to gain more resources.

]]> By: palfrey http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-26320 palfrey Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:37:13 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-26320 Thanks -- that's particularly helpful as it exposes something that I didn't actually mean to say. I don't think that any new coding is needed, other than integration. I'm quite convinced the pieces are all there. I just think that there's a need for a sustainable mode for applying and then training NGOs to use what exists. Thanks — that’s particularly helpful as it exposes something that I didn’t actually mean to say. I don’t think that any new coding is needed, other than integration. I’m quite convinced the pieces are all there. I just think that there’s a need for a sustainable mode for applying and then training NGOs to use what exists.

]]> By: EthanZ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-26267 EthanZ Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:17:45 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-26267 JP, I'm sorry to have missed the Surdna meeting, especially if it inspired thinking along these lines. While I share your sentiment that there's a huge gap between the social change community and the geek community (a gap that I've been hoping to help bridge for the last decade or so), I'd urge you not to overfocus on development of new software in thinking through this idea. There's an enormous amount of software that could be used by NGOs around the world - Tactical Tech's work on the NGO In a Box series of projects is a great object lesson in how much software already exists for nonprofits... and how much work needs to be done matching NGOs with the right tools. My fear is that, if you ask a software developer to write software, she always will be willing to write something new. What's needed in many cases is better matchmaking and training, not new coding... JP, I’m sorry to have missed the Surdna meeting, especially if it inspired thinking along these lines. While I share your sentiment that there’s a huge gap between the social change community and the geek community (a gap that I’ve been hoping to help bridge for the last decade or so), I’d urge you not to overfocus on development of new software in thinking through this idea.

There’s an enormous amount of software that could be used by NGOs around the world – Tactical Tech’s work on the NGO In a Box series of projects is a great object lesson in how much software already exists for nonprofits… and how much work needs to be done matching NGOs with the right tools. My fear is that, if you ask a software developer to write software, she always will be willing to write something new. What’s needed in many cases is better matchmaking and training, not new coding…

]]> By: Gene Koo http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-profits/comment-page-1/#comment-26110 Gene Koo Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:46:16 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/palfrey/2007/08/27/throwing-code-over-the-wall-to-non-pr#comment-26110 That's a great idea, JP -- it's interesting, though, that I think there are at least two different classes of nonprofits in need of technology help thrown over the wall. The first are those scrappy, hip, up-to-date nonprofits, usually with national stature even if small, which can make immediate use of the kind of service you're suggesting. Then there are the other nonprofits, the ones who are weighed down by bad infrastructure, poor technology staffing, and would-if-we-could-but-we-can't-so-we-won't kinds of places, nonprofits that dream of using Web 2.0 but got stuck somewhere in Desktop 1.0. Unfortunately, at least in my experience, the vast majority of nonprofits fall into the latter category. The work I was doing before in legal aid was only possible because of one of those "smart coders who wants to do good" you're describing. Unfortunately, he eventually moved on because we couldn't pay him enough, and there wasn't enough advancement opportunity either, being stuck as the only true techie in a 500+ nonprofit law network. That put us in a real bind -- we could now really use a consultancy like what you're describing. (We even use exactly the same software as Berkman, from our listservs to our content management systems!) I suspect that there are plenty of sophisticated .orgs around to sustain a business model like what you're describing. The rest of the .orgs will come around when their leadership moves on and when desktops and networks finally become manageable without full-time staff. There are organizations like Common Impact, based right here in Harvard Sq, that are helping nonprofits get to that point (disclosure: my sister consults for them, and a good friend is the founder). Because their business model is modeled on pro bono volunteerism, it's very much a "throwing over the wall" kind of an outfit. So trickle-down definitely happens -- but if for-profits are using proprietary software, that's what trickles. There's another org right here in Harvard Sq that could also be part of what you're suggesting -- Tech Foundation, which brings together nonprofit techies on a regular basis. It's a long hop, though, from networking to creating a full-fledged startup. I hope it does happen. That’s a great idea, JP — it’s interesting, though, that I think there are at least two different classes of nonprofits in need of technology help thrown over the wall. The first are those scrappy, hip, up-to-date nonprofits, usually with national stature even if small, which can make immediate use of the kind of service you’re suggesting. Then there are the other nonprofits, the ones who are weighed down by bad infrastructure, poor technology staffing, and would-if-we-could-but-we-can’t-so-we-won’t kinds of places, nonprofits that dream of using Web 2.0 but got stuck somewhere in Desktop 1.0. Unfortunately, at least in my experience, the vast majority of nonprofits fall into the latter category.

The work I was doing before in legal aid was only possible because of one of those “smart coders who wants to do good” you’re describing. Unfortunately, he eventually moved on because we couldn’t pay him enough, and there wasn’t enough advancement opportunity either, being stuck as the only true techie in a 500+ nonprofit law network. That put us in a real bind — we could now really use a consultancy like what you’re describing. (We even use exactly the same software as Berkman, from our listservs to our content management systems!)

I suspect that there are plenty of sophisticated .orgs around to sustain a business model like what you’re describing. The rest of the .orgs will come around when their leadership moves on and when desktops and networks finally become manageable without full-time staff.

There are organizations like Common Impact, based right here in Harvard Sq, that are helping nonprofits get to that point (disclosure: my sister consults for them, and a good friend is the founder). Because their business model is modeled on pro bono volunteerism, it’s very much a “throwing over the wall” kind of an outfit. So trickle-down definitely happens — but if for-profits are using proprietary software, that’s what trickles.

There’s another org right here in Harvard Sq that could also be part of what you’re suggesting — Tech Foundation, which brings together nonprofit techies on a regular basis. It’s a long hop, though, from networking to creating a full-fledged startup. I hope it does happen.

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