Last month I posted a list of best practices for managing a database and discussed, among other things, protecting data on USB drives and laptops. A recent discussion on the Information Systems Forum has suggested options for protecting USB drives. Richard Rothwell posted a blog entry on Portable Data Security, several list members [...]

Tags: IT Management, Security

I’m fascinated by the ad for Gavin Newsom’s gubernatorial exploratory campaign that’s been showing up on my Facebook page lately. The ad includes a photo of my friend Katie and says that Katie is a fan of Gavin Newsom. Her page confirms that she is a supporter of Gavin. So Katie is [...]

Tags: Social Media, Web 2.0

Microsoft issued a critical patch for Internet Explorer today, described as protection against a “remote code execution” vulnerability. If your computer is set up for automatic updates, you should get the patch, well, automatically. You should also be able to run Windows Update (under Tools in IE). Or you can get the [...]

Tags: IT Management, Security

Here are two new resources for surviving in tough times:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy has compiled a collection of recent stories, discussions, and statistics about how charities deal with turbulent economic times. Topics include getting creative in tough times, the job market for fundraisers, and experimenting with new ways to ensure that donations flow over the [...]

Tags: Fundraising

In his article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy titled “Top 10 Threats to Computer Systems Include Professors and Students,” Jeffrey Young says

Today a growing number of network bad guys are professional criminals, and they’re looking to steal real money. They don’t just want to post an embarrassing note on your college’s home page. They [...]

Tags: IT Management, Security

Network for Good recently published The 2008 Online Fundraising Survival Guide: 12 Winning Strategies to Survive & Thrive in a Down Economy. This 45-page guide includes sections on avoiding “the four most common fundraising mistakes,” answering the four questions required to get a donation (Why Me? Why Now? What For? and Who Says?), optimizing [...]

Tags: Email Marketing, Fundraising, Online Fundraising, Web

The San Francisco Chronicle published an article about everywun.com, a new click-to-give site. The article makes this sound like a new idea, but The Hunger Site (and their later projects for breast cancer, children’s health, literacy, rain forest protection, and animal rescue) has been doing this since 1999. The Hunger Site started out [...]

Tags: Online Fundraising

Ever wonder how to tell the gender of an unfamiliar first name? The PRSPCT-L listserve (for prospect researchers) had a discussion of resources for figuring this out and members provided the following suggestions:

http://www.wikihow.com/Find-the-Gender-of-a-Name
http://www.weddingvendors.com/baby-names/
http://www.gpeters.com/names/baby-names.php

http://www.behindthename.com

Tags: Prospect Research

The Craigslist Foundation has launched a survey on grantmaker effectiveness, described as follows:

We’re partnering with Blue Shield Foundation of California to better understand ways in which grantmaker effectiveness can be advanced in the sector. We’ve put together a short survey not only for grantmakers but any social sector participant. If you have a few moments [...]

Tags: Foundations, Grantmaking

You can place your order now for Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission: A Strategic Guide for Nonprofit Leaders, which will be published in March 2009. The book was edited by NTEN’s Executive Director, Holly Ross, former ED Katrin Verclas, and Special Projects Fellow Allison Levine. The authors are NTEN members (with one chapter contributed [...]

Tags: Email Marketing, IT Management, Online Fundraising, Social Media, Software, Web, Web 2.0