N2Y2 Con: Grassroots.org Toolbox Intro Presentation

Grassroots.org Toolbox is a Featured Project at the NetSquared Conference.

Project Summary

The internet is moving rapidly towards a model of collaborative conversation that leaves static web pages obsolete. Emerging open source technologies are rapidly redefining the cutting edge, and organizations are able to leverage these technologies to engage constituents, partners, and donors.

So why doesn't every nonprofit, everywhere in the world, have the e-advocacy capacity of Moveon.org? What if every community had the social networking tools of the Omidyar Network, or the community publishing abilities of Wikipedia?

The tools already exist (some were used to build this website). However, they're also difficult to configure, customize, and maintain...creating an unfortunate barrier to entry.

Grassroots.org is partnering with groups such as Democracy In Action, MAIN.org, Web Targeted, StrongTech and the Chicago Technology Cooperative to host, configure, and maintain these tools for nonprofit organizations and communities everywhere in the world, for free. We'll include content management, discussion forums, e-advocacy, CRM, event registrations, and even free SEO consulting, using integrated tools based on Drupal, the DIA's Salsa platform, and Egroupware. We'll also offer the free training and support crucial to empowering nonprofits online.

The internet is a conversation; it's time the nonprofit community is heard.