75 computer geeks, 15 non-profits, 1 amazing weekend

Although many small and medium sized arts organizations are aware of the need to improve their technology, branding, web sites and e-marketing, often times it simply isn’t possible given the understaffed and undercapitalized nature of these nonprofit businesses.  Many times organizations with annual budgets under $500,000 have only 2 or 3 full time employees, whose primary duties include creating and delivering content or programming, managing the day to day business, human resource management, grants management  and other fundraising.  While strategic plans and other long term visions may identify the need to improve an organization’s technology, in real life it is often something that gets shelved and never really addressed properly.  I understand how this can be frustrating to nonprofit professionals; when I worked for a small arts nonprofit it took months sometimes to even update our web site or work out all the kinks of an E-newsletter system. 

Well, thanks to the folks at GiveCamp  nonprofits can receive some tech support at an event being held July 16 – 18.  Perhaps your nonprofit hasn’t  had a chance to get a web site started, or maybe you need a bit of office automation…like keeping track of your volunteer or donor registration lists, for example.  Well, that’s where Cleveland GiveCamp comes in.  Over the weekend of July 16-18^th about 75 computer professionals will camp out (yes, in tents!) in Downtown Cleveland to perform pro bono custom programming projects for about 15 nonprofits across Northeastern Ohio.  The only real constraint is to select a project that can be completed that weekend and turned over to your organization.  GiveCamp’s  team of volunteer analysts will work with you to discuss your request and define what a project team can do for you during the event. 

Camp Out Details – The event is being held at LeanDog corporate headquarters located at 1151 North Marginal Road Cleveland, OH 44114.  Doors open on Friday at 4 p.m. followed by the GiveCamp kick-off and dinner for project teams and nonprofits.  Saturday and Sunday our work starts at 8 a.m., and the weekend concludes with a reception/celebration on Sunday at 5 p.m.  For more information and to fill out an application for your nonprofit, please visit Cleveland GiveCamp’s Web site.