Looking for free online tools to help you collaborate with teams and communicate with stakeholders?  Wish you could access those tools across different devices (home computer, smartphone, and work computer)?  

Check out this free webinar from Microsoft Community Affairs:  Free Online Tools for Nonprofits on March 16

This free webinar will highlight free online tools from Microsoft that help nonprofits communicate and collaborate with ease.  Attendees will learn to:

-          Set up an online site for your group with a shared calendar, file- & photo-sharing (25 GB free!), and online discussions

-          Create online workspaces to manage projects and facilitate Board or committee work

-          Easily create blog content and publish it toWordpress, Blogger, TypePad, Windows Live and many more

-          Create movies and slide shows from your photos and videos and share them with your supporters on YouTube or DVD

We’ll look at free tools available to any organization.  While we won’t have time to go into detail on each tool, you’ll get a good overview of what’s out there and how to get started. 

WHEN: March 16^th, 10am - 11:30am PST

Attendance is free, but space is limited, so register today!

NOTE: Webinar is open to nonprofit staff and volunteers.  It is NOT technical in nature and there are no pre-requisites to attend.  Nonprofit organizations need not be eligible for Microsoft software donations to use the tools featured in this webinar - they are freely available online.

Thank you Microsoft, host of this webinar and Presenting Sponsor of NPower Seattle’s Powerful Connections event 

Is your organization still trying to figure out how to use social media tools like blogs, Facebook and Twitter to communicate with clients, donors, funders and community members?

Are you wondering if it makes sense for you to blog or tweet about your services, news and events?

NPower has teamed up with Philanthropy Northwest to help you explore how Social Media can support your organization’s communication and advance your organization’s goals. Join us for the first offering of this exciting class on Wednesday, February 24th.  In Social Media for Building Community, you will:

• Articulate your organization’s goals, identify messages, and explore social media tools.
• Evaluate the time needed to employ new communications tools vs. their value for your organization.
• Learn practical strategies for effectively connecting with various constituents using Web 2.0 tools.

Join us for Social Media for Building Community on Wednesday, February 24th. Learn more and register to attend at npowerseattle.org/socialmedia

Adobe, through TechSoup, is offering Photoshop, Creative Suite Design, and some of its other titles for Macs in a special promotion. These products are available to organizations that are not typically eligible for their discounted software, including health care organizations and schools and educational institutions. In addition to the Mac software, there are a few books on their software available through the program which can be used by Windows users. Here is the TechSoup page, which outlines this special offer.

We also have some Adobe classes for nonprofits coming up (all taught on PCs), and thanks to Adobe’s generous funding, these are all offered at half of the regular tuition rate:

• Photoshop Intermediate - February 9th at 9am
• Dreamweaver Foundations - February 16th at 9am
• InDesign Intermediate - February 17th at 9am
• Photoshop Advanced - February 18th at 1pm

Sharing this note from our Greater DC Region affiliate. We at NPower Seattle agree - Idealware is a great resource.

We are big fans of Idealware, a nonprofit website, which provides candid Consumer-Reports-style reviews and articles about software of interest to nonprofits. We find their product comparisons very useful and recommend them to you when you are selecting software solutions for your nonprofit. Topics covered include constituent databases, websites, email and advocacy, and a broad range of office productivity tools. They also have frequent webinars—cost is $40 for a live seminar and $20 for a recorded session. You might find some of the upcoming sessions of interest. Check out the Idealware site for more information —www.idealware.org.

Comparing Open Source CMSs: WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and Plone
Thursday January 28th, 10:00 - 11:30 PST

Getting Started with Online Conferencing
Thursday February 4th, 10:00 - 11:30 PST

The City of Seattle Department of Information Technology is now accepting applications for the Bill Wright Technology Matching Fund. Grants of up to $20,000 are available from a total fund of $300,000. The deadline is Monday, March 8 at 5:00pm.

The Technology Matching Fund provides funds for digital inclusion projects located in Seattle, serving Seattle residents. The goals of the fund are 1) to increase technology literacy and access; 2) to provide residents with access to computers, the Internet and other information technology; and 3) to increase residents’ use of technology for community problem solving, civic engagement and community building.

You are invited to attend an upcoming information session to learn more about the application process, grant requirements, and what makes a successful application Interpretation services will be provided for you upon request.

Grant Information Sessions:

Wednesday, Feb 3rd
Delridge Community Center
4501 Delridge Way SW 98106
10:30am - 12:00pm

Saturday, Feb 6th
Miller Community Center
330 19th Ave. E 98112
10:30am - 12:00pm

Download grant applications and guidelines at www.seattle.gov/tech  or contact Delia Burke, Technology Matching Fund Manager, at 206-233-2751 or delia.burke@seattle.gov for more information.

Join Microsoft (and NPower alumnus Lindsay Bealko) on Wednesday, January 27th for a free webinar on getting the most from Windows 7:

Event Title: Meet Windows 7: Your Nonprofit PC, Simplified

Event Time: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 10:00 AM PST

Event Description: Windows 7 is designed to make PCs faster, more secure, and more reliable. Unlike its predecessors, it is leaner and less busy. It simplifies tasks and makes the things you do everyday easier, leaving you with more time to focus on what really matters: Your mission.
In this brief but information-packed webinar, you’ll hear from Microsoft Community Affairs about what matters to nonprofits in Windows 7. We’ll review how eligible nonprofits can request a donation of Windows 7 Upgrade software and highlight some of the new features that nonprofits especially like. The webinar is not technical and is open to all nonprofit staff, regardless of what operating system they are currently running.
Whether you’re already using Windows 7 or just curious to learn more, this FREE webinar will definitely help you get better acquainted with Microsoft’s latest operating system.

Register now!

Join TechSoup on Thursday, December 10th for their webinar on assistive technology:

Assistive Technology for Public Computers
Thursday, December 10, 11 a.m. Pacific time

Are you concerned about creating computer access for everyone? If so, you may want to consider using assistive technology. Not sure what that is or how it’s applicable to a public computer setting? This is the webinar for you! Kami Griffiths from TechSoup will interview Jane Vincent from the Center for Accessible Technology. We will discuss hardware and software solutions, their costs, and what it takes to get started.

This webinar is ideal for anyone who manages or volunteers in a public computer center in a library, housing development, or social service agency, but it’s also applicable to IT managers looking to better address staff needs.

Register now!

Join TechSoup on November 12 for a free online tour of their fabulous technology resources for nonprofits and libraries:

Learn How TechSoup Can Help Your Organization — November 12
Thursday, November 12, 11 a.m. Pacific time

Join TechSoup.org content creators, community leaders, and customer service support for a tour of how your organization can use all that TechSoup has to offer to improve your technology and help you reach your mission. We’ll walk you through the process of registering and requesting donated and discounted products from 40 donor partners like Microsoft and Adobe. We’ll also take you on a virtual tour of TechSoup’s free educational resources for nonprofits and public libraries.

Register now!