“The Networked Nonprofit” – opening up my eyes to a new social (media) revolution

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“In 2005, nonprofit organizations employed 12.9 million individuals, or approximately 9.7 percent of the U.S. economy – more than the financial activities sector employed at that time. And in 2008, nonprofits’ total revenue was $307.65 billion”The Networked Nonprofit, by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine

I recently started engaging several nonprofit organizations and I felt the need to learn more about them. When I found the book The Networked Nonprofit, by Beth Kanter and Allison H. Fine, I jumped on it. The book started by painting a surprising picture, but when I got to the second chapter it blew me away, and not in a way that I had anticipated.

I can make this into a long story, political at that, but let me suffice it to say that I had no idea to what extent the nonprofit market is a part of the U.S. economy and the social infrastructure. As the above quote attests to, it is a HUGE business.

As any big business, it is plagued by inefficiencies (my expression), legacy processes and politics. While I often talk about the new generation, the millennials, their expectations and how commercial businesses need to understand them and embrace them, it is clear that nonprofit organizations have as much, or even more, to lose by not embracing them.

After my first three chapters it is clear that Kanter and Fine have a somewhat different view of social media. It is refreshing and I am looking forward to perusing the book. More to follow…