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An important report focused in large part on online advocacy,
non-profits, and the role of philanthropy was recently released. I
highly recommend that folks have a read:
http://evolvefoundation.org/?q=pacesummary
This line caught my eye:
"The key to understanding online civic engagement is not to focus on
the latest tool or even the latest tactic. Rather, the key is to
recognize that engaging people and organizations in this new
environment requires new ways of thinking and new organizational
models in order to build a more informed and engaged citizenry."
While my use own use the term "online civic engagement" tends to
first focus on the need for democratic online applications
<http://e-democracy.org/uk/guide.pdf> that bring citizens (and
advocates) together online who hold different perspectives, online
education for advocacy has a huge potential in the 501.c3 (tax-exempt
non-profit world).
Advocacy groups are feeling competition from individuals and new net-
centric organizations that are able to garner political momentum
without a traditional grass roots or membership base. I am sure that
the disintermediation of traditional non-profit and civic groups as
collectors of public will (and donations or memberships) is a serious
concern to those organizations.
If efforts to further empower and invest in broader online activism
succeed, will we also building better representative and
participatory online infrastructures that allow citizens to be heard
by those in power? Will citizens be able to learn from and come to
respect different perspective online or will our existing e-advocacy
trends continue to generate more and more political heat and noise
such that it overwhelms the off-line world of governance? I see the
expansion of e-advocacy as natural and something driven by political
competition.
Along these lines, I would argue that another reason foundations,
governments, and non-profits must invest in online civic engagement
is to counter "politics as usual" and divisive forms of "red meat"
e-advocacy online. If there is a will, there is a way, but right now
most governments are not prepared for floods of online activism and
they are barely able to deal with average online levels of citizen
input. I see a train wreck coming. This report is an important
positive contribution to larger dialogue that is required so we can
save democracy from the negative aspects of the information age. :-)
Below is an announcement provided by the E-Volve Foundation. Thank
you Allison.
Steven Clift
Democracies Online Newswire
http://dowire.org
My blog post version - comment here or on their site:
http://www.dowire.org/notes/index.php?p=18
Executive summary text below. Download the PDF from here:
http://evolvefoundation.org/?q=pacesummary
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Thu, 12 May 2005 16:46:08 -0400
From: Allison Fine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) with The E-Volve
Foundation, announces the release of Pushing Power to the Edges:
Trends and Opportunities in Online Civic Engagement. This first
edition of a projected annual report, co-authored by Jillaine Smith,
Marty Kearns and Allison Fine, provides an overview of the state of
online activism; what it is, where it is headed, and what it means
for activists and those who support them. The report is available
for download at The E-Volve Foundation’s website,
http://www.evolvefoundation.org.
The implications of online democracy for nonprofit organizations are
significant and challenging. Nonprofits and their funders must
become much more nimble, integrate online and offline activities
better, leverage and strengthen networks of activists and brandish a
new set of leadership skills that are more facilitative and inclusive
The report concludes with a strong statement of the new for greater
investment in the development of online activism as a critical focal
point for positive social change in the coming years – or miss the
opportunity entirely.
We invite readers to join on us at http://www.evolvefoundation.org
for a discussion of the paper's findings and ideas and thoughts of
who to advance this exciting, fast-moving field.
Best wishes,
Allison
Allison H. Fine
CEO
E-Volve Foundation
http://www.evolvefoundation.org
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
914.674.9568
E-volve: Fueling Networks for Social Change
The Executive Summary
From:
http://evolvefoundation.org/?q=pacesummary
The age of connectivity brought about by the Internet and other
digital information technologies is reshaping how Americans do
business, obtain news and information about the world, engage in
social functions, shop, express their creativity, and engage in
community life.
This report provides an overview of the state of online democracy;
what it is, where it is headed, and what it means for activists and
those who support them. A literature review was completed, online
discussions were monitored and nineteen in-depth interviews with
leaders in the fields of online technologies, nonprofit capacity
building, citizen engagement and social networks were conducted. This
effort is intended to be a snapshot in time, not the ultimate guide,
and to serve as a jumping off point for further discussions to occur
online about how these tools and the culture of online civic
engagement can be further developed and scaled for broader, deeper
and more lasting citizen action.
Traditional ways of engaging civically are coming to an end. For
example:
Large numbers of people can be mobilized within hours—even minutes—to
donate, volunteer, protest, call Congress, boycott—all at little or
no cost.
Individuals are by-passing the work of established parties and
organizations with their selfgenerated campaigns.
Individuals, groups and organizations are generating their own news
without the benefit of mainstream media.
For the purposes of this report, we use four meta categories to
describe the kinds of activities included in online civic engagement
(more information and examples are available in the Appendix.)
Collaboration: many people working together on a single activity,
effort or project. Types of technology include wikis, and Yahoo
groups discussion boards.
Communication: talking with and among constituents. Examples include
email, chat rooms, listservs, text messaging using cell phones, and
instant messaging
.
New media/Content development: generating and disseminating original
news. Examples include web sites, web logs (blogs), newsletters, RSS
(news syndication software), and podcasting (regular audio
programming delivered via the Internet to an iPod or other MP3
player).
Organizing/Collective Action: coordinating the activities of large
numbers of activists and supporters. Examples include smart mobs,
meet-ups, virtual phone banks, online petitions, and volunteer
management databases.
Online activism does not preclude or even dilute the need for “on
land” activism, nor does it change the ultimate ends of citizen
engagement, but it does require a change in culture for organizations
to successfully engage in it. In particular, nonprofit organizers
must be aware of the impact that online technology has in three main
areas: fundraising, targeted communications, and field management.
The implications for practitioners are significant and challenging.
Organizations must:
Nimbly jump on to the fast-moving wave of opportunities that the
Internet both delivers and makes possible.
Integrate online activities with offline.
Leverage extended networks of activists, friends and sympathizers
across issues areas.
Lead using a new set of facilitative skills.
The report concludes with a series of findings and recommendations of
the ways that organizations, individuals and philanthropy need to
adapt and change to keep pace with the continuing dizzying changes
occurring technologically. In order for online democracy to flourish
and become the backbone for a renaissance in civic participation,
philanthropy and nonprofits must also keep pace by investing in
networks of organizations and people that can best take advantage of
this new environment, while supporting new training, leadership and
planning skills.
Please download the report (PDF 1.17 MB) and presentation (PDF 7.73
MB) and join the conversation on our blog!
Share your comments here:
http://evolvefoundation.org/?q=node/69
^ ^ ^ ^
Steven L. Clift - - - W: http://publicus.net
Minneapolis - - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Minnesota - - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667
USA - - - - - MSN/Y!/AIM: netclift
UK Office Hours - 1pm - 11pm - - T: 0870.340.1266
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