2009 NTC: Cloud Computing: More Than Just IT Plumbing in the Sky

On April 26th through April 28th, we held the 2009 Nonprofit Technology Conference in San Francisco.  We presented nearly 100 sessions, on topics ranging from virtualization to branding in social media.  We were lucky to partner with ReadyTalk to present 6 live simulcast sessions.  Here, we give you the audio from one of those sessions.  Full recordings with the slides are available for download at nten.org/ntc.

On April 28th, we presented:

Cloud Computing: More than just IT plumbing in the sky

We wanted to hear more about cloud computing that the usual "it makes computing cheaper and faster."  

Panelists:

Steve Hill Wright | Salesforce.com/Foundation
Lucy Bernholz | Blueprint Research & Design
Lalitha Vaidyanathan | FSG Social Impact Advisors

Cloud computing reduces IT infrastructure, reduces time spent on IT management and increases your return on investment for IT expenditures. This is nice. However, the cloud can also enable the social sector to collaborate in ways that have not been possible before. We are not corporations. While we are subject to a competitive funding marketplace, we are also participants in a more collaborative marketplace where we are working to drive social change. This session will discuss how the cloud can enable greater collaboration and, hopefully, increase our capacity to solve problems.
Takeaways:

1. Open Data: What is it, why do you want it and what are the implications for the social sector?
2. Philanthropic / Donation Marketplaces: What they are and what could they be?
3. Social Impact Metrics: How greater transparency and collaboration can help us move the needle?
4. Fancy pants are critical to a great presentation.