Networking at Craigslist Nonprofit Bootcamp
Posted by Adriana Dakin, Communications Strategist and Amy Wachler Communications Associate on August 31, 2007
The Craigslist Nonprofit Boot Camp connects social innovators with knowledge and resources on how to start and run a vibrant organization—and proves the Bay Area continues to lead the country in sustainable solutions.
The exhibit hall at the August 18 conference at UC Berkeley was the place to be for networking—with about 40 nonprofit and business tables, it was packed throughout the day. I was working at the Young Women Social Entrepreneurs, with NTEN, Nonprofit Technology Network, at the table next to us. Madera Group’s Internet Strategist Michael Stein, who serves on the Steering Committee for the 2008 Nonprofit Technology Conference, was there networking as well.
Participants had a choice of over 20 interactive workshops and panels across a variety of educational tracks, covering the essentials of starting and running a nonprofit or social enterprise. At a Social Entrepreneur track panel, for example, Ben Mangan talked about EARN’s work in creating strategies to help low income people save money and build assets. EARN’s emphasis on building assets helps clients survive and smooth out the effects of personal or economic down cycles.
For those working in the social profit arena, such as Madera Group, connections and knowledge building through the Boot Camp is incredibly valuable for inspiration and for practical updating on new developments and innovations. While sipping free samples of an energy juice spiced with caffeine, one could meet representatives from Google, Foundation Center, Tech Soup, California Association of Nonprofits, Compasspoint, Jossey-Bass, Design Action Collective, Rockwood, Philanthropy World, and GiftWorks. The atmosphere of the hall was interactive and lively, making conversations easy.
Building avenues of collaboration is exciting to me as a communications strategist who works exclusively with social profit projects. Moving from one project to the next as we do, we build knowledge about best practices and bring together teams that can integrate various aspects of strategy, from communications to fund development to Internet. I look forward to deepening some of the relationships formed at the Boot Camp, and to attending Bioneers in October.
