TWINTEL Solutions

You, dear NTEN community, know the importance of technology in meeting your missions. For us, technology is more than e-mail servers or software installations. Sure, we need those things to do our work well, but we know the real impact lies elsewhere: using handheld devices to collect data in the field, crowdsourcing maps to help under-resourced communities get the services they need, putting the power of your mission right into the hands of your stakeholders with mobile apps.

We're glad you get it, because we need you to help us meet OUR mission of ensuring that every nonprofit can use technology to make the change they want to see. We're incredibly excited about a brand-new program to get us one step closer: the Technology Leadership Academy.

The Academy is a 9-week online training program designed to help nonprofit leaders understand how to manage technology to both meet their basic operational needs and meet their missions.  

> Learn more and apply to the Technology Leadership Academy here.

The Academy will be a unique opportunity to learn and interact with your peers while creating a tight network of nonprofit leaders working toward a common mission: to use technology to create more social change. Thanks to the generous support of Microsoft, we're able to offer the Technology Leadership Academy at no charge to qualifying organizations. You must apply for acceptance to the Academy, and there are, of course, some application requirements.

But oh, will it be worth your time. Your instructors during the weekly core sessions will be top nonprofit leaders like Beth Kanter, Katya Andresen, and Edward Granger-Happ. You'll also have the opportunity to interact with field experts like Charlene Li, Founder of Altimeter Group and Author of Open Leadership, in Ask the Expert sessions. The online sessions will take place weekly from September 29th through November 22nd. You can see the full schedule here.

At the end of the 9 weeks, you'll be able to:

• Articulate the value of technology in your organization for yourself, your staff, funders, and other key stakeholders.
• View technology as integral to every department in your organization.
• Recognize options for funding IT projects in your organization.
• Staff technology effectively.
• Manage the organizational change that technology can produce.

At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion from NTEN and Microsoft. Space is limited, however: for this pilot effort, we will only be able to accept 50 organizations with budgets under $2 million.

So, yes, the Academy will require commitment, but, knowing our community, we don't expect that will be a problem for you. Please take some time to review the application guidelines, gather the necessary materials, and apply to the Technology Leadership Academy before July 30th. (By the way, participants will be able to earn points toward special software donations from Microsoft, free 2011 NTC registrations, and more!)

> Learn more and apply to the Technology Leadership Academy here.

We look forward to reviewing your application and learning more about your plans to use technology to help your organization meet its mission!