Friday, September 19, 2008

What is a "Nonprofit Blog"?

This week in NTEN's Nonprofit Blogging Affinity Group, a new member asked for a list of nonprofit blogs. "Nonprofit Blogs" can actually be divided into two categories: blogs written by nonprofits, and blogs about nonprofit-related topics that are written by individuals who aren't necessarily affiliated with a specific organization. They may even be written by a consultant or business that serves nonprofits.

Because blogs written by nonprofits don't always have a specific blogging personality associated with them, they can sometimes be overshadowed in the nonprofit blogosphere by individual bloggers, so, let's shine a light on some nonprofit blogs that are written by organizations!

Below is a list of blogs that I read written by nonprofits and NGOs. I hope you'll add to the list:

Change/Wire
Dining for Women
Ella Baker Center
Echoing Green
Genocide Intervention Network
Global Fund for Women
Global Voices' Rising Voices
Google.org
Idealist
NetSquared
NTEN
People's Grocery
Save Darfur
Social Actions
Spot.us
Stone Circles
Streetside Stories
Sustainable Table
TechSoup
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Urban Sprouts
Women for Women International

Full disclosure: I am volunteering as a nonprofit blogging and podcasting expert this fall for NTEN's Office Hours. Also, I have written, consulted for, or financially supported some of these organizations.

Flickr photo credit: Photo of question mark in flowers uploaded by Michelle.


16 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:13 AM

    do you think organizational blogs with personality might do better than those with an institutional voice?

    http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2008/09/what-color-is-y.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for sharing the list. When woman want to be a part of something bigger than themselves there are so many opportunities to participate etc.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous8:38 AM

    I would be interested in learning whether people feel like the Dining for Women blog has more of a personal or instutional feel? I write all the posts and am trying to "find my voice,my style"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous8:47 AM

    Two more to add from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

    The LLS Blog: http://community.lls.org/blogs/lls

    The Light The Night Walk Blog: http://community.lls.org/blogs/ltn

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beth - Great list of nonprofit blogs on your post!

    I think organizational blogs with personality definitely do better than ones with an institutional voice because of the nature of the medium. Also because people like to read stories and I think if they feel like a blogger is telling them a story in the kind of tone they would tell a friend, it is more engaging and makes you want to come back and "talk" with them again.

    Marsha - I think your blog definitely has a personal tone. Looking at it again today, I wonder if it would be better if you "branded" it so it was clearer that you, the Founder, are writing it, like People's Grocery co-founder, Brahm Ahmadi did: http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/
    Maybe even write a post, that you could cross-post in your e-newsletter about how you started DFW and include posts sometimes about what it is like being an Executive Director. Notes from my desk kind of thing.

    Christine - Thanks for adding the blogs from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:40 AM

    Adding to the list!

    The Sedona Observer is a nonprofit national online newspaper dedicated to social change with a blog called "Observations."

    The site has 40,000 national subscribers and its motto is "Changing America by Changing Its Media First to Prevent Truth Decay." It recently won 6 First Place national press awards.

    Please add this site to your list:
    http://www.SedonaObserver.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous11:15 PM

    please add www.candlelightbooks.blogspot.com to your list. i am hoping to solicit more picture books for elementary school children in remote schools in the Philippines.

    many thanks!

    candlelight books

    ReplyDelete
  8. pls email me if you have gently-used picture and story books you wish to donate.

    i live in the bay area and i can pick up


    many thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. For the list: Corporate Babysitter www.corporatebabysitter.org is the blog for Parents for Ethical Marketing www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org. The blog helps fulfill the organization's mission of educating parents and informing corporations. It's a great way to get our message out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. http://heroesforchildren.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous10:05 AM

    Jewish Women International just launched a blog: http://www.jwiblog.org.

    During October, we're featuring stories, artwork, videos from victims or survivors. After Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we plan to continue the blog with myself and another staffer as the main bloggers. We're all excited about this journey into the blogosphere.

    Ali
    Web & Database Manager
    Jewish Women International

    ReplyDelete
  12. Today's Workplace (www.todaysworkplace.org) is the blog for Workplace Fairness (workplacefairness.org), and has been around since January 2003.

    The blog comments on legal developments and workplace trends, with a pro-worker point of view.

    I think it might have been one of the first nonprofit blogs, but feel free to correct me if you know one that's been around longer.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous11:25 AM

    I'd like to add to this list--there are several great blogs by local and national Humane Societies.

    http://www.okhumaneblog.com (mine)
    http://hsopensacola.blogspot.com/
    http://washhumane.typepad.com/
    http://www.aspca.org/aspcablog/
    http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/

    And more jumping on the blog train every day! Lots of us are on Twitter, too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for all the great links, Emily!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for sharing this information and also those lists, it makes a lot of sense, anyways such a nice photos of flowers there, looks very attractive and refreshing,..keep it up!

    -khatie-

    ReplyDelete

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