Community Philanthropy 2.0 Research Study Executive Summary
July 31, 2009 | 1 Comment
Download the .PDF here: Community Philanthropy 2.0 Research Study Executive Summary
Research Overview
The social web offers a welcome place for individual philanthropic activity. New research funded by the Columbus Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation demonstrates that High dollar donors — especially 30-49 year-olds — use the social web, but have yet to be engaged by strong, trustworthy philanthropic organizations. This was among the key findings of the new research study, “Community Philanthropy 2.0,” conducted by Beth Kanter, Society for New Communications Research Fellow Geoff Livingston, and Qui Diaz of CRT/tanaka.
The Community Philanthropy 2.0 research study examined the use of social media by non-profits and causes, as well as existing donors and Internet “savvy” users’ traditional and social media usage patterns. The research was designed to determine if and how social media can be used to engage and cultivate high dollar donors. Objectives of the research included:
• To determine if high dollar donors use social media
• To see if those currently using social media could become potential high dollar donors
• To examine if cultivation of high dollar donations is possible online
• To determine what kinds of social media would serve this user base
Key Findings
* The online world of charitable activity is highly social, but also fragmented. No dominant voice for charitable giving exists online, indicating the social web is still in an early phase of philanthropic activity.
* Online conversations rarely evolve into meaningful discussions about how nonprofits are achieving their missions and impacting society. Donors don’t advise other donors, and generally, philanthropic experts from foundations do not participate in these discussions.
* There is a need for a trusted source, and a lack of authoritative philanthropic conversations.
* The 30-49 age group represents the best fit to cultivate major donors using social media strategies,
* More than 50 percent of 30 – 49-year-old survey respondents are interested in the following topics:
• “Whether or not a nonprofit is successfully making an impact” (75%)
• “Learning about organizations that are actively working on issues and causes I care about” (62%)
• “Success stories and updates on the progress of nonprofits I support” (54%)
• “Information/updates on the issues and causes I care about” (54%)
• “Financial accountability and governance of nonprofits I support” (51%)
* 80 percent of the Internet-savvy respondents aged 30-49 reported that they would participate in social media with nonprofits if the information was highly credible and of strong quality, and 77 percent said they would participate if it came from a trusted source.
* Online community-oriented social media is a preferred tool over most other forms of online conversation.
“The social web represents a tremendous opportunity for community foundations to shape local giving. High dollar donors use the social web, but have yet to be engaged by strong, trustworthy philanthropic organizations. Foundations and nonprofits in general simply need to determine the best means of participation,” conclude the researchers.
The full executive summary of the study is available for download.
In addition, SNCR Fellow Geoff Livingston will publish a paper based on the findings in the upcoming issue of the Society for New Communications Research’s Journal of New Communications Research and will present the findings at the Society for New Communications Research’s Annual Research Symposium, which will take place November 5-6 at the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambr.
Society for New Communications Research Launches New Study to Explore How Social Media Affects Business Decision Making
July 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Palo Alto, Calif., July 28, 2009 – The Society for New Communications Research (SNCR), a global nonprofit research and education foundation and think tank, today announced the launch of a new research study to explore how business leaders use online communities and peer networks to support their decisions. SNCR Fellows Vanessa DiMauro, CEO, Leader Networks and Don Bulmer, vice president, SAP, are conducting this study. This study will examine the role of social media has on decision-making among enterprise users.
Specifically this study will explore the following questions:
• Is social media typically regarded as a trustworthy source of information for professionals?
• Are social media tools effective sources of information, advice and peer collaboration and how do they compare to traditional off-line networking and knowledge share?
An online survey is available at: http://www.newsymbiosis.com
“A great deal of attention and research has been devoted to evangelizing social media as a new
form of customer-centric relationship building,” stated Bulmer. “However, what is often overlooked is the impact of social media to change behaviors, and the potential to leverage social media to impact professionals’ decision-making processes. While everyone is endeavoring to capture the mindshare of the buyer, few understand what success truly looks like.”
“This study is designed to get inside the heads of decision makers as to how social media tools like online communities are changing the way they make their decisions,” added DiMauro.
About the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR)
The Society for New Communications Research is a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) research and education foundation and think tank dedicated to the advanced study of new communications tools, technologies and emerging modes of communication, and their effect on traditional media, professional communications, business, culture and society. For more information about the Society for New Communications Research, visit http://www.sncr.org or call +1 (650) 331-0083.
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For more information, contact:
Jen McClure
SNCR
(650) 387-8590
jmcclure@sncr.org
Society for New Communications Research and Middleberg Communications Announce Second Annual Middleberg/SNCR Global Survey of Media in the Wired World
July 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Palo Alto, Calif., JULY 25, 2009 – The Society for New Communications Research (SNCR) and Middleberg Communications today announced the launch of the Second Annual Middleberg/SNCR Global Survey of Media in the Wired World to examine the effects of new media and communications developments on journalists and journalism. The research team will examine the effects of new media and communications developments, social media, and citizen journalism on journalists and the journalism profession. The survey seeks to:
• Determine how and why journalists use new media and communications tools and technologies
• Determine the frequency of use of and preferences for new media and communications tools and technologies
• Assess the perceived impact of new media and communications tools on the way journalists work
• Assess the attitudes of journalists toward the impact and value of these new tools and trends on journalism
Similar to last year’s initial re-embodiment of the Middleberg-Ross Survey, the current study will include an updated online survey and case studies based on interviews with journalists.
All journalists are invited to participate in this research study. An online survey is available at http://www.sncr-middleberg-2009survey.com.questionpro.com/
Journalists who complete the survey will be entered to win an iPod Touch, and will receive a complimentary copy of the executive summary of the survey results, which, this year, will focus on social media, including journalists’ use of and views on the credibility of content found on Twitter, blogs, and Facebook. Participants will also receive a special discount to attend the 2009 Society for New Communications Research Symposium, which will be held on November 5-6, 2009 at the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge, Mass., where the initial findings will be shared. The final results will be highlighted in the Society’s Journal of New Communications Research and published in a full report.
“This study is needed today more than ever, due to the significant changes and continuously evolving developments that are affecting traditional media organizations, journalists, and professional communicators as the result of new technologies and the emergence of social media,” stated Jen McClure, president, Society for New Communications Research. “Last year’s study resulted in important new insights and discoveries about this changing profession, and we are excited to continue this discovery process through this year’s survey.”
“I am delighted that to be working with SNCR on this survey for the second year in a row,” commented Middleberg, a SNCR Senior Fellow. “For those of us in public relations it is vital that we understand the new media channels journalists are using if we are to be effective communicators. One of the objectives of this survey is to help inform public relations professionals about how they can communicate more efficiently and effectively with journalists, thereby providing more value to the journalistic community.”
About Middleberg Communications
Middleberg Communications is a full-service, independently owned public relations agency with specialized expertise in the consumer, financial services, media, and technology markets. The agency places a major emphasis on achieving real, tangible goals that are designed to help our clients grow their businesses. Hallmarks of the firm are: smart, creative strategic thinking; in-depth media relations; and unbridled enthusiasm for achieving clients’ business goals – all supported by good old fashioned hard work. For more information, visit http://www.middlebergcommunications.com.
About the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR)
The Society for New Communications Research is a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) research and education foundation and think tank dedicated to the advanced study of new communications tools, technologies and emerging modes of communication, and their effect on traditional media, professional communications, business, culture and society. For more information about the Society for New Communications Research, visit http://www.sncr.org or call +1 (650) 331-0083.
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For more information, contact:
Jen McClure
SNCR
(650) 387-8590 – mobile
jmcclure@sncr.org
or
Don Middleberg
Middleberg Communications
212-812-5664
914-629-3999 – mobile
don@middlebergcommunications.com
Society for New Communications Research Announces Call for Entries for 2009 Excellence in New Communications Awards
July 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Prestigious Awards Honor Excellence in New Media and Communications, Social Media and ICT Developments
PALO ALTO, Calif.–July 13, 2009 - The Society for New Communications Research, a global nonprofit research and education foundation and think tank focused on the latest developments in new media and communications, today announced a call for entries for the 2009 Excellence in New Communications Awards.
This prestigious awards program honors the work of corporations, governmental and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, media outlets and individuals who are innovating the use of social media, ICT, mobile media, online communities and virtual worlds and collaborative technologies in the areas of business, media, and professional communications, including advertising, marketing, public relations and corporate communications, as well as entertainment, education, politics, and social initiatives.
Awards are granted in six divisions: Corporate, Government, Media, Nonprofit/NGO, Academic and Technology Innovation (for New Communications and Social Media Technology Vendors), and in twelve categories: Online Reputation Management; Behind the Firewall; Influencer Relations; External Communications & Communities; Collaboration & Co-creation; New Media Creation; Online Publishing; Mobile Media; Microblogging; Social CRM; and Measurement Innovation.
Entrants are asked to submit case studies detailing their initiatives and technologies. The winning case studies are published by SNCR and New Communications Review and the winners will be honored at the 2009 Society for New Communications Research Symposium & Awards Gala, which will be held November 5-6 at the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge, Mass. and hosted by SNCR Fellow Paul Gillin.
Entry guidelines and the online entry form can be found at http://www.sncr.org/awards. The deadline for submissions is September 7th, 2009. No extensions will be granted.
Entry fees: $75. USD per entry. A portion of each entry fee is tax-deductible, and all proceeds benefit SNCR, a 501c3 foundation. For more information, contact info@sncr.org or call +1 408.266.9658.
About the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR)
The Society for New Communications Research is a global 501c3 nonprofit research and education foundation and think tank dedicated to the advanced study of the latest developments in new media and communications, and their effect on traditional media and business models, communications, culture and society. SNCR creates a bridge between the academic community and practitioners using these new tools and methodologies, and is focused on research, education and best practices. For more information about the Society for New Communications Research, visit http://www.sncr.org or call +1 (650) 331-0083.
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