[Editor's Note: I recently learned of two more free resources to learn programming (Python and Java) and have updated the list below with links to the tutorials.]There are several kinds of web developers:Front-end - people who develop the parts of a website with which the user interacts Back-end - people who develop the parts running a site behind the scenes Full-stack - people who can develop on both the front and back ends of a websiteI've been building websites for around 18 years … [Read more...] about Free Resources to Learn Web Development Programming Languages
NPtech
A First-Timer’s Guide to Enjoying the Nonprofit Technology Conference
The Nonprofit Technology Network puts on an amazing annual conference called the Nonprofit Technology Conference, or NTC for short. Generally held in spring, the conference is held in various cities throughout the United States, typically alternating between east coast, west coast, and the heartland so everyone has a chance at attending at some point with easier travel.Thinking back to my first time at the NTC, I remember being in a state of ecstasy and overwhelm for much of the event. So many … [Read more...] about A First-Timer’s Guide to Enjoying the Nonprofit Technology Conference
What the Tech? Awesome Tools for Managing Your Capacity Building Practice
Why the tech heck am I writing this post? Last week, I gave a breakout session at the Alliance for Nonprofit Management's 2017 Capacity Builders Conference. My co-presenter, Keith Timko (Executive Director/CEO of the Support Center) and I presented "What the Tech? Awesome Tools for Managing Your Capacity Building Practice." Designed for nonprofit consultants and capacity builders, the tools we discussed can also be useful for small business owners and start-ups.We promised to share all the … [Read more...] about What the Tech? Awesome Tools for Managing Your Capacity Building Practice
5 Things to Look for When Hiring a Technology Consultant
A sizable part of a my job at the Bayer Center was providing technology consulting services for nonprofits. However, once in a while we did an in-house project where we needed to hire an outside consultant to do some technical work, and sometimes I got to project manage it.At one point, we hired a Salesforce implementer and I got to thinking about the traits that are the highest on my list when hiring a consultant (and that I try to emulate when I do consulting):Technical chops. This is a … [Read more...] about 5 Things to Look for When Hiring a Technology Consultant
The Backstory Behind the “Top 10 Reasons to Attend the TechNow 2017” List
Years ago, I can't recall exactly when, I started doing an annual list for the nonprofit technology conference I manage, TechNow. I also cannot recall why I started doing it, though I'm pretty certain I got the idea from watching David Letterman doing his top 10 list features for so many years. Anyway, each year it's a challenge to write new and interesting reasons for attending, but I have an awful lot of fun finding the animated gifs to go with the post!View this year's Top 10 Reasons to … [Read more...] about The Backstory Behind the “Top 10 Reasons to Attend the TechNow 2017” List