Technology for the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector

Monday, October 29

Consulting Services

by Deborah Elizabeth Finn on Mon 29 Oct 2007 11:58 AM EDT

If...

...you are passionate about your organization's mission

...you want your information and communication technology to support your mission

...you don't know where to start

...you don't know which products, vendors, or consultants are right for you

...you need an advisor, advocate, project manager, or strategist

...then I would be happy to offer my consulting services to you and your organization. I have a sliding scale that is based on your organization's annual budget and staff size; please feel free to contact me for help.

-Deborah Elizabeth Finn
deborah (dot) elizabeth (at) finn (dot) com

NPtech

Permanent Link | Cosmos

About Me

by Deborah Elizabeth Finn on Mon 29 Oct 2007 11:57 AM EDT

Deborah Elizabeth Finn

Cyber-Yenta

(Nonprofit Technology Consultant)

I live to bring resources and needs together seamlessly in the nonprofit sector, mostly through strategic use of information and communication technologies.

Although I am an independent consultant, I yearn to join a team and contribute to longterm goals - and am now searching for a full-time position.

My web site is currently undergoing perestroika, but you are welcome to view my resume by clicking here. If you would like to send me email, feel free to get in touch by clicking here.

Permanent Link | Cosmos

My Resume

by Deborah Elizabeth Finn on Mon 29 Oct 2007 11:56 AM EDT

DEBORAH ELIZABETH FINN
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
deborah (dot) elizabeth (at) finn (dot) com

QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE

Expertise in strategic management of information technologies in nonprofit organizations.

Adept at creating and maintaining strategies for online outreach , virtual communities, and web 2.0 mash ups that serve the communications needs mission-based organizations.
Experienced in creating and managing events that provide education and outreach to nonprofit professionals.
Skilled in cultivating and maintaining collaborative relationships with executives in the nonprofit sector, technology assistance providers, and nonprofit management support experts.
Strong interdisciplinary background in social research, including ethnographic, survey, and archival methods.
Experienced in community-oriented programs focusing on education, outreach, and empowerment around social and health issues such as violence, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse.
Skilled in project and grant management: proposal writing, budget oversight, and solicitation of in-kind gifts.
Adept at desktop publishing: design, graphic layout, editing, and writing.
Advanced user in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook), Windows XP, and other standard applications and operating systems.
Experienced in supervising technicians, consultants, vendors, staff, interns, and volunteers in a variety of duties.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Nonprofit Technology Consultant, Boston MA
Providing consultation and research for the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, including projects for the Boston Foundation, Boston Cares, Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Council of Community Services in New York State, Secure Sponsorship, Organizers' Collaborative, Stonehill College Center for Nonprofit Management, TechFoundation, Jobs For the Future, skyBuilders, Compumentor / TechSoup / NetSquared, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Massachusetts Service Alliance, Knowledge Communities, Public Conversations Project, the Data Collaborative, Social Markets, Third Sector New England,Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, IDEAS Boston, Newport Initiative for Nonprofit Leadership,Changing The Present, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, the Food Project, and Perkins School for the Blind. (2002 - present)

Nonprofit Liaison Officer and Director of the Boston TechConnect Program, Tech Foundation, Cambridge MA
Foundation officer, responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with nonprofit organizations, nonprofit technology assistance providers, researchers, and other foundations. Successfully created, developed, and implemented programs to further the foundation's social mission, which is to collaborate to deliver information technology to the nonprofit sector. (2000 - 2002)

Information Systems Coordinator, Family Service of Greater Boston, Boston MA
Planned and supervised major restructuring of information systems, including Year 2000 compliance, hardware, operating system, and software upgrades of desktop systems, hardware and operating system upgrades of network server, expansion of local area network to wide area network, continuous staff training, compliance with Department of Public Health and Council On Accreditation standards, and implementation of an electronic request and tracking system. (1997 - 2000)

Research Study Coordinator / Program Coordinator, Children's Hospital, Comprehensive Child Health Program, Boston MA
Responsibilities included coordination of a research and direct-services project with a budget of $300,000.00 in federal funding and a multi-disciplinary team of fifteen professionals and twelve volunteers. Primary duties involved database design, grant management, grant proposal writing, community outreach, training and supervising team members in information technologies. (1995 - 1996)

Research Associate, New England Medical Center, Pediatric Violence Prevention Project, Boston, MA
Responsibilities included researching the prevention of intentional and unintentional injuries to children and teens. Specific tasks included survey and archival research, database design and management, community outreach, recruitment of teens as project participants, grant writing project management, coordination of an interdisciplinary team, and supervision of research assistants. (1994 - 1995)

Communications Coordinator, Boston Public Schools, Healthy Kids Program, Boston, MA
Compiled a computer database and resource library, with information on health and community resources for use by administrators, parents, teachers, and outside agencies. Published the Healthy Kids newsletter (circulation: 32,000, in ten languages), along with other programmatic and promotional materials. Assisted in coordinating participation for 500 parents and 500 teachers, staff, and administrators at training conferences focusing on health issues. Concurrently served as Special Projects Coordinator, Grants Department, Boston Public Schools. (1992 - 1994)

Free-lance Database Design, Boston, MA.
Clients included: Boston Educational Development Foundation, Boston Public Schools, Epsilon, Ernst & Young, KPMG Peat Marwick, Gillette Corporation, Ondras Associates Architects, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. (1988-92)

MacIntosh Technician, Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. (1988)

MacIntosh Lab Assistant, School of Law, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. (1986-88)

Teaching Assistant, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Courses included: "Youth, Identity, and the Self," 'Meaning in Dreams and Personal History," and "Society and Personality." (1984-87)

Research Assistant to Professor Nancy T. Ammerman, Center for Religious Research, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. (1985-87)

Research Assistant to Professor Dorinne K. Kondo, Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. (1983-84)

Research Assistant to Professor Brigitte Berger, Department of Sociology, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA. (1982)

Research Assistant to Dr. Diana M. Zuckerman, Seven College Study, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, MA. (1981-82)

Research Assistant to Professor Ian Hacking, Department of Philosophy, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. (Non-Resident Term, 1981)

Research Assistant to Professor Ronald L. Cohen, Division of Social Sciences, Bennington College, Bennington, VT. (1980)

Research Assistant to Professor Judith Rodin, Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT. (Non-Resident Term, 1980)

EDUCATION

Ph.D. coursework, Emory University, Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts, Atlanta GA. (1984 - 1988)

M.T.S., Harvard University, The Divinity School, Cambridge MA. (1984)

B.A., Bennington College, Bennington VT. (1981)

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Massachusetts Nonprofit Technology Working Group (founder and member)

Commonwealth Civic Roundtable (member)

Civic engagement advisory group, the Boston Foundation (member)

Ethos Roundtable (co-convener)

Boston Technobabes (founder and member)

Information Systems Forum (founder and moderator)

Nonprofit Tech Jobs (founder and moderator)

Mission-Based Massachusetts (founder and moderator)

Best Practices Forum (founder and moderator)

Circuit Rider Affinity Group, Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (elected representative)

Permanent Link | Cosmos

Friday, March 4

What does "Cyber-Yenta" mean?

by Deborah Elizabeth Finn on Fri 04 Mar 2005 01:47 PM EST

In Yiddish, "yenta" is a slang term for an altruistic busybody - the sort of person who knows just who you should go to or what you should do when a problem or question arises. more »