We need a training program for hands-on tech support providers who serve mission-based organizations.

Michelle Murrain came up with the basic idea over dinner on Wednesday evening.  There  we were - two old friends, strategic technology consultants to mission-based organizations, fellow Technobabes, veterans of the Circuit Rider movement - worrying about the future of nonprofit technology in our region.

Michelle and I began to brainstorm about establishing a school or program that would provide training and a career ladder to idealistic techies who would like to devote their professional careers to serving the nonprofit sector.  Being brilliant and highly skilled on a technical level is important but not sufficient for being an effective nonprofit geek.  Some other subjects that we would like to teach in the New England School for Circuit Riders come from non-technical disciplines:

Anthropology (Ethnographic methodology, cross-cultural studies, interaction ritual)

Business administration  (legal and financial aspects of setting up a firm or solo consultancy, marketing, organizational development, negotiation, nonprofit management)

Ethics (What to do, why you ought to do it, and how not to do what you ought not to do)

Social psychology (presentation of self, group dynamics)

When TechFoundation first announced that it would be organizing a Boston nonprofit technology conference in 2007, Kathleen Sherwin and I joked about creating a track for aspiring nonprofit techies.  However, it really didn't fit coherently into the focus of the conference, which is "Funding Your Technology and Supporting Your Mission." The focus of the event will be, very appropriately, on grantmakers and grantseekers.  The target audience and the curriculum that we envision for the New England School for Circuit Riders is really very different.

A lot of the "soft skills" that nonprofit techies need are effectively learned through apprenticeship and mentoring, so our program would have to provide that. Of course, this wouldn't preclude training in real-life "hard skills," such as network administration, database development, and web design.  Ideally, a program would enable idealistic techies to be fully rounded, highly effective professionals who can give hands-on support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.  In other words, we would be grooming circuit riders to be independent practitioners, now that foundations are less likely to fund them directly.  This can't be done effectively in a one-day conference, but I'm convinced that it can be done.

How can we bring this to fruition, and make it sustainable?  I hope that readers of this blog and other friends of nonprofit technology will contribute their ideas.




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