We needed an online platform to share information about our marriage equality projects. I evaluated a bunch, and Ning was the winner.

1. Ning
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final
Score Score out
of 100
Members can supply their own metadata. There
Quickly create/edit master-list of
doesn’t appear to be a way for admins to add/
10 9 90
members, including affiliation, skills,
change metadata for users.
and interests
Yes -- a new “advanced member search”
Search master list by relevant criteria
9 feature allows users to be searched by 10 90
customized profile metadata.
Manage
Members and admins can create public and
Members’ Data Assign members to smaller email lists/
9 10 90
private groups.
sub-committees
Groups are relatively easy to navigate
Make directory of lists/sub-committees
5 9 45
available to members
Robust privacy features, such as invite-only
Protect privacy and confidentiality 10 10 100
networks, private groups, and private events.
Files can be attached to forum posts. There
Provide repository for docs and files
isn’t currently a way to create a designated area
9 for docs. But there is a robust manager for 7 63
photos and video. And we could continue to
use Google Docs for file sharing.
Share
Resources Members can interact on forum; docs
Allow collaboration where appropriate 8 5 40
themselves cannot be edited online.
Docs can be posted to the forum for individual
Easily share docs with an entire list/
7 downloading. Private groups have private 8 56
sub-committee
forums.
Nothing as good as Meeting Wizard for
Coordinate meeting times & keep
8 coordinating schedules. But Ning will manage 9 72
track of RSVPs
Coordinate
RSVPs.
Events
Nice options for displaying calendars of events.
8 10 80
Provide calendar of events
Yes -- fairly easy to use. One concern is that
Ease of use for non-techies
10 there are tons of features, so it may be hard for 8 80
new users to find what they’re looking for.
Fairly easy to do. Admin tools are very clear; but
Usability Ease of use for admins, particularly
10 again, the sheer volume of features may make it 8 80
when adding/deleting members
confusing for new admins.
Yes
10 10 100
The ability to have multiple admins
Yes -- see here for an example: http://
Provide a simple, outward-facing
mototube.ning.com
6 10 60
webpage with basic info about who we
Public-Facing are and how people can join or help
Representation
We can post an email address -- not much else
Manage communication from the
4 7 28
in the way of message management.
public/journalists
Free for most features. If you need more than
Cost 8 10GB for storage, $10/month for each 10GB 10 80
block.
131 Aside from a lack of collaboration or messaging
tools, Ning has a robust feature set that is easy
88
to learn. In fact, the feature-set is SO robust
Totals: 1154
that we would have to be very careful about
disabling the things we don’t need, to keep the
site from getting cluttered.
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
1

2. Google Apps
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final
Score Score out
of 100
Members can supply their own metadata.
Quickly create/edit master-list of
Admins can add/change some metadata for
members, including affiliation, skills, 10 10 100
users. Member accounts can be uploaded in
and interests
bulk.
Not really -- admins can do some searching,
Search master list by relevant criteria 9 2 18
but that’s about it.
Manage
Members’ Data Assign members to smaller email lists/ Yes; admins can add people (anyone -- not just
9 10 90
domain members) to a Google Apps Group.
sub-committees
This would have to be done manually in a
Make directory of lists/sub-committees
5 4 20
document.
available to members
Robust privacy features.
10 10 100
Protect privacy and confidentiality
Docs can be kept internal-only; or they can be
Provide repository for docs and files 9 10 90
publicly shared.
Share Excellent doc sharing and collaboration tools.
8 10 80
Allow collaboration where appropriate
Resources
Yes, files and docs can be shared with a group.
Easily share docs with an entire list/
7 10 70
Robust privacy tools.
sub-committee
Not as useful as MeetingWizard for planning,
Coordinate meeting times & keep
8 9 72
Coordinate but Calendar app will keep track of events.
track of RSVPs
Events
Yes; Calendar app is very easy to use.
8 10 80
Provide calendar of events
Very straightforward, with some feature-glut.
10 9 90
Ease of use for non-techies
Fairly straightforward. Administrative stuff
Ease of use for admins, particularly
Usability 10 requires some technical knowledge and might 6 60
when adding/deleting members
be a little scary for new admins.
Yes.
10 10 100
The ability to have multiple admins
Yes; flexible tools to do this with Sites.
Provide a simple, outward-facing
6 10 60
webpage with basic info about who we
Public-Facing are and how people can join or help
Representation
Admins can manage messages from the public
Manage communication from the
4 9 36
alongside all of their other emails.
public/journalists
Free for Standard Edition. Extra backup/support
features for 501(c)(3)s with free access to
Cost 8 9 72
Premier Edition. Differentiating all of the various
editions is a bit confusing.
131 Excellent email and document sharing tools.
Can be a little technical at times for admins.
87
Lots of features may result in some clutter. One
Totals: 1138
additional downside: for users who already have
a Google account, it may be a little confusing to
have to create one more.
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
2

3. SocialGo
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final
Score Score out
of 100
Custom metadata can be set up, though I’m a
Quickly create/edit master-list of
little unclear on what the process is.
10 7 70
members, including affiliation, skills,
and interests
Yes, under Members/Advanced Search.
9 10 90
Search master list by relevant criteria
Manage
Good tools for sub-groups.
Assign members to smaller email lists/
Members’ Data 9 9 81
sub-committees
Looks like this would probably be available to
Make directory of lists/sub-committees
5 7 35
view under a tab somewhere.
available to members
Good control over privacy.
10 9 90
Protect privacy and confidentiality
Not yet available; being considered for future
Provide repository for docs and files 9 0 0
versions.
Share Not available.
8 0 0
Allow collaboration where appropriate
Resources
Not available.
Easily share docs with an entire list/
7 0 0
sub-committee
Pretty good tools for organizing events,
Coordinate meeting times & keep
8 10 80
managing RSVPs,
track of RSVPs
Coordinate
Events
Yes, but requires some setup. Not all features
Provide calendar of events 8 5 40
are in place yet.
It looks pretty simple; but since they’re in Beta,
Ease of use for non-techies 10 6 60
the site can behave a little unpredictably.
Relatively straightforward.
Ease of use for admins, particularly
Usability
10 7 70
when adding/deleting members
Yes.
10 9 90
The ability to have multiple admins
Yes, similar to Ning.
Provide a simple, outward-facing
6 9 54
webpage with basic info about who we
Public-Facing are and how people can join or help
Representation
We can post an email address -- not much else
Manage communication from the
4 6 24
in the way of message management.
public/journalists
There is a free version and a for-pay version.
The for-pay version offers 5GB storage (instead
Cost 8 of 1GB) and “better security,” though specifics 7 56
are vague. While it’s in Beta, the premium
version is free; later, it’ll be about $20/month.
131 Similar to Ning, but unfortunately it’s still in Beta
64
and a little less out-of-the boxy. Additional user
Totals: 840
setup is required, and the online help through
Get Satisfaction is pretty limited.
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
3

4. 37Signals' Basecamp
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final
Score Score out
of 100
Limited admin control over members’ metadata.
Quickly create/edit master-list of
10 5 50
members, including affiliation, skills,
and interests
Not available.
9 0 0
Search master list by relevant criteria
Manage Members can be assigned to “projects.”
Assign members to smaller email lists/
9 8 72
Members’ Data sub-committees
Projects can be viewed by members.
Make directory of lists/sub-committees
5 8 40
available to members
Some privacy tools, but it’s hard to say exactly
Protect privacy and confidentiality 10 3 30
what data is shared.
Yes.
9 10 90
Provide repository for docs and files
No online editing of docs, but it does support
Allow collaboration where appropriate 8 7 56
Share versioning.
Resources
Limited privacy control on files -- members of a
Easily share docs with an entire list/
7 “team” can share docs, including “contractors,” 5 35
sub-committee
but they can be hidden from “clients.”
Not in Basecamp, but Backpack supports
Coordinate meeting times & keep
8 3 24
limited event planning.
track of RSVPs
Coordinate
Events
Not in Basecamp, but Backpack supports
Provide calendar of events 8 3 24
limited event planning.
Moderately challenging.
10 5 50
Ease of use for non-techies
Moderately challenging.
Ease of use for admins, particularly
Usability 10 5 50
when adding/deleting members
Yes.
10 10 100
The ability to have multiple admins
Not available.
Provide a simple, outward-facing
6 0 0
webpage with basic info about who we
Public-Facing are and how people can join or help
Representation
Not available.
Manage communication from the
4 0 0
public/journalists
Cost 8 Starts at $24/month. 3 24
131 Well-organized, but interface is a bit confusing.
49
Very business-oriented, so the focus on
Totals: 645
“companies” makes it a little distracting as a
social organizing tool.
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
4

5. ActivelyOut (Current Version and Next Version)
Comments
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final Score Weighted Final
(Next Version)
(Current version) (1-10) Score Score out (1-10) Score Score
of 100 out of
100
There doesn’t appear Planned for next version.
Quickly create/edit
to be a way to create Not sure how much control
master-list of
groups of members/ admins will have over
10 0 0 9
members, including 90
contacts. users’ metadata.
affiliation, skills, and
interests
Members of the site Possibly.
Search master list by
9 can be browsed; not 1 9 5 45
relevant criteria
searched.
You can create a Planned for next version.
Assign members to
public forum thread,
smaller email lists/
Manage but that’s the only
sub-committees
Members’ 9 way I see to narrow a 0 0 10 90
Data conversation to a
specific group of
people.
Not available. Possibly.
Make directory of
lists/sub-committees
5 0 0 5 25
available to
members
I can’t find a privacy Strict privacy policy
Protect privacy and
policy on the site. planned for next version.
confidentiality 10 0 0 8 80
Not sure flexible data-
sharing will be.
Not available. Planned for next version.
Provide repository
9 0 0 10 90
for docs and files
Not available. Possibly.
Allow collaboration
8 0 0 5
Share 40
where appropriate
Resources
Not available. Possibly.
Easily share docs
7 0 0 5
with an entire list/ 35
sub-committee
Not available. Possibly.
Coordinate meeting
8 0 0 5
times & keep track of 40
RSVPs
Coordinate
Events Events can be listed More privacy options
Provide calendar of
in a non-calendar planned for next version.
events 8 7 56 8 64
form. All info is
public.
Relatively easy to Will probably be same.
Ease of use for non-
use. Some confusion
techies 10 8 80 8 80
during sign-up with
multiple profiles.
Membership- Possibly.
Ease of use for
Usability management
admins, particularly
10 0 0 5 50
functions are not
when adding/
available.
deleting members
Not available. Possibly.
The ability to have
10 0 0 5 50
multiple admins
Not available. Possibly.
Provide a simple,
outward-facing
webpage with basic
6 0 0 5 30
Public- info about who we
Facing are and how people
Represent can join or help
ation
Simple messaging Possibly.
Manage
available.
4 5 20 5
communication from 20
the public/journalists
Free Free
Cost 8 10 80 10 80
131 Good for planning Some big updates
stand-alone events. planned. Definitely worth
19 69
But the tools for evaluating when we have
Totals: 245 909
organizing projects or more details.
campaigns aren’t
there.
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
5

6. Zoho
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final
Score Score out
of 100
Not really. CRM and People apps are more
Quickly create/edit master-list of
focussed for customers or job applicants. You
members, including affiliation, skills, 10 1 10
can create a DB, but it’s not tied to contact or
and interests
message management.
Not available.
9 0 0
Search master list by relevant criteria
Manage Not available.
Assign members to smaller email lists/
9 0 0
Members’ Data
sub-committees
Not available.
Make directory of lists/sub-committees
5 0 0
available to members
Some privacy features. Difficult to tell exactly
Protect privacy and confidentiality 10 4 40
how much info is shared with other members.
Docs can be managed in Projects. Files can be
Provide repository for docs and files
attached to forum posts when you set up a
9 Project. Stand-alone editor for spreadsheets, 3 27
and another for docs. All pretty complicated to
use.
Share
Resources Some collaboration tools, though a bit
Allow collaboration where appropriate 8 3 24
confusing
This doesn’t appear to be possible -- none of
Easily share docs with an entire list/
7 the apps seem to communicate with each 0 0
sub-committee
other.
There’s a “Share” app that seems like it can
Coordinate meeting times & keep
8 handle events. But it’s so confusing I couldn’t 1 8
track of RSVPs
Coordinate
figure it out.
Events
Not available.
8 0 0
Provide calendar of events
Tons of features -- pretty intimidating
10 1 10
Ease of use for non-techies
Tons of features -- pretty intimidating
Ease of use for admins, particularly
10 1 10
when adding/deleting members
Usability
Possibly with Projects app; though as with all
The ability to have multiple admins
10 the other functions, it was too confusing for me 1 10
to figure out.
Not available.
Provide a simple, outward-facing
6 0 0
webpage with basic info about who we
Public-Facing are and how people can join or help
Representation
Mail accounts are available. Not very easy to
Manage communication from the
4 5 20
use.
public/journalists
Cost 8 Free 10 80
131
18
Totals: 239
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
6

7. The Current System
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final
Score Score out
of 100
A bit time-consuming.
Quickly create/edit master-list of
10 4 40
members, including affiliation, skills,
and interests
Not available.
9 0 0
Search master list by relevant criteria
Done manually -- time consuming, potential for
Assign members to smaller email lists/
Manage human error. Google Groups helps, but also
sub-committees 9 1 9
Members’ Data creates some confusion between group-
communication and email-communication.
Would have to be done completely manually.
Make directory of lists/sub-committees
5 1 5
available to members
Depends on everyone’s discretion -- no formal
Protect privacy and confidentiality 10 1 10
procedure in place to ensure privacy.
Yes, using Google docs; not connected to any
Provide repository for docs and files 9 8 72
other tool or procedure.
Yes, using Google docs; not connected to any
Allow collaboration where appropriate
Share 8 8 64
other tool or procedure.
Resources
Yes, although lists must be set up manually;
Easily share docs with an entire list/
7 4 28
and it’s difficult to share lists.
sub-committee
Using MeetingWizard for this, which works very
Coordinate meeting times & keep
8 well; although it doesn’t connect to any other 8 64
track of RSVPs
Coordinate
tool or procedure.
Events
Not available.
8 0 0
Provide calendar of events
A little daunting.
10 3 30
Ease of use for non-techies
Pretty time-consuming.
Ease of use for admins, particularly
Usability 10 2 20
when adding/deleting members
Yes, but the process is a little unclear.
10 4 40
The ability to have multiple admins
Could be done with Google Sites, or just some
Provide a simple, outward-facing
simple HTML site.
6 7 42
webpage with basic info about who we
Public-Facing are and how people can join or help
Representation
No tools or methods in place to handle this.
Manage communication from the
4 0 0
public/journalists
Cost 8 Free. 10 80
131
38
Totals: 504
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
7

8. Skipped Evaluations
Platform Reason
Zazengo Not really built for project-based collaboration, Zazego is more targeted to activism
campaigns. It’s possible that as a result of our project, a platform similar to Zazengo will
be built; but it doesn’t do the contact management, collaboration, and event planning that
we need.
Egovern Designed for public communications with elected officials. Not quite right for organizing
projects.
Golightly Insanely complex; expensive; and details about about how it works are hard to find.
Golightly is a tool for massive organizations that have lots of time to invest in customizing
a gigantic suite of tools. Even just learning about what it does requires a seminar.
Drupal An open-source content-management system, Drupal doesn’t come with the features that
we need out of the box. Given some time and expertise, we could build a pretty sweet site
-- and in fact, I would advise giving it high consideration for the building of sites in the
future. But for right now, we would have to invest too much time in it to get what we need.
Sample form
Critera Weight Comments Score Weighted Final
Score Score out
of 100
Quickly create/edit master-list of
10 0 0
members, including affiliation, skills,
and interests
9 0 0
Search master list by relevant criteria
Manage
Assign members to smaller email lists/
Members’ Data 9 0 0
sub-committees
Make directory of lists/sub-committees
5 0 0
available to members
10 0 0
Protect privacy and confidentiality
9 0 0
Provide repository for docs and files
8 0 0
Allow collaboration where appropriate
Share
Resources
Easily share docs with an entire list/
7 0 0
sub-committee
Coordinate meeting times & keep
8 0 0
Coordinate track of RSVPs
Events
8 0 0
Provide calendar of events
10 0 0
Ease of use for non-techies
Ease of use for admins, particularly
Usability 10 0 0
when adding/deleting members
10 0 0
The ability to have multiple admins
Provide a simple, outward-facing
6 0 0
webpage with basic info about who we
Public-Facing are and how people can join or help
Representation
Manage communication from the
4 0 0
public/journalists
Cost 8 0 0
131
0
Totals: 0
Platform Evaluation - 1/2/09
8