This document provides an overview of cloud computing for nonprofits. It defines the cloud as scalable services accessed online, and notes that many people already use cloud tools like Gmail and Dropbox without realizing it. The document discusses the top cloud apps for nonprofits, costs associated with cloud vs local hosting, advantages like collaboration and risks like losing control. It encourages nonprofits to experiment with cloud tools and assess their needs before adopting cloud services. Resources for learning more and accessing donation programs are provided.

1. CLOUD 101
Tierney Smith
TechSoup Canada

2. ABOUT TECHSOUP CANADA
Register for donations program: http://techsoupcanada.ca/getting_started

3. ABOUT ME
 Software engineer
 Nonprofit technology blogger
 Community manager
@tierneys
@techsoupcanada
facebook.com/techsoupcanada
techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog
youtube.com/techsoupcanada

4. AGENDA
 What is the cloud?
 How is it relevant to your nonprofit?
 What does it cost?
 Advantages & risks of the cloud
 How do you get started?

5. WHAT IS THE CLOUD?

6. CLOUD CONFUSION
One in five Americans (22 percent)
admit that they’ve pretended to know When asked what “the
what the cloud is or how it works. cloud” is, a majority
responded it’s either an
actual cloud (specifically
a “fluffy white thing”),
the sky or something
related to the weather
(29 percent).
Working from home in their
“birthday suit” is the cloud’s
greatest advantage.
Source: http://www.citrix.com/English/NE/news/news.asp?newsID=2328309

7. YOU ALREADY USE THE CLOUD!
A majority of Americans (54 percent) claim
to never use cloud computing. However,
95 percent of this group actually does
use the cloud.
 Online banking
 Online shopping
 Social networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
 Online games
 Storing photos online
 Online file sharing

8. Scalable services you access
through the Internet

9. Microsoft Word
Not
Cloud
Google Docs
Cloud

10. OTHER CLOUD APPS YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD
OF…
 Gmail  Twitter
 Facebook  Dropbox
 Microsoft Office 365  Prezi
 Salesforce  Survey Monkey
 Vertical Response  MailChimp

11. 3 TYPES OF CLOUD
Software-as-a-
Service Platform-as-a-
Software you access Service
through the Internet Online environment for
e.g. Gmail, Salesforce, building software
Survey Monkey
e.g. Force.com, Microsoft
Azure
Infrastructure-as-a-Service
Servers and storage in the cloud
e.g. Amazon Web Services

12. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
 Based on this description, what cloud tools are you
already using?
http://bit.ly/ntencloud101tools

13. CLOUD + NONPROFITS

14. ARE NONPROFITS USING THE CLOUD?
93% of Canadian nonprofits use at
least one cloud app
On average, nonprofits worldwide use
3-4 types of cloud apps
 More:
http://techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog/cloud-
survey-results

15. MORE CLOUD APPS
Twitter Google Apps
Facebook Office 365
Bit.ly Zoho
Email & office
productivity
Social
networking
Your Salesforce
nonprofit CRM
CiviCRM
Communication
Skype File sharing
GoToMeeting
ReadyTalk
Google Skydrive
Box.net
Drive Dropbox

16. FOR EXAMPLE…
SHARING DOCS WITH YOUR BOARD
Read more: http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog/board_collaboration_google_docs

17. EVEN MORE WAYS TO USE THE CLOUD
 Mass Emails/ E-  Basic Websites
Newsletters  Weebly
 MailChimp, Vertical
Response, Constant
 Event Registration
Contact
 Eventbrite, Guestlist
 Project Management
 Survey/voting tools
 Basecamp,
 Doodle, PollDaddy,
Smartsheet, Podio
Survey Monkey

18. FOR EXAMPLE…
WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT
Read more on Basecamp:
http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog/toronto_net_tu
esday/project_management

19. HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I DO NOW?
The cloud is particularly good for:
 Sharing
 Everyone shares one version of a doc
 Collaborating
 Makes it easier to work together
with others
 Remote working
 Work from anywhere (with Internet)
 Scaling
 Add/remove more people/space on the go

20. WHAT DOES THE CLOUD COST?

21. BUY VS. RENT

22. EXAMPLE: EMAIL
 Server-based: Microsoft Exchange (via TechSoup Canada)
 Cost of server: varies
 Windows Server + CALs: $55 + $3/person
 Exchange Server Standard + CALs: $44 + $5/person
 Microsoft Outlook: $6/person
 Security, spam filtering: varies
 Upgrade every 3-5 years
 Cloud-based: Google Apps
 $50/person/year
 Also includes calendar, docs

23. ADVANTAGES & RISKS OF THE
CLOUD

25. EVEN MORE ADVANTAGES
 Backup
 Security
 Very little administration required

27. RISK: LOSING CONTROL OF…
Features
Cost
Backups
Security
Data
Availability

28. A WORD ABOUT PRIVACY
 In almost all cases there is no law
against using cloud computing
 Up to you to read the
Terms of Service
 You are responsible for your
data at the end of the day
 Avoid using cloud/be extra careful for political or
extremely sensitive data e.g. political activists,
women’s shelters
 Find out more:
http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog/cloud_privacy_law

29. HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

30. EXPERIMENT
 Pick a low-risk area
 Many tools are free or
have free 30-day trial
 Try it out! Learn! Have
fun!
Credit: jimmiehomeschoolmom

31. ASSESS & PLAN
1. Assess your nonprofit’s technology & determine
priorities
 Tech self-assessment:
http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog/tech_self_asse
ssment
2. Set goals
3. Research & try out options
 Jane vs. Tierney (http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog/jane-vs-tierney/intro)
 Platformation (http://www.platformation.ca/)
 Idealware (http://idealware.org/)

32. QUESTIONS?

33. RESOURCES
Further reading: http://bit.ly/tsc_cloud_further_reading
Information about the cloud & case studies:
http://techsoupcanada.ca/learning_centre
 Cloud tool reviews: platformation.ca

34. DONATION PROGRAM INFO
List of products: http://techsoupcanada.ca/product
Getting started:
http://techsoupcanada.ca/getting_started
 Microsoft donations information:
http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/microsoft_resources

35. CONTACT INFO
Tierney Smith, Community Manager
 @tierneys
TechSoup Canada
 www.techsoupcanada.ca
 @techsoupcanada
 facebook.com/techsoupcanada