Karitas Posts.for.us

Using technology has been a large part of my life. From my middle school encounters with Bulletin Board Systems, Windows 3.1 and Oregon Trail to my passion for helping navigate others through the social media landscape today.

Nonprofit work has also been a large part of my life, from my volunteer work in high school, to my position on the board for ProjectVIDA/ProjectLIFE.

What i didn't realize, was that these two things could intersect, and there was a group of people that were tied to both, and making real change in the world.

My senior year in college, i took an internship here in chicago (which ultimately led me to move to this wonderful city) and had an encounter that opened my eyes to the NPTech world. 

it was 2005, and i was sitting on a bus, and across from me sat a girl reading an ENORMOUS program book. I stared at the cover, and it said NTEN Conference

and i wondered, is it march madness?

and then i read further to see that the NTEN Conference is a Nonprofit Technology conference. i had never seen those two words put together, let alone knowing there would be an entire conference dedicated to it. 

i was amazed; imagine being able to use your skills in technology with your passion for making change. Genius Idea! 

I jotted the name NTEN down for later research, and played with the idea of following the girl to the conference, not knowing whether she was heading there or coming back. 

But that was the moment I learned about NPTech, and NTEN. The moment i was able to merge two important parts of my life: Tech and Social Good. From then on, i looked for ways that i could take part in Nonprofit technology, by learning about people that enable their organizations with proper use of technology, and engaging in conversation on best practices within the sector on technology for good. and as i always have, spread what i learned to organizations and groups i affiliated myself with. 

I believe this is part of the reason NTC is so important for me to participate in, as i have for the past 3 years, and hope to continue this year. 

Unlike previous years, I am unemployed. So, this year i have to make it to the conference on my own, by raising funds to make it out there. I have already gotten lots of positive responses, and i thank those of you who have set me on the path to making it this year. An extra special thanks goes out to Denis Pierce of the Pierce Family Charitable Foundation (who David Krumlauf, NPTech Extraordinaire, connected me with) for getting my flight to and from Atlanta. 

If you'd like to help me out in my goal to make it to this years Nonprofit Technology Conference, please chip in using the widget below. 

When did you learn about Nonprofit Technology? leave your story in the comments!