Google for non-profits newsletter - September 2009

[Jay Boren]

Google for non-profits newsletter - September, 2009

We hope you enjoy this month's update from the Google for Non-Profits team. A reminder that you can find and search all of the old newsletters and other emails sent to this list at the Google group site. Also, please be sure to join the googlefornonprofits-discuss group. This group offers an email forum for members to ask and answer questions about Google tools for non-profits.

--

Google Wave

What's new in Forms and Docs

Translate your website

Turn your blog into a widget

Project 10^100 update

Google Grants Summit recap

Upcoming Webinars and events

--

Google Wave

Many of you have probably already heard the buzz about Google Wave.  Wave is new real-time communication and collaboration tool that has been described as "what email would look like if it were invented today." Wave is being released to a small number of people by Google standards (already over 100,000 and counting) but you can request invitations and learn more about this powerful new tool at wave.google.com. The official Google Blog also has more information about what's happening with Wave here.

--

What's new in Forms and Docs

Google Forms makes frequent appearances in this newsletter.  This is in part because it is such a useful tool and in part because the team is constantly improving the product.  This month Forms has become even better by adding (among other things) a grid question type, much improved and expanded visualizations for results summary charts, the ability to sign-in and collect usernames automatically from your Google Apps account and the ability to create multiple pages in a single form.  Check out the team's blog posts here and here to learn more about these new features and how you can put them to work for your organization.

Google Docs has released two new improvements to the drawing feature.  Now, it much easier to build flowcharts with 20 new shapes for standard flowcharts.  And, you now have more control over the text in your drawings with the ability to add line breaks in text boxes and within shapes.  Learn more here. 

--

Translate your website

Google has released an automatic translation gadget that can be installed on any website to translate the content into any of 51 languages.  If a visitor to your website has a language different from that of your page set as their default, they will be prompted to automatically translate the page into their own language. If their language is the same as your site's, no prompt will appear.  Learn more about how to use and install this gadget here.

--

Turn your blog into a widget

Blogger has partnered with WidgetBox to create a simple tool to take your blog's rss feed and turn it into a colorful widget that an be added to any website.  This is a great way to bring people to your blog and spread the word about the great work you're doing.  You can allow your partners and biggest fans can add the widget to their sites to keep their viewers informed of what you're up to.  Learn more about how to create and get the most out of the Blogger widget here.

--

Project 10^100 Update

Since announcing Project 10^100 last September, Google received over 150,000 ideas and distilled these ideas down to 16 key themes.  The winners will be determined by a popular vote, so make your voice heard by visiting http://www.project10tothe100.com and voting before October 8th.  May those who help the most win!

--

Google Grants Summit recap

The Google Grants blog had some great posts this past month that show how different non-profits are using free Google tools to make their organizations more effective.  Check out the case studies of Energy Action Coalition, DoSomething.org and Direct Relief International.  Also, be sure to see this recap of the Google Grants Summit with links to great YouTube vidoes about how non-profits can use Google tools to their maximum potential.  

--

Upcoming webinars and events

Google AdWords is hosting a webinar as part of our "Think 2010" series entitled "Using Data to Better Connect with Your Customers" on October 6th.  Please follow the links above to learn more about the event and sign up.

The Case Foundation has launched their series of social media tutorials for non-profits entitled "Gear Up for Giving."  Their site includes great tutorials on using services like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.  In addition they have live webinars with social media experts throughout October. 

On October 7th, America's Giving Challenge begins, which enables individuals and organizations to complete for awards of up to $50,000, based on the number of donations they can garner for their selected Facebook Cause.  You can learn more here.

--

That's it for this month's newsletter. As always, please send any suggestions for the newsletter or Google for Non-Profits site our way.

Have a great rest of the week!

Jay from the Google for Non-Profits team