A Conversation with Ed Batista

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A Conversation with Ed Batista
written by Jason Hutchins
Tech News Staff Writer

One of the most recognizable names in the field of nonprofit technology is Ed Batista, who served as the first Executive Director of the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network http://www.nten.org (N-TEN) from 2001 to 2005. N-TEN's mission is to support the people and organizations that help nonprofits understand and employ technology effectively.

During Ed's tenure, N-TEN grew from an office in Ed's living room to a four-person staff and a membership roster of over six hundred organizational and individual members. Recently, Tech News caught up with Ed to reflect on how the sector has developed over the past couple years and what transformations are on the horizon.

Pervasive Home Use Has Driven Commitment to Networking
When asked about the most influential factor driving change in nonprofit organizations over the last decade, Ed pointed to the vast knowledge growth of the end user driven by their home computing experience.

"Traditionally, computers were seen as a tool for accountants in finance….number crunching devices, not communication devices. The tremendous shift we have seen is being driven by the pervasiveness of the Internet and the openness of staff to embrace change in order to work more effectively."

“In 1995, I was working on a project trying to convince social workers how computer networking could help them work more effectively without much success. Ten years later, the tables have turned and staffs are driving the change.”

Ed explained that this learning curve, driven by home computing experiences, has changed the cultural mindset of organizations over time. As individuals increasingly desired improved communication tools in the workplace, this has lead to a sector-wide commitment to networking.

“Traditionally, computers were seen as a tool for accountants in finance….number crunching devices, not communication devices. The tremendous shift we have seen is being driven by the pervasiveness of the Internet and the openness of staff to embrace change in order to work more effectively.”

Batista reflected that the sector still has some access challenges but that almost everyone now has some basic form of access to the Internet. “Online work habits at home, experience and expectations, have been brought into the nonprofit workplace from staff who are increasingly sophisticated users.”

Constituent Relationship Management
As N-TEN watched its membership grow over these last few years, Ed Batista had an ideal vantage point from which to observe the ever-changing marketplace between nonprofit organizations and the technical assistance providers who develop tools for them to use.

While speaking with Ed Batista, one senses an ideal crossroads emerging in the sector where low cost solutions are readily available for staff members who have an increased understanding of how these tools can be deployed to further the mission of the organization.

“Costs continue to come down while tools have become more user friendly. Powerful solutions are within the grasp of the average organization.”

Batista explained that, historically, tools required significant resources to develop and deploy, often leaving the advantages of such solutions to privileged organizations with the resources required to develop and maintain solutions.

“Nonprofits are typically risk-averse but are risk-seeking when they have a clear path to a return on their investment”. Citing the enormous size of risk capital available to private sector businesses relative to the modest resources available to even the largest nonprofits, the trend continues to favor robust solutions developed by firms that serve many organizations.

Batista pointed to the development and sustainability of powerful solutions made possible through significant ongoing programming investments from large vendors like Convio, GetActive, and Kintera. There are also a number of smaller providers in the field, such as CitySoft, and Democracy In Action.

As to sustainability: “There is no way I see the clock going backwards—costs will continue to come down, making it easier for nonprofits to pay for these services. The growth of ASPs (application service providers) is also an important factor here. By using an ASP, nonprofits are effectively outsourcing software development to an outside vendor, allowing them to dedicate more resources to mission critical functions, putting the focus back on social workers, for example, and not IT guys.”

Looking Forward
An avid blogger (edbatista.com), Batista's public persona provides an obvious clue to where he feels the sector is heading.

"Nonprofits' websites are becoming the locus of transactions for our donors, volunteers and board members, not just brochure sites. The next step is turning these sites into a locus for community conversations through self publishing."

"The ability to communicate directly with our stakeholders and integrate their voices into our work will allow organizations to speak more honestly and directly on the issues that matter to them."

With a keen eye for marketplace trends, Batista's focus centers around knowing your customer and speaking in an authentic voice. He sees the corporate world making use of metadata to better understand user preferences so custom content can be delivered to different audiences. This type of technology is probably most familiar to users of sites like Amazon where book titles are suggested to the user based on an understanding of their interests.

“The general value of self publishing as a two way conversation will be embraced - spreading ideas and communicating with people concerned with like issues.”

Batista cautioned that, as with other technologies, costs for solutions will continue to come down as they are developed, tested, and vetted by the corporate sector.

“The ability to communicate directly with our stakeholders and integrate their voices into our work will allow organizations to speak more honestly and directly on the issues that matter to them.”

Four years after joining N-TEN, the organization had reached sustainability, and Ed was looking to pursue some new challenges. He stepped down as Executive Director in February and in March joined Beaconfire Consulting as Senior Consultant, where he is working directly with nonprofits on a range of technology-related projects.

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Planning & Management....
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An Agency Profile: Transitional Services for New York, Inc. (August, 2003)

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How to Accurately Plan Your Agency's IT Budget: A Workshop Synopsis (October, 2002)

Would You Like To Improve Agency Communications? Develop an Intranet! (October, 2002)

"Something from Nothing" - How Housing Works built a state-of-the-art IT infrastructure on a shoestring budget. (August, 2002)

Making the Build-or-Buy Decision: A Thorough Analysis Before You Decide (February, 2002)

Online Facilitation (December, 2001)

The ABCs of ASPs (November, 2001)

The Pros and Cons of ASPs (November, 2001)

Using an Application Service Provider To Transform Your Agency (November, 2001)

The Nonprofit Web Site: Tips for Attracting and Retaining Visitors (April, 2001)

A Case Management System Case Study: Providence House (January, 2001)

Covering Web Site Costs and Online Fund Development (January, 2001)

I&R Best Practices: Profiles of Three NYC I&R Services (November, 2000)

One To One Marketing for Nonprofits (May, 2000)

Planning for Success: A Practical Approach to Technology (March, 2000)

Networking for the Small Nonprofit: The Asian American Federation of New York (December, 1999)

Developing a Technology Plan: Key to Getting Needed Funds (October, 1999)

Should Your Organization be an E-Commerce Provider? (October, 1999)

Stretch Your Technology Budget - Take Advantage of Product Donations (June, 1999)

Contact Tracking That Works (April, 1999)

How We're Using Information Technology to Further Our Mission (February, 1999)

PeopleKnowledge: One Solution to Data Management (December, 1998)

Softward Licensing: Protecting Your Organization From Lawsuits (October, 1998)

Other Articles of Interest....
GuideStar: Getting Form 990 Online (October, 2001)

Nonprofits Benefit from ePayments Technology (April, 2001)

Paving the Way to the Future: DYCD's Comprehensive Contract Management System (January, 2001)

Creating the Paperless Office (November, 2000)

Globix Technology Grants Help Nonprofits Realize Operating Efficiencies (November, 2000)

TECH-U-NET: Providing Technology Guidance to Nonprofits (November, 2000)

Technology Technical Assistance: Why Use it, How to Manage it (May, 2000)

New Web Site Facilitates Quality Program and Evaluation Planning (March, 2000)

Lessons From the Life of a Learning and Access Center (December, 1999)

Distance Learning and Training can be Low-Key, Low-Tech, and Low-Budget (October, 1999)

If Your Computer is Looking a Little Green Around the Ears, it Might be a Virus (June, 1999)

Program Donates Technology to Nonprofits (April, 1999)

New York Today Offers Free Web Services for Nonprofits (February, 1999)

Register Your Internet Domain Name Now (February, 1999)

Diffusion Fund Enables Advanced Telecommunications for Disadvantaged. . .(December, 1998)

BrookynX - A Guide to Getting Your Communities on the Net (October, 1998)

Learning the FAQs: Free Education and Training for Nonprofits (October, 1998)


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