Are You a Fortress or a Sponge?

In this case, it's best to be a sponge. That's because socially networked nonprofits operate like sponges...not like SpongeBob or a kitchen sponge...but like a sea sponge, transparent and open, yet grounded.

In their new book, The Networked Nonprofit: Connecting With Social Media to Drive Social Change, Beth Kanter and Allison Fine categorize nonprofits into three types:

• Fortresses that build their walls high, man the parapets to keep out intruders, and even build moats to discourage the curious.
• Transactional organizations have their eye constantly on how many...visits, donations, number of volunteers.
• Transparents are like deep sea sponges, anchored but open, clear about what they do best, averse to complexity, trusting of others, relationship building.

I have to admit that I've mostly worked in the fortress variety and even helped reinforce those barrier walls in an effort to "control" interactions with what often looked like a dangerous world. But, I'm recovering, as I hope you are, and learning to use the new tools of social networking to open those gates...More...