Microsoft Unlimited Potential Blog: Microsoft Unlimited Potential Blog

On Tuesday, Microsoft Community Affairs and TechSoup hosted a webinar on Office 2010 for Nonprofits and Libraries.

Elliot Harmon, a staff writer for TechSoup Global, and Markus Weickenmeier, a product manager at Microsoft, led the presentation on Office 2010 and what it offers nonprofit organizations.

To download and view a recording of the webinar, click on the image below and save the file to a location on your computer, then open the saved file to view the recording (the recording is approximately 80 minutes in length and 22MB in size).

The webinar covered a variety of topics, including:

· Office Web Apps (if you watch nothing else, watch this!)

· Collaborating on shared documents via Windows Live SkyDrive and Microsoft SharePoint

· Some of Office 2010’s new features and functionality

· The Outlook Social Connector (a personal favorite)

· Sharing PowerPoint presentations over the web, and

· How eligible nonprofits can request Microsoft software donations through TechSoup

TechSoup has blogged about the webinar, and included resources to learn more and a link to their Community Forum, at http://bit.ly/officewebinar

Microsoft is committed to delivering relevant and accessible technology to nonprofits. We partner with TechSoup to deliver knowledge and resources to nonprofits around the world because we believe it is important to connect organizations directly with experts on products that are most commonly used and valued by nonprofits. We will post opportunities to participate in future webinars and other training opportunities here on the blog and via our twitter account, @msftcitizenship.

Now more than ever, nonprofit leaders must understand the potential technology has to help them meet their missions. They require effective ways to manage technology and lead others to use tools to further their missions and increase the efficacy of their organizations. Microsoft is pleased to be partnering with the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) in sponsoring The Technology Leadership Academy, a 9-week online training program designed to help nonprofit leaders do just that.

Applications are due July 30^th, so there are only 2 days remaining for nonprofit organizations to apply for participation in the Technology Leadership Academy.

The Academy will bring together 100 participants from 50 nonprofit organizations for a 9-week online training program designed to create nonprofit technology leaders. Qualifying organizations will be able to participate in the Academy at no charge. Participants will be selected based on the application guidelines and their commitment to full and active participation.

If you are interested in participating, apply now for the Technology Leadership Academy.

The Academy is a unique opportunity to learn and interact with nonprofit technology peers while creating a tight network of nonprofit leaders working towards a common mission: to use technology to create more social change.

Nonprofit technology leaders need to understand a few key concepts to make the right decisions for their organizations. To that end, the Academy will bring some of the best minds in nonprofit technology to its participants.

Instructors during the weekly core sessions will include nonprofit leaders like Beth Kanter, Katya Andresen, and Edward Granger-Happ. On a weekly basis, participants will also have the opportunity to interact with field experts like Charlene Li, Founder of Altimeter Group and Author of Open Leadership, in Ask the Expert sessions.

Attendees of the Academy will be able to:

• Articulate the value of technology in their organization for themselves, funders, and other key stakeholders.
• View technology as integral to every department in their organizations.
• Recognize options for funding IT projects in their organizations.
• Staff technology effectively.
• Manage the organizational change that technology can produce.

Pass the word along, and we encourage you to apply before July 30^th to participate!

Editor's Note: Due to a huge response, the webinar is now full, however you will be able to review a recording of the event at: http://bit.ly/ngowebinar

On Tuesday, July 27^th 2010 at 11am Pacific time (2pm Eastern) we are co-hosting a free webinar with TechSoup to provide you with advice and information on some of the compelling reasons for upgrading to Office 2010.

The webinar will be hosted by Elliot Harmon from TechSoup, author of What Your Organization Should Know About Office 2010, and an expert from our Microsoft Office team. They’ll cover a range of areas including:

• An overview of many of the improved features - such as image and video-editing - throughout the suite
• Office 2010 Web Apps for improved online collaboration
• The Social Connector tool that brings your social network to Outlook
• Guidance on upgrading your nonprofit to Office 2010
• Advice on how you can get Office 2010 for your nonprofit through our software donations program

The webinar is free, but space is limited so please register today.

You can also download and view recordings of recent nonprofit webinars covering Windows 7, CRM and Online Tools at: http://bit.ly/ngowebinar.

Don’t forget to register!

The third session we are sharing from our recent Accelerator Summit was hosted by Lisa Brummel, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Microsoft and looked at how our employees are making a difference in the community from supporting existing nonprofits, volunteering their time, and even setting up their own nonprofits. There is also discussion on how the company’s support for social innovation and strong citizenship efforts enhances our efforts to recruit and retain great people.

Along with Lisa we have four employees who shared their experiences. Adnan Mahmud co-founded the Jolkona Foundation; Xiang Li co-founded Givology; Tom Moran was a Loaned Executive with United Way and Rajesh Munshi set up the Seattle chapter of CRY America.

I hope you enjoy the video, and you can also view the previously posted sessions:

• Video- How technology can enable nonprofits
• Videos- Innovating to help solve some of the world’s most pressing issues