How to get technical help for FREE
Today at freeDimensional's Wasan Retreat 2009, we're focusing on fundraising. I'll post more details from our very interesting discussions and presentations later on, but for now, I wanted to share a few quick links.
A big challenge for folks is getting technical help. If a group has funding, it's nice to support freelancers and tech collectives by hiring them (some are quite affordable - ask around!). But if no funds are available, how can a small group (or an individual artist or activist) get help making or updating a website, designing a poster, setting up a mailing list or blog, and so on?
The answer may be in mutual aid. There are many, many people with technical skills who are willing to give them to a good cause for free. Start by identifying carefully what you need done, and writing it down. Then go searching for volunteers - many of them list themselves on websites so they can be easily found, and some organizations match volunteers with organizations that need their labor.
The most important thing then is to cultivate your relationship with your volunteers - create a lasting relationship. Give something back and your relationship can really blossom! Mutual aid means that both parties are helping each other, so a credit on your website, or even just a thank you card, can make your volunteer feel valued and keep them coming back to you for additional tasks.
In addition, there are many websites out there which enable you to create a website, blog, map, invitation, or other materials for free, with very little technical knowledge. Explore the web to see what it has to offer - it's the vanguard of free culture, where bartering, sharing, and other forms of mutual aid flourish, with no money changing hands at all.
Here are a few links to help get you started - each is a collection of links that may prove useful to you in searching for volunteers and free web services to help you get your messages out in truly sustainable ways.
volunteers and volunteer networks
non-profit resources
free web services
A big challenge for folks is getting technical help. If a group has funding, it's nice to support freelancers and tech collectives by hiring them (some are quite affordable - ask around!). But if no funds are available, how can a small group (or an individual artist or activist) get help making or updating a website, designing a poster, setting up a mailing list or blog, and so on?
The answer may be in mutual aid. There are many, many people with technical skills who are willing to give them to a good cause for free. Start by identifying carefully what you need done, and writing it down. Then go searching for volunteers - many of them list themselves on websites so they can be easily found, and some organizations match volunteers with organizations that need their labor.
The most important thing then is to cultivate your relationship with your volunteers - create a lasting relationship. Give something back and your relationship can really blossom! Mutual aid means that both parties are helping each other, so a credit on your website, or even just a thank you card, can make your volunteer feel valued and keep them coming back to you for additional tasks.
In addition, there are many websites out there which enable you to create a website, blog, map, invitation, or other materials for free, with very little technical knowledge. Explore the web to see what it has to offer - it's the vanguard of free culture, where bartering, sharing, and other forms of mutual aid flourish, with no money changing hands at all.
Here are a few links to help get you started - each is a collection of links that may prove useful to you in searching for volunteers and free web services to help you get your messages out in truly sustainable ways.
volunteers and volunteer networks
non-profit resources
free web services
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Tags: fdwasan2009, free culture, funding, help, human resources, labor, mutual aid, people, retreats, staffing, More…
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