There has been some community commentary about the value of getting together at the Nonprofit Technology Conference. The NTC is the largest gathering of its kind with more than 1,000 technology leaders from the nonprofit world converging, this time in Washington, DC. Every year there is someone who believes that getting together in the age of the web is a waste of time. We think its very important. Face-to-face gatherings are an essential part of cementing a community, building trust and relationships for collaboration, fermenting ideas (innovation happens when smart people talk - in person and over a beer), and of course (lest we forget!) have some FUN away from the daily grind to remember WHY we do what we do every day.

It is no accident that Silicon Valley and the tech community across the country is gathering at a breackneck speed -- with a conference every other week, it seems. My for-profit tech colleagues are veritable conference hoppers and they know why. Deals simply get done at these events.

To suggest that it is not worth it in this day and age when everyone is online and connected is off target. This year we have added affinity groups that YOU suggest, a nonprofit innovation plaza for brilliant ideas from our member organizations, and more opportunities to get together socially (we have a brilliant DC Host Committee with lots of ideas - think midnight tour of DC on a Segway) so that great ideas do not just happen in the hallways, as Ryan Ozimek from PicNet and a member of the DC Host Committee put it.

So what then about the cost and expense (both monetary and environmental) of getting there? The conference costs total about $500,000 - more than half of NTEN's total budget. Close to $200K goes to feeding 1,000 people three meals a day (yes, all food is provided at the NTC), and another $150 is for AV, wireless, conference materials, the evening party, insurance, and misc other expenses. Our staff costs for putting the event together is $88K. The remainder is indirect costs and other direct costs such as temps for the event. Where is this money coming from? We get about $50K in grants, $190K in registrations, and $190K in sponsorships, and some small income from selling some merchandise. All of our financials are on Guidestar if you'd like to verify these. We keep costs extremely low for NTEN members. In comparison to all the tech conferences I've seen at this scale, NTEN is the absolute best bargain in town. We shop well and bargain hard. We'll be putting up ride and room share boards shortly so that you can keep your travel costs low. And we are allocating $$ for carbon offsets to make up for those who are flying or driving in (feel free to plant a few trees yourself!).

So is it worth it to put an event together at this cost? Yes. Pulling together a large-scale event that is well-run and well done, especially in the Nation's capital, costs money. And we think it's worth by a long shot. It is THE chance for people in this field to learn and laugh together for four days; and the joy, collaborations, ideas, connections, and strength of social ties that lead to business, jobs, deals, and new ideas is truly formidable.

There has been a lot of talk in recent years that vendors have taken over the NTC, that there is not enough time to talk outside of sessions, that it's too big, too expensive, too... you name it. I listen and hear. I am from this community, after all, and this year we have changed the format to have much more time to get together as a community. But that means, that YOU - the community - have to step up to the plate and organize yourselves to present your innovations and affinities, to gather, to play, and to create. We have an official agenda (advised by the amazingly productive community steering committee for the NTC) but one third of all space and time is reserved for you - your ideas, your creativity. So talk to us if you have ideas or criticisms! We'll listen. And participate and step up! We are allocating spaces now for affinity groups submitting requests, and for spots through-out the conference at the Innovation Plaza for nonprofit tech innovations. Please go here for more information on both -- and partake so that the 2007 NTC is truly a participatory gathering of this amazing community. Thanks and see you in in DC in April!