Ed. Note: As we prepare for the 2010 Nonprofit Technology Conference, we wanted share a wee bit of the wisdom our speakers will be serving up, so as not to overwhelm you when you get to Atlanta. We're asking them all to share their answers to five very important questions.

Speaker: Beth Kanter & Allison Fine, Authors, The Networked Nonprofit

Session: The Networked Nonprofit: Using Social Media to Power Social Networks for Change

1. What's the most important trend in nonprofit technology for 2010?

We think that the nonprofit sector is entering a new and exciting phase of use of social media. We collectively dipped our toes into the social media waters over the last two to five years. Organizations set up Facebook pages and Twitter accounts. They've found that using social media is easy, however, using it for social change isn't always easy. Exploring what it means to use social media for social change - and more specifically what it means for nonprofits, how they have to think and work differently, is the next phase of development.

2. Why do you think your session topic is important for nonprofits to address?

We wrote our forthcoming book, The Networked Nonprofit, to answer the question posed above about the next phase of development for nonprofits. Specifically, our session will focus on the key ingredients of "Networked Nonprofits." These ingredients include understanding social networks through social network analysis, having a social culture, transparency, simplicity, valuing relationships not only transactions, embracing experimentation, and working with crowds.   We think that they key to success for nonprofits is transformation from single siloed organizations into working as networks. 

3. What's the one thing you want attendees to remember from your session?

There are two of answering this question and we don't always agree! Allison says: That using social media is a contact sport not a spectator sport! Participation by senior executives is essential for organizations to embrace social ways of working. Beth says that it is important for nonprofits to adopt an approach to rapid retieration and action learning.

4. Which Muppet do you most identify with and why?

• Allison: Animal for his passion for playing the drums and messy eating
• Beth: Kermit the Frog because of his flexibility and good attitude.

5. Where can people follow you online (twitter, blog, etc.)?

• Beth: Beth's Blog, @kanter
• Allison: A. Fine Blog, @afine