Ali Cherry, Beaconfire

It seems like "integration" has joined "strategy," "social media" and "ROI" as part of a family of words that we all agree are important to online fundraising campaigns but everyone seems to use slightly differently.

Michaela Hackner and Sandy Smith, Forum One Communications

Data is powerful.

Making your data public and accessible has numerous benefits for your organization. If you've been thinking, "Yeah, I get it. Data is the next buzz-word after Web 2.0. I’ll pay attention as soon as I get my Facebook and Twitter strategy off the ground," it's time to to take another look.

Not only will making your data accessible to others increase your opportunities for funding, it will also further your mission, grow the number of people invested in your work, and make your work and research credible to your existing and future audience base.

Marshall Kirkpatrick, ReadWriteWeb

The Real-Time Web: it's more than just immediate delivery of Twitter messages to an always-on mobile device, disrupting the concentration that civilization is based on and bringing a rush to crazed social media addicts obsessed with the hottest new buzzwords. No, there are scores of companies building and selling systems today that deliver very real value via the real-time web.

Here's our list of ten cool companies or services that make use of real-time web in what they do:

Chris Brogan, New Marketing Labs

In games, leveling up is when you reach the end of a series of activities, face a big challenge, and then move to the next level. It's very distinct and defined in most games. In many games, facing a “big boss” at the end is your chance to prove that you've accomplished new skills.

Real life doesn't have such obvious transitions, but there's a lot to think about with regards to this kind of thinking. If you could see your organization and personal challenges as tasks and experiences towards attaining new levels, you might approach things differently.

Dee Albritton, Fast Forward

You open the door to your office and see your Program Director in shorts and a t-shirt with a dubious message, holding what might be an inappropriate beverage. He is talking about outside activities. Close the door! Except the door you opened was to your social network space. It's too late to take it back -- and it could have been seen by clients, donors, funders, volunteers and clients.

Extreme circumstances? Not really. We think of social networking as a great way to get our message across, to raise funds, to communicate with our constituents. And it can be, but too often, we fail to see the other side. What may be just one fun photo of a staff member can destroy the professionalism of your office.

The mission and vision of your organization may be at odds with your social network choice. There are many things you need to consider:

A monthly roundup of our favorite nonprofit tech resources. Read more posts on our blog.

1. Controversy. Seth Godin's broadside against nonprofits rubbed a few people the wrong way. Beth Kanter, voice of moderation, rounded up many of the responses.
2. Taglines.
3. What if Star Wars was made by environmentalists? (And, while we're on the subject, to those who claim Red Dawn was the most violent movie of the 80s, we'd just like to say: Star Wars blew up a planet. A planet.)
4. Google may be able to predict where the flu virus is on the uptick. Not a big surprise: they already know the answer to life, the universe, and everything.
5. And did you know Google has an internal group dedicated to making sure you can get your data out of Google products? Why? Because you are all individuals!
6. Idealware's new "Consumers Guide to Low-Cost Data Visualization Tools".
7. What's stranger than this cat? How about this guy imitating a cat made famous by the Internet. This kinda makes our brain hurt.
8. All the single babies! (All the single babies.)
9. Turn your kitchen table into an ecosystem (that doesn't involve supporting an ant colony with spillage).
10. We seem to be a little light on social media this month. That's not right. So, take your pick between Alexandra Samuel's plea for a kinder, gentler Twitter and Ben Stiller discussing Twitter with Mickey Rooney. NTEN: A little somethin' for everyone.

Rebecca Higman and Katya Andresen, Network for Good

Online donors can be summed up with a phrase that would make an excellent soap opera title: the young and the generous.

They tend to be under 40 and their gifts are around $100. We want more donors like them: they account for most of our acquisition, and they are a leading source of new revenue for most nonprofits.

The trick is getting them to stay once they give. We've developed some tips to help you learn how to improve your cultivation strategy (or combat a lack thereof) and what fool-proof avenue will satisfy donors and Board members alike.

Steve MacLaughlin, Blackbaud

The last three months of the year represent a critical time for the fundraising efforts of nonprofit organizations. The end of the calendar year is also a significant source of the funds raised online for nonprofits.

There are still some skeptics out there, those who say "wake me up when online fundraising is really, really big."

Here's your official wake-up call. Blackbaud's analysis of online giving in 2008 found that December accounted for about 21% of the year's transaction volume, but 48% of the total dollars raised. The average online gift for the month of December increased to nearly $250.

Peter Deitz, Social Actions

When it comes to online fundraising, an obvious tip is to meet your current and potential donors where they are. With 300 million active users, Facebook is a natural starting place. Moreover, the company reports that people who are 35 years and older make up the fastest growing user demographic, which corresponds to the demographic mostly likely to make a donation online.

To help tech-savvy nonprofits make use of Facebook, this brief guide looks at four strategies:

1. Raise Meaning Before Money
2. Money Is Not the Only Metric
3. Your People Are Your Impact
4. Be Specific and Timely

Ron Weber, Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc.

As the holiday season approaches, many nonprofits often find themselves scrambling to meet year-end donation goals. While it's well known that Thanksgiving initiates a greater charitable focus, it takes more than a "donate-now" button to funnel that giving spirit into a plentiful fundraising season.

Yet when it comes to nonprofit fundraising, remember one size doesn't fit all. With countless nonprofits vying for donors' dollars, the more tailored the campaign, the more success you'll find.