For Nonprofits Blog
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A Nonprofit's Guide to Online Security: So You Want to Learn the Lingo?
Friday, September 9, 2016
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the World Wide Web becoming
publicly available
. For many of us, this is a reminder of just how much the Internet has transformed our daily lives. This rings true for nonprofits too: The Internet has revolutionized the way that nonprofits communicate, fundraise, and recruit volunteers. It has enabled nonprofits like yours to share their mission with a global audience. To raise awareness. And to change the world.
But the power of the Internet also comes with great responsibility -- namely the need to keep information safe and secure.
As a nonprofit, it can be difficult to keep up with online security, especially when terminology seems complicated. Yes, you might have heard of terms like “phishing” or “cookies,” but what do they mean?
Today, you can find the answers to your questions with our quick & easy to guide to online security terminology. In less than five minutes, you’ll be well on the way to helping keep your nonprofit safe on the Internet.
Let’s get started! Here’s a quick guide to familiarize yourself with common lingo and learn how to distinguish terms that are friends vs foes in the online security
realm
.
THE BAD GUYS: MALICIOUS ACTIONS/TERMS
Advanced Fee Fraud (419 scams):
A technique which tricks users into sending or paying money to fraudsters on the promise of receiving greater rewards afterwards. It is most commonly associated with Nigeria, and 419 is the section of the Nigerian
legal code
that covers this fraud.
Botnet:
A network of computers that are infected with malicious software without users’ knowledge, used to send viruses and spam to other computers.
Malware:
Malicious software with the purpose of infecting devices and systems, gathering personal information, gaining access to systems or disrupting the operations of the device or systems. Essentially, any software that maliciously alters or compromises the system or device.
Phishing / Social Engineering Attack:
An attempt by hackers who pose as trustworthy individuals or businesses in order to get your personal information such as usernames, passwords, and financial information.
Trojans:
Malicious programs posing as or bundled with legitimate ones, which are designed to compromise your system. They are usually installed on computers from opening attachments in scam emails or by visiting infected websites. The term comes from the Trojan Horse in Greek mythology.
THE GOOD GUYS: ONLINE SAFETY TERMS
[Internet] Cookie:
A piece of data from a visited website and stored in the user's web browser in order to remember information that the user has entered or engaged with such as items in a shopping basket on an e-commerce site.
Encryption:
The process of encoding data, messages, or information, such that only authorized parties can read it.
Firewall:
A security system used to block hackers, viruses, and other malicious threats to your computer. It does this by acting as a barrier, acting on predetermined rules, which allows trusted traffic but blocks untrusted or non-secure traffic.
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol):
is the protocol for secure communications over a computer network used on the Internet. It essentially provides authentication of the website and the web servers associated with it.
Transport Layer Security (TLS):
TLS is a protocol that encrypts and delivers mail securely, both for inbound and outbound mail traffic. It helps prevent eavesdropping between mail servers – keeping your messages private while they're moving between email providers.
Two Factor Authentication / Two Step Verification:
A method of using an additional process to verify your identity online. It combines both ‘something you know’ (like a password) and ‘something you have’ (like your phone or security key) - similar to withdrawing money from an ATM/cash machine, where you need both your PIN and your bank card.
That’s a wrap for now! Pass on these tips to your nonprofit partners to stay safe and secure online, so you can focus on what matters most: changing the world.
//
To see if your nonprofit is eligible to participate, review the
Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines
. Google for Nonprofits offers organizations like yours access to Google tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Ad Grants, YouTube for Nonprofits and more at no charge. These tools can help you reach new donors and volunteers, work more efficiently, and tell your nonprofit’s story. Learn more and enroll
here
.
Posted by Lexi Cotcamp, Google for Nonprofits & Elijah Lawal, User Safety Outreach Manager
3 Reasons why Chromebooks might be a good fit for your nonprofit
Thursday, August 11, 2016
When we speak with nonprofit organizations, we often hear about the challenges related to technological resources. So when it comes to investing in new technology, it’s important to consider three primary factors:
Security: Does it keep my information private and secure?
Compatibility: Does it work with the programs I use?
Price: Is it within budget?
To address these questions, Google created the Chromebook, a series of laptops built with ChromeOS. The vision behind Chromebooks is simple -- to create a safe, accessible, and affordable laptop. To improve user privacy and security, Chromebooks automatically update to provide virus protection, encryption and safe browsing. For easy access and collaboration, they’re outfitted with Gmail, Google Docs, Hangouts (and nonprofits receive the full Google Apps bundle with 30GB of space per user at no charge). What’s more, they start at $169 USD & that’s for a laptop that has up to 10+ hours of battery life!
ASUS Chromebook C201($169)
Case Study
Charity:water, a non-profit organization that provides clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries, has a “100 percent model,” where every dollar donated goes directly to fund clean water projects. As a result, resources are limited. In order to cover operational costs like salaries and supplies, the organization relies on a few passionate and dedicated supporters. With this in mind, Charity:water transitioned to Chromebooks to improve the efficiency of its staff’s workflow. Now, employees can spend more time focusing on their goals and working towards their mission to nourish the world.
Want to learn more?
Chromebooks gives nonprofits unified access to the Google Apps suite, including:
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides: Allows you to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in real time. They’re automatically backed up online, and you can also open and edit Microsoft Word, Powerpoint or Excel files.
Google Hangouts: Google Hangouts can be used to make phone calls, screenshare, and video chat.
Google Drive: Store, sync, and share documents in the cloud for secure and easy access.
As a nonprofit, you also receive discounted access to Chrome licenses, which give you management controls via the
Chrome Device Management
. Chrome Device Management is a unified way to manage all of your nonprofits’ users, devices, and data. For nonprofits, the Chrome management license is discounted to only $30 dollars — in comparison to $150!
Chromebooks are our vision for providing cheaper, easier to use, and more secure laptops. Installed with Google Apps out of the box, nonprofits can maximize impact, while saving both time and resources.
//
To see if your nonprofit is eligible to participate, review the
Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines
. Google for Nonprofits offers organizations like yours free access to Google tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Ad Grants, YouTube for Nonprofits and more. These tools can help you reach new donors and volunteers, work more efficiently, and tell your nonprofit’s story. Learn more and enroll
here
.
To learn more about Chromebooks for nonprofits, take a look at Google for Work’s Chromebook’s
website
. To take advantage of the Google Nonprofit license discount, a Google partner will reach out to you once you fill out the
Contact Us form
.
Posted by Patrick Ip, Google for Nonprofits and Lauren Gallegos, Program Manager for Chrome for Work
4 Ways to Keep Your Nonprofit Safe & Secure Online
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
For nonprofits, the Internet serves as a powerful vehicle for change -- creating a way to access information, connect with users, and drive innovation. But navigating the web can also be a tricky task. Online safety and security has become increasingly pertinent for all digital users, including nonprofits. While it’s relevant to all though, it’s unattended by many. This raises the question: “How do we keep our nonprofit (and the community we serve) safe and secure online?”
Today, we’re partnering with
Google’s User Advocacy Group
to share four smart tips to keep your nonprofit, your users, and you safe online.
1.
SECURE YOUR PASSWORDS
Many of us “know” that it’s smart to pick a strong password, but out of convenience we also continue to use our favorite pet’s name (e.g. “Clifford”) or other not-so-creative passwords like “password.” Although pets like Clifford are great, they don’t make great passwords. Rather, this weak protection creates vulnerable access to some of your nonprofit’s most sensitive information.
Picking strong passwords that are different for each of your accounts is extremely important -- it’s also good practice to update your passwords regularly. Check out the following tips:
Use a unique password
for each of your accounts. Would you give a burglar a key that accessed your home, car, garage, and more? Using the same password for multiple accounts creates the same type of risk. Ensure you’re protecting your data by using unique passwords for each account.
Include numbers, letters and symbols
in your password. The longer your password is, the harder it is to guess. Adding numbers, symbols and mixed-case letters makes it harder for someone to gain access to your account.
Create password recovery options
and keep them up-to-date. If you forget your password or get locked out, you need a way to get back into your account. Many services will send this information to a recovery email address to reset your password, so be sure your recovery email address is up-to-date and accessible. You may also be able to add a phone number to your profile to receive a code to reset your password via text message. Having a mobile phone number on your account is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to help keep your account safe.
2.
TAKE THE SECURITY CHECKUP
Google’s
Security Checkup
is a quick, easy way to review the following information about your account (and more)!
Recent activity:
This is a quick overview of your recent sign-ins to Google. If you see any activity from a location or device you don’t recognize, change your password immediately.
Account permissions:
These are the apps, websites, and devices connected to your Google account. Take a look and make sure you trust—and actually use—all of them. You might want to remove an old phone, or that dusty app you never use.
Check your 2-step verification:
Most people have only one layer of protection with their password.
2-step verification
adds an additional layer of security to your account by requiring a phone or security key to access your account information.
3. UNDERSTAND YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS
If you do your personal and business work on the same computer, you will want to also check your privacy settings through Google’s
Privacy Checkup
. Privacy Checkup allows you to control what information like photos, videos and reviews are shared to the public or to whomever you choose.
Manage your sharing:
You can decide what information you want to share such as videos, photos and reviews. Perhaps your nonprofit videos are only shared with your friends, when you want them to be shared with anyone. This is a simple way to check to see who can see what.
Personalize your google experience:
One additional function of privacy checkup is to see what information you’re sharing with Google. Google uses this information to provide better search results and more relevant information to get you answers quicker and more relevant information to share to your nonprofit community.
Review
important information about how Google uses data to make services better for you and your nonprofit.
4. ENSURE YOU’RE SWITCHING BETWEEN YOUR PERSONAL & BUSINESS ACCOUNTS
We understand that as a nonprofit, you wear many hats and manage multiple business accounts in addition to personal ones. Google makes it easy toggle between accounts -- visit your
account settings
to quickly determine which data you’re accessing, and rest easy knowing your personal and business information are separate.
Guest Mode or Incognito mode:
Share Chrome
with other people in your organization and ensure everyone has their own settings and bookmarks. You can also utilize
Guest mode
or
Incognito mode
to open a private browsing session in Chrome without leaving browser history or cookies behind once you’ve logged out.
Using Chrome on an unfamiliar device or machine:
If you’re using an unfamiliar device or machine, ensure you’ve properly
logged out
of your account before heading off to your next meeting.
Online security doesn’t have to be difficult. These simple steps will give you peace of mind and protect your nonprofit’s valuable work.
If you have any other online security questions or want to recommend a topic for a future blog, please add a comment below.
//
To see if your nonprofit is eligible to participate, review the
Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines
. Google for Nonprofits offers organizations like yours access to Google tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Ad Grants, YouTube for Nonprofits and more -- all at no charge. These tools can help you reach new donors and volunteers, work more efficiently, and tell your nonprofit’s story. Learn more
+
enroll
here
.
Posted by Lexi Cotcamp & Patrick Ip, Google for Nonprofits
Unlocking Your Nonprofit's Data Insights: Linking Ad Grants and Google Analytics
Friday, June 17, 2016
So you’re a savvy nonprofit that has mastered Ad Grants? Read on!
You’re a group of community leaders who know the impact of data. And who know that technology can help you leverage that.
Like many other businesses, it’s critical for nonprofits to translate clicks on ads into a meaningful action on their nonprofit’s website. These actions could be donations, event registrations, file downloads, volunteer sign-ups or form completions—whatever it is that you’re compelling users to do.
Nonprofits like yours, however, often come to us with an important question: “How do we know if our Ad Grants account is actually resulting in these increased actions?”
Great question! Our answer is simple, yet we hope it’s powerful too: Google Analytics.
Google Analytics is your go-to tool for providing insights into user behavior, which can be used to inform Ad Grants, as well as website optimization. By syncing data and using AdGrants & Analytics in tandem, you can boost the quality of traffic reaching your site and increase the chance of visitors completing a meaningful action on your NGO’s page. Best of all, Analytics can be used by nonprofits at no charge.
To get started, we strongly recommend defining your team’s marketing objectives. (If you haven’t set up goals yet, check out
Smart Goals
, which were designed with groups like nonprofits in mind.)
Then, link
your
Google Analytics account
to your
Google Ad Grants account to see your data. (Find out how to do so here:
Link Analytics and Ad Grants
).
In doing so, you’ll unlock insights into your Ad Grants campaign. For instance, what happens after someone clicks on your Ad Grants ad and lands on your site? How does it differ by geographical region? Or how does user behavior differ between services offered?
Going forward, you can also track your nonprofit’s marketing goals in Google Analytics to understand how traffic from your Ad Grants campaigns is converted to meaningful action on your website. To do so, import your goals into Ad Grants as conversions.
Now, you’ll be able to see traffic quality data such as bounce rate, pages per session and average session duration for campaigns, ad groups, and keywords within Ad Grants. By adding goals as conversions, you’ll get the data you need to understand which text ads showing for keywords resonate best with your target audience.
Why, you might ask, is all this important for your nonprofit?
Take
Science Buddies
, a nonprofit that was one of the earliest adopters of the Google Ad Grants program, joining in 2003. Science Buddies then received 171,000 unique visits in 2004 via Ad Grants, with this number increasing by 4.5X to 773,000 unique visits in 2005. By 2006, Google Ad Grants had doubled the traffic t
o the website altogether.
“Ad Grants really put us on the map!”
said Kenneth Hess, Preside
nt and Founder of Science Buddies.
The takeaway here is that the more you optimize, the better chance you have of improving your
quality score
- a key metric in an Ad Grants account! And more importantly, the better chance you have of authentically connecting with users who are trying to change the world along with with your nonprofit and you.
//
Sign up for Google Ad Grants
here
. For more information on how to get started and country availability, please visit our
Ad Grants Help Center
.
To see if your nonprofit is eligible to participate, review the
Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines
. Google for Nonprofits offers organizations like yours access to Google tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Ad Grants, YouTube for Nonprofits and more -- all at no charge. These tools can help you reach new donors and volunteers, work more efficiently, and tell your nonprofit’s story. Learn more and enroll
here
.
Posted by Lexi Cotcamp, Google for Nonprofits
1
Science Buddies’ statements are made in connection with receiving in-kind donations as a participant in the Ad Grants program.↩
HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY, Google Ad Grants
Friday, April 1, 2016
Happy 13th birthday,
Google Ad Grants
! We launched Ad Grants 13 years ago to offer nonprofits a free online advertising solution to share their causes with the world.
Over the years, we’ve learned a lot together about what it means to be a nonprofit in the digital age. And as the industry landscape has changed, we’ve aimed to ensure that AdWords consistently helps to deliver your mission online.
We’ve celebrated the ability of groups to change the world -- one day, one person, one place at a time. At the same time, we’ve also come to understand the challenges of the nonprofit sector by both listening to
your stories
, as well as working directly alongside you. In doing so, we recognized that nonprofits struggle to find the time or resources to manage an AdWords account. So in 2015, we launched AdWords Express for Ad Grants as a part of Google for Nonprofits.
With nonprofits’ limited time and resources in mind, we created AdWords Express to be an automated advertising solution that serves the same effective ads on Google Search as standard AdWords. AdWords Express requires less ongoing maintenance than AdWords, while still delivering an exceptional experience for Ad Grantees.
With AdWords Express, your nonprofit can create
an online ad quickly and easily, attracting more users to your website. There’s minimal ongoing management necessary, and AdWords Express runs and automatically optimizes your ads for you. Much like AdWords though, you can still reach customers on desktop computers and mobile devices (such as smartphones and tablets), as well as review the effectiveness of your ads in your dashboard.
Sign up for Google Ad Grants
here
. For more information on AdWords Express, how to get started, and country availability, please visit our
Ad Grants Help Center
.
To see if your nonprofit is eligible to participate, review the
Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines
. Google for Nonprofits offers organizations like yours free access to Google tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Ad Grants, YouTube for Nonprofits and more. These tools can help you reach new donors and volunteers, work more efficiently, and tell your nonprofit’s story. Learn more and enroll
here
.
Posted by Lexi Cotcamp, Google for Nonprofits
From LA to Tokyo: YouTube Spaces Opens Production Studios to Nonprofits Free of Charge
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
We know that having a physical space to do your work matters, but it’s not just about where you work -- it’s about what you create there. So today, we’re announcing special access to YouTube Spaces, YouTube’s global network of production studios, for eligible nonprofits to learn, connect, and create great content for YouTube.
Given that Google was
started in a garage
, we’re more than familiar with the limits of physical space. As a nonprofit, it can be difficult to find access to great spaces for video production, especially when time, location, and money are constraining factors. As a result, space often becomes limiting, rather than limitless, to producing great content on YouTube.
From LA to London, Tokyo to Mumbai, Berlin to São Paulo, YouTube Spaces empower nonprofits by providing them exclusive access to the best production resources around—all at no cost. All enrolled nonprofits with 1,000 or more subscribers are now eligible to apply for production access at YouTube Spaces.
But we’re also offering more than just physical space. In addition to our state-of-the-art production facilities, YouTube Spaces brings together creatives of all stripes. YouTube Spaces offers nonprofits opportunities to learn new skills through live workshops, as well as collaborate with the YouTube community through events, panels, screenings, and more!
Don’t know where to begin? Once enrolled in and approved by YouTube for Nonprofits, start with the
YouTube Creator Academy
. From there, nonprofits can take advantage of the workshops offered by YouTube Spaces to establish a successful foundation on the platform. From lessons on building your channel to learning physical production, these workshops will help your nonprofit define its strategy and engage subscribers. Then, it’s time to get the cameras rolling!
Get out of your garage, and get ready to create something amazing. After all, spaces are not just about where we we work -- it’s about what we create there.
Find out more about the YouTube Spaces
here
.//
To see if your nonprofit is eligible to participate, review the
Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines
. Google for Nonprofits offers organizations like yours free access to Google tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Ad Grants, YouTube for Nonprofits and more. These tools can help you reach new donors and volunteers, work more efficiently, and tell your nonprofit’s story. Learn more and enroll
here
.
Posted by Lexi Cotcamp, Google for Nonprofits
1
Nonprofit must have signed up for the Google for Nonprofits program and be enrolled specifically in the YouTube for Nonprofits product with a YouTube channel that has at least 1,000 subscribers. Qualifying YouTube channels must be free of copyright and terms of use strikes.
↩
Competing for a Better, More Inclusive World at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games
Thursday, March 24, 2016
When athletes from around the world come together, some of them compete for the glory of winning. When the 6,500 athletes from across the globe competed at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, they were playing for so much more -- acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
In order to bring together thousands of athletes, tens of thousands of volunteers, half a million spectators, and tens of millions of dollars in donations, the World Games Organizing Committee had a herculean task ahead of them. They needed technology that could keep up with their ambitious goals.
Growing an audience for the World Games was paramount. With Google Ad Grants to run an AdWords campaign and Google Analytics to track behavior on their site, they were able to get their message in front of millions of people. Instead of flying around the world to train their many volunteers, they relied on Google Hangouts to efficiently and cost-effectively spread their knowledge. Twenty-five different sporting events means a lot of things to keep track of. They used Google Sheets to ensured everyone stayed on the same page and Google Sites to publicize the transportation schedule.
As Patrick McClenahan, President & CEO of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games says, “When people are educated, inspired and engaged, hearts and minds are changed.” Carrying their message further means a more inclusive world for us all.
Watch members of the World Games explain how they used Google tools
here
.
Posted by Paige Birnbaum, Google for Nonprofits
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