setting the record straight: history of nonprofits & the Internet
11:49, 19 February 2009
.. Posted in techculture and tech to help.. Link
I'm a bit annoyed at some of the things I've been reading online lately about nonprofits and the Internet, as though nonprofits started using the 'Net only a few years ago. I'm also annoyed by all the claims that nonprofits are doing things now with the Internet that they NEVER did before: they are not. The Internet has always been about people and organizations networking with each other, sharing ideas and comments, and collaborating online. It has always been interactive and dynamic. And there were many nonprofit organizations who "got" it early -- earlier than many for-profit companies, I might add.
So I'm attempting to set the record straight: I've prepared this page that talks about the early history of nonprofits and the Internet. It focuses on 1994 and 1995, the years that saw the first somewhat widespread use of the 'Net by nonprofits. It talks a little about what nonprofits were using the cyberspace for as well at that time.
I've also tried to list the names of key people in 1994 and 1995 who helped get nonprofit organizations using the Internet. Credit to them is LONG overdue.
Edits welcomed.
