United Way of Greater New Haven hosts IBM Social Media Workshop for Area Nonprofits

As a recipient of an IBM Services Strategies for Social Media grant, United Way of Greater New Haven recently engaged eight area nonprofits in a one-day workshop designed to help organizations benefit from social network media best-practices and leverage appropriate media for its identified cause.  Agencies participating in this exciting opportunity included New Haven Home Recovery, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), Fair Haven Community Health Center, GNH Chamber of Commerce, Columbus House, Special Olympics of CT, SARAH, Inc. and United Way of Greater New Haven.

The workshop involved an interactive discussion defining and creating organizational social networking visions and armed agencies with a variety of social networking tools necessary to accomplish a variety of tasks including:

• Launching a new product, program, or service
• Mentoring and learning
• Increasing the reach and scope of fundraising
• Going green
• Connecting volunteers
• Better connecting and sharing resources throughout the organizations

Jack Healy, President and CEO of United Way of Greater New Haven, as well as Tony Rescigno, President of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, also shared a few remarks to participants about the benefits of such an opportunity and importance of social media strategies for agencies moving forward.  

Organizations will also have a chance after the workshop to discuss together a roadmap of next steps created by IBM consultants.