Proof Bravelo^® Works

NPower and Library Foundation Continuing Education…With the Help of Bravelo

Learning is power. So it's no surprise that technology is tapped into to make sure education is keeping up with society. The most recent use of technology comes in the form of Bravelo. The collaborative software is being put to use by many non-for-profit organizations in keeping their projects up-to-date. One such example is the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). CICF and local partners have created a permanent resource to address non-profit technology needs and resources - NPower Indiana. NPower serves as the technology advisor for nonprofit community's needs. The services it provides include:

• Hands-on support to nonprofits through staff and network of partners
• Creating and providing education and training in technical and management issues
• Gathering and providing information on technology and the nonprofit community
• Establishing and supporting a community of nonprofit technology stakeholders
• Facilitating transactions on value, benefiting nonprofit community members
• Through technology, nonprofits have potential to increase their effectiveness.

Tony Macklin, director of Community Initiative at Central Indiana Community Foundation, was first introduced to Bravelo at a business meeting, following the launch of NPower's business planning process. He saw it as a tool for board work and special projects. CICF staff used Bravelo to keep more than 40 people involved in the business planning process updated on the project's progress, and to obtain their ongoing advice and input on the business plan as it evolved. NPower Indiana's new board and staff are now using Bravelo as a board document and communication management tool.

"The staff at Bitwise was very open and accommodating," Macklin said. "They helped determine what is strategically best for us."

CICF is now also using the tool for a $28 million endowed Library Fund. The fund addresses library services in Indianapolis and works with almost 60 high school, public and university libraries.

As a result, Bravelo serves as a location for library collaboration. They can place documents, schedule meetings and send messages.

"This is a way to develop the peer learning environment," Macklin said.

"Bravelo is a central place for the Library Fund's strategic plan and related grant documents. It is a place to post result of implemented projects."

The Library Fund Bravelo site may have as many as 130 people involved. Bravelo will allow the information to be posted in one location.

"It's efficient," Macklin said. "You can track what is happening with projects. In the case of the Library Fund, you can see what has happened on any individual grant. People can service themselves. It is also more efficient to do meeting planning and obtaining quicker votes on grant opportunities."

Macklin points out that using Bravelo saves quite a bit of time. Gone is the need for faxing documents, numerous phone calls and e-mails.

"Bravelo is a good tool," Macklin said. "If we weren't using Bravelo, we may have tried to put up documents on the Web site, but it would have been more cluttered and cumbersome."