Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/540607
Elevate meeting aids nonprofits through training, networking F For Linda Hunnicutt, attending the 2015 Elevate Conference on June 11-12 opened windows of opportunity. The meeting came at a perfect time for Hunnicutt, one of two directors for Meals on Wheels in Anniston, a nonprofit that delivers free meals to the elderly and disabled. Having joined Meals on Wheels 10 short months ago – after 35 years in the private sector – she's still wrapping her mind around the challenges of how to serve huge public needs through the nonprofit world. Hunnicutt was excited to join about 400 representatives from nonprofit groups at Alabama Power's event at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham. The conference offered breakout sessions about how to work together collaboratively, fundraising for urban and rural nonprof- its, and leveraging technology in the nonprofit arena. Many attendees said the chance to network, make new contacts and share information was as valuable as the in-class sessions. "I'm looking forward to information that will help Meals on Wheels meet its goals," Hunnicutt said. "We don't have additional money for training." She was among the roomful of attendees eager to hear the latest about information technology from Techbridge CEO James Franklin. Techbridge, a 501(c)3 that provides IT expertise to nonprofits in all 50 states, drives community impact by bringing affordable business and technical expertise to other nonprofits. "The innovation curve is increasing exponentially," said Franklin, who urged attendees to learn everything they can about IT. He's ob- served a real problem regarding the lack of IT know-how and nonprof- its' need to cull data pertinent to their everyday business. "We mine data to ask questions that we don't even know that we should ask," Franklin said. "If we can get the data together, how do we move more people from homelessness? With data, we know how to move the food chain. It would be impossible for us to know these things if technology wasn't available. We need to work with the right subsets of data and know how to use and protect that information." He said that nonprofits must capture consistent, complete data during intake, enrollment and provision of services. 2 StOry by DOnna COpe pHOtOS by Wynter byrD