Leah Chang led NetSquared Vancouver’s July 9 meetup, teaching attendees about Learning Management Systems.
Category Archives: Event report
Just the Highlights – The Digital Nonprofit 2019 Report
We can’t believe another year has come and passed! We’re so incredibly thankful to all of our sponsors, presenters, and volunteers – we absolutely couldn’t have done it without you.
With over 250 dedicated nonprofit professionals attending it was our biggest event yet, and we can’t help but look back on this conference with a huge smile (and not just because of the waffles and ice cream! But come on, they were pretty amazing, right?).
We’re humbled by the feedback and gratitude we received, and we wanted to take a few moments to share some of it with you as well. Here are a few highlights from the event, the numbers, the pictures, and the quotes that keep us inspired to do it again, bigger and better next year.
With a wide variety of work area types from attendees, we think we really hit our stride with a variety of presentations and topics discussed this year. There was something for everyone, and we hope we can outdo ourselves next year.

SPONSORS
We are grateful to our community partners for their support. Give them your love and spend money with them!
- Affinity Bridge
- Artovermatter
- BC Technology for Learning
- CanadaHelps
- Care2
- CharityVillage
- Conconi Family Foundation
- Enkel Backoffice Solutions Inc.
- Erika Rathje
- Eventchain
- Frontier + Charity Electric
- Harvey McKinnon Associates
- JMESHOOTS
- Miss604
- PMV – Project Management Volunteers
- TechSoup
- Traction Guest
- Vancouver Community Network
Just a Few of Our Favourite Additions to #DNP2019
- The Workbook – Beautifully designed and integrated to the day, attendees couldn’t help themselves from taking pictures of it, sharing it on social media, and using it to take home insights and notes.
- The Ice Cream Bar – It was a huge hit, if you missed it, you really missed out. Maybe next year we will save some of those waffles to add as toppings 🙂
- The New Branding – Our snappy new look has us fired up to keep going, taking this community and this annual conference even further.
What People Told Us Afterward
“Thank you, I very much enjoyed the event! Will be back next year with more staff!”

A loyal fan with a team
“You guys rock. Thanks for bringing us together, like a big nerdy non-profit family.”

A nerdy survey respondent
“Really fun event, stellar presenters, snacks, love the food trucks and treats, a nice positive 2 days! Great work!”

Attendee that went to BOTH days
“I would 100% recommend that people from all sectors come to this conference because the agenda is so well rounded and has amazing food – seriously, this is probably the best food I’ve ever had at a conference!”

A hungry friend of the event
“Nonprofits need to be strategic with technology to make more impact – and attending the The Digital Nonprofit is how I discover emerging best practices from my peers.”

A life-long learner
“I would 100% recommend that people from all sectors come to this conference because the agenda is so well rounded and has amazing food – seriously, this is probably the best food I’ve ever had at a conference!”

A friend of The Digital Nonprofit
And now it’s time for you to shine, here are some links to the photo gallery and videos from the conference. Unfortunately our photoshop budget is used up this year, so we might not have been able to fix all the funny faces you made.
Event Photos

Videos and Slides
Watch the other videos from the conference (slides included!)
Tweets from the Day
Mentions in the Media
Business in Vancouver podcast, June 7 2019.
Conference producer Elijah van der Giessen talked with BIV about Vancouver’s Tech4Good sector.
See You Next Year!
And that’s a wrap! It was a blast and we hope you got as much out of it as we did – learning, new friends, and a good time.
If you’d like to join us as a sponsor or presenter again next year, please do let us know, and we will be sure to reach out with details.
Until next year, keep rocking the sector and doing the important work you do. And if you just can’t wait, come hang out at the monthly Vancouver meetups from NetSquared.
Thanks again for your support,
Eli and The Digital Nonprofit Team
Slides and Video: The Digital Nonprofit 2019 Conference Report
Thanks for being a part of our fifth The Digital Nonprofit conference! Our speakers have kindly permitted us to share their slides and session videos so that you can relive the Tech4Good goodness.
How Design Thinking Can Lead to the More Effective Use of Technology for Social Impact with Michael Johnston
The leadership that Digital Demands with Shoni Field and Ryann Miller
Social Media from the Top with Chris Brandt
3 Keys to Rocking Your Next Integrated Campaign with Kimberly Shearon
The Happy Healthy Nonprofit with Beth Kanter
⚡️⚡️⚡️ LIGHTNING TALKS!!! ⚡️⚡️⚡️
5 Ways to Boost Email Engagement Through Personalization with Megan McCaffery
How to Regularly – and Without a Lot of Extra Effort – Find, Capture and Share Good Stories About Your Organization with Nicole Jones
Why Embark on a Technology Project with Jack Mercer
Small Data for Big Change with Sarah Schulman
Website Best Practices: How to Effectively Engage Your Online Visitors with Tamara Rahmani
The Agile Approach To Creating Better Audience Engagement with Mack Hardy
Best Practices for Collecting Member Feedback with Kathryn Svobodny
SPONSORS
We are grateful to our community partners for their support. Give them your love and spend money with them!
- Affinity Bridge
- Artovermatter
- BC Technology for Learning
- CanadaHelps
- Care2
- CharityVillage
- Conconi Family Foundation
- Enkel Backoffice Solutions Inc.
- Erika Rathje
- Eventchain
- Frontier + Charity Electric
- Harvey McKinnon Associates
- JMESHOOTS
- Miss604
- PMV – Project Management Volunteers
- TechSoup
- Traction Guest
- Vancouver Community Network
Slides and Video: Setting Marketing Goals for Nonprofits – Using the Marketing Canvas
Slides from Lida Tohidi’s presentation for NetSquared Vancouver, May 7 201
Video – Presenter View
Slides
Marketing Canvas
Video – Webinar-Style
Prefer to see the presentation with the slides emphasized? We got you covered!
Creating a marketing plan for your nonprofit organization will move you from where you are to where you want to be. Learn real tips and trick to starting out right this year with a plan that you can explain to your team and board.
Learn how to identify the ideal donor you’d like to acquire, map out your acquisition plan, and engage with donors on the appropriate channels.
Our Guest Expert
Lida Tohidi has 11 years of experience in digital marketing, program management, and strategic planning in the tech sector and has utilized her talents for nonprofits as well. She is very passionate about mindfulness, as well as diversity and inclusion, and in 2018 alone, she spoke at 25 tech conferences and events. You can contact Lida through LinkedIn and on Twitter at @lidatohidi

How Young People Use Digital Technology – Hosted by Darren Barefoot
What’s the future of technology and social media? Let’s ask the next generation!
Darren Barefoot hosted a series of short on-stage interviews with three young people – a teenager, a college-student and a 20-something – about how they use technology and social channels.
Recorded live by NetSquared Vancouver at the HiVE in Vancouver, April 2 2019

Slides + Video: Email Automation for Nonprofits
We snuck a second meetup into November because we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature a special guest from Montréal. Antoine Bonicalzi of Cyberimpact introduced our nonprofit members to the basic concepts of email automation and walked us through the flowcharting process.
Watch the video to discover how to start making email automation work for your organization. In this video you will learn:
• How to communicate more often and more effectively with volunteers, supporters and partners
• How to promote events and other fundraising activities
• How to build stronger relationships while saving time and energy thanks to automation
PRESENTER
Antoine Bonicalzi has been involved in digital marketing since 2009. Occupying key roles in several agencies, he has helped hundreds of small businesses and organizations succeed with digital marketing.
Today, as the Marketing Director for Cyberimpact, a Canadian email marketing and marketing automation platform, Antoine has the responsibility of growing its user base across the country. His role involves communicating the secrets of email marketing and marketing automation to Canadian businesses and organizations through articles, training workshops and seminars.
SPONSORS
A HUGE thanks to our amazing community partners and sponsors. Give them love! Spend 💵with them!

Video + Slides: How to Maximize Data to Enhance Your Fundraising Programs and Campaigns
In this presentation campaigners and fundraisers from any size organization will learn to use big data in a way they haven’t before. They will learn how to better target their messaging to influence people within their organization’s community to encourage them to give a gift or volunteer.
Whether through a direct mail appeal, cross fundraising approach or a face to face ask, data can help.
PRESENTER
Allen Davidov is Director of Business Development at Environics Analytics in the not-for-profit practice. With nearly twenty years of experience, he is responsible for helping charities and foundations apply EA’s products and services to attract and retain donors, corporate partners and volunteers.
Prior to joining EA, Allen successfully led marketing, annual giving, leadership giving and event initiatives at a number of organizations, including Sinai Health Foundation, Habitat for Humanity GTA, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, St. John’s Rehab Hospital Foundation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and North York General Hospital Foundation.
Allen is also an active member of the Canadian Marketing Association Not-For-Profit Council. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Liverpool, a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Ryerson University and a Creative Advertising diploma from Centennial College.
SOCIAL LOVE
Hosted by @elivdg
Presented by @net2van
Venue partner @hivevancouver
PRESENTER
@AllenDavidov of @EnvironicsA
SPONSORS
@iatspayments @VCN_Community @techsoupcanada @NTENorg
Video: Donor Retention Best Practices with Janet Edmison, Principal at Fawkes + Holly
A strong fundraising program is an essential part of building a thriving non-profit. But when you have a small team and limited resources it can be hard to know where to focus.
At Net2van’s October 10 meetup Fawkes + Holly offered research and experience on how to retain the donors you’ve worked so hard to acquire. Viewers of these videos will emerge feeling encouraged, equipped and armed with practical tools you can start implementing immediately.
Here’s two video recordings of the presentation, focusing on the presenter or the slides. Take your pick! Or if you’re on the move listen to the podcast.
Presenter Video
Webinar-Style Video
Janet Edmison, Principal at Fawkes + Holly
Janet is a strategic thinker with experience fundraising for small and mid-sized non-profits including Cystic Fibrosis Canada and Union Gospel Mission. Passionate about sharing the vision and mission of organizations making an impact around the world, Janet excels at developing strategies and materials that change the game for small teams with limited resources. As a consultant, Janet has worked with dozens of organizations facing challenges in building and maintaining a sustainable fundraising program.
HOSTS
Produced by Ashleigh Turner @SexWithAshleigh
Hosted by NetSquared Vancouver @net2van
Venue partner HiVE Vancouver @hivevancouver
PRESENTER
@fawkesandholly
SPONSORS
@iatspayments @VCN_Community @techsoupcanada @NTENorg
Video interviews: how do you successfully implement a CRM at your nonprofit?
CRM is hard! So before you choose a database why not learn from other organization’s difficulties? (and wins!)
Darren Barefoot interviewed Alexis Stoymenoff and Elena Iñurrategui. They’ve confronted all sides of the CRM question: from within orgs and as consultants to them. Viewers will gain wisdom about when to adopt a CRM and what questions to ask to make the right infrastructure decisions for their organizations.
Want more? Here’s the Q&A session featuring Brenton Walters (whose interview was, sadly, lost.)
Net2van’s free events are possible because of the consistent support of partners like iATS Payments, the Vancouver Community Network, Techsoup Canada, and NTEN.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Truth and Reconciliation in a Digital Age – Net2van June 19, 2018
In acknowledgement of National Indigenous Peoples Day here’s the recording of our “Truth and Reconciliation in a Digital Age” panel hosted by the First Nations Technology Council at the HIVE.
The discussion was led by Denise Williams, Executive Director of First Nations Technology Council. Panelists include James Delorme, Jen Castro, Leena Minifie, Lauren Kelly, plus some surprise special guests!
We exist in an age of reconciliation, one in which an increasing number of Canadians are beginning to explore their role in meaningfully addressing historical and ongoing injustices and inequities. So where does one begin? And what will a sector in meaningful pursuit of reconciliation look and feel like?
Join the First Nations Technology Council for a discussion about how nonprofits and the technology industry can participate in reconciliation and adopt the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: http://www.trc.ca/