Geeks doing good: the nerdery overnight website challenge
Just a Good Start“We’re doing this to help good nonprofits with not-so-good websites,” said Mark Malmberg, communication manager and co-president at The Nerdery. “It’s a way to connect the wires between technology and mission,” he added, noting that the normal fee for the level of services delivered would probably be around $25,000 to $30,000 for each newly developed site, and would take four to six weeks to complete. He estimates that since 2008, volunteers from the interactive community have donated more than $2.5 million worth of professional services to 84 nonprofits. “The Nerdery,” said Malmberg, “continues to consider this just a good start.”
Nerdy Speed DatingIn order to win this high-tech jackpot, nonprofits and nerds had to jump through a few hoops. Malmberg reports that 34 nerd teams and more than 80 nonprofits applied for what he called “essentially a 24-hour blind date.” After a panel of judges (composed of independent web professionals and nonprofit representatives) selected the finalists, a “speed dating” event was held a few days before the event, allowing representatives from the 18 selected nonprofits and the eight-to-ten-member nerd teams to find their perfect match.
