A Word About Our Community Reviews
Reflecting our deep admiration for the dedication, hard work and positive
social missions displayed by each organization we examine, CoreWeb "Reviews"
are written in a methodical, comprehensive manner using CoreWeb community
building principles as a framework for evaluation.
Should you find yourself in disagreement with, in support of, or with questions regarding, any aspect of the reviews, please tell us! Post a comment,
generate a conversation, contact us -- we welcome your feedback and would love to hear from you! If we don't know about the full breadth of your efforts, educate us, and we'll make sure to modify the review appropriately.
This open process is meant to provide constructive feedback and best practices among all the organizations we review. Growing a community of supporters is challenging, so learning from each other is a laudable goal!
Ratings are added to the end of each posted review as a quick-recap of the strengths, potential assets, and areas of improvement the author identifies at each site. The reviewer creates the ratings with a focus on the question, "How successfully does an organization layout a path towards boosterism?" By analyzing the community-building tools that are implemented by each organization, the reviewer creates the ratings informally, after re-reading the review, and noting the aspects of community building were best in class, had potential, or needed attention at each site. Each rating is supported by a simple graphic that reflects these evaluations:
Highlight particularly high-functioning, community-building aspects of online communitites
Point out good ideas that have potential, but need a bit of work
Outline aspects of a site where there seems to be a disconnect online when working towards a larger goal
What is a Joiner?
We were hoping you would ask! A booster is an individual who takes on a more sizeable role within an organization by engaging in activities that support a group's mission with a "multiplying effect". Boosters typically write blog entries or start forum threads, organize volunteer efforts, facilitate fundraisers, connect local and online communities for events and speak publicly in support of an organization. The activity of a booster allows an organization's energy to grow at an exponential rate.
What is a Booster?
We were hoping you would ask! A booster is an individual who takes on a more sizeable role within an organization by engaging in activities that support a group's mission with a "multiplying effect". Boosters typically write blog entries or start forum threads, organize volunteer efforts, facilitate fundraisers, connect local and online communities for events and speak publicly in support of an organization. The activity of a booster allows an organization's energy to grow at an exponential rate.
Further discussion:
I enjoyed poking around the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) website- it was functional, aesthetically pleasing, and informative. The top tab bars offer visitors clear directionals to navigate through the site (i.e. “What We Do” and “How to Work with Us” tabs), and prominent links at the top right of the page encourage web surfers to donate, subscribe to their e-newsletter, check out their RSS feed and blog, or share the page. The “How to Work with Us” tab features a page titled “Join Our Community”, which lists ten ways for individuals to get involved with the organization- kudos to ICRW for proving clear pathways towards engagement! Options include links to social media pages, e-newsletter sign ups and donation options. Also notable is the ICRW blog, which is informative, wonderfully written and interactive (comments and sharing are encouraged). Also, the authors of the blog are highlighted (with pictures and small bios), which is a wonderful way to connect the reader more closely to the writer.
Recommendations:
As I was searching around the website for booster tools and pathways, I came up largely empty handed. There are links to an “Events” page, but the page itself is empty. While donations seem to be encouraged exclusively on an individual basis (there are no tools or information to encourage fundraising for the organization outside of simply writing a check yourself). Perhaps toolkits or specific pages geared towards encouraging supporters to galvanize their personal networks, i.e. fundraise or host their own events, would generate important energy around the ICRW mission.
