Google draws a lot of flak for its informal corporate motto, “Don’t Be Evil” and while there’s no way for such a large, international company to escape reproach, Google does a lot of good.
Google plans to co-host a party Thursday night with the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), a national organization that represents thousands of IT pros who want to help nonprofit entities make better use of technology.
At the party, Google is expected to announce that it is making its free Google Apps Education Edition available to registered nonprofits in the U.S.
Google Apps includes Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk, Google Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Start Page and Google Page Creator.
Previously, the Google Apps Education Edition was available only to accredited not-for-profit K-12 schools, colleges and universities.
Google Apps Standard Edition is free but lacks features and support options available in the Education Edition and in the Premiere Edition ($50 per user per year).
Google’s mission, for those who haven’t heard, is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”
In June, Google launched an initiative called Google Earth Outreach to help nonprofits communicate using Google Earth as a way to visualize relevant data.
That same month, it also launched an environmental initiative called RechargeIT that aims to accelerate vehicle-to-grid energy technology and to reduce carbon emissions.
June also saw Google and Intel announce the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, an attempt to extend the World Wildlife Fund’s Climate Savers program to cut carbon emissions.
However, in light of the sensitive work of some nonprofits, a hosted service isn’t always the best choice.
In many countries, human rights workers and their associates risk being tortured. This might put a Google Apps password in the wrong hands.
Hosted applications are appropriate for some organizations, but not for others. The technology needs to be appropriate to the needs of the organization.
Thoughts?
- Google and Earth Day 2007 | April 22, 2007
- Salesforce.com Google Partnership Rumor | May 22, 2007
- Google Earth Adds Star Gazing | August 22, 2007
- Six Questions About The Google Phone | August 31, 2007
- Life Savers | December 26, 2002
