Pre-workshop Activity

IDEX (International Development Exchange)
IDEX is a San Francisco based non-profit organization that promotes sustainable solutions to poverty by providing long-term grants and access to resources to locally run organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

We build strong local economies by funding initiatives in poor communities designed to:
* empower women
* care for the environment
* promote local solutions to poverty

Our funding is used to bolster existing projects: great solutions by locals who have the trust of their neighbors and the knowledge of what is most needed in their own communities.

Gillian Wilson, Communications Director
Gill has been involved with IDEX since 2002 when she joined the organization as an intern. Originally from the UK, she has lived in the SF Bay Area since 2000, when she moved her to study at San Francisco State University for her MBA. Gill began her non-profit career as an intern with IDEX before becoming Operations Manager and has been in her current position of Communications Director since 2005. Prior to moving to the US, Gill worked in the financial services industry. Gill has a LLB law degree from the University of Reading in the UK. Find out why IDEX inspires Gill.

Social Media
On behalf of IDEX, I've been exploring social media in a variety of ways:
IDEX's Blog
Facebook Page
Twitter
YouTube
GlobalGiving

Personal Social Media Experience
I'm hooked. I'm active on Facebook, have become addicted to Twitter but have yet to fully realized the potential of LinkedIn. I keep planning to start blogging, but have yet to take the plunge.

My Workshop Goals
I'm convinced social media can be effective for many organizations and I want IDEX to make the most of social media to broaden our reach. I would like to explore a better framework for using social media and know more about best practices and how to develop a cohesive social media communications plan.

Key for both myself and my colleagues is getting to grips with tools to evaluate impact and measure success (or failure) of social media. This would make me more effective in telling IDEX's story via social media, and also encourage greater recognition and support from within IDEX for social media.