Heather Carpenter is the Assistant Director of Aspiration which connects nonprofits organizations with software solutions that help better carry out their work.   Her blog, Nonprofit Management and Operations Blog, is an amazing resource for anyone who is responsible for managing a nonprofit.

Can you tell me a little more about the nonprofits that you worked for in the SF area prior to joining Aspiration?

I worked for two and half years as Operations Manager for Low-Income Families Empowerment through Education (LIFETIME) a statewide grassroots membership organization that helps low-income families go to college and get out of poverty. I also did consulting work for the Diablo Respite Center an organization that supports folks with Alzheimer's disease, the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group a nonprofit recruiting firm, and several other start-up nonprofits located at different locations throughout the US.

How did you end up as an "Accidental Techie"?

Although my job description as Operations Manager for LIFETIME didn't include technology per say, I worked tried to fix the problems with the 16 computers in our office as well as extending the life of those computers.  I started out learning about the computers by spending many hours troubleshooting the problems while on the phone with Dell.  I also utilized every one of Compumentor's programs and learned a lot from the technology consultants that I worked with.

What was the most stressful that happened to you as an "Accidental Techie"?

Our DSL (provider to remain nameless) went down for several days and I did everything in my best power to work with the DSL provider to fix the problem, it turned out to be a faulty card on their end. During troubleshooting I had reset the router, so when the DSL was supposed to be back up an running it wasn't, I didn't realize I had to reprogram my router, until my IT consultant came to the rescue and helped me. 

What is your proudest moment as an accidental techie?

Upgrading all the computers in the office from Windows 98 to Windows 2000 working with Hilary Naylor, my mentor from Compumentor.

I'm an accidental techie too and I joke that I got my training "in the street" and lunch time at Borders -- what methods did you use to learn what you needed to know to get the job done?

Like I mentioned above, I utilized everyone of Compumentor's programs to learn about computers.  The most beneficial program I went through was the Healthy and Secure Computing program where I was able to learn about best practices for technology like keeping an inventory of all the computers in the office. As a result of that class, I was also able to do a technology plan for my organization and implement specific aspects in the plan.  Also, when I first started out as an accidental techie, I created a technology budget so I could hire a technology consultant for a couple of hours a month to help me.  I made an effort to follow around each consultant who worked with me so I could learn what they were doing to fix my computer problems.

Your bio says that you have a passion for improving nonprofit operations and that you spent some time as a consultant doing that, what are 1 or 2 most common areas where nonprofits need improvement in their operations?  What advice do you give?

The most common area that nonprofits need improvement in their operations is with their finances, also second after that improving their human resources practices. Many nonprofits (the smaller ones) are so focused on achieving their missions that they don't think about maintaining the infrastructure of the organization.  That is why I created the Nonprofit Operations Toolkit, a step-by-step guide which describes many ways that a nonprofit can improve its operations. The toolkit is based on my personal experience of improving the operations of each nonprofit that I serve. 

Since the majority of my clients are start-up organizations, the words of advice I generally tell them is "start your organization out the right way, by filling out the necessary paperwork, setting up the systems for tracking finances, constituents, and donations and plan how to maintain those systems."

How are you bringing your passion for nonprofit operations to work at Aspiration?   

When I came on board with Aspiration, I made an effort to practice what I preach to my clients and followed my 10 Nonprofit Operations Success Steps to improve the operations of Aspiration. One of the first things that I did was to find a new office space for Aspiration which we now call the San Francisco Technology Center.  This collaborative space has 7 organizations who are all focused on some aspect of nonprofit technology, we are also starting to do nonprofit tech trainings in the space. It is exciting to see how improving the operations of Aspiration is helping us to achieve our mission. 

I am also enjoying building upon what Aspiration already started before I came on board like updating our event planning materials and procedures and sharing them on my blog.

Why did you start to blog?

I am so embarrassed to say that I did not know what blogging was until I started working for Aspiration. Our Executive Director, Allen Gunn gave me the opportunity to blog about something I love the most-Nonprofit Operations. So, I started my blog in July and it has been a blast! I love sharing nonprofit resources and helping nonprofits succeed!

What are your favorite nonprofit blogs that cover operations topics written by women?

Sorry I don't want to discriminate because some of my favorite nonprofit blogs are by men. Below are some of the blogs I read, I keep learning about new blogs each week, it is so exciting to see so many folks in the nonprofit sector blogging.  Some of the blogs below include topics about nonprofit operations, some do not. I pull helpful tidbits from each one.

These are in random order:

Nonprofitlawblog.com
Studio 501c
Donorpowerblog
Career Intensity Blog
The Nonprofit Consultant Blog
The New Charm School
Common Good Careers
Nonprofit Board Crisis
Where Most Needed

Beth Kanter is the Blogher Contributing Editor for Nonprofits and Social Change and blogs at Beth's Blog

Flickr photo from Heather Carpenter