For nonprofits' websites, help comes from 'Nerdery' all-nighter
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal honors Nerdery with its Jefferson Award for corporate philanthropy
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - by Andrew Tellijohn Contributing writer
Sequestering dozens of computer nerds in a large lecture hall for 24 hours might sound like a strange idea, but for Twin Cities Web developers it has become an annual event.
For the past three years Nerdery Interactive Labs has hosted the Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge, which matches Web-development experts from around the Twin Cities with nonprofits in need of tech support.
For the event, Bloomington-based Nerdery, a division of Sierra Bravo Corp., rents a room at the University of Minnesota big enough to hold a couple hundred people for 24 hours; sets up work stations; and provides food, coffee, raffle prizes and entertainment. On one wall, a screen counts down the time remaining in the challenge; another wall displays Twitter feeds from participants. The event is staged as a friendly competition between Web developers — the prize for winning is bragging rights.
In the bigger picture, more than 30 nonprofit organizations have benefited from the donated work that provides upgraded websites and better platforms for pursuing their missions.
“The event has turned out to be a great success for us and for the nonprofits and the volunteers who have been involved,” said Luke Bucklin, the Nerdery’s president.
The challenge started as a way to become a part of the local web-development community. Nerdery officials credit marketing executive Mark Hurlburt for creating the event.
Each year, the company advertises the contest to nonprofits and Web designers. Nonprofits are selected based on their needs and the availability of volunteer designers.
The Rural Renewable Energy Alliance, which uses solar energy to address rural poverty, was one of this year’s beneficiaries. Jason Edens, executive director, said the event was tremendously beneficial for his organization.
“The whole organization should really be commended for their commitment to the social well-being of the state,” Edens said.
Sierra Bravo plans to expand the challenge to Chicago, where it will soon open an office.
Jefferson Awards winner Sierra Bravo Corp.
Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge involves volunteers creating websites for nonprofit organizations.
That event will expand into Chicago when the company opens a new office.
The company contributes computer time to World Community Grid’s humanitarian research.
It’s establishing a Nerdery Foundation to oversee philanthropic activities.
Media Contact
Mark Malmberg
Communications Manager
Office: (952) 948.1211 x1069
Cell: (612) 850.3178