Mission-driven nonprofit organizations form the backbone of the support system for educational and social services across the state. They are the grassroots activists that energize and inspire citizens in communities large and small. The Meyer Memorial Trust has been wise to invest in these agents of change and the citizens of Oregon have reaped the benefits. Most are skilled in traditional ways of building community to achieve their missions and engage their constituents. Yet shifts in demographics, and new ways that citizens interact and communicate, add a challenge that many non-profits are struggling to address. Citizens are increasingly using social media and electronic communication technologies, such as Facebook and Twitter. While many nonprofits are dabbling in these media, it is difficult to know it’s hard to know how to make the best use of the potential of these technologies, and even more difficult to know how to measure impact and return on investment. The Meyer Memorial Trust could facilitate a transformational change by investing critical seed money in the research and development of new technologies and the use of those technologies, beyond networking, to affect social change.

OMSI would use the funds to develop and test model programs that could be broadly adopted across the sector and leverage the capacity of nonprofits to reach audiences in new ways. OMSI has proven competency for using web-based technologies to reach communities across the state, enlist partners, and engage diverse audiences in science learning. For example, we are currently developing community-based science exhibits with cell phone tags in English and Spanish that allow learners to participate using mobile devices. We also have more Facebook fans than any science museum in the country. We are a leading partner in national collaboratives to educate the public on topics such as nanoscience and health and fitness and have the capacity to manage innovative and complex projects. OMSI is leveraging the strengths of Oregon's business and non-profit leaders to create a greater good, not just for Oregon, but for all communities to advance the disciplines of science, math, engineering and technology. As an organization that has been leading science and math education for 65 years, OMSI has the knowledge, resources and partners to successfully implement this big idea.

With MMT funds we would invite partners that have a demonstrated commitment to web-based technology and education, such as Intel, Mentor Graphics, Knowledge Learning Corporation, Regence, Open Sourcery and community-based organizations such as Libraries of Eastern Oregon, Verde, and museums, and develop and evaluate prototype projects that create measurable impact. The initial investment would demonstrate proof of concept that web-based technologies can be an effective way to facilitate community-based learning. Tested models could be adapted by others for their use and demonstrated success would generate additional private sector funding.