All but the nation's largest nonprofit groups have been slow to pursue the Internet as a communications tool, due to a lack of funding, time, and technical expertise, the New York Times reports in a March 29 feature.

The Times cited the example of Catholic Charities USA, a foundation that acts as a connector for 144 social service groups across the nation. Only one-third of the groups it works with have an Internet presence, and those with small budgets are completely off the information superhighway, foundation leaders report.

Anthony Wilhelm, communications policy program director for the Benton Foundation, told the newspaper that many small nonprofits can't afford e-mail, while others do not even have their office computers networked.

The story cited a study conducted by the Independent Sector that showed just one percent of everyone who donated to charity in 1999 used the Internet to give money.

There are, of course, exceptions to nonprofit use of the Web. For example America's Second Harvest, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, boasts a network of 200 food banks. The American Red Cross is setting the benchmark for charity's using the Internet. In 1999, it raised $1.2 million for relief efforts in Kosovo from people through a link on its Web site.

In addition to the site dedicated to disaster relief fundraising, the Red Cross has a sophisticated Web site used exclusively to describe current efforts, the New York Times reports. Other groups, such as Amnesty International, Tobacco Control Advocates and the World Wildlife Fund are developing communities through e-newsletters. Subscribers receive news alerts regarding regional activities and how people wishing to volunteer can become involved.

The Nonprofit Resource Center suggests organizations that cannot find ways to venture into new technology may have to pool their resources and create alliances to keep pace with technology changes in the philanthropic world.

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