The Internet is providing nonprofits with benefits they did not previously realize. Many organizations are finding Web sites are an excellent means of raising funds, collecting donations, performing outreach and finding volunteers.

Some virtual charity groups, such as GreaterGood.com, conduct their fundraising efforts solely online, saving time and money that otherwise would be spent on outreach campaigns and fundraising. Other groups, like the Red Cross, find the Internet is an excellent means of mobilizing volunteers and collecting donations during a disaster.

These Web sites are a good example of how the technology can positively affect nonprofits, but a lack of resources -- technical knowledge and financing -- is a giant hurdle for many of the nation's smaller organizations and groups, CNN reports.

Alnisa Allgood, executive director of the San Francisco-based Nonprofit Tech, said the traditionally slow-changing nonprofit sector suffers from a type of digital divide in the face of swift cultural and economic changes, CNN reports.

"People need to make rapid decisions and rapid changes, and that's drastically affected the nonprofit community..." Allgood told CNN.

Allgood went on to say she thinks those nonprofits that begin to integrate technology into their mission can benefit from corporate sponsorships and additional grants that will assist their transition into the digital world, CNN reports.

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/22/nonprofit.web.idg/index.html