Inside the Nerdery » Overnight Website Challenge

Apply yourself: Overnight Website Challenge returns March 24-25

Mark Malmberg — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:24:08 +0000

Fellow Nerds and eager nonprofits have been asking, “When will registration be open for the Twin Cities’ 2012 Nerdery Overnight Overnight Website Challenge?” How about right now? Here.

As Luke Bucklin said in 2008 when we announced the second comingof our nonprofit nerdathon, “We are committed to this event as long as there are good nonprofits whose websites could be better, powered by nerds.”

That blanket-statement of commitment crossed state lines last summer at Chicago’s inaugural Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge, and March 24-25 will mark our fifth Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge in the Twin Cities. In the first five years of these nerdy deeds done dirt cheap, volunteers from The Nerdery and the interactive community at-large have donated about $2 million worth of professional services to 66 nonprofits. We’ll continue to consider this just a good start. Get started at http://tc2012.overnightwebsitechallenge.com.

For more the nitty-gritty lowdown and more information about this year’s event. Head on over to our News section.

A+ Team wins Chicago’s 1st Overnight Website Challenge

Mark Malmberg — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:36:35 +0000

Several pounds of Peace Coffee and a hard day’s night later, the winner of The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge is A+ Team for its nerdy deeds done pro bono for Southwest Chicago PADS.

Down two ill-stricken nerds just before Challenge weekend, A+ Team captain Chris Wilkinson pinged The Nerdery to assist in finding qualified replacements. Jason Crocker, who’d asked to fly stand-by should such an opportunity knock, promptly drove in from Cleveland to contribute to the winning effort.

Rounding out the Final Four of development teams and their respective nonprofits:

Cloudbot (and Friends), serving Midwest Young Artists
Drop Shadows Not Bombs, serving Crossroads Adoption Services
Drupal Rocks, serving A Safe Haven Foundation

Honorably mentioned runners-up/co-winners:

Awesome Dolphins and Friends, serving Near Northwest Arts Council
Chamois Butter for Lunch, serving Peace Care
Chicago on Rails, serving Kids Have Hope
Greater Pixel Consortium, serving Institutio Del Progresso Latino
Nerdery Bigfoot Research Consortium, serving Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois
Team 13, serving Northwestern Settlement

Comprised of leaders from Chicago’s nonprofit and interactive communities, this independent panel of judges performed the double-duty of assessing applications of eligible nonprofits and judging the work of development teams during the last few hours of the 24-hour all-nighter:

Melanie Adcock, tech blogger
Joshua Brown, program manager, Taproot Foundation
Randy Dill, founder and CEO, Chicago Non-Profit
Cynthia Putnam, professor, College of Computing & Digital Media at DePaul University

Huge thanks to all who were a part of Chicago’s first-ever Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge. We’ll be back. Big thanks also to event sponsors DePaul University – College of Computing and Digital Media, and to our hosts, Resolution Digital Studios. Our in-kind sponsors were indeed kind as well, and they are: Chipotle; Dominos; Ergotron; Groupon; Peace Coffee; ThinkGeek; XS Energy Drink.

Good night, and good luck.

Chicago Web Challenge: This is the end

Mark Malmberg — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:47:04 +0000

After 24 hours, judges selected four finalists. All ten teams of volunteers have won the respect of their designated nonprofit. May the “best” team also win bragging rights as the winner of Chicago’s inaugural Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge.

Watch live streaming video from hllchicago at livestream.com

$5 to keep a good-hearted nerd well caffienated

Jodi Chromey — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:20:36 +0000

As you know our big Chicago Overnight Website Challenge is coming up August 20–21. But did you know you can help keep the kind, generous nerds who are donating 24 hours of their time to help build websites for needy nonprofits?

Well you can! Join Groupon’s G-Team and donate $5 to equip nerd volunteers with 24 hours of caffeine during the webchallenge. If G-Team members raise $250, 50 nerds taking part in the challenge will have enough caffeine to last them 24 hours. Each additional $5 raised will fund 24 hours of caffeine for another volunteer. All donations will be matched by The Nerdery.

For only $5 you can make sure that the nerds are deliriously awake enough for stuff like this (well, and the website building too, of course), and really isn’t that worth it?

What the heck is the G-Team? Here’s the deal: Unlike traditional Groupon deals, G-Team campaigns typically don’t offer you a “discount” or “savings.” So “buyer” beware—when you click “Buy” to donate your time or money to a worthwhile G-Team cause, the only discount you may receive is 100% off free, priceless karma.

Here’s the 10 Illinois’ nonprofits selected to participate in the Chicago Webchallenge

Jodi Chromey — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:54:53 +0000

Today we announced the nonprofit organizations selected for the The Nerdery’s Chicago Overnight Website Challenge, debuting the weekend of August 20-21. The chosen nonprofits:

These lucky nonprofits will receive nerdy deeds done dirt-cheap from these teams of volunteer web pros:

Competing nonprofits articulated how they’d direct teams of 8-10 web pros to further their mission online. Selection judges also considered organizational need and online testimonials from people most intimately involved with the organizations. Comprised of leaders from the nonprofit and interactive communities, this independent panel of selection judges assessed applications from eligible nonprofits; they’ll also pick the top development team at The Nerdery’s all-nighter. Ladies and gentlemen, your judges:

Melanie Adcock, assistant editor of The May Report and tech blogger
Joshua Brown, Program Manager, Taproot Foundation
Randy Dill, founder and CEO, Chicago Non-Profit
Cynthia Putnam, Professor, College of Computing & Digital Media at DePaul University

You can learn more about the Chicago event over on the Webchallenge site.

Project 515 launches new site

Jodi Chromey — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:27:35 +0000

Congrats to Project 515 and Web Challenge team Full Court WordPress on the launch of their new site! In case you’re not familiar with the project, here’s a little look at what the website looked like before Full Court WordPress got their hands on it:

Now, Executive Director Ann Kaner-Roth said the new site includes cool features like:

Ability to sign up to volunteer on the website.
Easy to find and navigate Donate button.
Stories highlighting the real lives of Minnesotans impacted by discrimination.
Upcoming Events, such as the June 20th Center Stage event supporting Minnesotans United for All Families.
Data showing how inclusion is good for the economy AND helps communities prosper.
The most up-to-date information related to Minnesotans United for All Families, the campaign to fight the ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage in the Minnesota Constitution. Project 515, along with OutFront Minnesota, is helping to lead this effort and we’ll keep the Constitutional Amendment page of our website updated over the next 18 months.
New “If You Support Equality” video featuring Project 515 Celebrity Spokesperson Christopher Straub.
SMS function, which will allows user to get the latest news and alerts via text message.

Best of all, Project 515 got all those features wrapped up in a beautiful new website. Here’s the after:

Do you know a worthy Illinois non-profit or some Chicago web nerds looking to volunteer their time? You should tell them about the upcoming Chicago Overnight Website Challenge.

Seeking your advice, Webchallenge veterans

Jodi Chromey — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:01:42 +0000

Sure, August might seem like lightyears away but as anyone who lives in a northern climate knows summer happens in the blink of an eye. As we gear up for the Chicago Overnight Website Challenge in August, we’re seeking advice from wizened Webchallenge veterans.

Web Pros and Nonprofits alike, we want to hear your “if I knew then what I know now” types of tips. What are the kinds of things you learned in those wee hours of the night? What knowledge can you pass down to webchallenge newbies?

Mine is: Bring Chapstick (or your lip balm of choice).

Also, I remember at about 3 a.m. during the 2010 Webchallenge (I may have dreamt it, it was late) Matt was extolling the rejuvenating properties of fresh socks. This year I heard one nonprofit participant mentioning how she wished she’d had breath mints. So maybe pack some Altoids next to your Chapstick.

What advice do you have? You can join the discussion on Facebook or leave a comment here. We’d love to hear from you.

Nerdy deeds via Chicago

Mark Malmberg — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:43:02 +0000

This just handed to me:

Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge Coming to Chicago

Nonprofits and volunteer web pros (nerds) registering for 24-hour event Aug. 20-21. Charitable nerds have already donated $1.5 million in web services to 57 nonprofits.

Who: The Nerdery seeks like-minded web professionals to join in giving their time and talent to help nonprofits create websites they couldn’t otherwise afford at The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge (http://chi2011.overnightwebsitechallenge.com/).

Who Else: Eligible nonprofits (501c3-registered organizations in Illinois) can apply by June 30 by articulating how nerds could help them do what they do – only better – online.

Why: Considering the collective good nonprofits do, losing sleep to help them is a wise investment – they pay it forward many times over by better serving our communities.

When: August 20-21, 2011; 9 a.m. Saturday – 9 a.m. Sunday

Where: Resolution Digital Studios (RDS), 2226 West Walnut Street, Chicago

How: Volunteer teams self-organize with at least eight and as many as 10 people – team captains recruit peers covering these skill sets: front-end development, back-end development, project management, strategy, UX, graphic design, copywriting and QA. Nonprofits apply by articulating their vision of how nerds could further their mission through better use of interactive technology. Fans of nonprofits post online testimonials on why the organization they support – or benefit from – should get a new website for the price of a good night’s sleep.

When else:

July 15 – Nonprofit and volunteer registration deadline
July 18 – Teams set
July 25 – Announce chosen nonprofits

Who’s The Nerdery?: The Nerdery (www.nerdery.com) has offices in Chicago and Minneapolis where about 200 self-proclaimed nerds/web professionals partner with creative minds and big thinkers to envision and execute their interactive projects, including websites, mobile apps and social media. During the first four years of the Twin Cities’ annual Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge, volunteers have freely given more than $1.5 million in professional web development services to 57 nonprofits. Ranked #1 on Biz Journal’s 2010 Best Places to Work list, The Nerdery considers this a good start as they bring their nerdy deeds to Chicago.

Who Else: Sponsors include: Chipotle, Groupon, Peace Coffee, RDS. The Nerdery welcomes likeminded companies as event sponsors and in-kind supporters; to help feed and caffeinate this nonprofit nerdathon, email info@overnightwebsitechallenge.com or call 877-OMG-NERD.

See/Believe:

The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge: An Overview from The Nerdery on Vimeo.

Media contact: Mark Malmberg, 612-850-3178, mark.malmberg@nerdery.com

VISI visits the Webchallenge & many secrets are revealed

Jodi Chromey — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:00:57 +0000

The team at VISI has a nice post up about their visit to the webchallenge a few weeks ago. While they were there, they talked to a member of each of the web pro teams and asked about the nonprofit they were working with. They’ve posted three videos (the blooper reel is pretty funny), but I’ve only stolen one.

Why? Because in this video you can learn about CEO/Co-President Mike Derheim‘s favorite StarWars character, and it features a staffer from the UofM Continuing Education building whose been working the webchallenge for four years. How awesome is that?

Thanks, y’all – best Web Challenge ever (or until next time)

Mark Malmberg — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:18:38 +0000

Nerds, judges, nonprofits, well-wishers, sponsors, event-staff volunteers, caffeine…thanks for playing your part in enabling about half-a-million dollars worth of professional web development services to be freely given 18 nonprofits who’ll pay it forward many times over in services delivered to their communities. Blanket statements of thanks are warm and fuzzy, but they don’t sufficiently cover all who helped make the 2011 Twin Cities Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge the best ever. Time to name names.

Thanks, Senator Al Franken, for your gracious and good-humored visit. Thanks also to Tron Guy for likewise fitting right in.

We can’t sufficiently thank sponsors Benchmark Learning, TST Media and VISI for stepping up to support this event and its participants in their own meaningful ways. Benchmark Learning will again donate training to nonprofits and hosted our pre-Challenge speed-dating mixer. As they have since year one, VISI offered each nonprofit a year of free web hosting.TST Media, along with winning, donated NGIN, it’s proprietary suite of online tools, and lifetime support to Bloomington United for Youth.

Our in-kind supporters were plentiful and indeed kind, and we thank: Arthouse; Celarity, Chowgirls; CleverKate; CobornsDelivers; Ergotron; Gyropolis; HalloweenCostumes.com: Izzy’s Ice Cream Cafe; Jimmy Johns; Kowalski’s; La Belle Crepe; The Lacek Group; Northern Brewer; Peace Coffee; Pizza Luce’; Q.Cumbers; Solspace; ThinkGeek; Adam Turman; Unwind Within Massage; 1Password.

Big thanks to Nerdery founders Mike Derheim and Mike Schmidt for leading the kind of company where Mark Hurlburt’s mad-enough-to-work idea for a nonprofit nerdathon is embraced by all who work/play at The Nerdery. Beyond the dev team vols, plenty of other Nerdery staffers and friends came and stayed and helped keep things running: Jessica Mogen, Matt Tonak, Jodi Chromey, Dave Kam, Dave Bucklin, Karsten Lundquist, Mike Johnson, Anand Gona, Ericka Kimball, Max Kimball, Jaycie Kimball, Ben Kimball, Kaya Davis, Will Rees, Terri Dahlberg, Ginger Sorvari Bucklin, Larry Bucklin, Mary Ann Bucklin, Kai Esbensen, Annette Johnson, Eric Myers, Chelsea Mars, John Mathiassen, Jaeson Welch, Jim Grant, Brendan Beckham, Chelsey Mona, Hilary Heinz, Cassi Hanson, John O’Neill, Sean Latterner, Caleb Newby, Katie O’Neill, Matt Pacyga, Eve Poeschl, Ali Karbassi, Angela Norlen, Nick Teitz, John Shimek, Mike and Stephanie Woods, Jamie Lindquist, Greg Wurm, Bill Brakeman, Mike Derheim and Amanda Derheim, Mike and Heidi Schmidt, John Krenz, Gillian Reynolds, Ryan Kucera, Phillip Brand, Tom O’Neill, Mitch Buckland, Robert Savian, Tor Swanson, Sheryl Rosati and Amanda Anderson.

For letting us again rock-star their fine facility, we thank our hosts at the U of M Continuing Education Conference Center us, with particular thanks to Ken Gay, Mike Wybierala, Leslie Berry and Wendy Hanson.

Thanks again and again to the judges who picked 18 nonprofits from a pool of 46, and assessed the work of 18 development teams:

Christine Durand, communication director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Christian Erickson, partner, Zeus Jones
Dan Grigsby, founder, Drivertrain
Dana Nelson, executive director, GiveMN.org

A very special thank you goes out to anyone I may have fool-heartedly forgotten. C’mere, you…