We've been celebrating the holidays in the best ways possible at Metafile over the past couple weeks. From Secret Snowflake gift-giving to white elephant and holiday potlucks to ugly sweater contests, Metafile has been filled with holiday cheer and office camaraderie!

If you’re working for a nonprofit, it’s likely that you are operating under a very tight budget. You may have to make do with outdated nonprofit technology, limited staff and not the most ergonomic office equipment. When it comes to making a big purchase, it takes a lot of planning, negotiating, discussion and possibly a large pros and cons list.

It seems that there is some new technology available to development professionals nearly every day. Phrases like ‘data-driven decisions,’ ‘mobile optimization,’ ‘cloud-based computing’ were not even on our horizons just a few short years ago. And yet here we are, using terminology like this in our planning, strategy, and day-to-day discussions. It appears that we just won’t be able to survive in the future if we don’t adapt to and take advantage of all the technological developments that are currently available.

Take a second to think about the organizations that you are drawn to the most. Which would you be more inclined to give to: The local nonprofit that sends a generic letter asking for a donation for their upcoming event? Or an organization who details their mission through photos, videos and personal details to give you a sense of the urgency and need for your donation?

I’m looking at the forecast for this week and it’s bone-chilling. Several of my so-called friends on Facebook are only making it more poignant. One is posting a picture showing side-by-side screenshots of weather reports for both Minnesota and Antarctica, and it’s warmer in Antarctica. Another ‘friend’ is posting pictures of themselves on a white sandy beach in the Caribbean. I can’t honestly decide which makes me feel colder.