Computer use has brought the wide world into the smallest hamlet, which makes your nonprofit privy to a vast amount of knowledge for free, but also makes it vulnerable to harm from outside by people who don’t have the best interests of your staff or clients at heart. Your best defense is to teach your staff and clients to use the computers in your facility wisely and safely. You can provide a short course in using search engines, composing and responding to e-mail, citing sources for materials used verbatim from Web sites or e-mail, and reporting improprieties. Condense key points into one page that folks can check from time-to-time.

1. Always be polite and use good manners when talking to people online; don’t flame (be mean).
2. Only use the Internet when you have permission and for the established purpose and time limit.
3. Don’t share personal information (your address, telephone number, school name) online or give it in an online profile.
4. People you meet online are strangers, no matter how friendly they appear.
5. When ordering supplies or products online make certain the dealer is reputable (known) and the site is secure.
6. Never meet alone in person with a cyber-friend. If you are 18 or under, take your parent(s) with you. If you are over 18, choose a public place (coffee shop, restaurant) where there are lots of other people. Drive there in your own car or take public transportation; don’t rely on the cyber-friend to drive you to and from the meeting.
7. Don’t violate copyright law by taking words, pictures or sound from someone else’s Web site without permission of the Web site owner. Give credit to the creator of the work.
8. Don’t respond to any incoming e-mail messages that are strange, mean or upsetting to you. Tell your supervisor, teacher, counselor or parent(s), immediately.
9. Don’t send pictures of yourself or family to anyone you don’t know.
10. Stop right away if you see or read something on a Web site that upsets you and tell your supervisor, teacher, counselor, team leader or coach right away.
11. Don’t put words, pictures or sounds on other people’s Web sites without asking for and receiving their permission.

You can read more about Internet safety in Full Speed Ahead, Managing Technology Risks in the Nonprofit World, published by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center.

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