Big Good: Philanthropy in the Age of Big Data & Cognitive Computing - Paperback

by Lori Hood Lawson (Editor), David M. Lawson (Author)

While the debate rages over whether Big Data and Cognitive Computing are going to save or destroy our way of life, or even perhaps life itself, most non-governmental organizations are on the sidelines waiting to see who wins. In the meantime, we have never been faced with more urgent, and complex, problems needing solutions now. From climate change to homelessness to helping students turn into successful alums, the answers are not going to be found on traditional business intelligence dashboards or by using old-school analytics based on incomplete data. Big Good - Philanthropy in the Age of Big Data & Cognitive Computing is written for the people who need actionable insights to help them meet the challenges of their organization's mission. For a generation, David Lawson has been on the leading edge of turning technology and data into invaluable tools for NGO's. David's goal with this book is to help NGO leaders, staff, and supporters understand what makes Big Data and Cognitive Computing different, and how it can be applied to their important work. This is not a "how-to" but rather a "why-do" book, designed to spark your imagination and get you excited about embracing the most transformational technology yet created.

Author Biography

David has been a leader in bringing technology and insights to the philanthropic community for a generation. He created the first asset-based wealth screening service as well as the first software to manage screening data. In 1997, he founded Prospect Information Network (P!N), which became the largest wealth screening company before being purchased in 2004. P!N received the InfoCommerce Model of Excellence Award and introduced the first Software-as-a-Service application to support fundraising analytics. David is CEO and co-founder of NewSci, LLC. In 2014, he was among the early application developers approved to use IBM Watson. This work and subsequent projects encompassing multiple aspects of Big Data and Cognitive Computing led David to write Big Good: Philanthropy in the Age of Big Data & Cognitive Computing. David is the recipient of the Apra Distinguished Service Award and the CASE Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. He is an Advisory Board Member of the University of Central Florida Master of Science in Data Analytics program. David is a contributing author to People to People Fundraising: Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities, and Major Donors: Finding Big Gifts in Your Database and Online. A frequent speaker, David has presented at numerous conferences including the AFP International Conference, AASP Summit, AHP International Conference, Cloud Expo, Apra International Conference, and CASE. He is also a co-founder of Domi Station, a business incubator in Tallahassee, Florida, and a co-founder of WorkingPhilanthropy.com, LLC. David lives with his wife (and Editor), Lori, in Tallahassee.