Non-Profit Tools

Google Apps is a suite of web-based programs which you can use to manage your non-profit. These include e-mail, calendar, contacts management, websites, and documents. Coming up are a series of posts related to our company’s move to Google Apps. This first post deals with the initial sell and setup of Google Apps, I will update it with links to later posts once they are up.
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Most people have heard of netbooks at this point, they are ultra-portable laptop computers and generally have a less powerful processor, less RAM, and less Hard Drive space than the traditional laptop. Netbooks can serve an important role in non-profits because of their low cost, generally between $250 and $400 depending on the specs and the manufacturer.
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Whether you are administering a network of computers or you just need to access your work/home computer from another location it was previously hard to do so from a remote location. In order to use Window’s built in Remote Desktop you need to have a version of Windows which supports Remote Desktop, specifically you needed to be remotely connecting to a computer running Windows XP Professional, and in many cases you need to be within your company’s network either on-site or through a VPN connection.

LogMeIn has a set of tools which can help make this process easier. I will mainly focus on their free edition which should suffice for most applications but will take a brief look at their paid-for services as well.
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(Originally posted 4/7/2007)

The ability to receive feedback from those associated with your organization, whether they are members, volunteers, staff, or anyone else related to your work, can be a very powerful tool.

Survey Monkey is an online survey system which is easy to use and reasonably priced.

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(Originally Posted 5/24/2007)

With the technology that is available nowadays allowing workers to telecommute is a very viable option for non-profits. However, there are both costs and benefits to making this option available to your employees. Overall I believe that the benefits do outweigh the costs but there are many things to take in to consideration before making this a policy of your company.
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(Originally Posted 5/16/2007)

Ad-Aware is a free anti-spyware tool that you can use to scan your computer for spyware. Spyware is a major problem when it takes a hold on your computer. It can result in problems such as advertising pop-ups, computer slow-downs, and even identity theft.

LavaSoft has created a range of Ad-Aware products to help you deal with this problem. The version which I have been using is the Ad-Aware SE Personal which is free to download and use.
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(Originally Posted 5/14/2007)

Having access to a powerful Word Processing program is essential nowadays but the cost of a program such as Microsoft Word can be formidable. Fortunately there are a number of Open Source solutions available which are almost as powerful, if not just as powerful, as commercial solutions.

If you are just after a Word Processing solution then I highly recommend that you look at AbiWord which is available for free from their website.
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(Originally Posted 5/3/2007)

Web Meetings are an extremely powerful tool if you are able to conduct them. Unfortunately, programs such as WebEx are very expensive to use. Recently I came upon an Open Source alternative called DimDim. I have installed this on our company’s server and had a chance to play around with it.
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(Originally Posted 4/7/2007)

Everyone has seen how immensely popular Blackberry devices are nowadays but many people in small non-profits believe that they cannot afford to begin using Blackberry devices. While the cost of a monthly plan is still a consideration Research in Motion (RIM), the company which developed the Blackberry, has now made it possible to add a BlackberryEnterprise Server to your small business.
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Two and a half years ago I started nonprofittools.org to help non-profits make affordable decisions regarding technology.  Unfortunately I then went back to school and the site was dormant for two years while I was finishing my degree.  Now that I am done and have the time to dedicate to the site I have decided that a fresh start is needed because of the changes that have taken place over the last two years.

I will repost some of my older articles that are still relevant but will also start making regular updates in order to provide the latest information for non-profits so that they can take advantage of new developments in a cost-effective manner.  If anyone has any questions, suggestions, or other feedback feel free to contact me and I will do my best to keep you up to date as I discover new tips, tricks, and technologies.