Idealware is updating its 2009 report on low-cost donor databases. If you're a database vendor and want to be considered, fill out the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RCHJNGC I assume their criteria will be similar to what they used last time, which was a starting cost of less … [Read more...]
Choosing a donor database
I get a lot of emails like the following from small nonprofits: We desperately need to get a new donor database and most of them are totally unaffordable!! Looking at the Idealware Low Cost Database report, I find that there are so many considerations that it is quite complicated to make a choice. … [Read more...]
Thoughts on Software RFPs
I received the following email from Keith Heller, a database consultant who works with Raiser's Edge and Common Ground clients: We’ve been involved with responding to many RFPs over the years and I have a general inquiry that is in your bailiwick. I often see RFPs that are quite lengthy and … [Read more...]
Idealware’s Field Guide to Nonprofit Software: Fundraising, Communications and Outreach
Idealware recently released its Fundraising, Communications and Outreach. Unlike their earlier guides (to inexpensive donor databases, content management systems, online donation tools, etc.) this one is an actual book (84 pages, paperback) and costs actual money ($19.95, plus, I assume, … [Read more...]
The continuing saga of the new T400S
The continuing story of my new Thinkpad T400S laptop. I finally feel like it's starting to come together, particularly the upgrade to Windows 7. Here's the story so far. Maybe my experience will help someone else. After transferring my data and software using Laplink (and … [Read more...]
Nominations Closing Soon for $10,000 Pizzigati Prize
The Tides Foundation is accepting nominations for the annual Antonio Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest. The prize will award $10,000 to an open-source software developer whose work is helping nonprofits succeed. Nominations will be accepted through February 1, 2010. The winner … [Read more...]
What’s in Your Data Ecosystem?
Our friends at NTEN have launched a survey to examine nonprofits' data ecosystems. Your first question is probably "what is a data ecosystem?" NTEN describes it as follows: The nonprofit ecosystem is a way of thinking about how data is shared by and flows across the different … [Read more...]
Vindigo: The App That Wouldn’t Die
I've been using Vindigo for at least a decade. It's a big part of what kept me loyal to Palm PDAs and phones. It provided a restaurant guide with reviews, maps, and walking directions; movie reviews and show times for theaters; museum listings; a guide to bars and clubs; locations and contact info … [Read more...]
Favorite Free Software
Joe Medina of Colby College asked members of the FUNDSVCS listserve about their favorite free software programs. Here are mine, minus obvious ones like Gmail and Firefox (note that many are only free for home use). Ad-Aware -- Anti-spyware and malware tool for PCs: … [Read more...]
Creating bookmarks and hyperlinks in Acrobat Pro 5
Word 2003 and Acrobat Professional 5 aren't on speaking terms. As far as I've been able to tell, PDFMaker, which provides 1-click integration with Word, is incompatible with Word 2003 and higher. I removed PDFMaker from the Word startup file according to these instructions and no longer get error … [Read more...]