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Choosing a Low Cost Constituent Database
Thursday, May 15th, 1:00 - 2:30 EST.

10 Mistakes in Choosing a Donor Database
Thursday, May 29th, 1:00 - 2:30 EST.

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Our Project Management event, in partnership with Aspiration, was such a success that we're repeating it on the West Coast - in Oakland, CA on May 20-21. Learn and share information about project management tools and techniques with your peers in an environment that's (according to previous participants) "supportive", "energizing", and "a problem solving think tank." Read more or register on the Aspiration site>

A Few Good Mapping and GIS Tools

April 2008

A map can be worth a thousand words. If you're looking for ways to create maps or to display geographic data, there are a number of software package that can help. We talked to five nonprofit GIS specialists experts to find out what tools have worked well for them. Read more >

Eight Ways a CMS Can Help with Search Engine Optimization

April 2008

If you want your site to show up prominently in search engines like Google, your website content management system can help - but not all CMSs are created equal. We suggest the features to look for to help with search engine optimization. Read more>

A Few Good Tools for Sharing Files with Distributed Groups

March 2008

Sharing and collaborating on files can be a challenge when your team isn’t together in one office. We asked six nonprofit professionals about the file sharing software that has worked for them. Read more

Using Wikis for Internal Documentation

By Jeremy Wallace, March 2008

Documenting your organizational procedures can be a big help, but this information often languishes in obscurity and goes slowly out of date. Jeremy Wallace talks about how wikis - easily editable websites - can help. Read more>

10 Steps to Being Found on Search Engines

By Laura S. Quinn, March 2008

Does your organization show up on the first page of results in search engines like Google or Yahoo? The content and structure of your website can have a dramatic effect on how easily potential constituents can find you via search engines. This article explains how. Read more>

Characteristics of Successful Online Communities

By Andrew Cohen, February 2008

Successful online communities require more than a software package. In this article, we outline the strategies and features that can help you build online message boards, social networks, or other conversation based sites that become vibrant, useful communities. Read more>

A Few Good Accounting Packages

February 2008

No matter its size or its budget, any nonprofit can benefit from the right accounting software. Find out what our experts have to say about QuickBooks, Peachtree, Fundware, The Financial Edge, Mas90, GreatPlains, and others.  Read more>

The True Costs of Free and Low-Cost Software

by Michelle Murrain, January 2008

Acquiring software for very little money — or even getting it for free— can feel great. Yet is that bargain really a bargain? Learn how to assess whether that affordable software package is a great deal, or a lemon. Read more >

Grants Management Software: Survey Results and Analysis

January 2008

In November 2007, we conducted an online survey of grantmaking organizations about software used for grants management.  311 staff members at United States-based foundations provided information about their current software, rating both the perceived importance and the effectiveness of this software at handling a list of thirty grants management software attributes.  Here's the results, in a relatively raw analysis report.  Read more>

Should Your Organization Use Social Networking Sites?

By Brett Bonfield, January 2008

Are social networking sites like MySpace or FaceBook likely to be a good fit for your nonprofit's goals? Brett Bonfield outlines some guidelines to help you decide if social neworking is right for you. Read more >

Getting Your Systems Talking:  A Framework to Evaluate APIs and Data Exchange Features

By Paul Hagen and Laura Quinn, Dec 2007

How can you assess the features that a software package offers to provide access to your data? This detailed report provides an evaluation framework that will help weigh the advantages and trade-offs of the data integration features across different applications. Read more (free registration required)>

Comparing Lower-Cost Online Integrated Applications

By Eric Leland, December 2007

Online integrated applications allow nonprofits to manage a number of different aspects of their constituent information and Web presence all together in one package. Eric Leland took a close look at eight of the more affordable packages to compare their functionality in a variety of areas. Read more >