This is all about technology-related resources specifically geared towards the nonprofit field.
www.techsoup.org
If you were trapped on a desert island with only one nonprofit technical resource, this is the one to choose! The biggest draw is that TechSoup has a large assortment of donated software and hardware for which only a nominal administrative fee is required. The donations come from companies like Microsoft, Symantec, Cisco, Adobe, and Macromedia.
You need to setup an organization profile at TechSoup and see which donations are available to your organization. Companies have different criteria for qualifying for their donations. For example, CFSC can't receive any donations from Cisco because we are a funding organization.
It's easy to over look TechSoup's vast wealth of information. TechSoup has built a community for people in nonprofit organizations that are facing technology challenges. There are multiple forums where nonprofits share information to help each other with technical issues. There are also lots of great articles covering various technology such as "A Few Good Databases for Membership Organizations", "Inexpensive Donor Databases", "The No-Excuses Guide to Automated Online Backup", and "Online Privacy: How to Hide Your Google Search Trails".
www.npower.org
NPower was started by several former Microsoft employees. It's goal is to help nonprofit organizations to expand their impact on the community through better utilitzation of technology. NPower a network of nonprofit organizations providing unbiased technology assistance to other nonprofits. The website offers a lot of informative guides and papers.
Additionally, NPower offers the TechAtlas tool which helps nonprofit organizations to create a strategic technology plan, as well as manage technology. It walks the organization through planning, assessing, prioritizing, and generating a final report to be shared with staff.
NPower also offers a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator, and a Return On Investment (ROI) calculator.
www.insight.com
Insight is a reseller of both software and hardware. What makes Insight "stand-out" is that they are one of a select few organizations that is authorized by Microsoft to administer their Charity Open License Program.
If you need Microsoft software, try to get it through TechSoup, first. If you can't obtain it through TechSoup, then use Insight. Through the Charity Open License Program, Microsoft software typically costs 25% to 50% of the retail price. It's a great deal!
Be aware that Microsoft's licensing is confusing on a good day! You want to work with someone who's very familiar with the program. Tammie Farthing has been handling The Community Foundation of Sarasota County's (CFSC) purchases from Microsoft's Charity Open License Program for years. In a world where turn-over is the norm, it's comforting to have a relationship with the same sales representitive for 5 years. Tammie is friendly, professional, and punctual. You can reach her at 800-467-4448 ext. 5463, or via her email address: txfarthi@insight.com.
Do you know of other nonprofit technolog resources? Please email them to van@vangor.net!