Technology Basics

Summary:

An annotated compilation of FAQ items dealing with nonprofits and technology.

The Nonprofit FAQ is not set up to be a leading resource for technological issues pertaining to nonprofit organizations. There are several organizations that take such matters as their primary focus. Readers looking for up-to-date answers to technological questions can browse the several websites listed below:

TechFinder offers a categorized index to thousands of assistance sources. There's also a facility for entering a ZIP-code to identify nearby suppliers and organizations.
http://www.techfinder.org

N-TEN (Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network) is a membership organization concerned with nonprofits' access to and use of technology.
http://www.nten.org.

TechSoup is a website devoted to advice and information about technology developed with nonprofits in mind.
http://www.techsoup.org

TechSoup Stock is operated by TechSoup to provide a channel for donations of software and other technology supplies to nonprofits. Registration is required and there are often small processing fees.
http://www.techsoup.org/stock/

NPower is a national network of local technical assistance providers focused on the needs of nonprofits. NPower centers offer workshops, reduced-fee consulting, online information and other services. (The facility at TechFinder will locate NPower centers if there's one nearby, and other resources if there isn't one.)
http://www.npower.org.

Idealware "provides candid reviews and articles about software of interest to nonprofits, centralized into a website. Through product comparisons, recommendations, case studies, and software news, Idealware allows nonprofits to make the software decisions that will help them be more effective."
http://www.idealware.org 

Beth Kanter blogs about nonprofits' use of social media and related questions. Scroll through the entries or sign up to receive new posts as they are written.
http://beth.typepad.com

In the early years of the Nonprofit FAQ, many items were created to address the many questions that the (then) burgeoning field of information technology posed to the nonprofit sector. Although some these items may be now be out-of-date, the information within them provides an interesting historical perspective on the recent progress of technology within the nonprofit sector.

General Tech Items:
Where can we find help with information technology?
Where can I learn about computers?    
What's involved in planning a computer system?    
How do I ensure computers and networks are used properly? 
What about computer and network security? 
How do I maintain my computer? 
How can staff use email for board and committee relations 
What is telecommuting? How can it help me? 

Software:
Basic Customer Database Principles 
What is an ASP and why should nonprofits care? 
How to Choose a Service to Process Donations Online 
Is there software to help with keeping track of volunteers? 
Should I buy a fundraising software package or customize my own system? 
Software for client/donor tracking or mail merge? 
Choosing Accounting Software: Questions to ask 
What about Quicken or Quickbooks? 
What's a good Mac accounting program? 

Acquisition/Donation/Disposal of Hardware:
Is it possible to get computer equipment donated? 
How can I get software donated? 
Strategies to Encourage and Find Donations of Equipment 
Are there organizations that help with donated equipment? 
Can donated equipment be deductible for the donor? 
Is there a way to donate a used wireless phone? 
Where can I purchase supplies, software and hardware at low cost? 
How should we dispose of outmoded computer equipment? 

Internet and Website Questions:
Listings of the Nonprofit FAQ items on both general and specific considerations regarding nonprofits and the Internet.
Internet Use 
Websites

(For some even older items, mostly of historical interest, see Technology Archives).