Archive for January, 2007
January 29th, 2007 at 07:24am
Under fundraising
Civicspace has announced the public release of CivicSpace On Demand, a subscription web service offering a complete, integrated solution for nonprofit website hosting, online donations, blast email, and supporter database needs, built on leading open source platforms and applications.
“The CivicSpace On Demand service provides any individual a simple, web-based solution to the problem of bringing individuals and groups together on the internet. Communicate with supporters via a website and e-newsletters. Offer them opportunities to act in support of your cause by making an online donation, volunteering or attending an event. Keep track of your supporters in a powerful, integrated central database. No software to install or maintain: all it takes is your web browser.”
This is one of the strongest entries from the open source community to compete with the all-in-one integrated solutions offered by giants like Convio and Kintera.
Registration for a 30-day demo of Civicspace’s Groundswell Professional hosted solution is free.
By irishg
January 25th, 2007 at 07:21am
Under fundraising
Convio has released a comprehensive benchmarking report on online marketing and fundraising.
According to Convio’s announcement, the report “includes data compiled from nonprofit organizations across six vertical segments and of various sizes and levels of online maturity. It also discusses tactics for impacting key metrics and strengthening online marketing programs.”
Convio plans to produce the report on an annual basis, providing a rolling benchmark of changes in online marketing trends.
Download the report here. (requires free registration)
By irishg
January 22nd, 2007 at 07:20am
Under fundraising
Techsoup has released a collection of online resources, including comparison charts, handy guides and tutorials to help organizations tackle the often-daunting issue of donor management technology.
The toolkit covers both online data services (ASPs) and installable software, and is organized along the main themes of best practices in employing donor management techology: Discover, Research, Acquire, Implement, Support and Sustain
Visit Techsoup’s Donor Management Toolkit
By irishg
January 19th, 2007 at 07:16am
Under fundraising
Another indication of the competitive state of the Software-as-service marketplace…
Kintera has responded to the announcement of the Convio/GetActive merger with a direct promotional campaign encouraging customers to switch to Kintera.
The opening lines of Kintera’s email offer read:
Has the proposed merger of Convio and GetActive raised uncertainty at your nonprofit – creating concern about the integration of technology platforms, culture, and which platform survives?
If so, Kintera is excited to offer a migration, implementation and software replacement program specifically for existing Convio and GetActive clients.
Read Kintera’s press release about this program.
By irishg
January 18th, 2007 at 07:10am
Under fundraising
In one of the larger shake-ups of the nonprofit web services industry in recent years, Austin-based Convio has announced it is acquiring one of its main competitors: Berkeley, CA’s GetActive.
In a statement about the acquisition, Convio’s CEO Gene Austin says “This combination will bring together two great companies, each of which has a deep commitment to serving the nonprofit sector, … we believe our customers will be even better equipped to realize the potential of the Internet for fundraising, advocacy and outreach.”
Combined, the two companies service some 1,400 nonprofits.
Read Convio’s press release
News of the acquisition has generated a flurry of posts and comments in the nonprofit-tech blogoshere. Here are a few samples:
echoditto
Democracy in Action
NonProfit Tech Blog
ePolitics
Personal Democracy Forum
By irishg
January 5th, 2007 at 03:59am
Under fundraising
Blackbaud is kicking off the new year with the launch of Blogbaud.com, a new blog that promises to “give our employees a platform to sound off on what they know best: technology, nonprofits, business, and Blackbaud itself”. The new blog aims to build an active community where Blackbaud’s staff and developers can interact and collaborate with users of their products.
First posting on Blogbaud, Ten Social Web New Year’s Resolutions for Nonprofits by Internet Marketing Manager Chad Norman, looks promising of more good content to come.
By irishg
January 2nd, 2007 at 03:55am
Under fundraising
An interesting flurry of activity in past weeks with the appearance of a new type of online fundraising tool that could bridge the gap between tried-and-true online donation forms, and the emerging world of Web 2.0 applications (myspace, youtube, wikipedia, etc.): charity badges — also known as fundraising widgits. (widgits are small objects that you can put anywhere on a web page to add new functions, new content, etc.)Idealware posted a roundup of the candidates that appeared just in time for the holiday giving rush. URL: Tis the Season… for Cheap and Easy – and Distributed – Online Fundraising Tools
Charity badges are interesting new tools that could open up a whole new area in online fundraising – it’s still a bit early to tell if and how these tools might catch on.
Here is a list of some of the early players in this new fundraising technology field:
By irishg