Here is another entry in my series on great websites for nonprofits. A new website - idealware.org
. Idealware.org - is dedicated to providing candid information about nonprofit software. They are a great group of knowledgeable people who really know their stuff and also are able to organize their recommendations into easy to read reports. If you are considering any kind of software or web based system, make sure you visit this site as part of your analysis. It is a new organization and website so they are still developing information. Here is a summary of a couple of their recent reports.

A Few Good Tools: Low Cost Constituent Databases
Looking for a low cost way to track your volunteers, donors, partners, and other constituents? We asked thirteen nonprofit technology professionals what tools have worked well for them in these circumstances.

Donate Now: Selecting an Online Donation Tool
Idealware reviewed twenty-seven lower-priced online software tools that accept donations from an existing website. What we found was good news: many affordable tools are also powerful, friendly, and flexible. We offer recommendations for high-quality tools, as well as a method to choose the right tool for you. View



idealware



Marion Conway Consulting



Link

Don't miss this great opportunity to attend a low cost, high quality workshop on IT Fundraising

The United Way of New York City has funding from IBM to support the advancement of technology at nonprofits. They sponsor high quality low cost workshops for nonprofits and publish a Technology News eNewsletter. If you are responsible for technology at a nonprofit you should sign up for the free newsletter and consider attending the workshops. The United Way building is conveniently located a short distance from the PATH and is a reasonable commute for people located in northern New Jersey.

There are only a few seats left for United Way of New York City's educational seminar on "IT Fundraising for Nonprofits." United Way of New York City, in partnership with TechFoundation and IBM, invites you to develop an "IT Fundraising" gameplan.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

8:30am – 11:30am
8:30am - 9:00am Registration/Breakfast
9:00am - 11:00am Presentation
11:00am - 11:30am Q&A

United Way of New York City
2 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor (between 32nd and 33rd streets)
New York, NY 10016

Directions: #6 Train to 33rd Street Station

• Abstract: Allocating appropriate resources to Information Technology (IT) has been a problem for nonprofits in terms of funds, people, and organizational attention. For many nonprofits, technology acquisitions are treated in a zero-sum manner where every dollar spent on technology is a dollar not spent on programs. “Unkind” inkind (i.e., donated computers) may not do the job. This presentation will help attendees identify and overcome some of the barriers associated with securing funds for IT projects always remembering that mission sells technology.


• The purpose of this presentation is to:

- Increase the confidence of nonprofit managers to secure funding for IT-related initiatives by improving understanding of writing technology proposals and expanding the range of options available,

- Identify what makes IT fundraising so challenging,

- Systematically review techniques targeted specifically at the challenges,

- Learn how to present the return on investment (ROI) on IT initiatives to secure funding,

- Demonstrate how to effectively tie technology to mission.


• Attendees will:

- Understand how IT-related proposals differ from non-IT proposals,

- Develop methods for writing more effective proposals,

- Recognize issues and possible strategies for rethinking the allocation of organizational resources budgeted for IT,

- Learn about additional resources to assist with a technology funding search,

- Become vigilant about viewing all technology proposals as vehicles to meeting organizational mission.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Presented By:

Kathleen A. Sherwin
Director of Programs and External Affairs, TechFoundation



United Way of New York


www.MarionConwayConsulting.com

This post is one in a continuing series about websites that are valuable to those of us interested in the nonprofit sector. Independent Sector is one of my favorite sites for important information based on research. They are highly respected and you can feel comfortable if you cite Independent Sector as a source.

Independent Sector is the leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States. They are a nonpartisan coalition of approximately 500 organizations. You can join Independent Sector and become a part of America's leading coalition of charities, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

They sponsor ground-breaking research, fight for public policies that support a dynamic, independent sector, and create wonderful resources for nonprofits.

Recent research by Independent Sector has developed the following statistics:

89% of households contribute to charity.
The average household annual contributions totaled $1620.
The value of volunteer time in 2005 was $17.55 an hour.

You can find out more about Independent Sector at:

Independent Sector


www.MarionConwayConsulting.com

On Tuesday I thoroughly enjoyed facilitating my first workshop of the new year on Strategic Planning for Nonprofits. It was a lively, engaged, diversified group with people from social services,a library, an arboretium, mental health services and other groups represented. We all learned from each other.

I will also be offering a workshop on strategic planning for nonprofits on February 25th. This workshop will be geared for small organizations which are mainly historical and heritge sites. If you are interested in the details check out my website or send me an email. It will be held in Rahway, NJ

Marion Conway Consulting

If you are interested in the latest technology, tools, and strategies for fundraising you may be interested in this Executive Briefing session for nonprofit professionals. See what's new in donor management software for 2006.

There is no cost for this entertaining and educational session, which is brought to you by eTapestry & Foothold Technology.
Attendees at the briefing will learn:
· How your donor database, website, ecommerce, and email communication can successfully work together in a simple, integrated, fashion.
· How eTapestry’s end-to-end solutions provide a unique and superior donor experience with your organization.
· How eTapestry helps organizations in their pursuit of major donors/major gifts.
· How non-technical users can have powerful information at their fingertips – from any location.
· How applications can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of growing or evolving nonprofits, as they change in terms of both size and sophistication
· How eTapestry is being used successfully in organizations of all types – health care, education, the arts, faith-based, social service and more.
· How you can substantially improve your data security, protect yourself from intrusions and from other data disasters
· How technology can finally make your life EASIER with LOWER COSTS!

This session will be held:
Wednesday, January 25th, 2006
2:00 – 3:30 Donor Management Software Seminar from eTapestry
3:30 – 5:00 Bonus Presentation: Client Tracking/Case Management Software Seminar from Foothold Technology
Attend either session, or both.

Hosted by Foothold Technology
666 Broadway, 4th Floor
New York, NY
Call Chris Painchaud at 888-739-3827 ext 221. Tell him that Marion sent you. Directions and confirmation will be provided 2 days prior the seminar.

Space is limited for this briefing, so register early. If you have questions contact Chris at chris.painchaud@etapestry.com

Marion Conway Consulting