ITC Solutions we're exploring

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CivicSpace (with best modules, no new coding)

NVC IT Status CivicSpace Evaluation

Notes about specific requirements

Good enough support?

Support options: Free online support, Paid consultants, Fee-based support.

Concerns about the long-term availability of quality fee-based support from a specific vendor.

All indications are that all of the underlying projects have an excellent long-term development and support path. The CivicSpace package is merely a collection of very advanced and well-supported open source products like MySQL and Drupal, with an automated interface. Even if the large CivicSpace project were to end today, the products and modules it is based on will certainly continue to be developed and supported. As CivicSpace nears 1.0 release, interest is growing rapidly in the user community which is likely to bring considerable media coverage.

In general the open source community support model is free online support 24/7. Users with insufficient technical skills or facing urgent problems not quickly solved online can pay for telephone or on-site support from a wide variety of high quality vendors.

Additional notes

Developers: Development is supported by open source developer community (especially Drupal) and grants.

Installation: Can be installed and running within a few hours, although configuration and customization can be done over time to provide a wealth of additional features.

New coding: New features can be added relatively easily due to the underlying computer code being written in Open Source.

Bugs: While the underlying MySQL Drupal and CiviCRM code is mature, CivicSpace package not yet at 1.0 release.

BlackBaud "The Raiser’s Edge"

Notes about specific requirements

Secure enough? Proprietary system might be more vulnerable to hackers

Additional notes

Proven favorite of non-profits.

Over 150 programmers, 170 support analysts, and 150 trainers and consultants to ensure a smooth transition.

With The Raiser’s Edge, you’re not limited to using the software as it comes “out-of-the-box”; customization capabilities that are built in to the software.

Specifically designed for professional fund-raising and contact management

Incorporates over 25 years of user suggestions from more than 13,000 non-profit organizations.

Proprietary system - data might be less portable.

Can not be shared with other NVC locations or affiliates without significant additional expense.

Additional features would probably be expensive if provided by the publisher and difficult or impossible to add otherwise.

Wiki technology

Notes about specific requirements

Could be used to support collaborative documents (instead of or in addition to support built-in to CivicSpace).

Kagi

Notes about specific requirements

Kay has been investigating using this for e-commerce.

Additional notes

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