Security is a very difficult issue. One argument for online systems is that most desktops are usually out of date, do not use proper security protection and people using them are doing all kinds of stuff which makes them easy to compromise. Contrast this is with a properly designed online system (properly is an important qualifier) which runs on a server with up-to-date hardware and software security.
Joined on 02-27-2002
TechSoup Member
We've been using Ebase for about 4 years, and it's okay, but we're looking to change, probably to Salesforece.com (www.salesforcefoundation.org)
We did look very hard at GiftWorks, but it just seems to undeveloped. The lack of password protection was a big issue, as was the fact that it would be very difficult to track things other than donations in a systematic way (such as which events they attended and when).
That's what I like about SalesForce. But that comes with a price--it takes a good bit of customization to get it to fit our exact needs. I think that's a common tradeoff in databases: Either they're easy to set up but don't fit quite right or they can be custom fit but their harder to set up.
Databases are a classic case where:
You can get it done cheap
You can get it done fast
You can get it done well
Pick two...
Joined on 07-27-2005
TechSoup Member
Does anyone recommend ETapestry? We are small and find it difficult to understand without purchasing expensive training. The features were presnted as the solution to all our problems, but we have discoved that they are now compounded. We would like something comparable in cost yet less frustrating.
Joined on 01-31-2007
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There is a small company Construsoft, located in Henderson, Nevada willing to help non-profits at very low prices. Bridges is the name of the solution and it is used by Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and handles Refugee Services, Social Services, Donations and Residential Services Divison, this database is used also by The Shade Tree.
Contact Alvaro Rueda (702) 326-0596
Joined on 03-20-2006
TechSoup Member
We have been using Access for about 10 yrs and have been very, very happy with it. I would strongly suggest that if you are new to Access to hire someone to come in to design your initial database- it is much, much easier to learn the program once you have been using it. The person designing your database should have a long discussion with you regarding your vision, your ideal work scenarios and what you want locked or allowed to be edited. This has helped us out tremendously over the years. We are just now in the process of redesigning our database since so much of what we thought we needed 10 yrs ago just does not even scratch the surface of what we need today. We have a very small staff of 5 but keep track of close to 20,000 clients and tons of info on each and access has really been exceptionally flexible for our needs.
Good luck.
Maureen
Joined on 06-11-2007
TechSoup Member
As a non-profit database coordinator for my current position, I took the 5000+ names from Access to FundRaiser Basic then upgraded to FundRaiser Select. The Access program had duplicates, lost zip codes, and troubles left and right. Maybe it can be managed correctly with time and the right person, but small organiziations rarely have that specific person. I have always found FundRaiser software user friendly, complete, easy to use, and the bells and whistles I thought I would never get for that price. Many others I looked at were 4 and 5 times the price for a more complicated program. I have and always will continue to recommend FundRaiser Software (www.fundraisersoftware.com) to any non-profit looking to streamline donor/customer/member tracking (especially in the financial realm, and aren't we all looking to improve in that area anyways?)
Joined on 05-28-2002
TechSoup Member
ChiefApricot makes an excellent point about security that I never thought of! (Thank you!)
It may be that an offline desktop-only database is actually LESS SECURE than one that is online and run by a specialized company with the resources to use the best encryption possible.
I guess if we're going to use a desktop-only database, it should be on a machine that is NOT connected to the Internet and thus is safe from phishing and all that junk.
Otherwise, we should go with an online version. I glanced over www.civicore.com and liked what I saw . . . .
Keep posting suggestions, folks! Bless you!
Joined on 09-18-2003
TechSoup Member
Just to jump late into the security conversation, I want to echo ChiefApricot's comments about security. In general, the security that a good hosted database provider can provide is likely to be far superior to the security a small organization can provide themselves.
The only flip side to this that I see is if you feel that you might need to defend your data against a government. If your mission is to, say, help Pakastani immigrants to the US, and you're willing to go court or to jail to defend your data, a hosted solution may not be the right answer. Few companies are going to be willing to make waves with a government over your data. This should be a concern to very few organizations, though...
Laura, I totally agree. For very sensitive data a local encrypted properly setup database is a better choice.
Joined on 06-25-2004
TechSoup Member
At Neighborhood House, we use FundRaiser Select. I've posted previously that it is wonderful program. It is very user friendly. The technical support is great. They offer online training that really helps. I researched several programs before purchasing FundRaiser Select. I know some prefer Raisers Edge, but I felt it was way too expensive. FundRaiser Select gives you so much flexibility and you can prepare many different reports. It's fantastic to have a system that with a few clicks I can provide my boss and/or the Board of Directors with a comprehensive report. At Christmastime, when we do our annual appeal, it is very beneficial to be able to personalize each letter, generate a personal thank you when a donation comes in and let my boss know exactly how much we have raised by day or "to date." I can't say enough positive things about FundRaiser Select!
Joined on 06-27-2007
TechSoup Member
If you already have the MS Suite, people do very well with Access.
If you need a little more power and money is an issue, I have had fantastic luck with MySQL.
It depends what you need to use the DB for and what your plans are.
Good Luck!
Josh Milane
MIT Technical, Boston
Joined on 07-12-2007
TechSoup Member
I know several organizations have had success with a product called Computility. Here is a link to the website:
www.computility.com
Joined on 09-13-2005
TechSoup Member
To second Chris Meyers from OpenWorld Learning, Snowboard Outreach Society has both a client and contact database system through CiviCore (www.civicore.com). After extensive research of avialable options, CiviCore provided the only customizable product that met the budget of a small organization. The client tracking system has streamlined all of our registration and tracking to support 100% growth for next year without a similar growth in staffing.
Regarding safety, all back-ups are maintained on secure servers off-site, and they can restore any information that was inadvertantly lost. All information is transmitted through a secure url. In addition, you can set user levels to permit users to only access the information they need to succeed. Having the information available through an internet connection anywhere around the country has been priceless during conferences. I do not have to have to maintain my own database on my local machine, and I have no fear of staff updating their own information locally.
We've used both systems for three plus years, and I would recommend that you stay away from solutions not specifically designed for nonprofits. They do not have the ability to effectively track client issues.
Seth Ehrlich
Development Director
Snowboard Outreach Society
Joined on 09-13-2005
TechSoup Member
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