Idealware

Geographic areas served: United States

Programs: Research: idealware is a highly respected source for unbiased, research-based information to help nonprofits understand what software and technology options are available to them. In 2014, our research initiatives included detailed reviews of dozens of software products, and we completed detailed research into how nonprofits are using software for program evaluation. Published resources included: an overview of open data initiatives for nonprofits; reports comparing constituent relationship management systems, content management systems, synagogue management systems, and salesforce crm apps; two reports about how nonprofits can and should use data to measure programs, including a series of case studies; workbook series guiding nonprofits through assessing, choosing, and implementing cloud-based software and working with consultants to design and update websites; and articles about selecting software, managing content on simple web sites, understanding email deliverability, nonprofit blogging tools and best practices, accounting packages for nonprofits, telephone systems for nonprofits, and collaboration tools for foundations, among other topics. We also updated our 220-page field guide to software for nonprofits, providing case studies and detailed information about more than 80 different types of software to help nonprofits meet their missions. The vast majority of this research was published online and available for free to the public.

education and outreach: through in-person seminars, online webinars, conference appearances and customized workshops, idealware provided training to well more than 6,000 nonprofit organizations in 2014. Our training is based on our unbiased research and is carefully designed to ensure that we're providing both the strategic information and the practical advice nonprofits need to make effective technology decisions. In addition to conducting training, we created approximately 30 hours of carefully designed new curriculum in 2014. More than 580,000 unique visitors accessed free resources through our website, and we reached hundreds of thousands more through partners like nten, techsoup, and the nonprofit times and through social media.