Free apps and software for nonprofits – N’ked Online

According to the National Daily Calendar, February is the month for free and open supply software (FOSS). Open supply software (OS) generally is a implausible useful resource for nonprofits that want expertise similar to a for-profit enterprise, however usually have fewer assets to pay for costly options.

So, what’s an open supply software? You in all probability already use a number of the hottest open supply packages with out realizing it.

• WordPress (running a blog and web site design)

• Firefox (Internet Browser)

• Android (working system for cellular gadgets)

This is all open supply software. OS software builders (often known as the copyright holders) make the supply code obtainable for anybody to view or edit. The software or app can be free for anybody to make use of, copy, or give away. OS software is commonly developed in a public partnership. For instance, in the event you click on About Firefox within the browser’s Help menu, you’ll see that the Firefox Internet browser is “designed by Mozilla, a worldwide neighborhood that retains the net open, public and accessible to everybody”.

The thought behind this manner of constructing software is the idea that programmers, who work for a for-profit firm and the corporate itself, concentrate on defending their property and revenue along with or as a substitute of constructing the best high quality software. may very well be. Operating system proponents imagine {that a} bigger group of programmers, who rely on friends to search out and remedy issues within the code, will create a extra helpful, higher-quality product for everybody.

The huge benefit of open supply software is after all that it’s free. The undeniable fact that the code is public implies that lots of and even hundreds of programmers and customers can check, consider, debug and enhance the app you find yourself utilizing. Here are the highest 5 the explanation why open supply advocates care for the advantages of open supply software, past the zero greenback price ticket:

• Security: The extra folks can see and check a set of code, the extra doubtless it’s to search out and repair safety flaws.

• Reliability: It is peer-reviewed, with bugs being fastened instantly reasonably than in distant future variations.

• Identity: It will be personalized.

• Low useful resource depth: Open supply software can usually run on the older computer systems widespread in non-profit places of work.

• Freedom of Choice: No obligation till you’re positive (attempt as many alternative packages as you want – they’re free!)

However, there are drawbacks. The most typical, in my expertise, is that there’s in all probability no assist desk or technical help telephone quantity for customers to name. The assist desk for an OS software system will be the identical weblog or web site the place programmers and testers obtain code and talk about bugs they discover.

Below is a listing of some OS apps and software that many nonprofits will discover helpful. They are all broadly used, award-winning packages. Remember, this doesn’t imply they’re all mechanically appropriate for YOUR nonprofit. Consider which of your employees (in-office or consultants) will

Also contemplate whether or not this software must “discuss” to different software in your group. Will the packages be appropriate? If you may have present information that must be transformed to the brand new bundle, who will?

Now that we’ve warned you in regards to the dangers, listed below are our favourite open supply software packages:

• LibreOffice: workplace productiveness suite together with phrase processor, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and so on. based mostly on and successor to OpenOffice. Awarded Best Free Office Suite by CNET Magazine

• GIMP: GNU Image Manipulation Program photograph and picture editor. Works on GNU/Linux, OS X, Windows and extra. Named the Best Free Software Choice for 2013 by PC Magazine

• Audacity: Digital audio editor created by a professor and pupil at Carnegie Mellon University. Chosen as one in every of PC World Magazine’s 100 Best Products of 2008

• Shotcut: cross-platform video editor and encoder. Voted TechRadar Download of the Day

• Thunderbird: Email and chat shopper developed by Mozilla (creator of Firefox). PC World Magazine’s 100 Best Products in 2005 and 2008

• KeePass: password supervisor. Recommended password supervisor by the German Federal Office for Information Security and the French Agency for Network and Information Security. KeePass has the best rating in G2 Crowd’s password supervisor grid

• Rocket.Chat: Multi-platform internet chat, video conferencing and workforce communication. InfoWorld Magazine BOSSIE 2016 Award

One of the most important wants of nonprofits is a relationship administration system (CRM) that enables the group to maintain observe of donors, prospects, volunteers and different voters, in addition to communication with voters. These are the free and open supply CRMs you could possibly look into when it’s time for a brand new CRM at your nonprofit.

• Suite CRM (previously Sugar CRM) is among the hottest, though it’s not particular to nonprofits

• CiviCRM is specifically designed for non-profit organizations

To be taught extra, many non-profit and charitable organizations promote the open supply software motion. Here are a number of the largest and longest-lived:

• Apache Software Foundation: Provides help for the Apache open supply software product neighborhood

• The Document Foundation: German charitable basis based by a big group of free software advocates

• The Eclipse Foundation: An impartial non-profit group funded by member contributions to allow a vendor impartial and open neighborhood to handle the IBM-created Eclipse challenge

• Free Software Foundation: works to make sure the liberty of pc customers all over the world, particularly by selling the GNU free working system

• Linux Foundation: Supports many open supply tasks, together with the 25-year-old Linux working system

• OpenCourseWare Consortium: international community of academic establishments, organizations and folks selling openness in training, together with collective improvement and use of OER

• OpenHatch: Connects Potential Open Source Software Programmers to Communities, Tools and Education

• OpenSourceIssues: Provides monetary, authorized and organizational help for the Joomla! content material administration system for web sites

• Open Source Initiative: Represents the open supply neighborhood, enforces the open supply definition and creates open supply licenses

The label “open supply” is alleged to have been coined throughout a technique session held in 1998, shortly after the announcement of the supply code launch of the Netscape internet browser. In the almost 20 years since, the market and merchandise for free and open supply software have matured. Nonprofits can benefit from the high-quality, free* software obtainable for productiveness, components administration, and different important duties.

*Keep in thoughts that not all free software is free or secure to make use of.