Determining your nonprofit’s technology needs and choosing from the vast array of available software can be overwhelming. Yet choosing carefully will help ensure that technology will maximize your nonprofit’s impact and solve problems, not create them. For help with general technology needs, consult local resources in your area, like:

• State nonprofit association. These often provide consulting or referral services for members.
• Professional colleagues. If you belong to a professional association, it likely has a message board or other community tool where you can post questions.

Selected web sites below include product reviews and comparisons, as well as general nonprofit technology advice.

Fundraising software and tools

Many software programs are available for fundraisers to track donations and charitable contributions. The Foundation Center cannot recommend one program over another, but we can point you to resources to help you determine which program(s) will work best for your needs.

If you use Microsoft Office software (Word, Access, Publisher and Excel), Microsoft offers a free, downloadable Charitable Contributions Database that can serve as a template to manage your organization's donations and gifts received (for users with older software, please see the Access 2003 download). Also notable is Microsoft's free Nonprofit Templates, which include donation receipts, pledge logs, raffle tickets, thank you letters, and donation request letters, to name a few.

See also our related Knowledge Base Articles:
- Does the Foundation Center offer Raiser's Edge® training?