Free apps and software for nonprofits

According to the National Day Calendar, February is Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) month. Open source software (OS) can be a fantastic resource for nonprofits that need technology, just like a for-profit company does, but often have fewer resources to pay for expensive solutions.

So what is open source software? You probably already use some of the most popular open source packages without even realizing it.

• WordPress (blogging and website design)

• Firefox (Internet browser)

• Android (mobile device operating system)

All of these are open source software. The operating system software developers (also known as the copyright holders) make the source code available to anyone for viewing or editing. The software or app is also free for anyone to use, copy, or give as a gift. Operating system software is often developed in public collaboration. For example, if you click About Firefox in the browser’s Help menu, you will see that the Firefox Internet browser “is designed by Mozilla, a global community that works to keep the Web open, public, and accessible to all.”

The idea behind this way of creating software is the theory that programmers, working for a for-profit company and the company itself, are focusing on protecting their property and profits in addition to, or instead of, doing that the software is of the highest quality. can be. Proponents of the operating system believe that a larger group of programmers, who depend on their peers to find and eliminate problems in the code, will create a more useful and higher-quality product for everyone.

The great advantage of open source software, of course, is that it is free. The fact that the code is public means that hundreds or even thousands of programmers and users can test, evaluate, debug and improve the application that they eventually use. Here are the top 5 reasons open source advocates give the benefits of open source software, in addition to the zero dollar price:

• Security: The more people that can see and test a set of code, the more likely it is that security flaws will be found and fixed.

• Reliability – Peer reviewed, with bugs fixed immediately rather than in future releases.

• Identity: can be customized.

• Low resource intensity – Open source software can frequently run on older computers that are common in nonprofit offices.

• Freedom of choice – no obligation until you are sure (try as many different packages as you like, they’re free!)

However, there are downsides. In my experience, the most common is that there is probably no technical support or technical assistance phone number that users can call. The help desk for an OS software system can be the same blog or website where programmers and testers download the code and discuss the bugs they find.

Below is a list of some applications and operating system software, which many non-profit organizations will find useful. All are award-winning and widely used packages. Just remember, that doesn’t mean everyone is automatically a good fit for YOUR nonprofit. Consider who of your staff (either in the office or consultants)

• install the software

• maintain the software and any data

• train new users

• use the software regularly

Also consider whether this software needs to “communicate” with other software in your organization. Will the packages be compatible? If you have existing data that will need to be converted to the new package, who will?

Now that we’ve warned you about the risks, here are our favorite open source software packages:

• LibreOffice – Office productivity suite including word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, database, etc. based and successor to OpenOffice. Awarded Best Free Office Suite by CNET Magazine

• GIMP: GNU Image Manipulation Program, Photo and Image Editor. Works on GNU / Linux, OS X, Windows, and more. Named one of the best free software options for 2013 by PC Magazine

• Audacity – Digital audio editor created by a Carnegie Mellon University professor and student. Voted one of PC World Magazine’s 100 Best Products of 2008

• Shotcut – multiplatform video editor and encoder. Named TechRadar Download of the Day

• Thunderbird – Email and chat client developed by Mozilla (maker of Firefox). PC World Magazine’s Top 100 Products 2005 and 2008

• KeePass: password manager. Password manager recommended by the German Federal Office for Information Security and the French Agency for Network and Information Security. KeePass has the highest score on the G2 Crowd password management grid

• Rocket.Chat – Cross-platform web chat, video conferencing, and team communications. BOSSIE Award 2016 from InfoWorld Magazine

One of the greatest needs of nonprofits is a chartered relationship management (CRM) system that enables the organization to keep track of donors, prospects, volunteers, and other constituencies, as well as communications with constituents. These are the free and open source CRMs that you can research when the time comes for a new CRM in your nonprofit organization.

• Suite CRM (formerly Sugar CRM) is one of the most popular, although it is not specific to non-profit organizations.

• CiviCRM has been developed specifically for non-profit organizations.

For more information, many charities and nonprofits promote the open source software movement. Here are some of the largest and longest-lasting:

• Apache Software Foundation – Provides support for the Apache open source software product community.

• The Document Foundation: German charitable foundation created by a large group of free software advocates

• The Eclipse Foundation – An independent non-profit organization funded by membership fees to enable an open, vendor-neutral community to manage the IBM-created Eclipse Project

• Free Software Foundation – works to ensure the freedom of computer users around the world, in particular by promoting the free GNU operating system.

• Linux Foundation – Supports many open source projects, including the 25-year-old Linux operating system

• OpenCourseWare Consortium: global network of educational institutions, organizations and individuals promoting openness in education, including collective development and the use of open educational materials

• OpenHatch – Connects Prospective Open Source Software Developers to Communities, Tools, and Education

• OpenSourceMatters – Provides financial, legal, and organizational support for Joomla! content management system for websites

• Open Source Initiative – Represents the open source community, maintains the definition of open source, and creates open source licenses.

The label “open source” is said to have been coined at a strategy session held in 1998 shortly after the announcement of the release of the source code for the Netscape web browser. In the nearly 20 years since then, the free and open source market and products have matured. Nonprofits can take advantage of free * high-quality software available for productivity, constitution management, and other essential tasks.

* Just remember, not all free software is free or safe to use.