How
to Obtain
Free, Low-cost and Donated Software
We all know that good, up-to-date computer software can
make marketing tasks easier. But nonprofit budgets often don't
stretch far enough to include expensive software purchases. If
you've been longing for new products from companies such as Microsoft,
Adobe, Lotus or Macromedia, stop wishing and start clicking!
Solutions are available online.
A number of software companies are in tune with the budgetary
limitations most nonprofits face and have product-giving programs
in place to help. Some firms administer these programs themselves;
others make their products available through the nonprofit agencies
CompuMentor and Gifts in Kind International.
A few of the programs provide software at no cost at all,
but most charge an administrative or handling fee. Even with
that, though, your final cost is still far below retail. Smaller
savings are available from a few manufacturers who don't have
product-giving programs but do offer nonprofit discounts.
Eligibility requirements vary from company to company but,
in general, nonprofit museums do qualify. Here is an online resource
guide to help you locate and obtain available software:
DiscounTech
San Francisco-based CompuMentor, one of the nation's oldest and
largest nonprofit technology assistance agencies, operates a
wonderful program on its TechSoup.org website that provides Microsoft
and Lotus software to U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits at greatly reduced
prices.
PC software packages including Front Page 2002, Office XP
Professional, Windows 2000 Professional, Publisher 2002, Windows
98, Windows ME, Lotus 1-2-3 Millennium and SmartSuite Millennium
are available at prices currently ranging from $25 to $60. Windows
2000 server software with 10 access licenses costs $160. Mac
titles, at similar savings, include Office 2001, Office 98 Gold
and Project v.4.0. Plans are underway to expand the software
offerings and to add hardware and training products as well.
The ordering process is easy and straightforward, and there
are no membership or registration fees. Complete details and
eligibility requirements can be found on the DiscounTech website.
Gifts in Kind International
Several major companies including Adobe, Novell and Symantec
use Gifts in Kind International to administer their nonprofit
programs. Each participating firm has its own application form,
available for download from the Gifts in Kind website.
Additional software companies also make their products available
here, but only to nonprofits registered with Gifts in Kind International,
either directly or through a community Gifts In Kind program
such as United Way. If registration is required in order to apply
for the software you're interested in, Gifts in Kind's "To
Receive" link provides information on how to proceed.
TechSoup Resource List
TechSoup.org offers a very good list of organizations that distribute
discounted and donated software to nonprofits. Included here
is information on obtaining software from companies such as Quark,
Macromedia, RealNetworks and WebTrends.
For more sources of free software, templates and clip art,
visit the Museum Marketing Tips Links
Library.
Copyright © 2001-2002 Katherine Khalife
All rights reserved.
For reprint permission, please e-mail info@museummarketingtips.com
Katherine Khalife is a writer and consultant specializing in
museum marketing, customer service and heritage cultural tourism.
See the Services section
for information about her workshops and other services.
