Fans of this blog are likely fans of the other site I blog at, Idealware. So you already know that Idealware offers a rich, valuable service to the nonprofit community with it’s reports, webinars, trainings and programs that help nonprofits make smart decisions about software. One of the big challenges that Idealware faces is to maintain a high level of independence for their reporting. If your goal is to be the Consumer Reports of nonprofit software, and you need funding in order to do that, you also need to be very careful about how you receive that funding, in order to make sure that no bias creeps through to your reporting. Laura Quinn, Idealware’s founder and primary force, has come up with a few clever models for eliminating such bias, but today she unleashed a more sustainable approach to funding that will greatly simplify the process.
The Idealware Research Fund will provide basic, pooled funding for the great work that Idealware does, keeping it independent, unbiased, and resourced to provide the critical insight that smooths the stormy waters when we embark on big and small technology projects. The fund was kicked off today with a goal of raising $15,000 by December 31st. Please let people know about Idealware’s work and this opportunity to support them, and consider supporting them yourself, if you can afford to.
Note that my self-interest is minimal here. I’m an unpaid, volunteer blogger at Idealware and will remain such. I have been paid (via Techsoup) for a couple of articles I’ve written. But my support and pitch here is based solely on my belief that Idealware does great, effective work and needs our support.
