 Key software solutions for the VCS – what’s available, and how it can be used to improve operational performance
This project closed in March 2008 The research, commissioned by the National ICT Hub, was aimed at informing small to medium sized Voluntary Sector Organisations (VCOs) about software that is available to them. It addresses issues such as the availability, likely cost, usability, ease of set up, support and management.
The research is looked into the following five areas of software;
- Fundraising
- Financial Management
- Databases, Contact Management and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
- Web sites, including Content Managed and on line transactions
- Software products that you need but don’t have
The fundraising software is split into the following three categories;
- Donor (donations) management and tracking
- Identifying funding streams
- Writing better applications
Financial management products speak for themselves and for small VCOs could simply be using a spreadsheet from a template or software as complex as Sage Accounts.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software are essentially advanced databases that help to organise, track, record and report on interactions with clients, customers, staff and other organisations. Contact Management systems are half way houses between an address book (see Outlook) or a simple list of e-mail addresses in a spreadsheet. CRM systems have many advanced and additional features.
Many VCOs are in need of a website, this element of the research looks at what is available from both the cost and longer term management perspective, i.e. how easily the site is to update and add things to. On line donations and e-commerce are relatively new to the world of the web let alone the voluntary sector, so some systems are identified within this research.
"Software you don’t have" is essentially useful tools and software that can help your organisation run better. We have already identified utilities to help back up e-mails, provide automatic and secure off site data backup, remote access, shared diaries and meetings. You can now download the report from the ICT Hub website. 
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