San Francisco, CA –February 22, 2008– San Francisco-based nonprofit technology resource and provider TechSoup and Internet software provider for the social sector CitySoft Inc. announced today CitySoft's donation of its Community Enterprise (CE) open-source enterprise software to U.S. and Canada-based nonprofits.
CE is a comprehensive software platform tailored to the needs of nonprofit organizations. With 25 different modules, CE allows social sector organizations to manage key activities such as operations, communications, and fundraising, online in one system. The Web-based platform is upgradeable and can be hosted anywhere and includes full source code availability.
TechSoup will distribute the software via its TechSoup Stock technology product donation service. The award-winning program distributes product donations from 28 donor partners (as of September 2007), including leading technology companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe, Intuit, and Symantec, to social benefit organizations around the world. TechSoup Stock has enabled potential savings of $830 million to the nonprofit sector since 2002, an average savings of $12,977 per organization served.
Having worked with social sector clients for over a decade, CitySoft is one of the oldest companies in the field and counts the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Harvard University, and the Ford Foundation among its list clients. For CitySoft donating its software product was part of a continued commitment to the nonprofit community.
The CE donation program makes the Community Enterprise (CE) software platform available to U.S. and Canada -based 501(c) 3 nonprofit and other social sector organizations with an annual budget of $500,000 or less; enabling them to obtain affordable, quality software to support their missions.
"TechSoup is a perfect fit for us" commented Nick Gleason, CitySoft's founder. "Our goals are in sync; helping organizations obtain the tools they need so that they can concentrate on the great work they do. We wanted to do something that could make a really significant difference, especially for smaller organizations that often cannot spend money on technology. I have worked at many small nonprofits myself, and I know what it feels like to lack the tools and resources that you need in order to do high quality work."
"An affordable, open-source platform like CE is a great option for many nonprofits." said Daniel Ben Horin, Founder and Co-CEO of TechSoup. "It can grow and change as the organization's needs evolve. I have tracked Nick and CitySoft for years and have been impressed with their dedication to making a difference, which dates back to their leadership in working toward bridging the digital divide starting in the 1990s and continues today with this donation initiative."
Nonprofits can access a full Community Enterprise product description, hosting solutions and implementation help at www.techsoup.org. TechSoup Stock charges a nominal administrative fee, a fraction of the market price for Community Enterprise software. This fee covers the costs of transaction, fulfillment, customer support and outreach, and the verification and reporting of customer eligibility. Interested organizations can register with TechSoup at http://www.techsoup.org/stock/overview_join_reg.
About CitySoft
CitySoft is an Internet software company that has one goal - to provide the most affordable, easy-to-use, web-based software possible. CitySoft Community Enterprise™ software platform is enterprise software - software that runs organizations - that enables clients to increase revenues, reduces costs, and vastly improve efficiency. Community Enterprise includes 25 different modules for managing membership, Website content, contacts, communications, events, finances, communities, and much more. Started in 1996, CitySoft is one of the oldest and most experienced online software providers serving the social sector. CitySoft investors include Esther Dyson, Mitch Kapor, Sustainable Jobs Fund, Calvert Group, and others.
About TechSoup
Founded in 1987 as CompuMentor, TechSoup is one of the most comprehensive nonprofit technology resource providers in the world, employing a staff of over 150 and deploying a budget of over $18 million in FY 2008. It conducts a range of programs on the international, national, and the local level, including the operation of its nonprofit technology Website TechSoup and its distribution service for technology product donations, TechSoup Stock. As of August 2007, the TechSoup Stock program has served more than 67,000 organizations, distributed over 3.1 million products and enabled nonprofit donation recipients to save $830 million in IT expenses. TechSoup’s Healthy & Secure Computing program gives small-to medium-sized nonprofits the resources to build and maintain a secure information technology infrastructure that helps them fulfill their missions. The TechSoup NetSquared Initiative helps nonprofits worldwide use new Internet-based tools such as blogging, podcasting, and other social Web applications to extend their reach and impact.
