Using Open Source Software

Choosing and Using Open Source Software: A Primer for Nonprofits

Dear ISTR-L subscribers,

Elsewhere on the internet, and around the globe, there is an ongoing debate over the relative merits (and place) of Open Source Software (e.g. Linux, OpenOffice, etc.) and proprietary software (e.g. MSWindows, MSWord, etc.) in the non-profit sector. This is a particularly serious issue for resource strapped organizations and efforts on the poorer side of the digital divide. It is also an issue of the proper stewardship of resources on the part of more well endowed non-profit organizations.

The Non-Profit Open Source Initiative is a collaboration of nonprofit technology service providers, consultants specializing in nonprofit support, and open source software developers working to facilitate greater adoption of Open Source Software (OSS) in the nonprofit/NGO sector.

NOSI had produced a 28 page primer (in html and pdf) titled "Choosing and Using Open Source Software: A Primer for Nonprofits" and available at http://www.nosi.net . It is a good read and a fast track to knowledge on the issues surrounding software strategies on the part of third sector entities.