Free Software for Non-profit Organizations

By Charlene Vacon


Once your organization finally gets a computer built in this century, your next step is to find software for it that won't deplete the coffers. Pirated software is tempting, but, if the ethical dilemma doesn't keep you away from it, its associated risks may: you could pick up a computer virus from pirated software or you could get caught with software you're not authorized to have.
The good news is that there is so much great free software, organizations on a budget can find great alternatives to many of the proprietary programs. For internet browsers, a lot of organizations have discovered that FireFox is comparable to Explorer, but without the Microsoft label. FireFox is available for free download on the internet.
Many people have even changed their operating systems from Windows to Ubuntu. Ubuntu runs very similar to MS Windows, so your learning curve won't be extreme. There are many different programs for the Ubuntu platform that do everything from word processing to number crunching.
SourceForge.net has thousands of free software options for everything from image editing programs like GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) to financial management software. It is the hub for good-quality free software.
The reason that these programs are free is because they are what's known as Open Source. That means that people are welcome to change the programming code and, in effect, improve the programs. Users like you and I benefit by the access to these great programs, even if we are not very likely to alter the programming code.
Charlene Vacon is a producer at Picture This Productions.
Visit Picture This Productions to learn more about our fabulous corporate video production services for non-profit organizations and businesses, as well as our documentary and fiction films.
http://www.picturethis.ca