NewsForge: How Open Source is Getting Nonprofits Out of a Squeeze

“Efforts across the country to recycle old computer hardware
have earned the support of communities looking to supply families,
schools, and nonprofits with IT connectivity. Now the same
principle is being applied to software, as nonprofits caught
between data collection and storage requirements and IT licensing
costs turn to free and open source software.

“FreeGeek (motto: ‘Helping the needy get nerdy since the
beginning of the third millennium’) of Portland, Ore., is
well-known in the area as a positive resource for transforming
toxic IT trash into tech bootstraps for the less privileged and
groups that serve them. The group’s Collaborative Technologies
effort takes it to another level by seeking out open source, free,
and old software to use along with the tossed and rejuvenated tech
gear. The group provides consulting for all of its clients, but
only some of the more affluent nonprofits have to actually
pay…”

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