Thunder Bay Information Technology Solutions TBayIT - A Guide to Information Technology for Non-Profits

Don't Talk, VOIP!

Voice Over Internet Protocol or VOIP has now become stable and widely used. You may be familiar with the Vonage commercials on television but not familiar with free programs. Basically, with VOIP you use your internet connection for voice conversations which can easily save you hundreds of dollars in long distance charges. A program called Skype was released a few years ago to provide Internet users with a free VOIP program. Simply download the program, have your friends download it also and start talking. You can also use Skype-Out at to call real land-lines or phone numbers but a small fee (still smaller than your phone company) will apply.
• Click here to visit www.Skype.com

Why Conference when you can Video Conference!

Similar with phone and voip, there is the conference. With a simple $40 webcam and a $5 microphone you have all the equipment that is necessary. For simple one-to-one video conferencing you can use Microsoft Netmeeting and for many-to-many video conferencing there are many applications available for low prices. This can save thousands of dollars of travel, missed work, and other expenses. TBayIT now offers inexpensive web-conferencing rooms that will enable you to talk with as many people as you want as long and as often as you want. Please email us for more information and pricing.
• Click here to download Microsoft Netmeeting

Accept Donations and Payments

With cheap services like PayPal you can easily incorporate donate now buttons on your website. Along with that you can accept Credit Card payments for any products or services you offer. There is a small percentage and per item fee you will have to hand over but it still offers savings compared to expensive merchant accounts. You do not require a Credit Card to accept donations as the money can be directly transferred into your bank account.
• Click here to visit www.PayPal.com

A service called CanadaHelps.org also offers the ability for not for profit organizations to accept online donations through their secure payment gateway.

Use Survey Monkey for Feedback

If you have to do a survey, skip the traditional method of having people fax you back dozens of pages only to have to tally up results by hand. This website is very powerful and allows you to easily customize any type of survey you have. At under $20 us per month it is definitely cost-effective.
• Click here to visit www.SurveyMonkey.com

Non-Traditional Fund-Raising Methods

With changes in technology happening overnight, this has opened the opportunity for businesses to change the way they make money and the same goes for Non-Profits. It may be as simple as getting sponsors for your website or as complicated as a complete fund-raising website where you are offering a product or service. The Internet is full of opportunities to ensure you can remain sustainable in these uncertain times.

• Return to Contents • Proceed to Part 4 •