[software] Call for evaluation of Donor.com

[Bradley M. Kuhn]

Jim Brandt wrote:

> * get some functional software FOSS groups can use to easily and
> accurately handle accounting, donor management, etc.

Yes, these are the goals I remember from the face-to-face meeting.  As I
understood it, that first goal was to get some *FLOSS* software that can
be easily used to handle donor management.

We're a FLOSS Foundations group.  Why would we start using non-FLOSS for
our needs?

I note this one doesn't handle any accounting anyway.

> The second is a serious potential here and given the dearth of open
> source options, it seems we can invest some time and effort to get
> something out there rather than putting that effort into creating
> something new. The time and effort is in participating in a demo and
> educating some business people about open source licensing.

Yes, I've spent months of my life doing this task.  My general discovery
over years of doing the "FLOSS community helps convince
backward-thinking company" is that it's too often wasted effort; it's
always a long shot that they'll release as FLOSS even if there is a
champion inside the organisation.  But, as I said, I'm happy for others
to take up this cause.  My aggressive response was based more on how
much time I've wasted on these seemingly "incredibly hopeful" situations
that someone will release something sometime, and never seeing it work
out in any reasonable time frame, if at all.

I'm glad people still have the patience for these sort of things because
I think it's worthwhile activity; I've sadly lost mine.  On that note,
Karen Sandler of the Conservancy has offered to attend the demo, but I
am unsure if she's available during those dates.  I'm forwarding them to
her now.
-- 

   -- bkuhn