Web-based Management Systems
Drupal
Drupal is used to build everything from personal blogs to enterprise applications. Thousands of add-on modules and designs let you build any site you can imagine. Drupal is free, flexible, robust and constantly being improved by hundreds of thousands of passionate people from all over the world.
Drupal is an open source Content Management System (CMS) that forms the framework of all my websites. I have been working with this system for a number of years now and have found it allows me to develop functional websites quickly and easily.
CiviCRM
CiviCRM is a powerful contact, fundraising and eCRM system that allows you to record and manage information about your various constituents including volunteers, activists, donors, employees, clients, vendors, etc. Track and execute donations, transactions, conversations, events or any type of correspondence with each constituent and store it all in one, easily accessible and manageable source.
Source: CiviCRM website
I generally use CiviCRM when there is a need to manage volunteers, memberships, fundraising and events. CiviCRM is another open source system and is used by 1000s of organisations across the world and can be customised to suit most groups' needs. It also integrates with Drupal, the Content Management System (CMS) I use to build all my websites.
Some of the advantages of using CiviCRM are:
- Its free! But still considered an industry leader and supported by a large community of dedicated developers and organisations around the world.
- It is designed specifically for the non-profit sector.
- It integrates seamlessly with the rest of your website.
- It is continually being updated and extended.
- There is lots support from other users of the system.