http://basebox.ngoinabox.org/ What is the Base Edition of NGO-in-a-box? Produced by Tactical Tech in association with Women'sNet, The Base Edition of NGO-in-a-box is a collection of essential tools for running a small-to-medium sized NGO. You can use this toolkit to set up and coordinate your office, organise and manage projects, collaborate online and support your campaigns. The Box contains a set of peer-reviewed Free and Open Source Software tools, with associated guides and tutorials, giving you the technical foundations to build upon. Produced by Tactical Tech in association with Women'sNet, the BaseBox is aimed at activist and advocacy organisations with a particular emphasis on developing and transition countries. The contents of the toolkit were selected by an editorial team made up of leading international practitioners working in technology support for non-profits, social justice organising and the development and deployment of Free and Open Source Software. [read more] -------- What is Free and Open Source Software? http://basebox.ngoinabox.org/?q=node/42 Free and Open Source Software has a natural philosophical fit with the non-profit sector. Promoting a ‘gift culture’, where contributions are given in the faith that others will do the same, in turn creating greater mutual value. ---- FOSS, progressive NGOs and social movements: a growing partnership By Natasha Primo: Edition Editor http://basebox.ngoinabox.org/?q=node/102 Information and communication have for a long time been vital aspects of NGO and social movement work. Social change groups have always employed a range of technologies to assist them in their work. Whether it's the printing press, telephones, faxes or websites, effective organisations have harnessed the tools of the day to enhance their reach and capabilities. increasing 'informationised' society contains both possibilities and challenges for NGOs and social movements. Free and Open Source Software is designed to maximise the freedoms of its users. see or change the source code, the nuts and bolts that make up the programme. Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) however, is made with exactly the opposite goal in mind. Not only is it possible to see and change the nuts and bolts that make it work, but the community who developed it actually encourage this and rely on this philosophy to see the software spread and grow beyond its original creators. FOSS has a natural philosophical fit with NGOs and social movements, promoting a ‘gift culture’, where contributions are given in the faith that others will do the same, in turn creating greater mutual value. FOSS tools are developed through shared collaboration, often involving teams of developers that are spread globally. This practice of cooperation and collaboration makes the FOSS movement a “natural” political ally of peace, human rights and social change movements. The global collaboration builds a sense of community where the product – FOSS tools – belongs to its community of developers and users, and not to individual programmers or corporations. This enhanced ability to use the technology is part of a shift from being passive consumers in the knowledge economy to helping shape the online environment and collective knowledge base. provide you with tools to help you overcome many of your infrastructure needs, give you an easier and cheaper way to harness powerful communications and organisational tools and introduce to you to new forms of collaboration and knowledge sharing.