An anti-bullying network for schoolchildren and parents, a health-monitoring device for remote communities, and an advice portal for small businesses are among the projects short-listed for a national award for their innovative use of technology.
PIONEERING PROJECTS REACH NATIONAL AWARD SHORTLIST
The Itforcharities Web site, the IT Resource Guide for UK Charities & Non Profit Organisations, has been redesigned with a new look, new features and improved navigation.
In addition to the new look, other changes include:
an enhanced news service and free email newsletter on IT information for charities
Scottish charity WebTrust.org.uk has updated its Gift Aid software based on user feedback.
It has been released under the new name of 'Gift Aid Administrator'. The system helps manage a charity's Gift Aid scheme, keeping track of donations made, identifying where Gift Aid declarations are required, and printing out Inland Revenue approved forms.
Smstextgiving is a new service offering to handle donations by text message for charities and community groups across Northern Ireland, the UK and Ireland.
Mobile phone users will be able to send a one-off text message instruction to a dedicated number managed by smstextgiving on behalf of a particular charity.
The Prince's Trust has raised £1 million of its £5 million target to fund new technology businesses.
The Trust's Technology Leadership Group scheme, launched in 2003 to raise funds from the UK's IT industry, has already received donations from organisations such as Microsoft, StepStone and Rubus. The income so far has been invested in around 33 start-up technology businesss.
Flora London Marathon runners have already raised more than £1 million for charity online.
One in ten runners have chosen to raise money through charity giving Web site Justgiving, an official partner of the Flora London Marathon for the second year running.
American technology company Blackbaud Inc has acquired Intelitix expand its services to non-profit organisations such as arts organisations that raise money and sell tickets.
Intelitix is an integrated patron management solution designed for performing arts organisations.
Blackbaud, the technology provider to non-profits and educational institutions, is seeking nominations for its annual TechnOvation Award.
The 2003 grand-prize winner of this international award, which recognizes organisations that use Blackbaud software in an outstanding or innovative way, will receive a $5,000 donation.
SANCTURease, the animal adoption and re-homing software database previewed on UK Fundraising in October 2002, is being piloted by the Cheltenham Animal Shelter.
The software enables the shelter effectively to manage and better use the extensive amount of information created when an animal passes through the Shelter.
Donorpoint is a new free standing cash-point-like collecting box that accepts credit and debit card donations, thereby removing concerns over cash security.
Donorpoint has been created by Geoffrey Fenton, Managing Director of Wild Yeast, "The Raising Agent for Charities," and runs on software written by Minerva Computer Systems, based in Cheltenham.
