Empowering nonprofits to serve more people through technology and connectivity ...

About Project Connect

Project Connect was founded in 1998 to address the technological and connectivity needs of non-profit organizations. The project’s primary goal is to assist area non-profit organizations in upgrading their technology capabilities and utilizing their resources more effectively, resulting in stronger organizations which can serve more people with more services.

As a TechAtlas partner, Project Connect works with nonprofits throughout the state of Ohio to develop and utilize technology to improve the efficiency of service delivery, streamline business operations, and further mission fulfillment.

Project Connect is currently developing a comprehensive business model to strengthen the program's infrastructure and keep service fees affordable for participating nonprofits. Click here for the summary of the impact and market analysis.

What We Do

Project Consulting

• Technology Process Improvement Assessments & Technology Plans

• Develop a database 

• Develop a website 

• Develop templates (e.g., letterhead, memos, etc.) 

• Study staff efficiency and make recommendations 

• Troubleshoot problem computers 

• Assist getting internet access and e-mail 

• Train in-house training staff

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Nonprofit Resource Clearinghouse

Hardware
http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/purchasing.htm#Hardware

Software
http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/purchasing.htm#Software

Internet Services
http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/wps.htm#Internet

Technical Information
http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/wps.htm

Nonprofit Resources
http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/resources.htm

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Online Community Building

http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/updates.htm

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Technology Management Support

In order for technology and connectivity to have maximum impact on mission, the persons responsible for implementation must have a support network on which they can rely. Project Connect strongly supports the technology managers of nonprofits—whether they be formally trained IT directors or accidental techies who knew more than anyone else and got the job.

Project Connect has created the Technology Process Inventory Assessment, an innovative analysis tool which examines how nonprofits complete business operations and service delivery procedures. This results in a 3-5 year technology plan which includes:

• Suggestions for improved efficiency and productivity by changing technology and work-flow processes

• Hardware, software, networking, and connectivity needs

• Training for staff based on their responsibilities and abilities

• Multi-tiered technical support

• A disaster recovery plan

• Policies for use

• Ongoing maintenance & planned obsolescence.

• Strategies for successful implementation

As a partner of NPower, Project Connect offers online technology planning and inventory tools which can automatically create comprehensive network inventories, assess staff skills, and track technical support issues.

Phone and e-mail inquiries which can be addressed in 15 minutes or less are answered at no charge. Comprehensive proposals, including deliverables and costs, are written for larger projects after a free initial interview and assessment. Past costs have ranged from $600 to $3,000, determined by the scope of the project.

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Project Consulting

Project Connect staff can offer one-on-one consulting to nonprofit organizations on numerous topics. Our goal is to build in-house expertise so that the nonprofit does not need to rely on outside resources on an ongoing basis. Consulting includes not only the completion of the project, but also training the organization’s staff in its use.

Past projects have included:

• Technology Process Improvement Assessments & Technology Plans

• Database design, development, and revisions for donor management, service delivery, contact management, class registrations, outcome measurements, etc.

• Website design, development, and revisions

• PowerPoint presentations

• Document troubleshooting

• Macro development and testing

• Computer moves, set-up, and troubleshooting

• Community outreach programs

• Specialized presentations 

• Assist getting internet access and e-mail 

Comprehensive proposals, including deliverables and costs, are written for consulting projects after a free initial interview and assessment. Past costs have ranged from $125 to $8,200, and are determined by the scope of the project.

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Hands-On Software Training

http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/training.htm

Project Connect’s software training courses are hands-on: attendees use the software, practice the skills, and ask questions that are applicable to their responsibilities. Classes are 3 hours ... long enough to learn practical skills, but short enough to avoid mind overload. Comprehensive handouts are included so that students can refer to them when at work.

There are over 30 courses, ranging from Introduction to Computers through the Database Developers Series. Each course, written by Project Connect staff who are Certified Microsoft Master Instructors, focuses on practical skills which nonprofit staff use most often.

Classes in a logical progression, beginning with introduction to computers. This way, we can begin at each student's level. Some need to start with the introduction class; others need only the beginning word processing; while others are ready for advanced spreadsheets.

Cost is $60 per person per class.

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Technical Support Hotline

330-315-1336
hotline@infolineinc.org

Project Connect offers Live Help for staff of all Ohio nonprofits! If you are having problems with a Microsoft Office or Adobe product, simply go to www.pclivehelp.org and complete the form. Follow the directions, and then we'll be able to see your computer from our office. We can then walk you through the problem.

Cost is $15 per increment of 10 minutes.

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Electronic Updates

http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/updates.htm

Once a month, the Project Connect Update—our electronic newsletter—is mailed and faxed to over 500 nonprofit staff. This newsletter contains up-to-date information on our training as well as new opportunities and resources for nonprofits. Upcoming events which are of interest to the recipients—such as local conferences, fund-raisers, and grant opportunities—are posted. We also include tips and tricks for better computing.

The Project Connect Update is a free service to all who are interested in receiving it. To subscribe to this list, send an e-mail to projectconnect-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  with the word subscribe in the subject line.

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Nonprofit Resource Clearinghouse

www.infolineinc.org/connect/updates.htm
www.infolineinc.org/connect/resources.htm

Nonprofits are eligible for significant discounts on hardware, software, internet service, training, technical information, etc. Project Connect keeps an extensive list of these options on its website and communicates them to nonprofit staff through the Project Connect Update electronic newsletter.

This is a free resource.

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Equipment Rentals

Laptop computers and projectors are expensive and often impossible to justify. But they are critical to delivering professional presentations to funders, community groups, volunteers, etc.

Nonprofits can rent our laptop and/or projector for $50 each per 24-hour period.

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Training Room Rentals

For organizations with their own trainers but no training room (or who wish to bring in outside trainers for a day or two), the Project Connect Training Center is available Monday through Saturday. It contains 12 student computers, one teaching computer, and various presentation aids.

Nonprofits can rent the training center for $200 per half day, $400 per full day. If evening or weekend use is requested, then a $50 per half-day surcharge will be included.

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Specialized Research Information

http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/standards.doc 

The Project Connect Advisory Council has created Technology Standard for Nonprofit Organizations to help nonprofits in their technology planning efforts.

In 2005, Project Connect conducted an extensive survey of the technology needs of over 500 nonprofits throughout the state of Ohio. An executive summary is available at The Strategic Business Plan Impact and Market Analysis.

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Website & Email Hosting

Project Connect's web hosting is designed for smaller nonprofits with little technical requirements. Its strength is its staff's knowledge of the nonprofit sector and its strong technical support during regular business hours. If the organization's needs go beyond Project Connect capabilities, staff will suggest that the website be moved to a dedicated hosting company.

• Project Connect hosts the websites for a $50 set-up fee and a $240 annual charge. The nonprofit is asked to maintain all domain licensing.

• Email hosting is available for a $150 set-up fee and a $20 per mailbox annual charge. Any additional users will be $10 per user per year. Includes spam filtering.

eCommerce can have a significant impact on the success of any project. Possibilities include accepting donations online and selling products made by client. Project Connect will work with each nonprofit to identify the benefits, possible disadvantages, and requirements for implementing a comprehensive eCommerce system. Set-up costs and monthly charges will be determined at that time.

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Broadcast Emails

Want to send emails to a large group of people? Project Connect has subscribed to an excellent broadcast email service and is extending it to area nonprofits.

• The recipient's name is in the [TO] box ... spam filters don't automatically pull the message out because of the blank recipient name.

• The only name in the [TO] box is the recipient ... no more scrolling halfway down the page past the recipient list to get to the actual message!

• There is an unsubscribe feature, so recipients can opt out of the broadcast.

• There is a subscribe feature, so that website participants can add their email addresses to the list automatically (see www.infolineinc.org/connect/updates.htm for a sample).

• You can send beautifully designed pages ... and those that can receive them will get them this way. Those who can't will receive text versions that will actually make sense to them!!

• The service gives you a report of how many people opened the message, how many clicked on links, and how many went to specific links so you can identify what caught their interest.

You can subscribe to the service yourself or you can use Project Connect to manage it for you. Cost is $50 set-up, which includes importing your email list into the system. Each time you want to send a broadcast email, send us the message, new names to the list, and $20. We'll handle the rest and send you a report of the click-throughs.

If you want us to make the message pretty, we'll put it in HTML format for another $50.

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Curricula Subscription Program

http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/curricula.htm 

With the Project Connect Curricula Subscription program, larger nonprofits with their own training staff as well as nonprofit technology initiatives can jump-start their new training programs or expand their existing course offerings. There are over 30 courses, ranging from Introduction to Computers to the Database Developers Series.

Designed to be taught in 3-4 hours, each course covers specific tasks relevant to the everyday responsibilities of non-profit staff. These curricula have been tested and proven effective by over 2,400 class attendees. They are continuously revised and improved to meet the changing needs of non-profit staff.

The courses are offered via a tiered subscription program:

• Nonprofit organizations which do not charge for their classes can subscribe to each course for $50 per year.

• Nonprofit organizations which do charge for their classes can subscribe to each course for $200 per year.

• For-profit organizations which do charge for their classes can subscribe to each course for $500 per year.

In addition to unlimited use to the curricula during the subscription period, trainers have access to a support network to assist in teaching strategies as well as software techniques. They are also able to call the technical support hotline during its hours of operation when there is a question about that software. The curricula subscription can be renewed on an annual basis.

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Remote Advantage Plan (RAP)

http://www.infolineinc.org/connect/rap.htm

This service is ideal for small- to mid-size nonprofits who can benefit from network capabilities and up-to-date productivity software but do not have the resources to implement or sustain the technology.

The nonprofit can utilize Info Line’s state of the art, Citrix Terminal Server to access all needed software and its data via the internet. Standard Microsoft Office software is available: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. Additional software can be added for $500 per application as long as the nonprofit already owns the required software licenses and the software is compatible with the network.

All files will be stored on a secured server at Info Line. Only the nonprofit staff with authorized passwords will have access to their files.

Computers will no longer need to be upgraded or replaced every 3 years because the processing occurs at the Citrix Terminal Server and not on the local computer. Computers will need to be replaced only if parts wear out.

Because access is through the internet, staff can open and edit needed files wherever the internet can be accessed, provided that the necessary Citrix license is purchased for each computer.

Quoted on a individual basis. On average, the cost is $500 per computer per year. Ongoing membership to Project Connect and a 3-year commitment are required.

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Pricing Effective January 1, 2007

Training

Consulting & Technical Support

Purchasing Assistance

Online Services

Rentals

Remote Network Services

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