Andy Burns

Software as a Service (SaaS) relieves the technical overhead to experts so you can focus squarely on your mission and just sign-in and use the system. Here’s how the CiviCRM SaaS approach stacks up against those 8 key factors I mentioned rated on a basis of very low to very high (1-5). Control – 2 […]

Want to dip your toe into the waters of what CiviCRM is like? Spark is the starter kit and ultra low cost option for CiviCRM onlookers. Here’s how the DIY approach stacks up against those 8 key factors I mentioned rated on a basis of very low to very high (1-5). Control – 2 Spark

Thinking about going the Do It Yourself (DIY) route for your CiviCRM implementation? It’s a fantastic option for techies who love to get their hands dirty, have implemented other IT systems and want to truly understand the inner workings of their CRM. If you’ve got curiosity and a bit of patience, this could be a

It’s a bit like building a house: you can go full on DIY, hire a contractor, or choose a prefabricated model. Each choice comes with its own pros and cons, largely on some key factors that are unique to your situation. The reality is, you can only pick the right path with a reasonable level

You know where you want to end up but how about where to even start with your CRM implementation? Well, it’s really all about your end goals and working backwards. You generally have 2 ways of looking at launching a CRM: Take a guess which one is more risky and causes you to pull more

CiviCRM is not your average CRM you’ll find searching on Google. What do I mean? It isn’t like other proprietary CRM’s where you put down your credit card and start using in some fashion. It’s an open source CRM that allows flexibility and control over how it is deployed. You get to make decisions, yay!

Did you do the CiviCRM double step upgrade dance recently? Today a security version was released, which means you need to upgrade. No, this really cannot be ignored for responsible custodians of their CiviCRM install. If this isn’t part of your routine maintenance plan, start now to and work with your in-house CRM expert or

When you’re a nonprofit executive, you can choose to rent or own your CRM software. It’s a major decision that will have ripple effects for years to come, so how do you decide prudently? When you rent a house, you don’t need to think about the plumbing, house layout design or what furniture you’d like

Most Content Management Systems progress through certain versions sequentially but Drupal 7 is an interesting case. Take Drupal 9, it actually has an end of life (EOL) that’s earlier than Drupal 7! Drupal 7 is very powerful when you have qualified people to make use of it. There’s no doubt about it. And it fits

There are times when I get looped into some conversations about X versus Y versus Z tool on rather sparse reasoning.   These are usually borne out of the following reasons: I say “too often,” because it’s #1 and #2 that covers the majority of these conversations. #3 is a different case and should be handled