Is this really free for small nonprofits?
Yes! For organizations with 1000 or fewer donor records to maintain, the service is free - for as long as you have 1000 or fewer records! FundraisingINFO.com members also receive a discount on their monthly membership fees.  eTapestry is rich with the ability to open communications to a wide variety of constituents. Through your control you provide access to various groups or individuals. This access can be woven into your existing web site to provide an attractive, logical and fast source for communicating with you. Under our North American-wide hosting partnership with GTE, eTapestry sits directly on the backbone of the Internet. Your communications and record keeping cannot be hosted by any faster means!

What is really included with the free offer?
You get the first user absolutely free. All web-based support, system maintenance, backups and upgrades are included. There is an additional cost if you would like multiple users, training or data conversion. But even these options come at a very low fee. See the Order area for all the details.

What happens if I go over the 1000 donor records?
Once you go over 1000 records, you simply pay the normal fee for the system which is $99/month up to 5000 records.

Why are you doing this?
FundraisingINFO and eTapestry believe in the work of non-profit organizations of all sizes. By investing in the future of the small non-profit with leading edge tools for fundraising, we feel they will grow in size and eventually become larger, paying customers. Operating as a true Application Service Provider (ASP), we bring a new level of efficiency to the development office. It's a win-win situation!

What is an Application Service Provider (ASP)?
An Application Service Provider is a company that rents software and delivers it online as you use it. The benefits are many, including: access from anywhere there is an Internet connection, less maintenance to worry about, easier and more frequent software enhancements, and of course, lower costs.

How is this different than the eTapestry service I can get directly from eTapestry?
As a FundraisingINFO.com member, you will receive discounts on your membership fee as well as the added support of FundraisingINFO.com’s experience in deciding if this system is right for your organization (if it is not, we WILL tell you).

What software do I need to install?
Only your web browser is needed for the Internet version of eTapestry.  Recommended browsers are the most current versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

What kind of Internet connection do I need?
A standard Internet connection provided through an Internet Service Provider will work fine. The speed and performance of eTapestry will be dictated by the speed of your modem and Internet connection. It is recommended that you minimally use a 28.8Kb modem if you will be doing significant amounts of data entry and reporting.

What are the hardware requirements?
eTapestry for the Internet has no special hardware requirements as long as you are able to gain access to the Internet through a modem or internal LAN connection. It is recommended that you have the latest version of your web browser installed so that you can take full advantage of some product features.

Don't I need a CD-ROM drive for loading the program?
You don't need to load any special software beyond your Internet browser to use our system (but go ahead and get the CD drive anyway, it's nice to have for playing music while you work).

Will it work with AOL?
It works very well with AOL version 4 or later. If you are using an older version of AOL you can update it at no charge.

Will it work on my Macintosh?
Yes. You only need to have the most recent version of you web browser (i.e. Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator) for the Mac installed.

How is pricing figured?
Pricing starts at under $100 per month for the Internet version. It is based on number of users and size of database. See our pricing guide under the Order section (we think you will love it!).

Where is my data stored?
Your organization's data is safely stored on the eTapestry server.

Is it safe?
Your data is completely safe. Internet customers' data is securely kept in a safe hosting environment maintained by eTapestry's business partner GTE, a true Internet backbone based national web hosting provider. Their systems are the finest in the world for securing and maintaining critical data. In addition, your data is backed up on a daily basis, tested and securely stored.

Won't other people be able to see my data?
Not at all. eTapestry uses the most secure and advanced technical methods and tools for protecting your data. These are the same methods used by Internet stock brokerage and Internet banking systems.

Simply put, our goal is to provide better security than can be economically provided in-house. eTapestry on the Internet is a different concept than your traditional software application loaded on a local hard drive. With eTapestry, your entire system is hosted for you off-site. That "off-site" hosting is being handled for eTapestry by their experienced partner, GTE Internetworking.

GTE is one of the largest and most advanced hosting and Internet Service Providers in the world. With an uptime guarantee of over 99.5%, multiple hosting locations, totally encrypted data and the finest team of technical professionals available to monitor and backup your data you won't find a more safe and secure environment for your valuable records. As one non-profit's IT department manager told us, "I can't possibly offer the same security and monitoring on my internal LAN!"

Do I have to have a web site established to use this system?
Not at all. Although it can be woven into your organization's web page, that is not necessary for using it as your fundraising system.

How do I get support?
You can get support several ways. First, an extensive on-line support system is available at the click of your mouse. You can also enter into on-line chat sessions that include support staff and other users. Try the Frequently Asked Questions section or simply telephone the eTapestry support line for quick and professional assistance.

Will it work with my existing word processor?
Absolutely. Merging information for thank you letters, solicitations, receipts, etc. is quick and simple.

Is there any way I can try it out first?
Call or send us a quick e-mail and we will set you up to try it absolutely free. (email us now!)

What version of Windows do I need?
You don't need Windows. However they are nice to have on a sunny day. (All joking aside, as long as your word processing and perhaps your accounting software are functioning properly in Windows. eTapestry will work with them just fine!)

How can I convert data from my existing application?
The FundraisingINFO staff will be happy to explore several options for getting your data converted.

Can I really work from home or on the road?
You can work from anywhere you can connect to the Internet. If you are on the road we recommend you watch for traffic.

Will I need formal training to use eTapestry?
eTapestry is much simpler to learn and use than traditional software because it uses a standard browser interface. If you know how to surf the web, you know how to move around eTapestry. However, eTapestry is a comprehensive fundraising application, so you may find that training helps you maximize its use. Training is available right over the Internet so it can be done on your schedule and at your convenience.