Technola : Public Interest Law & Technology Updates & Commentary : Matthew Burnett & Kate Bladow : Tech Advice for the Non-Profit Legal Sector

Montana Legal Services Association was highlighted in a recent Idealware article. Written by Michelle Murain (who you can follow on Twitter) and Laura Quinn, the article discusses three project management software packages (Basecamp, Central Desktop, and Trac) and how they have been implemented by three different non-profits. The article is a quick read that gives concrete ideas for how to use the software as well as what the organizations have found to be useful and not so useful. - K

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That's right, it's Free Friday, a new technola feature that highlights free - as in free beer - tech tools and resources. This week, a few free web-based project management tools to help keep those milestones in check:

• Project2Manage - A free, web-based project management solution that offers multiple levels of permissions for different clients & users, unlimited projects and the ability to post messages, manage tasks, develop to-do lists and create milestones.
• Google Sites - Google Sites is another great free project management option, particularly given its seamless integration with other Google apps, like Google Calendar and Google Docs. Here's an example (from Google) of a project management site using Google Sites.
• CentralDesktop - While only a limited version of CentralDesktop is free, this may be a good choice if you want to get your feet wet with a web-based project management solution with a lot of bells and whistles. The free version is limited to 2 workspaces, 5 users per workspace and 25MB of total storage space.
• ZOHO Projects - Like CentralDesktop, only a limited version of ZOHO Projects is free. Compared to CentralDesktop, you get more storage (100MB) and more users (unlimited), but less projects (only one). -M

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Recently, Aspiration and Idealware announced a Managing Non-Profit Technology Projects event for Oakland, CA on May 20, 2008 to May 21, 2008. Participants in this event will discuss project management tools and best practices. Registration information is available on Aspiration's website.

I highly recommend attending, especially if you are an accidental project manager. In January 2008, I went to the first Managing Non-Profit Technology Projects event in New York City and got to participate in great conversations about how much websites should cost, how to manage consultants and vendors, and how to collaborate with remote teams. Coming out of the event, I had new resources to help me manage the projects that I'm involved in, including a wiki that contains notes on all of the sessions.

If you aren't able to attend, sign up for the wiki anyways. You'll be able to read the session notes and benefit from the thoughts of the people who did go. - K

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