ICT PROJECT

The objective is to ensure that UK community foundations’ needs in relation to hardware, software and training in information technology are fully met in a timely and cost effective manner.

The ICT Project has two primary objectives:

	To help community foundations in the UK develop a robust and modern ICT infrastructure to ensure they can provide the most effective service possible to their local communities
	Develop a user driven, professional database (DIGITS) that will allow community foundations to capture and manipulate data simply and produce meaningful management information.

Both objectives are being met. The level of ICT expertise ‘on the ground’ is surpassing expectations and the DIGITS database software is being successfully used throughout the UK network.

DIGITS

DIGITS (Donor Intelligence and Grants Information Tracking System) is the only database system specifically designed for use by community foundations and trusts. It has been heavily subsidised by CFN and includes a national network of support.

The software has been designed on the Microsoft Access platform – one of the most common database management systems. While many other ‘off the shelf’ databases available to the voluntary sector serve only to record donations received or grant payments made, DIGITS has the ability to track the whole process from donation to grant.

DIGITS version 1.2.1 was released in April 2004. As well as significant enhancements, including web access and remote working facilities, it has new features that enable users to create and show a set of fund-specific monitoring questions.

For more information DIGITS, contact Les Wilcock, ICT Development Project Manager, email [email protected]