Truly helpful, The E-Nonprofit aids nonprofit staff in navigating the confusing world of Internet technology. Arranged in five sections, Part 1 comprises "A Beginner's Guide to ASPs." Right at the start the authors, both technology consultants for nonprofits, ask "What is an ASP?" Their answer: "An ASP, (application service provider) is a technology company that develops and delivers software tools over the Internet, usually for a fee. ASPs that focus on the nonprofit sector offer services to meet nonprofit need, such as online fundraising, Web site management, listservs, and volunteer recruitment." Added to this definition, Stein and Kenyon provide the names of actual nonprofit organizations using ASPs. For example the Alley Theatre of Houston, Texas uses Convio.com to manage their Web site content, accept credit cards, and sell tickets online. Also included in Part 1 is a list of 10 ASPs that can benefit a nonprofit immediately and an explanation of five steps in selecting an ASP.

Part 2, "The Pros and Risks of Using ASPs," provides ten ways that ASPs can help your nonprofit. These include meeting multiple software needs at once, managing technology costs, and keeping software up to date. All ten ways also include what risks might occur with each benefit. For example, the automatic updates provided by ASPs might not be an advantage if the way the software is used changes significantly with each update. Staff may access the software one day and find that a function they used no longer works the same way as previously. Generally, however, the benefits outweigh the risks.

The "ASP Directory," a resource list of service providers, comprises Part 3. This part can also be accessed from CompassPoint's Web site and, given the precarious future of some Internet companies, probably should be accessed online. Part 4, "A Detailed Guide to Selecting an ASP," takes you through a needs assessment, finding ASPs for consideration, and applying selection criteria. Part 5 covers "Implementation," from testing the software and preparing a backup system to launching the service and evaluating it.

Interspersed throughout the volume are quotes from representatives of nonprofits and ASPs, cartoons, tips, notes, and highlights. Overall The E-Nonprofit finds the balance between necessary technical information and easy-to-read narrative.

For citations to additional materials on this topic, refer to Literature of the Nonprofit Sector Online, using the subject headings "Computer technology" or "Internet."