Austin, TX, July 15, 2008 (http://apricot.info ) — Big changes are occurring in the current economic environment that are significantly impacting the nonprofit sector and how organizations effectively serve their communities. As a result of the shrinking dollar, sky-rocketing gas prices and rising unemployment, nonprofits must now cope with increased workloads while facing upcoming federal funding cuts.

In order to adapt to these changes, many nonprofits are gravitating to new, more sophisticated business strategies that help them report measureable performance results to their funders. As part of the new approach, these organizations are transitioning from a non-integrated client management process to a centralized database to efficiently facilitate technology-based record keeping. Due to the high cost of most case management software systems, large nonprofits have had an advantage over their smaller counterparts that simply lack the money to buy these systems—until now.

An Austin-based software company, Community TechKnowledge, created an affordable online software product (called “Apricot”) that they hope will bridge the resource gap between small, community-based and the larger nonprofits. “Apricot” is a web-based, client case management database system that tracks services and provides performance measurement reporting.

According to Kathryn Engelhardt-Cronk, CEO and founder of Community TechKnowledge, “Our goal with Apricot is to help community-based nonprofits by providing them with the necessary tools that they can use to demonstrate accountability to their constituents. By using Apricot, these organizations will be empowered to verify the accuracy of their performance; this will help ensure continued funding, while at the same time, enable them to spend more time to do what they do best—improving lives in the community.”

About Community TechKnowledge

Established in 1999, Community TechKnowledge (CTK) provides a suite of web-based software applications, reporting tools, and supporting services to over 5,000 nonprofit, government and United Way organizations serving the human services sector. By offering completely secure database solutions that manage and report all types of client activity, CTK helps nonprofits to efficiently track program outcomes and the impact of human services and funding on communities.

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