Free kittens

Open-source tools like CiviCRM, WordPress, and Drupal are free.

• Free as in "free speech": use them for the cause of your choosing.

• Free as in "free beer": use them with zero license fees.

• Free as in "free reign": modify or extend them however you wish.

They're also free as in "free kittens":
Incredibly likable from the start (not just because of the above freedoms).
And demanding of care, feeding, and attention.

One of the most common mistakes I see in organizations adopting new tools is a tendency to consider only the up front costs of acquisition.

For open source tools, that's a no brainer — they're free!

But don’t forget to account for the cost of ownership.
The effort of maintenance.
The investment of training.

If you've got a plan — and a budget — for that,
you'll be much happier in the long run.

All the best,
A.