# ICT hub to cut funding for open source software in voluntary sector - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/04/13/ict-hub-cut-funding-open-source-software-voluntary-sector/ - Published: 2007-04-13T16:39:22+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake Every now and again one comes across an example of retrograde steps in the voluntary sector. The ICT Hub is taking one right now: according to [Charity Finance](http://www.charityfinance.co.uk/charitynewsalert/issue22/ict.asp) magazine, “the ICT Hub is to cut funding for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in the voluntary sector during the next round of spending, citing a lack of interest.” Open Source Software is an essential element for the future development of the voluntary sector. It provides a valuable alternative or addition to the existing standard commercial software packages. Web 2.0 developments alone have shown what Open Source can achieve and what it offers to charities – blogs, content management systems (Oxfam UK and Greenpeace International are both moving to Drupal, the same content management system selected by UK Fundraising to run this site), wikis, and podcasting are all underpinned by Open Source and their value to charities is considerable. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) So, while the commercial and public sectors explore and embrace the possibilities of Open Source, the voluntary sector gets reduced support for it from one of the key providers. * **[What if your online fundraising provider goes out of business?](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/04/13/what-if-your-online-fundraising-provider-goes-out-business/)**( 13 April 2007) * **[PFRA logo](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/04/13/pfra-logo/)** (13 April 2007) * **[Nonprofit Online News adopts The Text Email Newsletter (TEN) Standard](https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/04/14/nonprofit-online-news-adopts-text-email-newsletter-ten-standard/)**( 14 April 2007)