Artez Interactive

When Artez first started building fundraising software, we envisioned a self-serve tool that would put the power to raise money online, using sophisticated technology, in the hands of the people who needed it – the fundraisers. We wanted them to be able to get their job done, without needing to learn any technical skills – and that's exactly what the Artez Solution offers. Anyone who knows how to use a browser can start using our tool to raise money. This is important especially for small groups that don't have a dedicated technology person on staff.

But the times they are a'changing, and these days, not-for-profit organizations are getting much more sophisticated! We've been listening to our clients – to you – and many of you want more control over the interface of your fundraising tool. You want to be able to customize it, make it look different, make it work in particular ways for particular events – sometimes in creative ways that we never could have envisioned when we started developing this software. So much has changed since then! So, while we're really proud of the tool that we've built, these days we're also looking at how to open things up, and put more control in the hands of our clients.

Exciting Opportunities

What does this mean? Well, in technical terms, it means that we are creating an API (an "application programming interface") for our product. In ordinary terms, it means that we are making it possible for other programmers to get inside the guts of the Artez Solution, and build upon it. (For instance, we're making it possible for groups to fully customize their registration process in order to meet their specific needs.) And in bigger philosophical terms, it means a move towards more openness, transparency, and collaboration – grand but crucial principles of "Web 2.0". We see it as part of recognizing that clients should have more control over how they use their technology.

Freedom to Choose

We're really excited about offering greater control to our clients, but we also recognize that creating an API represents a shift away from our original vision of a highly functional, self-serve tool for online fundraising. Groups who choose to customize the Artez Solution will need to spend resources to do so, and may find themselves dependent upon the technologist who creates their add-ons. For some groups, a choice may need to be made: Do you want an out-of-the box solution that just works, or do you want more features but more dependency on the technologists who build those features? Either way, we'll have what you need.

Looking Out for the Little Guys

We recognize how important it is for small groups to be able to use our tools without needing to pay for custom development. So just to be clear – Artez will always offer a useful, self-serve, and ready-to-roll version of the Artez Solution. It's what we built our company on.