Web-based system rivals Windows-based systems

INDIANAPOLIS - (Oct. 3, 2006) - Riley Children's Foundation-one of the larger hospital foundations in the nation-has chosen eTapestry to manage its 200,000 donor records and online giving.

The foundation helps to support Indianapolis-based Riley Hospital for Children, which manages annual revenue of about $30 million. The move takes the foundation from a large, traditional server-based system to the Web-based eTapestry.

Riley Children's Foundation submitted seven requests for proposals to vendors before receiving demonstrations from three of them. After producing a product matrix on the three remaining vendors, it was clear eTapestry was more than capable of providing what the foundation needed.

"My original thought was that eTapestry was for smaller nonprofits and was not as robust or comprehensive enough to do what we needed," said John Baldwin, the foundation's information technology director. "After developing the product matrix, it became evident to us right then and there that it could do the job."

By using eTapestry, Baldwin manages one less server and does not have to perform any software maintenance or data backups. Also, foundation employees with the proper clearance can customize and pull their own reports at any time.

After researching eTapestry and its competitors, Baldwin said he is convinced that the management efficacy of a Web-based system over a Windows-based system will soon make it the technology standard.

"We are thrilled to offer our services to one of the largest and most recognized hospital foundations right in our own backyard," said eTapestry CEO Jay Love. "It's significant that an organization like the Riley Children's Foundation recognizes the value of Web-based technology as the future standard for the nonprofit industry."

Bill McGinly, chief executive officer of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy and an eTapestry board member, said Riley's switch is indicative of the beginning of change in the way health care foundations do business.

"Many foundations in the hospital world are dependent on their affiliated hospital databases, which means they are slower to embrace new opportunities," McGinly said. "The foundation's decision is recognition of the fact that this kind of system can efficiently handle its needs without extra staff to administer it."

Baldwin said he also anticipates a fairly quick conversion and training period.

"eTapestry's ongoing, online training is superior to anything I've seen anywhere else," he said. "Foundation employees can get up to speed quickly at their own convenience, and the foundation doesn't have to pay exorbitant fees to travel and train them."

About Riley Children's Foundation
Riley Children's Foundation supports Riley Hospital for Children, Camp Riley for Youth with Physical Disabilities and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. The foundation helps to support Indiana’s only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children. Riley Hospital, part of the nationally ranked Clarian Health Partners, has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families since 1924. More than 230,000 families turn to Riley for care each year. For more information, go to www.RileyKids.org.

About eTapestry
Founded in 1999, Indianapolis-based eTapestry is the first Web-based donor database and communications management system that rents its software to customers who access it over the Internet. eTapestry serves more than 5,000 nonprofit organizations of all types and sizes that do not pay the large upfront purchasing costs or the ongoing maintenance and support contracts typically paid in the purchase of more traditional software. For more information, go to www.eTapestry.com.