onShore's Foundation and Nonprofit Technology Expertise

About onShore Networks
onShore Networks is a Chicago systems integrator. We have been servicing the Chicagoland area since 1991. In that time, we have developed particular expertise in providing foundations and nonprofit organizations with information technology solutions.

MicroEdge Gifts and Blackbaud Raiser's Edge
onShore's professionals have extensive experience helping foundations address nonprofit-specific issues when implementing their networks. Our technical staff is familiar with the problems and considerations relating to the implementation and data conversion process of MicroEdge Gifts for Windows and Black Baude Raiser's Edge.

A Sampling of Clients
Some of onShore's foundation and nonprofit clients are: Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House, St. Ignatius, Retirement Research Foundation, The Spencer Foundation, The Fry Foundation, The Jesuits, Planned Parenthood, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Winning Solutions
At onShore we know that our Foundation and nonprofit clients face special challenges. Not only do they have strict budgets, they are mostly self-defined and have much more than the standard cookie-cutter business operations in place. Much like the clients, the organizations and the individuals running them, a solution provider servicing this sector must be extremely well-rounded, creative and capable. onShore meets each of these requirements in addition to being technically superior to our competitors.

Examples of our Solutions
* A major non-profit with two offices in Chicago and another in Cincinnati needed to prepare for a forced conversion of its grant management software. The added complication to this job was that the graphical interface of the new program could not be easily accessed via modem. Without a fully functioning web interface, accessing the new software was complicated. In addition, the Cincinnati office had no IS staff and with the increased user-level complexity, needed much more assistance. Connecting the Chicago offices was simple with onShore's dedicated private T1 lines. The Cincinnati office proved more difficult, due to serious shortcomings in connectivity offerings (xDSL was not yet available there) and tricky Internet routing issues. onShore was able to circumvent these problems with a custom Linux-based solution that mapped specific network ports to individual workstations, thus allowing full remote management. Our solution also involved working with software vendors to plan and test. onShore performed the data conversion and implementation (WinNT servers and workstations) at all of this non-profit’s offices. Today, this client enjoys full, secure access to all their data and sytems, including secure grant/gifts management, email, Internet access, remote management, and of course 24/7 support.

* A major foundation in Chicago challenged us with revamping their network. As with the previous example, conversion to a new grant management package was one motivation. However, they also wanted to expand their messaging with full groupware functionality and secure remote connectivity for home offices. The grant management software conversion was well-rehearsed and clear, as were the general network services and groupware (Netware 5, GroupWise). onShore brought its expertise in Internet connectivity and security to the table with a fast T1 connection, firewall, and VPN (virtual private network) solution. We also provided training for users on the new WinNT workstations, software and centralized management.

* Another foundation in Chicago hired onShore to handle their grant management conversion and deliver their data and services to the Web. The conversion and delivery were to occur at a time when this foundation was planning a physical move and downtime was not an option. onShore's Network Integration team planned the upgrade around the move. Since we offer Internet connectivity in-house, we were able to provide temporary connectivity, necessary to enable a smooth transition. The T1 connection allowed the Network Integration team to implement a Web Server and host the site from the client's office, representing significant savings.

* A major Chicago arts organization sent us a substantial RFP for a large, two-floor interactive exhibit. Many integrators and developers shied away from the complicated project because it involved a combination of significant network design in addition to requiring expertise in professional audio equipment and the design and construction of an electronic musical instrument. onShore, of course, was up to the challenge. Many of our key employees are accomplished musicians with studio and professional audio expertise. Combined with the electronics skills and the best Macintosh technicians in town, onShore developed specifications and built fifteen interactive kiosks, as well as the network to support them, interactive displays and audio throughout, eight interactive research workstations, two professional sound studios and sixty four custom electronic musical instruments. Since the roll-out of this installation, onShore has also implemented a major renovation of the organization’s internal network and, of course, provides ongoing support to the exhibit and the network.

We hope that the previous examples have given you an idea of the breadth of our scope at onShore. We are always looking for new challenges and welcome projects that others may be unwilling to tackle. Please feel free to call us with any questions you may have.