Alabama software tracks charitable giving

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Charities nationwide are using a tool developed in northwest Alabama because of the fallout from Hurricane Katrina. Community groups had a problem after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005: They didn't know how to keep track of thousands of people who were seeking help far from their homes. A collaboration between aid agencies and computer programmers resulted in software called CharityTracker. It keeps track of thousands of charity recipients in about 680 cities nationwide this Christmas season. The software was developed by Simon Solutions Inc. in Florence. It's one of about 30 software tools used by U.S. nonprofits to keep up with the thousands of needy people who seek assistance daily. Simon Solutions President Mike Simon says CharityTracker is successful partly because it's so simple to use.