Microsoft Exchange is a messaging and collaborative software product that uses Microsoft Outlook. Using Outlook that connects you and your staff to a common Exchange server, you are able to manage your email, contacts, calendar, and tasks. The benefit of using Outlook with an Exchange server is that you can share and view calendars with your staff which makes scheduling meetings a whole lot easier. You can also share your contacts and tasks. You can even have one main contact list that the entire organization can reference. Beyond even that, you can share files and emails in a Public folder and have one organizational calendar. You also have access to your enitre Inbox, folders, calendar, contacts, and tasks on any internet connected computer via Outlook Web Access (OWA).

For the majority of small and medium nonprofits (fewer than 50 staff members), it makes sense to use a hosted Exchange provider for this service. The advantages are that the hosting company maintains the server, backs up your information, and is responsible for connectivity (most guarantee a 99.99% uptime).

Hosted Exchange Factors: