NetCorps is pleased to announce the release of the open-source "Simple Cart Item," a new tool for use with Plone-powered websites. "The idea behind this content type," explains Aaron VanDerlip, NetCorps staff member and the developer of the Simple Cart Item, "is to provide a way to interface with simple payment gateways such as PayPal store. This item is suited for those who want to sell 5 - 20 items on their site and have it integrate with Plone."

NetCorps has a long history of web application development for nonprofits, going back to 1998 and the creation of a web-based "Take Action" tool used by the Alaska Rainforest Campaign to send faxes and email comments to government officials. In early 2004, NetCorps decided to use the open-source content management system Plone (and the Zope application server upon which it is built), for most website and web application development.

"It was really an easy choice to make," explains Matthew Latterell, NetCorps Executive Director. "Plone is open-source, already has a large user community, and is incredibly easy to use for website development and content management. It has taken projects that two years ago would have been completely unaffordable and made them easily within reach of smaller nonprofits."

One feature that many nonprofits would like to make available on their websites is a simple store for selling items such as t-shirts, calendars, books, etc., as well as accept secure donations online. The Simple Cart Item, connected to a payment gateway like PayPal, is designed to help nonprofits handle those types of transactions quickly and easily.