February 16, 2006

Technology for Nonprofits

• Why Technology Matters

• A Framework for Thinking About Technology

• How to Get Started

• Resources

Agenda

Why Technology Matters

When used appropriately, IT helps nonprofits achieve efficiencies and deliver services in new ways:– Redirect energy from admin to clients– Better track and use information about

stakeholders (clients, funders, volunteers, staff)

– Enhance communication and collaboration

– Expand reach and impact

Problem: Camp Kudzu, a camp program for children with diabetes, used countless staff and volunteer hours to complete a paper-based registration process

Developed by TechBridge for Camp Kudzu

Learn more at: www.campkudzu.org

Solution: A website with a database on the backend that tracks registrations in real-time and provides reports saves hundreds of man hours each cycle

Why Technology Matters

Problem: Cities want to start a 2-1-1 community resource hotline but do not know how to begin this overwhelming process

Developed by TechBridge for the Alliance of Information and Referral Services (AIRS).

Learn more at: www.211toolkit.org

Solution: Develop an online toolkit that provides easy access to the information, templates and other resources that a municipality needs to start its own 2-1-1 service

Why Technology Matters

Achieve stability by building the foundation of operational efficiency: stable

technology infrastructure

Increase effectiveness through integrating technology into

service delivery

Maximize impact through innovative or transformative use

of technology

Technology Framework

Technology Framework

Up-to-date HardwareAnd Software

Office ProductivityApplications

Preventive MaintenanceProgram

Secure Network

High-speed Internet

Basic WebPresence

AccountingSystem

DonorManagement

eCommerceDistance Learning

AndCollaborationWorkflow

CaseManagement

eMailManagement

StableInfrastructure

EfficiencyAnd

Effectiveness

Transformation

• You have to walk before you can run• Transformative technology is based on

stable and secure infrastructure• Technology planning will help set the

course– First step in achieving other key technology

benchmarks

Getting Started

• Nonprofits often are in reactive mode when it comes to technology

• This leads to ad hoc purchases, disorganized implementation, lack of training on new systems

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Why Start With A Plan?

• Technology roadmap grounded in your mission

• Tool for budgeting and fundraising• Framework for decision-making• Living, evolving written document

What is A Plan?

• A good technology plan includes:– Technology vision statement – Assessment of current technology use in

support of programs and services– Inventory of hardware & software– Long-term and short-term technology

goals– Timeline and budget– Process for evaluation

What’s In A Plan?

• Puts nonprofits in proactive mode

• Enables better decisions about how to use scarce resources

• Allows for more predictable spending and more consistent IT support

• Supports technology asks in grant requests – Shows you that a nonprofit has

done its homework!

• Allows technology to be a help rather than a hindrance

• Can boost staff morale when change begins

Benefits of Planning?

– A set of “best-in-class” criteria against which nonprofits can assess their basic technology practices

– Intended to help lay the groundwork for improvement; set the targets

Technology Benchmarks

A complete set of technology benchmarks can be found here:http://www.npower.org/resources/guides/ Look for “Technology Literacy Benchmarks for Small and Medium-sized Nonprofits”

ORTake your own assessment using our online technology planning and management tool, TechAtlas:http://www.techatlas.org

Technology Benchmarks

• www.npower.org - find guides on specific technology topics including technology benchmarks, disaster preparedness, and sector-specific guides

• www.techatlas.org – suite of online technology planning and management tools, provided by NPower

• www.techsoup.org – informative web site with articles on nonprofit technology topics and links to TechSoup Stock (discount technology items) and TechFinder (directory of nonprofit technology service providers)

• www.techbridge.org – available services for nonprofits

Additional Resources

Q & A

Jack McMillanMichael Nachman

TechBridgewww.techbridge.org