Technology has undoubtedly changed the way businesses and consumers interact; a shift that has even affected the way the non-profit sector achieves its mission. Non-Profits need to gain support in channels where their message can gain maximum exposure, and require the proper resources to do so. Moving beyond social media engagement to incorporating mission-critical software and technology is key to driving success with your board, members and donors.
The technology requirements Non-Profits have are no different than that of other market verticals. However the budgetary constraints, organizational priorities, regulations and restrictions that a Non-Profit has to work within, do require a team of IT professionals with broad experience and proven track record who can put the right solutions in place to aid success.
Non-Profits have duties that require the maintenance and management of meetings, financial records, and documents to name just a few. Given today’s cloud offerings and incentives, targeted IT strategies can enable your association to adopt cost-effective tools to help fundraise, market and collaborate on a daily basis. With over 24 years of experience in managing technology, and 25% of our customer base represented by non-profits, the team at Compulite is dedicated to helping you implement your vision, extend your reach and maximize the impact of your programs.
Common Challenges.
Non-Profits are likely competing against other programs or businesses that have more funds and less restrictions to work around. This can leave your Non-Profit at a disadvantage when having to work around the following limitations:
- Outdated Technology. Due to limited budgets, many Non-Profits think they have to rely on the outdated software and hardware they currently have in place. Slow or limited access to devices impacts productivity and makes for an environment where more time is needed to fix and repair technology than actually successfully using it.
- Limited Accessibility. Since the nature of the Non-Profit world means a high number of meetings and conferences, remote access to the organization’s network becomes a priority. Tools that can help access documents from remote locations, and collaborate with others in real time from around the globe can help with achieving your mission.
- Donor Retention. Being able to identify the right people to communicate your message to is key to increasing donor revenue. Sorting through spreadsheets and contact lists can quickly become unorganized and limit your effectiveness. Selecting and managing donor databases will make the difference in successfully capturing, storing and retrieve the information needed to make the most of donations.
Technology for Non-Profits.
Focusing on the following initiatives can make certain that your message is reaching your audience in the most impactful way for your Non-Profit to achieve success:
- Mobile Engagement. A large percentage of e-mails are being read on mobile devices, which requires a mobile friendly approach to communicate and engage with your donors. Marketing efforts and your website should be optimized for mobile use.
- Cloud. Cloud software has become a secure, highly available and cost effective solution for nonprofits to utilize. Cloud environments are perfect for mobile integration and makes the vast amount of data Non-Profits need to consume, easily accessible. It’s a game changer for associations as it brings access to services that would have otherwise been too costly to take advantage of.
- Office 365. Allows for real time collaboration in the Office suite (word, excel, etc.) with full capabilities and security of installed software. You can use OneNote to capture, organize and share meeting minutes, and the information learned from conferences. Hosted e-mail with Office 365 will give you access to your e-mail, shared calendars and contacts from your office or on mobile devices.
Things to Consider.
Non-Profits commonly maintain contact information, financial and personal data on the donors, meaning security needs to be top priority. Hackers are always seeking access to this kind of information and will see Non-Profits as an attractive target who have databases full of financial information and little resources to spend on IT security.
Perhaps the most indispensable resources a Non-Profit can leverage is the team of people they have working for them. By putting the proper tools into the hands of good people the impact your organization will have only be extended. To achieve a greater impact, have a technology partner like Compulite, strategize with your association on how you can leverage the right technology tools to see productivity and operational efficiency increase within your Non-Profit.