Five Reasons Why Nonprofit Organizations Should Invest in Technology 

Nonprofit organizations across the world have seen amazing results from leveraging technology to better achieve their mission. By utilizing technology, nonprofit organizations are able to save time and resources. With a few clicks of a mouse, nonprofit organizations can now communicate with supporters more quickly and easily than ever before. Moreover, modern technology offers nonprofits sophisticated analytics and targeted messaging capabilities that bring newfound opportunities to reach potential donors, volunteers, and advocates on a much larger scale than ever before. The digital landscape is ever-changing, which is causing the nonprofit sector to consistently trail behind other industries when it comes to adopting new digital tools and practices. According to a survey on nonprofits conducted by NetChange in 2018, the organizations studied only reported that 11% managed their digital resources in a “highly effective” way. Thus, nonprofits need to prioritize investing time and resources into exploring and understanding the usage of these digital tools to ensure they do not get left behind in this increasingly competitive environment.

1. Facilitate achieving nonprofit’s goals

Technology integration into an organization’s systems is key to achieving a nonprofit’s goal. By investing in reliable, structured technology, nonprofits can eliminate potential opportunities of falling behind while maximizing return on investments. Not only will nonprofits have more efficient processes, but they can also generate more support. Ultimately, integrating technology into your organizational strategy and structure is essential for staying ahead of the ever-evolving digital landscape.

2. Solve Operational Concerns

Nonprofits need to stay up-to-date and innovative as they grow and evolve. Understanding the operations of your nonprofit is crucial when it comes to finding ways to optimize its performance. Investing in new technologies allows for effective business processes that can help you tackle any operational issues, no matter how small. Having a well-integrated CRM system is important too, as this keeps all parts of your nonprofit running at an optimal level and allows your staff to focus on developing meaningful donor relationships and expanding the reach of your organization.

3. Enhance the Efficiency and Productivity of the Employee

Nonprofits often have the challenge of attempting to keep up with ever-evolving technology despite having busy schedules. However, this task no longer needs to be daunting- it can serve as a fun way for employees to develop and improve their IT literacy. Thankfully, incorporating technology into a learning environment makes it simple and enjoyable to learn new skills. This can help nonprofit employees become more comfortable with the technology they use while having fun at the same time. By increasing IT literacy in this way, nonprofit workers get more involved in their work, which inevitably contributes to higher levels of engagement and job satisfaction. Ultimately, workplace satisfaction and engagement can be significantly improved with the introduction of a tech filled approach that doesn’t need to feel overwhelming or tedious.

4. Mitigate Risk by Enhancing Data Analysis

Nonprofits are expected to be operational efficient and effectively utilize their resources, while continually maximizing the reach of the organization. Data analysis plays an essential role in this, requiring the power of data analytics to uncover trends and identify areas for improvement. It’s common for nonprofits to have different departments and systems that don’t easily integrate and communicate with each other, causing data silos and frustrations when attempting to analyze and process data. Furthermore, the existing tools in place may not have the capacity to handle the data requirements of your nonprofit, which consequently further complicates the matter. Investing in modern technologies can help nonprofits streamline their data analysis process and unlock insights that will drive new strategies, as well as cultivate new opportunities for growth and new donor acquisition. Such investments will undoubtedly position a nonprofit towards continued success in the long run.

5. Improve Engagement and Experience

Nonprofits can benefit greatly from the use of technology to help improve their donor experience and engagement. Automating processes can help to reduce the risk of human error, meaning that donors receive higher quality stewardship with every interaction. In addition, it’s important to retain existing donors, which is easier to do if they have a positive experience when engaging with your nonprofit. Automation also saves time and increases efficiency within the organization. This extra time spent by employees allows them to focus on more rewarding aspects of their jobs, rather than just daily tasks.

How can PSM help your nonprofit?

PSM Partners provides nonprofit IT services and support for all types of nonprofit institutions in the Chicago area.  Our nonprofit managed IT services are multi-faceted and include basic, project-based support, cloud services, IT consulting, and cybersecurity.  We have provided managed IT services for many nonprofits and have an understanding of how to best provide IT support and security for their specific needs. Our nonprofit IT consulting services are ideal for organizations that need professional and strategic guidance to get the most out of their technology investments. We believe that effective use of technology starts with strategy.  We will discuss your technology goals with you so that we can form and implement effective short-term and long-term strategies that will help you best meet your goals. We can provide guidance on IT investments, standards, and policies, and make recommendations that we believe will help you improve the efficiency and security of your IT operations.  Our professionals can also help compliment your team and assist with overseeing your operation. You can call PSM at (312) 940-7830 or submit a contact form to learn more about how we can help you with your IT consulting, security and support needs.