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Time and time again, we’ve seen how the power of technology opens new doors for nonprofits. For example, thanks to the ubiquity of the internet, nonprofits can now fundraise in a variety of ways around the world and around the clock. Similarly, social media provides exciting opportunities for organizations to connect and engage with their supporters where they are. 

 

Since evolving technology holds the potential to further nonprofit work, it’s important for your organization to reassess and expand its technology stack from time to time. This helps ensure your nonprofit is getting the most out of its technology and that you’re staying up-to-date on the best practices and solutions that will help you move your mission forward. 

 

In this article, we’ll walk through five considerations that you should keep in mind while expanding your nonprofit technology stack. 

1. Begin by assessing the technology you currently use. 

Before you make new investments, take stock of your current technology stack by asking yourself:

 

• What tools and solutions does my team have access to? 
• Which ones are my team using the most? The least? Which tools do they feel most comfortable using, and which could they use additional training for? 
• What thoughts does my team have about our current suite of tools? 
• Do the solutions we use easily integrate with each other? 
• Do the vendors we work with hold to the highest standards of data privacy and security?
• Do our current tools have the ability to scale with the organization as it grows? 
• How much do our current solutions cost our organization, and where is there potential for cost savings? 

 

Here are some examples of observations you might make during a technology assessment when answering the questions above: 

 

• Our marketing expert feels confident using Canva and appreciates how easily it connects with our favorite email marketing platform. 
• Our team would benefit from working with a Salesforce consultant to learn how to better leverage the marketing features in Nonprofit Cloud. 
• Our development department has expressed interest in finding a prospecting screening tool that offers AI capabilities to further qualify potential donors. 
• Our current crowdfunding platform isn’t providing a worthwhile return on investment (ROI) and we may benefit from seeking out a more cost-effective solution. 

 

It can be challenging to dissect your current technology strategy and toolkit, especially if it has been a while since you made any updates. However, this process will allow you to see what is working well and what needs to be improved in order for your nonprofit to carry out its work more successfully. 

2. Plan around your budget and your big-picture goals. 

Once you have a clear understanding of how well your current technology stack is serving your mission, you can plan to make positive changes. 

 

Of course, your nonprofit will have to handle the planning process with care. After all, your organization is likely working with a tight budget. Plus, you need to be purposeful in choosing new solutions to add to your technology stack. You want to be confident that what you’re really investing in is tangible outcomes for your mission. 

 

With this in mind, outline the budget you have to work with for purchasing or subscribing to new technology tools. Then revisit your organization’s big-picture goals to determine what tools can help you reach those goals. 

 

Here’s an example: Say your goal is to make it easier for your donors to give more to your cause. To accomplish this you might decide it would be wise to invest in text-to-give tools to make mobile giving simple and convenient. Or, you could choose to embed a matching gift database on your online donation form so donors can check their corporate matching gift eligibility and kickstart the matching process. 

3. Look into custom nonprofit solutions. 

As you shop around for solutions that meet your needs, keep in mind that technology is rarely one-size-fits-all. That means your organization either needs to adapt to the parameters of the tool you’re considering or ensure that your tool can be customized to meet your nonprofit’s unique needs. 

 

Use these tips to ensure that your tools are customized to your cause and workflows: 

• Choose vendors carefully. Seek out vendors that make it easy to customize their tools, whether they offer customization capabilities or services themselves or have a vast library of integrations to choose from. Even if you’re not interested in custom solutions now, you may be down the road, so it is ideal to choose a vendor that keeps that door open as a possibility. 

• Be mindful of how you initially set up your chosen solutions. When you begin using a new tool, it can be tempting to forego parts of the setup process to quickly weave the tool into your workflows. However, taking the time upfront to configure the solution, whether that involves incorporating your branding or setting up multiple user accounts, will pay off down the road as you set the foundation for efficient and effective use.   

• Leverage existing integrations. Integrations essentially allow two software tools to talk to each other and share data. When shopping for new tools, explore whether the tool offers integrations with any of the existing tools in your technology stack so you can streamline your work. For instance, Blackbaud’s extensive partner network highlights a variety of integration options.  

 

• Work with a developer to build out the features and functionalities you need. If you can’t find an out-of-the-box customization or integration that works for you, you may need to work with an experienced developer to tailor your new tools to your needs. 

 

Your nonprofit deserves technology that works for you, not technology that you have to bend over backward to understand and insert into your everyday tasks. Make sure to prioritize customization as you shop for new tools and implement them in your organization. 

4. Be prepared to invest in training.   

Implementing a new technology solution isn’t like turning on a light switch. Anticipate that it will take your team some time to get up and running with any new tool you invest in. 

 

Here are some ways to ensure you get the guidance you need to make the most out of the new additions to your technology stack: 

• Pay attention to the training opportunities offered by software vendors. Some vendors may provide free training while others may charge you extra for training sessions or training sessions beyond a certain amount of time, so be sure to ask about these costs upfront.     

• Provide hands-on training when possible. An active learning process will help your team members retain more information about your new tool and how to use it. If possible, opt for something like interactive training modules with knowledge checks instead of an hours-long, lecture-like training meeting. 

 

• Provide access to documentation and other resources after training concludes. It isn’t realistic to expect everyone using a new tool to remember everything they learned in initial training. Ensure they have easily accessible resources to turn to afterward when they have questions. 

 

Whether you’ve just invested in new web design tools or a new constituent relationship management system (CRM), remember that your team will inevitably experience a few growing pains and workflow slowdowns as you get familiar with the new solution. With the right training, however, you can work through slowdowns effectively and get as much value as possible from your new tools. 

5. Work with a nonprofit technology consultant. 

The prospect of assessing your technology, finding new solutions, and implementing them all on your own may feel overwhelming. After all, a lot is riding on your ability to choose the best tools for your organization and integrate them into your everyday workflows successfully. 

 

This is why some nonprofits choose to partner with a nonprofit technology consulting firm. These experts can help your nonprofit with everything from designing your technology strategy to data migration to providing ongoing support. Some even specialize in certain types of software or design custom solutions to ensure your organization gets the technology that works best for its mission. 

 

If you’re interested in working with a consulting firm, follow these steps to hire the right fit: 

 

• Review your organization’s needs for working with a technology consultant. 
• Discuss the project with your board and get their approval.
• Outline guidelines for the consulting engagement, like start and end dates and your budget. 
• Research top firms. 
• Draft a request for proposal (RFP) and send it to your top candidates. 
• Review the proposals you receive, interview candidates, and check their references. 
• Choose the consultant you want to work with!

 

At first glance, technology consulting may seem like another expense. In reality, it’s a wise investment that will help you not only build out your current technology stack successfully but also set you up with a strong technology strategy as your organization grows. 

Your nonprofit’s technology tools directly impact its ability to deliver the goals your team works toward every day. Keep these five considerations in mind as you work to expand your own technology stack!