february 16, 2006
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Technology for Nonprofits. February 16, 2006. Why Technology Matters A Framework for Thinking About Technology How to Get Started Resources. Agenda. When used appropriately, IT helps nonprofits achieve efficiencies and deliver services in new ways: Redirect energy from admin to clients - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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February 16, 2006
Technology for Nonprofits
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• Why Technology Matters
• A Framework for Thinking About Technology
• How to Get Started
• Resources
Agenda
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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• 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
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• 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?
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• Technology roadmap grounded in your mission
• Tool for budgeting and fundraising• Framework for decision-making• Living, evolving written document
What is A Plan?
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• 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?
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• 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?
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– 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
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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
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• 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
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Q & A
Jack McMillanMichael Nachman
TechBridgewww.techbridge.org