The simple utilization of technology can mean the difference between success and failure in today’s nonprofit world. Studying your digital audience and maintaining your software and hardware to meet your audiences’ demands is the key to many facets of nonprofit organizations, including accounting, marketing, social media, fundraising, donor management and more. But the effective use of technology will set your organization apart through stimulation of innovation, community-driven collaboration, improvement in efficacy, enhancement of public value, and capacity-building delivery on your mission.
According to NetChange’s long-running survey of technology use by nonprofits, only 11% view their organizations’ approaches to digital as highly effective. As a result, “nonprofits are leaving significant impact on the table,” noted Jason Mogus and Austen Levihn-Coon in the Stanford Social Innovation Review. It is no secret that the nonprofit sector tends to operate on tight budgets, making the cost of modern technology seem out of reach to many. Nonprofit Technology Network’s annual report shows that small nonprofit organizations spend around 13.2% of their overall budget on technology, while large nonprofit organizations spend around 2.8% of their overall budgets. On average, nonprofits can expect to spend roughly 2-4% of their annual revenue on technology.
Data is critical for any organization to continue to grow and access new funding opportunities. Technology that can access reports showing your company’s impact will make a world of difference to funders and will avoid the headache of gathering excel spreadsheets and never-ending paper forms and lists. We are all hard at work, with the goal to assist and help as many people as possible and there are very few ways to touch base with other organizations. Through technology, you can get to know the other movers and shakers in your community. Collaboration through a digital platform is monumental. Luckily, you can find all of those features, and much more, in one place- Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN).
At CAN, we fully support a culturally competent, sensitive, and inviting web presence and web-based resource and believe that everyone should have the same opportunity to access technology-based programming. That is why our emerging digital technology was created: to protect and advance the fundamental rights of all people, particularly historically underrepresented people. It emphasizes the benefits of technology and minimizes the risks, while keeping its focus on more effective ways to identify gaps and opportunities. The CAN is a wide portfolio support initiatives that connect low-to moderate income communities to jobs, education, housing, and a more economically secure and equitable future. Simply put, the CAN is an intersection of philanthropy, impact, and measurement. You can view a full list of functions, features, and capabilities of the CAN, here!
Right now, CAN is granting 75 in-kind grants to organizations for “Black Level” CAN portal licensure through The Momentum to Modernize Grant (M2M). M2M is intended to provide technology that produces transformational resources for nonprofit infrastructure, efforts to scale, and implementation support. Click here to learn more about M2M.
