At the start of the new millennium the typical non-profit organization was in a bad way in terms of technology. Non-profit staff were generally working with old computers, unreliable networks, slow Internet connections, and were not even sure if important data was being backed up. The price of technology (hardware, software and IT services) was exorbitant and IT budgets were small, if they existed at all. It left non-profits at a decided disadvantage when it came to possessing the technological tools required to perform the work of the organization. Many smaller non-profits were at the receiving end of large for-profit organizations technology donations, obtaining such equipment as old, slow computers that did little to help productivity and efficiency. That was just the way things were and most individuals working in the non-profit sector were resigned to the notion that they could be at a technological disadvantage indefinitely.
And then things started to change, most notably in the past decade. IT hardware prices started to steadily decline, including for computers, monitors, laptops, servers, etc. At the same time, organizations providing technology programs, products and services to non-profits started to increase in number. This was a result of non-profit tech organizations forming to help their non-profit counterparts, as well as many larger IT companies and service providers taking the non-profit sector more seriously as customers. The recent trend to ‘cloud’ applications and storage has also helped to tilt the technology landscape even further in favour of lower pricing and more diversified access to technology. In less than twenty years, non-profits have gone from a disadvantaged position in terms of their technology power to a privileged position – we are now in the era of the Non-Profit Technology Advantage. Non-profits now have access to many of the best technology tools and systems much more affordably than before, and there is no longer any reason to not expect the best in IT infrastructure and solutions.
One ongoing, typical detriment remains, however, and that is that many non-profits are relatively small organizations, that likely have smaller staff complement and limited financial resources. They typically don’t have the in-house expertise to take advantage of the new technological reality. Based on the non-profit organization’s size, it may not have the resources to hire a dedicated IT staff member, never mind an IT Manager or Director. Many agencies are performing IT on their own, where it is quite common to have a tech-savvy staff member doubling as the “IT guy”. Or the organization may be at the mercy of an IT support services company that is providing the day-to-day reactionary support for an inadequate IT infrastructure but not offering the solutions and planning that are required to advance the organization’s technology. Non-profits deserve the best tech tools and there’s no reason that can’t be a reality, even with a modest IT budget.
That is where The Wisdom Group comes in. Our technology consultant can perform an assessment on where your technology and network stand now and then point you in the right direction. We can show you the great and inexpensive solutions available to you and provide you with a roadmap on to how to get to where you need to be, technologically speaking. Our consultant has years of experience working in the non-profit space and knows all of the areas in which you can get incredible savings and value in your tech hardware, software, cloud applications, etc. After all, technology provides the tools for the work that you produce, whether it is office HR & Payroll systems, customer relationship software , fundraising applications through the use of computers, laptops, tablets, etc.
You deserve to have the best and most up-to-date tools to be able to perform your work. And the best thing is, it is now within your grasp.
Watch for upcoming blogs, where you will be provided the information required to start your tech renaissance. Even if your current technology is adequate, you can realistically strive to elevate your organization to an even better place. You will learn about important technology programs available to non-profit organizations and will be given the recommendations and tips to allow you to get the best software and hardware at discounted prices. Stay tuned, other topics will include IT planning, network & Wi-Fi considerations, cloud applications and potentially anything else that can help a non-profit organization gain a technology advantage.
thewisdomgroupca.blog 