The workplace is changing and it’s not isolated to small businesses. Nonprofits increasingly rely on technology to streamline processes, improve communications, and connect employees with the resources they need when they need them. 

What used to be referred to as “modern technologies” like video conferencing or cloud computing is now becoming a standard in many offices. These digital tools help your small nonprofit communicate better across departments or even globally!

As we’ve now discovered, team members don't have to be in the same office at all times: you may have a team of people who work remotely from various destinations around the world who collaborate through videoconferencing technology and email, chat apps, and online forums. This makes it possible for employees to take charge of their careers by designing flexible plans that suit each individual's needs while retaining access to high-quality communication technology to keep them connected and productive.

If you’ve fallen behind with today’s technology, there are three primary areas you can begin to enhance immediately to see results:

1. Accounting or Finance Operations

2. Digital Marketing

3. Overall Donor Experience

Add or upgrade your accounting software

Accounting software is a great way to streamline your financial process and provide more oversight to your donors and partners. By using this type of program, you can manage all aspects of the accounting needs in one place, accessible when and where you need it. A formal accounting software (as opposed to keeping sensitive financial information in a simple spreadsheet) also allows you to extract more detailed reports to help you budget all year long. It also keeps your financial transparency strong as reports can be generated directly from the software and presented to your board members regularly via your executive director board report.

When you're on top of your product management process, you're busy putting yourself in the best position possible in terms of building a sustainable business or nonprofit.

Incorporate Digital Marketing

Technology has a way of streamlining business processes and making things more efficient. Marketing is no exception. There are digital marketing tools for every nonprofit, even if you have a small staff, limited budget, or both! Marketing is no longer limited to traditional methods like print ads or billboards on the side of the road; nonprofits must think about social media, website design, email marketing, and integrating technology into every message and strategy. If you don’t have a digital marketing strategy that capitalizes on automation, audience building, and planning, make this one a priority! Your donors (and future donors) are counting on you to make it easy and convenient for them to invest with you!

Improve the overall Donor Experience

Large and small nonprofits can benefit from infusing some technology into their donor experience. From chat programs that integrate directly into your website to automating social media messages, email list building, QR codes, and more, every experience a potential donor has with your organization forms an impression. Many of these digital tools require very little investment (both time and financial) and can be easily adapted to meet your nonprofit’s needs.

Nonprofits are no longer exempt from putting the full power of technology behind their efforts. If you’re looking for the latest digital tools or templates to use in your nonprofit, be sure you’re receiving my emails where I share just that a few times a month! Have questions about your digital tools? Drop a comment below!

Until next time,

Andrea

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