Tech trends being embraced by NGOs in the last decade

The last decade has witnessed a massive percentage of the world’s population come online. Digitization therefore has become a critical aspect for any brand to connect with it’s users. Even nonprofits who traditionally are slow to adapt to new technology due to lack of resources have caught on. There are many nonprofits who are adopting digital tools and solutions that are essential for surviving and thriving in today’s environment.

These tools are transforming the way nonprofits operate on a day-to-day basis and are generating real-time results. Among the many tech trends by NGOs in the last decade, here are a few that can serve as guiding steps for your organization to get started with digitization :

1. Increased digital presence and storytelling

Understanding that a sound digital presence is essential to communicating their identity, vision and objectives to civil society, nonprofits have increasingly expanded their digital footprint. From basic websites to a fully optimized web presence, the need to be online has been understood and adopted by many NGOs across the spectrum.

Organizations have recognized the importance of having online channels that lend legitimacy, professionalism, and communicate their narrative. In addition, interested audiences, volunteers and donors can find the information they need anytime.

Creating engaging content across text, video and audio formats like posts, reels and podcasts have caught on as it facilitates storytelling, attracts larger audiences and helps them become a part of the nonprofits’ ecosystem in the long-term.

2. Gradually moving to the Cloud

A Microsoft study shows that switching to the cloud can save up to 93% of energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 93% as well. Not only are cloud solutions better for the environment, they also go a long way in boosting efficiency and cutting down costs for organizations.

Be it communicating and working with your team mate a few feet away or miles across from you, cloud storage and collaboration has alleviated the burden of tedious administrative work while also reducing the space needed on-premises for managing physical assets, which are often susceptible to being damaged and lost.

Helping your organization provide a set-up that is familiar to today’s digital citizens, more and more nonprofits have chosen to move to the cloud to save costs while also being able to employ a larger remote workforce for a more frictionless and meaningful experience.

3. Transition towards online fundraising

Online awareness today has enabled a robust culture of both seeking and giving. As opposed to physical fundraisers with huge overheads that could only focus on niche causes, individuals can now go online, research NGOs and contribute directly to their efforts or even via crowdsourcing campaigns.

Online platforms have gone far in lending transparency to digital transactions and allowing donors to continuously follow the impact that their contributions are resulting in. Nonprofits have found that it increases reach, provides better visibility and even facilitates developing long-term relations with donors for recurring funding.

Offering convenience, legitimacy and secure transactions while reducing the time and cost that accompanies physical drives, online fundraising, especially against the backdrop of Covid has emerged as the way forward for NGOs and concerned donors alike.

4. Social media tools and hybrid approaches (amplification)

Be it in-person meet and greets or virtual webinars and forums, NGOs have been prompted to leverage a mix of online and offline fundraising by including social media best practices to drive awareness and footfalls to advance social impact.

In the recent past, studies published by Tech Report have seen Facebook emerge as the most popular social media platform with 92% NGOs around the world using it to reach out to supporters. Social media has also been especially popular for nonprofits in reaching out to younger generations and driving further visibility for their mission and their organization.

An all-encompassing tool for raising awareness, connecting, raising funds and even recruiting, nonprofits have increasingly internalized the concept of using social media as an agent for change.

5. Internal CRM / Donor management

Helping NGOs track, collect and manage data relating to their audiences, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools have assisted these organizations in building more authentic relations and increasing engagement. As a result, more and more nonprofits have been adopting CRM software for storing all their data in one place, streamlining marketing efforts and managing the flow of cash, information and events while allowing all staff to operate on the same page.

In a sector fraught with time-bound challenges, lack of resources and a constant influx of information, CRMs in the recent past have facilitated synchronization, reduced inefficiency across multiple daily operations and further supported the core mission and goal of the organization.

On the digital bandwagon...

With digital infrastructure having become essential at the grassroots level while continuing to scale new heights, there is more scope than ever before for nonprofits to leverage the tools available at hand, and inspire and implement meaningful change via the Internet and its services.

In working towards this next frontier, it is important for nonprofits to upskill, upgrade and create long lasting value not only for civil society but for the organization itself to be more agile and achieve significant change.