Is Your Technology Working for You?
Resolve to make tech a priority for your nonprofit in 2025.
When I ask clients to list the things that are eating up a lot of brain space, tech is often in the top five. Their concerns generally fall into one of four camps:
They are relying on platforms that are not sufficient to support growth, such as using spreadsheets to manage donor relationships. They would like to upgrade, but don’t know where to begin.
They have acquired platforms that are designed to support nonprofit growth but are not using them – or are using them in only the most superficial ways (or, alternatively, tech operations are disjointed and clunky). Who has the time to manage this process?
They have the platforms and are using lots of features but want to be sure their systems are integrated and that they can capitalize on their technology investment. Budget resources are precious!
They cannot count on the data being accurate. It is messy, inconsistent, and reports are often done manually because staff does not trust what comes out of the system.
Does one of these scenarios sound familiar to you? If so, you can resolve – today! – to reap what technology offers.
Occasionally we work with a client that, despite growth, is using seriously outdated methods for reaching stakeholders and managing relationships. That might include relying on standard email platforms like Outlook and Gmail for marketing and trying to manage donor relationships and fundraising data using spreadsheets. Our tech experts have helped such organizations evaluate their tech needs today, and for the near future, and to come up with a workable technology plan to get the client’s team on track. When needed, our professionals will help with set up and training as well, to make sure the plan doesn’t wither from neglect.
I asked Jillian Campayno, a member of the More Than Giving Co. tech team, to share some of her experiences with our nonprofit clients, to add a little more insight into how a nonprofit tech expert can help an organization get on its feet, technology-wise, and to enjoy all of the benefits of the platforms available today.
“We are currently working with an organization that has set a goal to evaluate the tools and platforms it uses to support operations, communications, and donor engagement,” Jillian explains. “Through a comprehensive technology assessment, we are identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and strengthen their technological foundation. This includes providing actionable recommendations tailored to their needs and supporting the implementation of tools that align with their goals for growth and impact.”
More often MTG is asked to help sort out a technology mess. Platforms have been added in a piecemeal fashion. The data is not accurate (garbage in, garbage out)! There is a lot of duplication of effort on one hand, and the loss of valuable information on the other. In one example, our tech team helped an organization clean up its act, including:
Reviewing and cleaning its email marketing database, removing redundancies and standardizing data fields for consistency. They then audited and streamlined tags and groupings to improve segmentation, and optimized automations.
Synchronizing email marketing with CRM, ensuring data flows to capture vital communication information and using that information to create donor journey automations.
Adding an event ticketing platform to streamline event planning and implementation and integrating it with both the email and CRM platforms.
Documenting the changes and providing process recommendations for maintaining the newly polished system in the future.
With email marketing and CRM fully integrated and running smoothly, the staff has the information – and the time – to focus on growing its audience and donor base.
"We recently helped a client in a situation like this as well,” Jillian says. “After working with an organization to transition from an external email marketing platform to the CRM’s integrated email marketing function, we were able to utilize specific lists and advanced segmentation based on the constituent’s role within the organization, their giving history, sponsorship status, etc. This approach significantly expanded the client’s outreach and enhanced donor engagement, creating a more targeted and effective communication strategy."
When your email marketing and CRM work seamlessly together, it frees up your staff to focus on what really matters—building relationships and growing your audience and donor base. Technology should work for you, not the other way around.
What about organizations that have platforms in place and are getting a lot out of them? Do they really need help? My tech team suggests that an outsiders’ perspective can make an enormous difference. Sometimes just a few tweaks in the right direction can really raise the bar for what a nonprofit is getting out of its technology investment.
"Even if you feel like you’re maximizing the potential of your technology and data processes, in an ever-changing tech world there is always room for improvement,” Jillian further advises. “Growth requires adopting a mindset of continuous improvement to strengthen your organization’s impact and achieve sustained success."
Technology can feel overwhelming. Guidance from technology experts who have deep nonprofit experience – that last part is so important – can help an organization invest wisely in tech that makes sense now, while planning for the tech you will need in the future.
Your partner in tackling technology,
VB
More Than Giving’s fractional technology professionals understand the unique needs of nonprofit enterprises. They know how to prioritize your mission from the back end to front of house to ensure that your team has what it needs to develop and maintain your organization’s most important stakeholder relationships. Click here to learn more – and to schedule a complimentary consultation.