Getting Help With Your Technology Plan

Most nonprofits will seek help at some point with their technology planning process. Getting external help from someone who is more technically inclined will increase your likelihood of success. Below are some of the different sources of help to investigate in your community.

Technology Assistance Providers

Some technical assistance provider organizations have developed full technology planning programs to assist nonprofits. Some chapters of the United Way do technology planning, so a chapter close to you may just be the place to start. Netcorps with offices in Oregon and North Carolina, trains recent college graduates to perform assessments and other technology services to nonprofits. NPower affiliates around the country provide assessment and planning serves to member organizations. Lastly, NTEN, the Nonprofit Technology Network, brings together a large community of individuals and organizations that help nonprofits with various technology needs. See the Technical Assistance Providers Resource List to find the organization nearest you.

Consultants

A technology planning consultant should be someone not only with planning experience and technological expertise, but an ability to think in nonprofit terms. Solutions that would be appropriate for businesses often do not fit nonprofits, which have different funding and governance structures. For example, funding is often given in lump sums, even over several years, so organizations often can't lease equipment because they can't be guaranteed the same money for the same purpose year after year. Consultants need to understand that revenue and service delivery are often loosely linked, and multiple funders may have multiple reporting requirements that could change each year. In addition, organizations often have a harder time justifying technology expenses to funders; those working with nonprofits should thus be keen to alternate resources such as donated or discounted equipment.

Therefore, you should be aggressive about communicating your needs and your nonprofit context. It is crucial to have thought through your needs and goals for technology use before you talk to a consultant. For more ideas on explaining your nonprofit context, see the article . For more information on finding and working with a consultant, see the Consultants section on Techsoup.

Places to look for consultants who are experienced in doing technology planning with nonprofits include:

• Technology assistance providers - Even if your local technical assistance provider does not do technology planning itself, it may be best qualified to refer you to a consultant who has experience doing technology planning for nonprofits.

• Community foundations - Many of them realize that the impact of the nonprofits they support depends on an effective use of technology. They may have technology planning resources themselves, or be able to refer you.

• Colleagues - Other nonprofits who have done technology planning may be able to tell you which consultants are good and how to get the most out of working with them.

• Nonprofit management centers - These are often good sources of help or referrals, and there are thousands of them.

Volunteers, Interns and Friends

In some cases, people who are affiliated with your organization but are not staff members may be able to help. Board members, volunteers or interns, if properly qualified and committed, can complete parts of the process.

Filling out hardware and software inventory worksheets is a relatively easy task to delegate, since the guidelines are clear. For this task, recruiting a new volunteer or intern is feasible. But be sure that you find someone who is very comfortable with finding this type of information, or you will need to train them how to do this. Local colleges, universities and computer trade schools can be good places to look for interns. See the Volunteers section on Techsoup for details on finding a volunteer and structuring a volunteer project.

What's Next

For more involved aspects of technology planning, it's best to work with someone who has an ongoing relationship with your organization, has technical knowledge, and is familiar with nonprofits. Do you have a board member or someone else affiliated with your organization who has technology expertise? Do you have a longtime volunteer who knows you well and has the expertise to lead a technology planning process? TechSoup does not recommend bringing in a new volunteer cold to do a technology plan. Be sure that whomever you bring in can address the needs and goals of your organization. Make sure that you don't adopt a new technology just because a board member happens to work for the company that makes it.