tech governance can accelerate the nonprofit sector

 Board members steer a nonprofit organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound ethical and legal policies, maintaining strong financial management, and ensuring the nonprofit has adequate resources to advance its mission. This model has made nonprofit boards strong, stable, and a powerful engine for nonprofit sector success… but it’s missing a key component: technology governance.  

Technology governance is an emerging field that addresses the growing importance of technology in society. It extends the foundation of financial and legal oversight to technology, recognizing that organizations need sound and ethical technical policies, clear and contextually appropriate counsel on technology choices, and access to the tech resources they need to advance their mission.

Cybersecurity attacks on nonprofits are increasing 17% a year. 

Nonprofits hold a host of personally identifiable information for key stakeholders such as donors and clients. This creates security, legal and ethical risks that require governance oversight.

How is the board ensuring the organization's data is stored and used safely, ethically, and in compliance with the law?

Tech-savvy nonprofits are 4x more likely to achieve their missions.

 Technology is critical to increasing a nonprofit's efficiency, and both measuring and maximizing its impact. Nonprofit technology spans everything from client communications to fundraising to volunteer management; tech-focused nonprofits may also develop their own software to deliver services to the community. 

How is the board ensuring the organization is optimizing technology use and leveraging resources most efficiently to make the greatest possible impact in the community?

Nonprofits allocate one-third of the budget to tech that companies do.

Nonprofit boards are responsible for ensuring that their organization has the resources to deliver on their mission. This includes not only cash but skilled volunteers, the right hires, and carefully chosen product donations.  

How is a board identifying the tech resources they need, from vendors to advisory to staff, and leveraging their networks to find them?

 Only 36% of nonprofits have an established policy for making technology decisions. 

Technology is changing rapidly, changing the range of tools nonprofits engage to deliver programs, measure impact, manage teams, and raise funds. It is also changing the lives of the people they serve and the communities in which they operate. 

How is the board tracking changes in technology and deciding what to embrace or change—and what to leave behind—to ensure a sustained impact?