I’m sure many of you shared the same thought over the past 20 months…thank goodness the pandemic arrived at a time where we had the internet and technology! Although some communities still struggle with internet connectivity, many of us felt comforted, connected and even saved by technology during this time. 

We can thank Netflix and YouTube for understanding our preferences and serving up dozens of movies, documentaries and lessons suited to our interests to help us pass time in lockdown.  

We can thank Zoom for connecting us with each other and during our time of isolation and need. In 2020 our family held a Zoom Christmas, New Year’s Eve party, and we even held a very tearful funeral by Zoom.  

Technology connected us, helped us, and comforted us in our time of need…it even made us feel a little more human by allowing us to stay connected to people and information we needed to just get through. The power of technology transformed our experience during this dark time. 

The widespread adoption of technology was certainly boosted by the pandemic but it had actually been advancing at an exponential pace already. Even before the pandemic, we could see how technology was disrupting every industry and every sector.  No sector was immune, not even the nonprofit sector.  

Blockbuster was replaced by Netflix. Expensive long-distance calls were replaced by Skype and Zoom. The camera, daytimer, and even the compass have been replaced by the smartphone.  

But it’s not just things in our daily life that have been transformed by technology, the act of “doing good” – pursuing a mission whether it be for social, environmental, health reasons or otherwise – has also been transformed by technology. The pandemic has served to accelerate both the pace and our adoption of technology. 

What exactly has changed? 

How we go about helping people has changed; it is more personalized, preventative and proactive. We can thank technology for being able to analyze large amounts of data to understand our needs and provide us information to meet our needs beyond our Netflix watchlist.  

Some examples: 

• The upcoming Nonprofit Digital Transformation Summit will profile two use cases in the 211 Ontario network on how technology is bringing whole-person, personalized care through the use of data and technology. 
• Tarjimly connects refugees to ordinary people that volunteer their time to provide translation service to a refugee in crisis;   
• Settlement Calgary has an app that provides comprehensive information for new immigrants so that they can access this information anytime and anywhere;  

• Legal-aid centres like Montreal’s Justice-Bot are using Artificial Intelligence and the internet to improve access to legal information and to help people to determine the likelihood that they will win any legal action.  

Where we help people is changing – Bricks and mortar locations are increasingly being displaced by apps, chatbots, text chat, and virtual meetings, and this has helped people to have instant and 24-hour access to help.  

• The first reason nonprofits should adopt digital technologies is because people like – and need – to have quick access to information that is personalized.

People want to access the right information, at the right time, and in the way that is most convenient for them. 

The ‘players’ have changed as well. No longer is it the exclusive domain of government and nonprofits to help people.  Now we have for-profit companies, BCorporations, and hybrid social enterprises in the “doing good” space because they are leveraging technology and they are doing it very well.  

• The second most important reason for nonprofits to adopt digital technologies is to compete. 

Governments across Canada are opening the doors to private enterprises to provide what was traditionally exclusively the domain of nonprofits because they have savvy digital solutions and a strong competency in data analytics that provides evidence of the impact of their programs. 

What else has changed? Technology is now affordable for nonprofits to use, especially technology that streamlines time-consuming administrative tasks in accounting, fundraising and operations. Not only are these technologies affordable, they are also producing significant time savings that allow nonprofits to allocate time to more value-producing tactics that strengthen impact and resilience. 

For example, the bookkeeper can save 50% to 80% of their time processing timesheets, expense claims and reconciliations and shift that time to developing a reserve strategy, or performing other financial planning and analysis tasks that contribute to building a resilient organization. 

The fundraiser can save the same amount of time by automating the stewardship process and redirecting that time savings to building relationships with new and existing donors. 

• The third reason to adopt digital technologies is to shift time from micro, time-stealing transactional processes to those that are macro value-add activities that increase resilience.  

Take for example the phone operator at a suicide distress contact centre, or a Program Director looking to understand the socio-economic impact of their organization’s programs to prove their impact to funder – they will not be replaced by technology but instead are being powered by it.  

The Executive Director can strengthen the output, productivity and performance of teams by shifting their time from micros administrative tasks to macro strategy and value-producing tasks. 

• The fourth reason for nonprofits to adopt digital strategies is so that they can strengthen their impact.  

There’s no looking back. Digital technologies are a fundamental part of the foundation of ‘doing good’. 

Digital technologies are a necessary part of nonprofit strategies and tactics from programs offered to clients or members and to the backend operations as well. 

Or, as Maureen James from Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) has said “Digital infrastructure is social infrastructure”. 

• The fifth reason for nonprofits to adopt digital strategies is because using digital technology is the way forward. 

Want to be further inspired?  

Learn more about digital technologies including an understanding of the specific use cases and opportunities for nonprofits, and learn ways to strengthen organizational readiness by attending the Nonprofit Digital Transformation Online Summit and Technology Showcase on January 18 and 19, 2022. Get your summit pass at www.goodcastingsummit.com.  

Author: Betty Ferreira FCPA, FCMA  

Betty Ferreira FCPA, FCMA is a Strategic Advisor, Coach and Trainer specializing in digital, financial and strategic transformation of nonprofit organizations and is the CEO of Goodcasting, Goodcasting Academy and the Goodcasting Summit and Trade Show.