Is Technology Overhead or Critical Infrastructure?
In the social sector, investment in infrastructure technology is a critical part of service delivery in the digital era—and yet, it's often overlooked in favor of investment in programs or innovative projects. This widens the gap between large well-funded nonprofits and small organizations often devoted to underserved communities.
Changing this dynamic requires effort both from funders and from nonprofits. Tech Impact and the Technology Association of Grantmakers teamed up to create a series of resources to guide you in this work. These resources are free to download—just complete the form to sign up.
For funders, these resources include:
- Case studies from a funder's and nonprofit's perspectives
- Five Things to Look for When Funding a Technology Project
- Future-Proof Your Grantees: 10 Ways to Fund Nonprofits for Long-Term Success
- A strategic technology plan template
- A roles-based nonprofit data & tech skill-building checklist to share with grantees or applicants
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Why These Two Very Different Family Foundations Agree On the Importance of Nonprofit IT
- Case studies from a funder's and nonprofit's perspectives
- A strategic technology plan template
- A roles-based nonprofit data & tech skill-building checklist
- Making the Case for Tech: A Nonprofit Workbook and technology funding "pitch kit" Power Point template
- Return On Investment in Nonprofit Technology Decisions
- Why These Two Very Different Family Foundations Agree On the Importance of Nonprofit IT
Investing in digital infrastructure means a commitment to building digital skills, capacity, and new platforms to unlock the knowledge, passion, and collective strength of civil society over time as the relationship between technology and society continues to evolve. As society pauses to rally public sector investment in infrastructure after the pandemic, we invite the social sector to do the same.
These resources were funded by, and created in collaboration with, TAG. Learn more at tagtech.org.
