How to Fund Nonprofit Tech: A Guide for Funders and Nonprofits
6 Emerging Practices in Funding Nonprofit Tech
New to funding nonprofit technology or seeking to evolve your practice?
Published in July 2023, this guide highlights six strategies that are increasingly becoming best practices by grantmakers who fund operational technology for their nonprofit partners. From cohort-based learning to providing direct services alongside funding, these practices can ensure that your investment in technology infrastructure supports nonprofit sustainability and increased impact.
Based on interviews, meetings, and webinars with members of the Technology Association of Grantmakers, this whitepaper identifies and explores the leading practices that have emerged as innovative approaches to funding nonprofit technology. Micro case studies include practices from:
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
- Okta for Good
- Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
- Siegel Family Endowment
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Tech Funders 101: Webinar Recording
Since 2020, we have seen a rise in infrastructure investment. However, one type of infrastructure investment is often left behind: digital infrastructure.
In the social sector, this investment is a critical part of service delivery in the digital era—and yet, it’s often overlooked in favor of program investment.
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Resources for Funders and Nonprofits
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 click the links below.
For funders, resources include:
- 6 Emerging Practices in Funding Tech
- Recording from “Tech Funders 101” event in April 2022 | Passcode: %1xSf%Wq
- Case studies from both funder and nonprofit 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 to share with nonprofits and grantees
- A roles-based nonprofit data & tech skill-building checklist to share with grantees or applicants
For nonprofits, resources include:
- Pitch Kit: Making the Case for Tech (PPT and Workbook)
- Case studies from both funder and nonprofit perspectives
- A strategic technology plan template
- A nonprofit data & tech skill-building checklist for use in hiring and planning training
- Return On Investment in Nonprofit Decisions
Additional Reading
For additional reading, we also recommend two recent articles on the need for funding technology:
- Grant Makers Should Stop Resisting Nonprofits’ Pleas for Increased Technology Funding, Chronicle of Philanthropy, January 2022
- Why These Two Very Different Family Foundations Agree On the Importance of Nonprofit IT (PDF), Inside Philanthropy, August 2021
Shared with permission. Subscribe to Inside Philanthropy for in-depth coverage of foundations and major donors.
Funding For This Series
This series is funded in part through an award from Okta for Good.
About TAG and TechImpact
The Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization that promotes the strategic, innovative, and equitable use of technology in philanthropy to solve problems and improve lives. With over 1700 members in 300 foundations throughout North America and beyond, TAG provides technology professionals and “accidental techies” in philanthropy with knowledge, networks, mentoring, and educational opportunities.
Tech Impact is a nonprofit on a mission to empower communities and nonprofits to use technology to better serve the world. We offer a comprehensive suite of technology services that includes managed IT support, data and strategy services, telecommunications, and cloud computing integration and support. If your nonprofit needs cybersecurity support or other technology consulting help, please complete the form to schedule a call with one of our tech advisors.