It is safe to say that there is not one nonprofit that hasn’t benefited from some type of technology. One of the biggest contributions technology offers nonprofits is the ability to conduct business on a global scale. With today’s technology even the smallest grassroots organization can reach a worldwide audience.

Social Media
Thanks to social media, nonprofits with a small budget can spread their message for nothing more than the cost of an internet connection. Yet, the challenge remains for each organization to find the best social media for it mission. Not all organizations see the safe benefit from social media. Some organizations make the biggest impact on Instagram, others do really well on Twitter. Others find a niche on YouTube or Facebook.  

No matter what platform, the way to be the most successful is to have a plan. Without a plan your organization probably won’t have as much success. It is important to have an editorial calendar, and a staff member (or members) dedicated to producing fresh content. One of the most important things is to remember to engage with your audience.

Data Analytics
Data analytics give organizations deeper insights into how well their target market is responding to their campaigns. Many donor management systems already have data analytics embedded in the program, but you can also find outside analytics programs.

Many analytics lets you see how your campaign is performing in real time. In addition, you can use open/click through information to better tailor your future messages to each individual donor.

Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding and social media go together like peanut butter and jelly. Crowdfunding lets smaller organizations tap into their donors social network to increase their reach.

Crowd-funding campaigns make a great addition to traditional fundraising campaigns. Crowdfunding can help a nonprofit fund an specific need. For example, at back to school time an organization that works with youth might run a school supplies campaign.

This type of campaign can run until that need is fulfilled. Meanwhile, the traditional fundraising campaign can fund the overall mission of the organization.

Social Fundraising/Peer-to-Peer fundraising
Social media allows people to stay connected and it can help non-profits fundraise. Social fundraising or peer-to-peer fundraising is about empowering your current donors with the ability to share and raise funds for your organization.

Mobile Friendly
The desktop PC isn’t dead, but it isn’t where a majority of people do their browsing, emailing and social networking; that is being done on mobile devices. Which means your donor, or potential donor is reading your call to action on the bus to work.

That means you have to make sure they can easily navigate your site, and more importantly that it is easy for them to make a donation to your organization from a screen the size of an index card.