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2016 Nonprofit Tech Roundup

2016A new year has begun and it is time to evaluate how nonprofits have benefitted from technology in the previous year. Technology is ubiquitous, even the smallest grassroots organization has access to affordable technology that allows them to broadcast their mission on a global scale.



Social Media
Social media is now a given for nonprofits. From big to small every organization has some social media presence. The important thing is finding the channel that best suits your organization and helps you reach your target market.

Not all organizations see the same benefits on each social media channel. Some organizations have made their mark on Twitter, while others struggle with that venue.  

Live Streaming
Since its inception social media has been about being, well, social. In order for an organization to be successful they have to connect with their core market and interact with them, no matter what platform they are using.

Using a live streaming service that is integrated into an existing social media platform, like Facebook’s Live or Instagrams Boomerang let nonprofits show a very human side to their organization.

Of course, 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.

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
A new report by Pew Research found that 22 percent of Americans have used crowdfunding. And, that number will continue to grow as more organizations tap into the power of the crowd. Crowdfunding lets smaller organizations tap into their donors social network to increase their reach. So as an organization’s social media presence grows so does its ability to run a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Still many organizations see crowd-funding campaigns as an add on to traditional fundraising campaigns. They use crowdfunding to raise money to fund a specific need. For example, a animal shelter might run a campaign to generate funds to perform a needed operation on a shelter animal.

Donor Management Software
Donor management software has come a long way. It is no longer a one size fits all proposition. Organizations are now able to purchase customizable, scalable packages. The software is available as a service (cloud based) allowing organizations to get the exact modules they need. Which keeps their costs down. Also, as the software is cloud based it offers workers flexibility and the ability to work remotely.

Collaboration Apps
Collaboration apps range from something as simple as a shared Google doc to specific apps such as Slack or Dropbox. These programs let workers access data from anywhere and work with team members who could be scattered around the globe.
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