7 Dos And Don'ts For Nonprofit Technology

Nonprofits have embraced technology, but that doesn't mean they have all done so with open arms. It's this factor that will determine whether or not your organization will have success with the various new devices and software available.

Holly Ross, former executive director of the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) in Portland, Ore., and now head of the Drupal Association, set out a list of Dos and Don’ts to make dealing with technology much easier:

Do:

• Let mission and strategy be the guides when making technology decisions.
• Establish strong systems. Staff can’t get mission-critical work done if they have to reboot the system every half-hour.
• Plan. A crystal ball isn’t necessary to plan for technology needs.
• Evaluate continuously. Learning from experience isn’t possible without stopping to reflect from time to time.

Don't:

• Make technology decisions based solely on cost. It is only one factor in determining the value and expense of technology.
• Forget to include staff in technology decisions. Allies will be needed while new systems are being implemented.
• Select mission-critical software such as a donor database without first documenting key business processes.