The Digital Nonprofit – a project of TechSoup Connect Western Canada

Welcome to a world where automation is not just a buzzword but a transformative tool for nonprofits! Recently, at a TechSoup Connect BC event, Dan Lombardi from Mission Simplify demonstrated how strategic automation could fundamentally enhance donor engagement and operational efficiency. Here’s a snapshot of the insightful session, aimed at helping nonprofits harness the power of automation while still keeping personal connections at the core of their operations.

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A Message From Dan Lombardi

At Mission Simplify we specialize in providing tailored technological solutions for nonprofit organizations seeking to streamline their operations and amplify their impact. Leveraging our expertise in low-code and no-code applications, along with our deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by non-profits, we work closely with each client to develop customized workflows and automations that optimize their processes. From donor management and volunteer coordination to event planning and program delivery, our solutions are designed to save time, reduce manual effort, and enhance efficiency across all aspects of non-profit operations

• Email Dan dan@missionsimplify.ca
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Key Takeaways from the Session

1. Streamlining Operations:

Dan discussed the transformative power of automation in reducing staff burnout and optimizing resources. By automating routine tasks, nonprofits can redirect their focus towards meaningful engagement with their donors and beneficiaries.

2. Enhancing Donor Relationships:

Automation can significantly enhance the way nonprofits communicate and engage with their donors. Dan shared innovative examples, such as automated thank-you emails and segmented donor communications, which ensure that each donor feels acknowledged without overwhelming nonprofit staff.

3. Tools and Techniques for Efficiency:

Dan introduced several tools that facilitate automation, including Zapier, Google Workspace, and Sly Broadcast. These tools help bridge different applications, allowing for seamless integration and automation of tasks that traditionally require manual input.

4. Real-World Examples:

Practical illustrations, such as automating the process of sending ringless voicemails and managing donor databases via CSV files, showcased how nonprofits could implement these strategies effectively. One highlighted automation involved updating Facebook custom audiences automatically, ensuring that marketing efforts are targeted and efficient.

5. Emphasizing Personal Touch:

Despite the focus on automation, Dan emphasized maintaining a personal touch in automated communications. He discussed strategies for ensuring that automated emails and messages retain a personal feel, enhancing the donor’s connection to the cause without appearing mechanical or impersonal.

Conclusion:

Dan Lombardi’s presentation at TechSoup Connect BC is a beacon for nonprofits aiming to adopt modern technological solutions to amplify their impact. By integrating thoughtful automation into everyday processes, nonprofits can not only save time but also foster stronger, more personal connections with their supporters. For those inspired to explore further, Dan’s open invitation to assist and provide guidance remains a valuable resource.

As nonprofits continue to navigate the challenges of digital transformation, the insights from this event are a powerful reminder of the potential of automation to revolutionize not just how work is done, but how relationships are nurtured and grown within the nonprofit sector.

TechSoup Connect BC’s June 4, 2024, event with Jeff Golby, featured insightful perspectives on reforming the philanthropic process. Golby, the CEO of Acts for Water and founder of WellFunded.io, explored the complexities and inefficiencies plaguing current fundraising and donation systems.

Jeff Golby, with a rich background in technology and law, and extensive experience in fundraising, emphasized the significant challenges faced by charities in securing funds. He pointed out the costly, inequitable, and often ineffective nature of major philanthropy today. Drawing from his experiences and over 100 conversations with both philanthropists and charity leaders, Golby highlighted the misalignments and missed opportunities for impact due to the current disjointed systems.

A Message From Jeff Golby

Thanks for coming to engage with the possibility of building a more equitable, efficient and effective philanthropic space. I’m inspired by connecting with doers like you and would love to build this with you.

Two next steps to continue the conversation:

Sign up to our site to get notified of the pre-launch information at WellFunded.io

Email me at Jeff@WellFunded.io if you are open to a quick conversation on:

• How to represent your type of charity well on our WellFunded Portrait
• What features or tools or design we’d need to include to be able to work together to either bridge this gap or eliminate this pain (of connecting philanthropists and charities).

The core issue, as Golby explained, is that both donors and charities aim to foster positive change, yet their efforts are hampered by a lack of coordination and understanding. His solution? A visionary proposal for a new marketplace model that aims to centralize, standardize, and streamline the interaction between donors and charities. This platform would not only reduce administrative burdens but also enhance the effectiveness of matching donor interests with charitable needs.

Golby’s initiative reflects a broader movement towards a more transparent, efficient, and equitable philanthropic environment. His approach encourages open dialogue and collaboration, inviting feedback and participation from all stakeholders in the philanthropic ecosystem.

As the event concluded, it was clear that while challenges are significant, the potential for reform is vast, with technology playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between aspiration and reality in philanthropy. Jeff Golby’s call to action was a resonant reminder of the collective effort needed to foster a more impactful and meaningful philanthropic landscape.

The Power of AI in the Nonprofit Sector

During the May 14 webinar hosted by TechSoup Connect BC, Deepa Chaudhary, founder of Grant Orb and an experienced nonprofit technologist, shed light on the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) for nonprofits. The session titled “Harnessing AI for Good: Empowering Nonprofits with Artificial Intelligence” delved into how this technology had drastically enhanced the capabilities of nonprofit organizations.

AI’s Revolutionary Impact

Deepa began by highlighting the revolutionary changes AI had brought about since the introduction of models like ChatGPT in late 2022. These advancements had democratized access to what she referred to as “superintelligence,” altering the operational landscapes for various sectors, especially nonprofits.

She discussed her extensive background in fundraising and technology adoption across different continents and how these experiences had provided her with insights into the struggles nonprofits face—struggles that AI could significantly mitigate.

Exploring Generative AI

A significant portion of the webinar focused on generative AI and its capabilities. Deepa explained that this new wave of AI could generate text, images, and even videos from simple prompts, transforming the way content was created. Tools like ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, and others have made it easier for nonprofits to produce marketing materials, manage databases, and even handle complex queries about their work.

Practical Applications for Nonprofits

The practical applications of AI for nonprofits were vast. AI could automate the generation of reports, facilitate efficient communication across different languages, simplify data analysis, and much more. Deepa shared examples from her own experience where AI tools had helped create visual content, manage data, and streamline communications, underscoring the efficiency AI brought to typically time-consuming tasks.

Grant Orb: A Case Study in AI’s Impact

Deepa introduced Grant Orb, an AI-powered tool designed to assist nonprofits in writing grant proposals. This tool leveraged AI to understand project details and craft comprehensive grant applications, which could significantly reduce the administrative burden on nonprofit teams. She provided a live demonstration of how Grant Orb created a structured grant proposal from basic project information, illustrating AI’s potential to save precious resources.

Empowering Nonprofits through AI

Concluding the webinar, Deepa emphasized that the future of AI in nonprofits looked promising, with the potential for specialized AI models tailored to specific tasks and challenges within the sector. These advancements could lead to more personalized and efficient operations, enabling nonprofits to focus more on their mission and less on administrative complexities.

Conclusion

The webinar highlighted the dynamic role AI could play in transforming nonprofit operations. As these technologies continued to evolve, they offered exciting possibilities for enhancing efficiency, creativity, and impact in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits eager to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world should consider integrating AI technologies into their operations, a move that could fundamentally change how they accomplish their goals.

In the ever-evolving landscape of online education, the conversation around accessible learning has never been more crucial. To help us all improve our programs’ accessibility, TechSoup Connect BC recently hosted an illuminating session titled “10 Things All Nonprofits Should Know About Accessible Online Learning.” The session featured insights Leah Chang, CEO of Leah Chang Learning—a pioneer in accessible online learning.

Leah Chang: Breaking Down Barriers in Education

Leah Chang shared her journey and the vision behind Leah Chang Learning (LCL). With a focus on educational leadership and technological adoption, LCL is dedicated to developing inclusive curricula that cater to a diverse audience, including sectors that support mental health and neurodiversity. 

Leah provided an overview of LCL’s services, emphasizing their mission to remove barriers to online learning. From designing learning products to supporting organizations with technology, LCL is passionate about inclusion and accessible education.

A Message from Leah Chang Learning

We wanted to extend a big thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent session on enhancing accessibility in online learning with Leah Chang Learning.

If you’ve got any burning questions or just want to chat more about the topics we covered, Leah is here and ready to connect. You can shoot her an email at leah@leahchanglearning.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Thanks again for being a part of the conversation and for your commitment to making education more inclusive. We had a blast sharing insights with you, and we hope you found the session as valuable as we did!

Deep Dive into Accessibility and Online Learning

The core of the session delved into actionable insights and strategies for enhancing online learning accessibility. Leah Chang covered everything from understanding web accessibility terms and leveraging assistive technologies to engaging communities and integrating accessibility into strategic planning.

Boosting Accessibility Across Learning Formats: Leah emphasized the importance of making all forms of learning accessible, whether asynchronous, synchronous, in-person, or online.

Familiarizing with Web Accessibility Terms: A call to become acquainted with the language of web accessibility, including WCAG standards.

Prioritizing Different Levels of Accessibility: Insights into approaching accessibility practically by prioritizing certain aspects of learning content for enhancement.

Applying Universal Design: Leah shared the POUR (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) principles as a framework for creating accessible learning experiences.

Leveraging Technology Wisely: The session stressed the importance of choosing and utilizing technology that supports accessibility.

Community Engagement and Accessibility Testing: Leah advocated for involving community members in testing and providing feedback on online learning content to ensure it meets accessibility standards.

Incorporating Accessibility into Project Management: Leah advised embedding accessibility considerations into the foundation of project planning and execution.

Next Steps to Improve Learning Accessibility

The session concluded with Leah encouraging participants to integrate accessibility into their organizations’ philosophies and strategic plans. Leah urged attendees to consider how they could take actionable steps toward creating more inclusive online learning experiences.

For those seeking to delve deeper into the world of accessible online learning or to consult on specific projects, Leah Chang and her team welcome inquiries and are eager to share resources and guidance.

The Path Ahead

TechSoup Connect BC’s session with Leah Chang serves as a vibrant beacon for the importance of accessible online learning. The webinar not only highlighted the current achievements and future aspirations of leaders in the field but also provided practical, actionable insights for nonprofits looking to make their educational content more inclusive. As digital platforms continue to shape the educational landscape, the commitment to accessibility will ensure that learning remains a right, not a privilege, for all.

In the dynamic world of tech and nonprofit work, understanding the ins and outs of product management is crucial for leveraging technology to maximize impact. Recently, a TechSoup Connect British Columbia Western Canada event unveiled a wealth of knowledge on “Product Management Fundamentals for Nonprofits”. The workshop, led by product management expert Moshe Mikhanovsky, founder of Products for Good, aimed to bridge the gap between technology solutions and the real needs of clients within the nonprofit sector.

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Breaking Down Product Management

The term “product management” might conjure images of software development or commercial goods creation, but as Mikhanovsky pointed out, its application goes beyond the conventional. He clarified that product management encompasses a broad range of actions from ideation to delivery, ensuring products meet customer expectations and achieve desired outcomes.

Moshe Mikhanovsky shared his personal journey from an engineering background to a product management enthusiast, driven by the need to meet and exceed user expectations with lean, iterative product development techniques. His project, Products for Good, exemplifies applying product management to socially impactful initiatives, thus providing a learning platform for aspiring product managers aimed at building products that contribute positively to humanity.

Product Management for Nonprofits

The workshop specifically tailored its insights to the nonprofit sector, where product management principles can help in strategic planning and implementation of various programs and services. Mikhanovsky highlighted three critical areas where nonprofits can leverage product management:

1. Product Development: Nonprofits developing products as part of their offerings can benefit from a product management approach to ensure their services meet user needs and remain viable.

2. Service Delivery: Viewing services through a product management lens can help nonprofits streamline operations, improve service delivery, and ensure sustainability.

3. Digital Transformation: In the era of digitalization, nonprofits need to evaluate and sometimes reevaluate the tech tools and platforms they use. Product management can guide selecting, configuring, and integrating technology solutions to meet organizational and client needs effectively.

Applying Product Management Process

Moshe took the workshop attendees through the product management process, emphasizing the importance of continuous discovery, strategy, prioritization, development, and monitoring. He outlined the roles within a product team — engineering, design, and product management — and discussed the importance of reducing risks related to feasibility, usability, value, and viability.

One interesting point raised was about adapting product management to existing systems within an organization, particularly for digital teams in larger nonprofits. Moshe suggested a regular evaluation of these systems against organizational needs and goals, looking for gaps that might hamper effectiveness or growth. This approach ensures that organizations remain agile, making informed decisions about updating or replacing systems to better serve their mission.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead

The workshop made it clear that product management isn’t just about managing products; it’s about strategically aligning products or services with an organization’s goals to create maximum value for end-users. For nonprofits, applying these principles can mean more efficient services, better use of technological tools, and ultimately, a greater impact on the communities they serve.

As nonprofit organizations continue to navigate the complexities of serving their communities in an increasingly digital world, embracing the principals of product management offers a path to not just survive but thrive. The insights shared by Moshe Mikhanovsky during the TechSoup Connect event provide a solid foundation for any nonprofit looking to leverage product management for social good.

Whether you’re looking to improve your service delivery, embark on a digital transformation journey, or develop new products to better serve your community, the principles of product management hold the key to achieving your organization’s goals with efficiency and impact.