Running a nonprofit often means juggling a dozen tasks with limited time and people power. That’s why we brought in David Pisarek, Chief Digital Aficionado at Wow Digital, to help us rethink our systems during our recent TechSoup Connect Canada event.
Whether you’re a solo operator or leading a growing team, this session is packed with practical strategies to cut through the chaos. Here are seven takeaways to help you streamline workflows and build better systems for your nonprofit—without needing a tech degree.
🎥 https://youtu.be/XAucfKlNldg
1. You need to treat your nonprofit like a business
Running on passion is great—but to scale impact, you also need solid systems. That means documenting processes, investing in tools, and tracking time just like a small business would. It’s not about being corporate; it’s about being sustainable.
2. Start with just one small fix
Instead of overhauling everything at once, pick one bottleneck (like event planning or donor thank-you emails) and streamline that process. Build a checklist. Create a reusable template. Small wins stack up fast.
3. Document your processes—it saves time and sanity
Even if it’s just a Google Doc, documenting how you do things helps onboard new people, avoid missed steps, and keep consistency. Bonus points if you try a tool like Komodo Decks to auto-generate step-by-step guides with video and screenshots.
4. Use project management tools to create clarity
Juggling sticky notes and inboxes? David recommends tools like:
- ClickUp – for task tracking, time logging, SOPs, and workflows (David’s top pick)
- Trello, Asana, or Monday.com – if you’re already using one, just use it more intentionally!
Pro tip: Pick one tool and build everything around it to reduce confusion.
5. Communicate better with Slack
Tools like Slack (free or discounted for nonprofits) reduce internal email clutter and help you create topic-specific channels like #events, #grants, or #celebrations. Use it to build culture, share wins, and reduce back-and-forth.
6. Automate the boring stuff with Zapier
If you’re copying and pasting contacts between systems, stop. Zapier connects thousands of apps and can automate tasks like:
- Adding new donors to your CRM
- Sending Slack alerts when someone fills out a form
- Triggering welcome emails or task creation
Zapier offers a 15% nonprofit discount, too.
7. Build better donor journeys with Mailchimp
David’s advice: don’t just send donation appeals—build a relationship. Use tools like:
- Mailchimp (free for small lists)
- Constant Contact
- ActiveCampaign
Set up an onboarding sequence with 3–7 emails to educate, inspire, and invite donors deeper into your work.
🤝 Connect with David
If you have questions, want help simplifying your systems, or just want to run an idea past David, he would love to chat. The best way to reach him is by booking a free, no-pressure strategy call here: wowdigital.com/consult or texting 1.416.708.8320 (cell).
Grab his free ebook, Three Simple Words to Boost Donations by 20%, based on psychology-backed principles: wowdigital.com/ebook
In addition, if you’re wondering how your website is doing, WOW Digital recently launched a self-assessment questionnaire. You can take it by going to wowdigital.com/self-assessment
Feel free to email David at david@wowdigital.com or text directly at 416.708.8320, whichever is easier for you!
Let’s build better systems together. 🚀
Brought to you by TechSoup Connect Canada and The Digital Nonprofit—a community helping nonprofits use tech for good.