Nonprofit organizations do a lot of good for the communities. Some feed the hungry; others provide much-needed housing assistance. Still others take care of helping disadvantaged children, providing employment opportunities for individuals with challenges, and the list goes on. In addition to providing these much-needed services, many of these organizations also grapple with fundraising problems. Some rely on endowments; others constantly fundraise. And in general all try to do the most they can often with limited budgets.
There are some ways that technology can help nonprofits keep their budgets running “lean and mean,” and they can do more with less in terms of dollars expended. Let’s look at some of these.
Did you know that the average organization spends between 1% and 3% of its bottom line on services related to the generation of paper documents?
The average employee generates nearly 10,000 copies per year.
Within that framework, there are strategies that can reduce the cost of document generation by up to 25% through a Managed Print Services (MPS) program that analyzes copier and printer use and devises a plan to streamline the organization’s document generation. This could include a variety of tactics, including installation of printers and copiers that have a lower per-page cost (as an example, the “big box” printers have a relatively low purchase price, but the cartridges must be replaced frequently), electronic storage and archiving, additional conservation measures, and more.
Additionally, an MPS system can monitor for potential problems such as misfeeds, low toner levels, and other situations that, if undetected, could cause a work interruption. A nonprofit organization with annual revenues of $2,500,000 probably spends about $75,000 annually on document generation. Managing printers and supplies through MPS can reduce that $75,000 figure by approximately $18,000 to $20,000. What could your organization do with those cost savings? Learn more about how Managed Print Services can help your organization become more efficient and save on expenses here.
⬇️ The Questions You Should Be Asking ⬇️
Improve efficiency with a platform such as Microsoft 365. Microsoft 365 can help nonprofits run more efficiently by automating volunteer scheduling, improving donor engagement, streamlining processes, and enabling seamless collaboration across teams. There is an additional option that nonprofits could find extremely beneficial, that being the artificial intelligence (AI) assistant Copilot, which can save time in performing routine tasks. In addition, it’s a convenient platform for having your email, calendar and other functions stored in the cloud so that if your computer breaks down your information is not lost.
Other Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can play a key role in improving efficiency in the non-profit sector. It’s important to first assess the nonprofit’s needs. What are the tasks where you and your team spend the most time? Is it for designing graphics, reaching out to donors, or updating contact reports? There are free AI tools, and some which require payment. One list of potential tools that may benefit the nonprofit can be found on Google Here are a few to consider:
There are many other AI tools available, and a discussion with your technology partner can help identify the tools that would best suit your organization.
Many nonprofits could benefit from an audit of their Managed Services (IT) programs. Is the organization’s network protected from outside threats, such as hackers? Are there appropriate anti-virus protections and firewalls in place to protect information? Are your workers trained to recognize threats to your network in the way of suspicious emails or texts? How many worker hours are being spent internally in an attempt to stay up to date on the latest protections? Are your remote locations secure in their connections to your network?
Here's How To Conduct a 4-Step
Risk Assessment for Your Nonprofit ⬇️
Having a Managed Services Provider (MSP) as a technology partner can help save on the costs of IT services because the MSP will proactively monitor for potential problems and fix them before they become catastrophic. The MSP secures the network so that your communications and sensitive information are protected. Compromised networks can cost an organization in time, expenses to mitigate, and reputation damage. A Managed Network or Managed Services program can also be budget-friendly because it allows you to forecast your costs to protect your network. To learn more about how working with a technology partner can make your organization more efficient and help with expenses, head to our Managed IT Services page.
Technology can be a nonprofit’s best friend in getting the maximum value out of your budget. The right technology tools won’t replace your human team members, but they can make their jobs much easier and help your organization run more smoothly. Remember, though, that the best technology is only as good as the system that it supports and the people who are using it. That’s where we come in. If you are looking for ways to get the most technological “bang for your buck,” contact us online or give us a call at 888-357-4277. We’re here to help!