Strategic Technology Planning for Nonprofits

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Strategic Technology Planning for
Nonprofits
2009 Pacific Northwest Digital Inclusion
Summit David Forrester January 28, 2009
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• Agenda
• About NPower
• Overview of strategic technology planning process
• Next steps toward tech vision
• Small steps assessment
• Next steps scan

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About NPowerIntroduction

• NPower works to build healthier, more vibrant and
  sustainable communities by leveraging the
  transformative power of information technology.

Since 1999, we have helped more than 24,000
nonprofit organizations use IT to achieve their
goals.
Photo Dean Johnson, http//www.flickr.com/photos/
deanj/2398424227/
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About NPowerTechnology Pyramid

• Technology directly tied to providing services
• Advances organizations mission

Efficient and Effective

• Use technology to conduct nonprofit business
• Proficient in client tracking, fundraising,
  communication uses integrated data
• Tying to evaluations/outcomes

Stable and Secure

• Hardware/software up to date
• Anti-viral software, frequent back-ups
• Internal network to share documents and data

• Technology Constrained

• Computers/networks frequently crash
• Outdated software and hardware
• Often deal with virus or back-up emergencies

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Technology Planning ProcessOverview
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Technology Planning Process Create a Tech Plan
Technology Planning
Initiation
Visioning
Approval
Definition
Assessment

• Planning Team identification
• Stakeholder analysis
• Kick-off meeting

• Review of business goals and key work processes
• Pain points identification
• Peers and potential technologies discovery

• Technology research
• Recommendations development
• Project definition, scoping and budgeting

• Document development
• Draft plan review
• Stakeholder presentations
• Evaluation criteria
• Final publication

• Hardware and software inventory
• Tech skills audit survey
• Staff interviews
• Gap and opportunity analysis

Value Proposition

• Identifies pain points and root causes of
  technology challenges
• Identifies high impact IT projects that can
  increase capacity
• Aligns multi-year technology budgets with
  prioritized projects and operational improvements
  
• Simplifies fundraising for technology

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Technology Planning Process Progressive
Elaboration
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Technology Planning Process Plan Approval
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Small Steps Stable Secure Assessment

• What?
• Establish minimum standards for nonprofit IT
  Infrastructure
• Why? Dual Intent
• Provide guidance to nonprofit in areas needing
  improvements
• Pass/Fail report
• Clear recommendations and targets
• State of nonprofit technology in the region
• Measure progress of nonprofits in tech literacy
• Consistent method of measurement

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Small Steps Stable Secure Benchmarks

• Vetted by internal staff external security
  experts
• In both nonprofit and for-profit sectors
• Tested on technology students for ease-of-use,
  language

Photo grampymoose, http//www.flickr.com/photos/g
rampymoose/841863276/
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Small Steps The Benchmarks

• Minimum PC Configurations
• Standard OS for Workstations and Server
• Appropriate Network Environment
• Reliable Internet Broadband Connection
• Hardware Firewall Installed
• Wireless Networks Secured

• Backup and recovery for mission critical data
• Email protection
• Secure Internet Browsing
• Strong Password Policies
• Documentation
• Know How/Tech Support

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Small Steps Reflect

• Failure to meet these standards can lead to
  frequent system instability, security breaches,
  and a general lack of performance and
  productivity.
• How do you think your organization would measure
  up?

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Small Steps The Tool
www.TechAtlas.org TechAtlas is an online
technology tool for nonprofits. Some features
are available free. The Stable and Secure
Assessment is available as one of the free
components.
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Small Steps The Tool

• TechAtlas automatically generates results and
  recommendations
• Example
• Benchmark 8 Email Protection
• Email must be protected against viruses and
  phishing attacks.
• Email Benchmark NOT Attained Train your staff on
  identifying and dealing with phishing messages.
• Recommendations Include
• Rationale
• Special Considerations
• Suggested Steps
• Resources

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Small Steps 2007 Findings
The good news broadband ubiquity and improved
networking The bad news everything else
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Small Steps 2007 Findings

• Majority of nonprofits still have antiquated
  technology
• Outdated operating system software
• Old hardware in use on some of their machines
• Security strategies of most nonprofits are
  insufficient
• Networks, data, and users exposed to risk
• Especially true of email
• Many nonprofits in region do not have readily
  accessible documentation about their IT
  infrastructure

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Next Steps Perform a Scan
Contact your IT resource Sign up for
www.TechAtlas.org Gather your inventory via
either Tech Atlas not free but an enhanced
feature Spiceworks, free Belarc, free Winaudit,
free Conduct your own Stable and Secure
Assessment or, if you are near an NPower, drop us
a line.
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• Agenda
• About NPower
• Overview of strategic technology planning process
• Next steps toward tech vision
• Small steps assessment
• Next steps scan