Every nonprofit organization operates with a budget (and if you don't, please get out of the business). But surprisingly, far fewer have a technology plan. Why do we treat financial planning as essential, yet overlook technology planning as optional? A thoughtful technology plan is critical. It guides decision-making, reduces risk, and helps forecast costs. Without one, nonprofits are left vulnerable to inefficiencies, emergencies, and even security threats.

Why Technology Planning Gets Overlooked

Several factors contribute to the lack of nonprofit tech planning:

• Other priorities take over. Nonprofit leaders juggle urgent tasks daily. It’s no wonder technology planning slips down the priority list. But when organizations dismiss it as too time-consuming or costly, they underestimate its long-term value.
• Lack of awareness. Many leaders simply don’t realize how essential a tech plan is. The Covid-19 pandemic revealed stark differences between nonprofits that had invested in technology planning and those that had not.
• A knowledge gap. Even in advanced nonprofit leadership training, technology planning often isn’t mentioned. Few leaders are taught how to write a tech plan, leaving it as an unaddressed blind spot.
• No external push. Many projects in nonprofits begin because funders or boards require them. Since tech plans aren’t often asked for, they remain overlooked.

Why Tech Planning Matters

Ignoring technology comes with significant costs:

• Productivity loss. Waiting until computers break down leads to downtime and rushed, expensive replacements. A proactive replacement schedule saves money and stress.
• Risk management. Cybersecurity threats, compliance issues, and outdated software can jeopardize sensitive data and organizational credibility.
• Resilience and adaptability. A nonprofit that invests in technology can pivot faster, reach more people, and sustain its mission in times of crisis.

In short: tech planning isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about mission effectiveness.

Practical Steps for Nonprofits

If your organization doesn’t have a technology plan yet, here are a few ways to begin:

1. Start small. Create an equipment replacement schedule. Track your computers and budget to replace them every three to five years.
2. Rethink priorities. Consider the hidden risks and costs of operating without a plan.
3. Learn or outsource. Explore courses like Successful Tech Planning from TechSoup or Tactical Tech Planning from Tech Impact, or hire an expert to guide the process.
4. Bring IT into leadership. Invite your IT manager or consultant to the next board meeting to discuss technology trends, opportunities, and risks.

Ideas for Funders

Funders also play a role in encouraging better technology planning. They can:

• Signal value. Ask for tech plans in proposals—not as a barrier, but as encouragement.
• Provide resources. Offer funding specifically for technology assessment and planning.
• Support long-term capacity. Provide unrestricted, multi-year funding so grantees can make strategic, sustainable tech investments.

Moving Forward

Imagine if, in the next grant cycle, even a quarter of nonprofit applicants included a technology plan with their proposals. Organizations would be more prepared, more resilient, and better positioned to achieve impact.

Technology planning doesn’t have to be complex or intimidating—it just has to be intentional. For nonprofits, the first step is simply recognizing its value. For funders, it’s creating space and resources for nonprofits to prioritize this work.

What barriers has your organization faced in developing a technology plan? What strategies have worked for you? Share your thoughts—we’d love to continue this conversation.

Contact Us

Share your insights and comments with us on our Nonprofit Snapshot page on LinkedIn.