December 20, 2010 | Read Time: 1 minute
Virtually all of the nation’s nonprofit organizations consider information technology important or critical to their operations, a new study shows, but sizable numbers still rely on outdated equipment and need more computers. The survey, conducted by the Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project, found that nearly all of the 443 organizations that responded said that information technology was “moderately important” or “critical” to carrying out their business activities, including accounting, finance, fund raising, and delivering services.
The survey found most nonprofit managers to be well aware of how helpful technology can be for expanding their organizations’ reach and efficiency; 92 percent felt their organization should make more use of existing technology to run programs and deliver services.
“The vast majority of our respondents have clearly recognized the importance of IT to their organizations and are making vigorous efforts to integrate it into their operations,” said Lester Salamon, director of the Listening Post Project. “Our findings dispel the myth that the nonprofit sector is a technological backwater.”
Too Many Old Computers
Still, less than half said they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their current technology. A third said they needed more computers. Nearly one in five said their organization still relies on “basic” technologies such as old computers, outdated software, or slow Internet connections. When asked about barriers to upgrading their technology, 92 percent listed lack of money as a “moderate” or “considerable” challenge.
“We are living in a technological age,” said Peter Goldberg, chairman of the Listening Post Advisory Committee and president of the Alliance for Children and Families, a national organization in Milwaukee. “Nonprofit managers recognize this. We need to make sure they have the resources and the wherewithal to act on this recognition.”
