In April, we co-hosted #CharityHour on Twitter. Charity Hour aims to bring charities, big and small, together to discuss key topics and advancements in the sector. Following a year where the majority of us have had to embrace digital, we chose to discuss investment into digital technology. This blog post outlines the questions that we asked, and highlights a few of the insightful responses received.
In everyway, the important thing is to remember who your audience is and their technical abilities too, digital should make things easier not complicate it! #CharityHour
— FundraizingHero (@fundraizinghero) April 14, 2021
In every way! Planning, training, communication, payments, fundraising. You name it. The benefits are flexibility, speed, and better communication. It's getting the right tech for the right job that can often be the challenge.#CharityHour
— BeMoreDigital (@_BeMoreDigital) April 14, 2021
A1: The opportunities and benefits are nearly endless. Digital can give huge opportunities to tiny organizations, and level the playing field like never before. #CharityHour
— GiveWP (@GiveWP) April 14, 2021
#charityhour we have invested in things like zoom and Hootsuite to enable us to keep doing what we do but not tried anything new. Much of our tech we have created bespoke like our online referral system for our centres- don’t know where to start of anything else ?
— Baby Basics (@BabyBasicsUK) April 14, 2021
We *finally* had funding to upgrade our website. It's now a proper asset to the organisation and our beneficiaries in terms of communication and resources. Before it was clunky and admin heavy. We've also upped our training and delivery in terms of digital resources and events.
— Charlotte Bray (@Charlotte_Bray) April 14, 2021
I think this is a fascinating question – many, many organisations will have ‘invested’ in tech for a range of activities. But I wonder whether they have really planned and considered why and where/ if/ how it’s going to be sustained.
— Sally (@sallyld) April 14, 2021
Senior management control decision making and money, and can manage boards. They don’t have to do it, but they do have to provide the leadership and resources. #charityhour https://t.co/hLd4E4k5Ui
— Ian McLintock (@ian_mcl) April 14, 2021
I think it is everyone's to help and support people digitally to raise accessibility and connectivity but it is one solution as some people just don't want to be digital or fully digital.
— SCVO (@SCVOSandwell) April 14, 2021
A balance is needed so no one gets left behind for whatever reason. #CharityHour https://t.co/gJ3dGCYJiL
Everyone needs to be involved and consulted!
— Simon Pittman (@LibraryPlayer) April 14, 2021
At a previous employer years ago, senior management hired and contracted out IT work without even consulting IT manager – who where bypassed throughout yet meant to support! Not a way to do things.#charityhour
#charityhour it is everyones responsibility in the organisation to think and suggest idea but also important to remember not everyone is techy and some people especially some donors may never DO tech so we must not forget them
— Baby Basics (@BabyBasicsUK) April 14, 2021
You never should lose sight of the service users need.
— Third Sector Network (@MyThirdSector) April 14, 2021
Streamlining your accounting system, hugely upgrading your website or migrating to the cloud may make your life easier. But if there's no tangible benefit to your customers/users… Should you be spending the money? https://t.co/Z3K82m6W3j
Decide what problem or task you want the digital tech to solve or achieve then find the tech that does that. Not the other way round. #CharityHour
— Lucy Straker #HappyPrideMonth?️? (@Lucy_NAVCA) April 14, 2021
You ultimately have to put your faith in someone.
— Third Sector Network (@MyThirdSector) April 14, 2021
Easy to be scared by the cost, worried the vendor is just looking to sell you something etc.
But assuming you're not a tech visionary yourself you ultimately need to trust someone. If the trustworthy option costs more, pay more.
Who will have access to these technologies? Who is the user and what is their need
— Aaron Lee (@Aaron_Lee_Twitr) April 14, 2021
What functions or service will they need to perform
Is that technology the most effective? The most accessible?
Can data be secured efficiently?
Is the tech necessary?
Who can support use?
Golden Rules
— Russell Findlay (@russellfindlay) April 14, 2021
1: ensure your solutions “play nicely” with other software – don’t go with closed systems that won’t integrate
2: do the prep – if you can afford a business analyst, use one. If not if not spend 95% of your time planning and then executing
#charityhour 1/
Some times it isn't the tech itself that is the barrier it is
— SCVO (@SCVOSandwell) April 14, 2021
1 Ongoing maintenance of the tech
2 fees needed to keep or maintain the tech
3 training or upskilling
4 confidence by those using it and
5 safeguarding concerns associated with use #charityhour https://t.co/jVBn3eTG4R
The solution is in part understanding the user journey and how to tailor a tool to your end users, this doesn't work well with a lot the sector's way of thinking re digital which is trying to do things really quickly and really cheaply 2/2
— Andrew Weston (@Andrew_G_Weston) April 14, 2021
I think there seems to be really diverse pricing for so many similar things and big price jumps within a product/software/apps etc which can really put you off! Especially from a digital and social media marketing point of view. Plus there’s the whole learning bit! #charityhour
— ?Dominique Saks ? (@Dominique_Saks) April 14, 2021
For me the hardest thing is knowing where to start – so finding someone who can advise is essential. Thankfully our chair of trustees is a techy – phew ?
— Baby Basics (@BabyBasicsUK) April 14, 2021
Funding and weighing up the return, either as income, saving time or adding value to a service. Bringing trustees on board with particular tech skills and knowledge is a good place to start
— Mark Upton (@mupton_uk) April 14, 2021
If you’re a charity considering investment into digital technology and would like some advice and guidance on strategy, software and management, please do get in touch.
