I've observed a troubling pattern that prevents even the most dedicated nonprofit organizations from reaching their full potential.
The Reality Check
Many nonprofits operate with IT infrastructure that would shock their donors and stakeholders:
- Critical systems on outdated software — Running past end-of-life with no security patches
- Hundreds of unmanaged devices — Personal phones and laptops accessing sensitive data without oversight
- Mixed environments — Where personal devices access sensitive donor data without proper controls
- No dedicated IT staff — Program staff forced into "accidental techie" roles
- Deferred maintenance — "It's been working for years" until suddenly it doesn't
The Paradox
Every dollar spent on technology feels like a dollar taken from the mission. This creates a vicious cycle: underinvestment leads to fragile systems, fragile systems lead to crises, crises lead to emergency spending that costs far more than preventive investment would have.
The Path Forward
The good news is that the most impactful improvements are also the most affordable:
- Enable MFA on all accounts
- Implement automated cloud backups
- Deploy a password manager
- Run basic security awareness training
- Create a simple IT roadmap for the board
These five steps, achievable in 90 days with minimal budget, dramatically reduce risk and build the foundation for sustainable technology management.
Originally published on LinkedIn by Ross Moravec.
Written by Ross Moravec, founder of Nonprofit Tech Support.