As an expert strategist, my role in its simplest form is to help execs and their marketing teams understand the potential of technology as a facilitator to outcome achievement. This often requires assessing an organization’s readiness for technology adoption. Helping clients understand the capabilities of technologies and recommending which technologies can help them achieve their goals fastest, at scale is where I perform well.
I had a conversation recently with an expert in CSR last week and we traded insights on the category. If anyone is interested in a conversation tailored to their initiatives around their tech stack and fundraising, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Digital development for good
Digital development for good is often driven by the power and passion of nonprofits, philanthropic social enterprises, and mission-driven organizations committed to creating positive social impact using technology. Digital development for good refers to use of digital technology to advance social good and achieve positive social impact. This means leveraging digital tools and platforms to address social, environmental, sustainability and economic challenges, such as poverty, inequality, access to healthcare and education, and leveraging powerful emerging technologies such as blockchain to address each complex societal challenge effectively.
It requires strategic collaboration from every stakeholder, including governments, nonprofits, private sector organizations, communities – and a shift in mindset.
Digital development for good can take on many forms i.e., web and mobile applications, e-commerce stores, learning management systems, telemedicine, blockchain technology, and other innovative solutions designed to improve people’s lives. Some goals of digital development for good:
- leverage technology for the betterment of society
- create sustainable and equitable solutions to pressing local, regional and national challenges
- use digital tools and platforms to create scalable, innovative solutions aimed at delivering measurable impact
The state of philanthropy
Digital technology changed the way people give in a multitude of ways. With online giving platforms and social media campaigns making it easier than ever for individuals and organizations to raise awareness and funds for their causes, the philanthropic landscape became crowded and intensely competitive.
As donors sought ways to maximize the impact of their giving, donor-advised funds, pooled funds and impact investing became mainstays in the market. Donor interest increased in funding programs and organizations which demonstrate a clear and measurable impact, led to a shift away from traditional methods of giving to a more sophisticated, strategic approach to philanthropy with donors investing in organizations with a demonstrated track record of success.
Complicated by our visibility into global issues, nonprofit teams have been charged with navigating another challenge – the shift of US donations to organizations around the world.
The future of nonprofit fundraising
The future of nonprofit fundraising is closely tied to the rise of digital technology and the increasing importance of immersive experiences. As more and more people become comfortable with donating and engaging with causes online, nonprofits will need to adapt their fundraising strategies to take advantage of new opportunities. Anticipating and adapting to trends to sustainably generate revenue for a nonprofit or social enterprise requires a laser-focused team and experts passionate about building for impact.
Future-proof fundraising strategy
Rather than relying solely on one or two sources of funding, a future-proof fundraising strategy means diversifying revenue streams to ensure financial stability in the face of unexpected challenges or changes in the funding landscape. This is where digital technology thrives – allowing nonprofits to build strong relationships with donors and supporters at scale.
Incorporating digital tools and technology into your or your client’s fundraising efforts helps improve efficacy and efficiency across platforms. This requires being agile and the ability to quickly iterate in response to emerging opportunities.
One of the newest ways nonprofits are future-proofing their fundraising efforts is by leveraging immersive technology. By creating interactive, 3D environments to allow people to experience the impact of their donations in a personal and meaningful way, forward thinking nonprofits are deepening their connections with donors and inspiring them to give more generously.
Another way nonprofits can future-proof their fundraising efforts is through hyper-relevance and -personalization. Investing in data and analytics to intrinsically understand donor behavior and preferences adds cement to initiatives related to donorship.
Forward-thinking approach
Being responsive to changing donor and fundraising landscapes through deeply personalized communications, stewardship and ongoing engagement is also a key component of future-proofing from a digital development for good perspective. By using data and analytics to better understand donors and tailor their outreach efforts to specific individuals or groups, nonprofits can create targeted fundraising campaigns which are more likely to resonate with potential donors, and can also use the data gathered from this approach to power the impact of their fundraising efforts forward.
By adopting a forward-thinking approach and embracing new ways of engaging with donors, nonprofits can continue to drive meaningful impact, support the causes they care about and make informed decisions about how to allocate their resources.
The key here is to embrace innovation, demonstrate impact, collaborate, invest in the future and remain nimble so your nonprofit client or nonprofit organization can capitalize on the latest digital trends and technologies.
Future so bright.
