Study: Nonprofits and Outdated Technology

While this probably won't come as a shock to many nonprofits struggling to afford and implement technology basics, NPower Indiana has released a study of local nonprofits that found that 85 percent were working with outdated computers or operating systems, and that many lacked even basic technology equipment and standards:

On an average day, most Indiana businesses take for granted that they have a working computer with IT support. Yet 85 percent of local nonprofits participating in a recent technology study are constrained by outdated PCs or operating systems, which can seriously affect their system’s stability, efficiency and ability to run current software. And more than half of these organizations are vulnerable to email viruses and phishing attacks.

Nonprofit technology solutions provider NPower Indiana found that 97 percent of Indianapolis-area nonprofit organizations evaluated fall short of basic information technology standards, as outlined in NPower Indiana’s Stable & Secure assessment. The assessments were delivered free of charge to 34 local nonprofits through a grant from Verizon Foundation and Anthem Foundation.

NPower Indiana representatives evaluated each organization against 12 key technology benchmarks, all of which would be present in a "stable and secure" environment. The benchmarks, developed and vetted by NPower Indiana, NPower Seattle, and a group of technology consultants, include standards for hardware, software, security and technology support. Failure to achieve these standards can lead to frequent system instability, security breaches, and a general lack of performance and productivity.

NPower Indiana’s evaluation of 34 organizations found:

• 33 of the 34 organizations didn’t meet one or more of the 12 benchmarks;
• 65 percent missed three or more benchmarks; and
• 41 percent struggled with four or more benchmarks The organizations ranged in size from small, two-person offices to very large, multi-site operations with hundreds of employees.

“The important takeaway is that most nonprofits have an opportunity to improve their productivity and service impact by addressing technology issues,” said Mike Harmon, NPower Indiana CEO. “Many nonprofits tell us ‘I don’t know what I don’t know’ when it comes to technology, so this helps them understand where they may be at risk.”

Read the full study (PDF). Visit NPower Indiana's Web site.

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