Increasing Tech Funding for Nonprofits Based on a Survey of Technology-Related Grantmaking for Social Benefit Webinar – April 6, 2011
May 17, 2015
Increasing Tech Funding for Nonprofits
Based on a Survey of Technology-Related Grantmaking
for Social Benefit
Webinar – April 6, 2011
2
Introduction
• From Egypt to East LA: Powerful, participatory…pro-active?
3
Objectives of ZeroDivide Research Project
Overall: Increase quality, quantity of funding for nonprofits
Focus: Recommendations for funders, share intel with npo’s
Research objectives:
• Clarify the extent of existing technology grantmaking
• Identify barriers to increased investment
• Identify suggestions for addressing these barriers
• Surface notable grantmaking strategies and best practices
4
Emphases: Getting Beyond the Choir
5
Other Key Emphases
• Underserved communities and nonprofits serving them
• “Tech integration” – Weaving tech throughout organization, moving from operational/IT to programmatic strategies
• Distinction for report – focus on social outcomes:
- programmatic vs. operational
- transformational vs. transactional
- shift hearts/minds, behavior change, beyond traffic
• Still need for tech capacity building, but other studies on it
• What types of technology: video, texting/mobile, social media, e-advocacy tools, etc.
6
Inspiring Examples
• Ushahidi – Resource and crisis mapping
Meaning & Pronunciationu·sha·hi·di
[oo-shah-hee-dee] - A Swahili word which means "testimony".
7
Inspiring Examples
• It Gets Better – Online video
8
Methodology & Respondents
• 41 Foundations – range of tech savvy, size, type
• 13 Nonprofit Technology Service Providers – nat’l, regional
• Three Convenings: Funders in SF and NYC, TSP’s in SF
• Interviews with 15 more funders and 6 TSP’s
• Online survey by 28 of the funders
9
10
Report Findings – selected list for this session
• High funder interest, limited familiarity or expertise
• Existing investments modest: mostly back end
• Type of investments tactical, not strategic
• The digital (funding) divide – who’s being funded
• Strategies for impactful investment unclear – skeptical
of social media ROI, better measurement
needed
• Good news: Grantees leading the charge, Future $
11
Future Funding Trends?
12
Recommendations by funders, for funders:
• Increase funder education and advising activities
• Expand the pool of investment
• Strengthen Technology Service Provider ecosystem
13
Recommendations for nonprofits
• Don’t be shy about asking - funders curious, skg guidance
• Bring the data: start modest experiment, show #’s, savvy
• Propose TA/trainings across a cohort of their grantees
- suggest they partner with another funder on cohort
• Encourage them to support TSP’s
• Help create demand – builds pressure to complement ZD push from the foundation side
- if enough grantees are asking, even if no funding in the near term, it builds the case
14
Closing - Keeping the Conversation Going
• ZD’s ongoing webinars, newsletter, blog posts – propose topics that would be helpful
• Suggest to existing funders that ZD present findings and session on grantmaking strategies
• Twitter users follow http://twitter.com/zerodivideorg
• Use hashtags: #fundertech, #nptech
• Email with comments/suggestions: [email protected]
15