The reality can be overwhelming. Whether you’re trying to automate program delivery, seamlessly transfer data, or make your volunteer program more efficient, navigating the vast world of nonprofit technology to find the right tools can feel like a job in itself.
Discover the most important tech trends that nonprofit professionals like you should know about so you can achieve your mission-driven goals.
1. Advanced AI Becomes More Widespread
AI isn’t coming to nonprofits someday - it’s already built into the systems you use every day, such as scheduling volunteers, identifying data discrepancies, and more.
The difference now is that these capabilities are no longer hidden away in the background. We're moving beyond simple automation - which handles repetitive, rule-based tasks - and into a time of robust AI tools, which analyze data to make predictions and strategic suggestions. For instance, Heller Consulting suggests using AI for:
- Smarter donor segmentation. AI can analyze giving history, event attendance, and email engagement to group supporters into segments that make sense for targeted engagement (e.g., a group of major donors for a capital campaign).
- Drafting communications. Generative AI can create first drafts of thank-you letters or renewal appeals, which staff then personalize with donor-specific details, mission-related information, and human warmth.
- Forecasting behavior. Predictive tools can flag which donors are most likely to attend an event or lapse in their giving, allowing staff to intervene at the right moment.
- Maintaining data hygiene. AI can detect and correct data entry errors, merge duplicate donor profiles, and standardize formatting to create a single, reliable source of truth for fundraising and outreach.
Though AI is powerful, it carries clear risks if not used correctly. Nonprofits need policies that address bias, misinformation, and privacy concerns to maintain supporter trust. For instance, the International Center for Journalists spent months drafting an AI use policy with input from IT consultants, AI experts, editors, a lawyer, and the nonprofit’s senior leadership.
While this process takes time, it’s necessary for mitigating data leaks and unintentional bias, which can jeopardize supporter trust in your team. Regardless of your use policy, oversight is key: AI can provide a first draft, but staff must always review and refine the outputs to ensure they’re using AI responsibly.
2. Integrated Tech Stacks Replace Point Solutions
Many nonprofits still rely on disjointed spreadsheets and siloed apps to manage their operations. This patchwork approach creates redundancies, wastes staff time, and often leaves leaders with incomplete pictures of donor and program activity.
That’s why tech-savvy nonprofits are increasingly integrating their tech stack. Integrations allow disparate software solutions to communicate with each other, removing the need for manual data entry and synchronization.
Here’s how you can integrate your tech stack:
- Start with a tech audit. Before connecting any tools, map out all the software you currently use. Determine what data each platform holds, and identify your biggest redundancies or data silos. This will help you identify which integrations to focus on.
- Define your "source of truth." Choose a central system, usually your CRM, that will serve as the primary hub for all your data. All other integrated platforms should feed data into and pull data from this system to ensure consistency.
- It's ideal to choose a system, like Qomon, that adheres automatically to your local data regulations. This saves you time, hassle and ensures you are always complaint.
- Prioritize native integrations. Look for tools that offer built-in, "native" integrations with the systems you already use. These connections are typically easier to set up, more reliable, and better supported by the software vendors than custom, do-it-yourself solutions.
- Use an integration platform. For tools that don't connect directly, an integration platform like Zapier can act as a bridge. These services allow you to create automated workflows between different apps without needing to write any code.
- Develop clear data governance rules. Establish a straightforward set of rules for data entry and management across all platforms. This ensures that the information being shared is clean, consistent, and reliable.
Integrating systems requires auditing your current systems, identifying redundancies, and prioritizing platforms with strong nonprofit-focused integrations. If you need help making the implementation process as minimally disruptive and efficient as possible, consider working with a tech consultant who specializes in your specific needs.
3. Cybersecurity Moves to the Forefront
Cybersecurity has always been an essential aspect of nonprofit operations. However, the rapid advancement and widespread accessibility of new tech make it more important than ever before. Simply put, cybersecurity is not a background IT task, and everyone at your nonprofit should be well-versed in the essentials.
This new focus is driven by two major factors: an evolution in the scale of third-party threats and a growing patchwork of data privacy legislation. For instance, many organizations are experiencing the ongoing impacts of a massive MOVEit data breach, in which millions of records ended up on the dark web. To prevent these incidents, legislation like the California Privacy Rights Act and the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe has been enacted.
To prepare your nonprofit for these situations, ensure you:
- Report phishing and ransomware threats. Nonprofits are attractive targets for hackers because they store sensitive donor, beneficiary, and grant information, but may lack robust protections. Implement mandatory, regular staff training on how to identify phishing attempts and establish a clear process for employees to report suspicious emails promptly.
- Third-party vulnerabilities. As seen with the MOVEit breach, which impacted university foundations and other institutions, tools powered by AI or cloud hosting can introduce significant risks. Thoroughly vet all software vendors by reviewing their security policies, requesting compliance documentation, and including data protection clauses in your contracts.
- Donor trust and regulatory compliance. With new laws in place governing the use of supporter and beneficiary data, a breach not only erodes confidence but can also lead to significant legal penalties. Maintain a clear and accessible privacy policy on your website, and ensure your practices for collecting and storing information comply with all relevant regulations.
Remember, your cybersecurity efforts are only worthwhile if your entire team is on the same page, not just your tech experts. Include basic cybersecurity training as part of the onboarding process and require your employees to complete an updated training course at least once a year. Your training should include general cybersecurity best practices, as well as tips specific to your software.
Even smaller nonprofits must take proactive steps to safeguard their systems. Affordable solutions now include safeguards like multifactor authentication (MFA) and routine staff training on phishing. These solutions also work only with vendors that provide compliance documentation.
The trends of AI, integrated systems, and cybersecurity all point to a single, crucial outcome: building and maintaining supporter trust. Leveraging technology thoughtfully shows supporters you value them as true partners in your mission.
As UpMetrics notes, this transparency is key to trust-based philanthropy, where "sharing data is essential." Savvy tech use allows you to share impact information and personalize outreach without compromising the information that matters most.
