Technology Grantmaking Toolkit: Practical tools for technology grantmaking in Canada's voluntary sector

Introduction: Making strategic tech a voluntary sector reality

The Internet and other networked technologies have become central to the way Canadian voluntary organizations work with each other and with the communities they serve. Of course, these new ways of working have lead to changes in the needs of voluntary sector funding as well as new challenges for Canadian grantmakers.

The Changing Technology Funding Practices Project consulted with grantmakers and voluntary sector staff to identify and respond to these challenges. This Toolkit was developed in response to the near universal call for practical tools to help funders and not-for-profits deal with technology planning and funding.

Technology and voluntary sector organizations

Canadian grantmakers and voluntary sector representatives agree that a majority of Canadian voluntary organizations now have access to technology basics — a computer, Internet access, and support. However, many organizations still have a hard time finding money to pay for these basic tools.

Canadian grantmakers understand that technology has become an important component of any successful voluntary organization. However, many feel that they lack the expertise or information necessary to evaluate technology-heavy project proposals. Additionally, there is concern among grantmakers that many voluntary sector organizations do not yet fully appreciate the real operational costs associated with becoming more technology reliant in day-to-day operations.

Finally, while some voluntary sector organizations have used technology-based solutions to pursue their mission, most have not moved beyond basic e-mail, word processing and web sites. A more strategic, mission-focused approach — delivering services online, creating virtual collaborations, mobilizing volunteers with e-mail — is necessary for the sector to realize the real social benefits of technology.

Where do we need to go?

In sum, there are three major technology challenges facing Canadian voluntary organizations and the people who fund them: 1) keeping basic infrastructure up to date, 2) building and maintaining technology skills, and 3) using technology for strategic, mission-based projects and initiatives. For the voluntary sector to overcome these challenges, we believe that there is a need to:

1. Accept that computers, Internet access and support are voluntary sector “must haves.”
2. Shift our thinking about technology in the voluntary sector, from “boxes, cables and software” to strategic, mission-driven uses of the Internet and other networked tools.
3. Collectively, raise the capacity and comfort level of grantmakers to assess projects that have a technology component.
4. Understand that the power of technology lies primarily in networking people.

Making these changes doesn’t necessarily mean relying on more and more technology. Rather, it means using technology more effectively, so that it 'disappears' into the background just like all of the other tools and infrastructure that voluntary sector organizations strategically use to support their mission.

The Changing Technology Funding Practices Project is focused on helping grantseekers and grantmakers reach this point.

Getting practical

Of course, reaching the point where computers and the Internet are tools that are easily, skillfully and effectively used requires change on many levels – changes to the culture of the voluntary sector, to the policies of funding organizations and to the day-to-day practices of voluntary organizations.

This toolkit is focused on the practical aspects of making this change. It demonstrates that good technology planning and decision-making is based on the same kind of strategic planning principles already used by the voluntary sector for everything from program development to running a campaign. And that grantmakers, building on skills they already have, can easily evaluate project proposals that use technology to support and achieve mission-based work.

The approach taken by this toolkit is simple – describe core technology planning principles in clear, plain language and provide readers with the tools needed to apply these principles. Where possible, we have also included links to templates and other articles that will further help voluntary sector organizations and grantmakers with technology planning and decision making.

The tools of this toolkit have been developed to help both grantseekers and grantmakers develop the skills to:

With this knowledge in hand, voluntary sector managers will be better equipped

With this knowledge in hand, voluntary sector managers will be better equipped to ensure that the technology basics are supporting the efficiencies of their organization and that technology is integrated into broader strategic planning for programs, services and campaigns. Grantmakers will be in a position to both understand whether technology requests from their grantees make sense and to help grantees integrate technology effectively into the projects for which they seek funding.