Selecting the wrong software system for your nonprofit can be a costly mistake. If you get the wrong thing, or set it up poorly, you lose money, productivity, and the confidence of your staff. So, how is this a mistake you can avoid making?
You may be familiar with Simon Sinek’s famous TEDx Talk, Start With Why. Most nonprofit tech searches start with What, namely “What product should we get?” But the place to begin is actually Who. Who do we serve? Who, then how, and finally what.
Who Do You Serve?
Consider “Southern Justice,” an abortion fund in Mississippi that helps cover the travel expenses of pregnant people leaving the state for healthcare. So, who do they serve? At the most basic level, they serve people seeking abortions. But it helps to be more specific.
Southern Justice serves people who are pregnant and don’t want to be, people who feel overwhelmed, uncertain, and stressed. Finances were already tight, and now this! They may have partners or parents they don’t want to know. They just aren’t sure what their options are.
How Do You Serve Them?
Southern Justice helps its constituents in three ways. First, if they do not have appointments yet, they provide them with the contact information of the clinics that are closest to them. That means they need to get some information about their pregnancies, so they can refer them to the right place. Staff also collect financial information, because they do have some grant money available for people who meet certain criteria. Next, when they know how much people need, they call upon a network of volunteers to pitch in and help raise the money. Finally, because of fraud, they avoid giving clients funds directly, instead purchasing airline tickets and paying for hotels themselves.
What Do You Need?
The exact question is, “What do you need to do,” not, “What do you need to buy?” Buying comes later. At this stage, focus on the actions you take. Southern Justice needs to
- Collect custom information, such as weeks along in pregnancy.
- Provide specific information about clinics or state laws.
- Track dates and deadlines for things like hotel bills.
- Track travel information, like flight numbers.
- Communicate with volunteers and track their donations.
- Coordinate with other team members on internal tasks.
That is definitely not an exhaustive list! For example, we could also include things like tracking grants, sending out anonymous feedback forms, and all the different ways they communicate with clients (maybe text messages).
It is important to describe your constituents, services, and process needs in as much detail as possible. The more details you have, the better sense you can get of which products will, and especially won’t, fit.
Conclusion
People hire realtors and financial advisors because they recognize the need for expertise when it comes to major investments. The same is true of tech. Our experts can help analyze your situation, identify needs, and implement products that will empower your organization to make a bigger impact in the lives of the people you serve. We choose and implement systems that benefit your company as a whole. Click here to get started!
Check out Investing in Productivity: Why Nonprofits Need to Prioritize Efficient Operations for more tips and tricks.
David J. Dunn
David is the founder of Undaunted Consulting. He specializes in data management system optimization and rapid app development for social service, social justice, and environmental justice nonprofits.