Software is one of the most important aspects of a nonprofit, because it can be the difference between success and failure. Nonprofits need a lot of different software in order to run well and do what they set out to do.
The term “stack” is often used interchangeably with “platform” or “framework”.
Software stacks are a set of software tools and libraries that are used together to provide a specific set of functionalities. They are built to work with one another so that they can create an end-to-end solution for a specific task.
Factors to consider when choosing your nonprofit software stack
Determine your nonprofit’s needs
When building a technology stack, it is important to assess your nonprofit needs before you make any decisions. You need to know what you want your nonprofit to do, how well it will do it, and how much time and money it will take. This will help you decide what kind of software and hardware stack you need.
A nonprofit’s technology stack is often composed of free open-source software, which supports the organization’s values and mission.
The needs assessment process can be broken down into three steps:
Identify your current IT needs:
This is the first step in determining which IT services are needed. It is important to identify these needs before looking for a solution: do you need help with software installation or configuration?; do you have an issue with your network, or do you need assistance in designing a new network?; is your organization experiencing downtime due to a hardware failure, or would you like to upgrade your hardware?; are there any security breaches that need resolving, or would you like to implement a new security protocol?; would you like help with data recovery and backup solutions?; what about data storage services – do you need more space on your hard drive, an external hard drive, or cloud storage services?
Determine your desired future IT needs:
The first step in determining your desired future IT needs is to take a look at all of the different types of technology that you currently use for work. This will give you an idea of what it is that you need, and will allow you to think about how much time and money is needed to make those changes happen.
Decide how to best meet your future needs:
If you are not sure of what kind of IT support you will need in the future, then it would be best if you consider all the options available. This would allow you to meet your future IT needs with ease. The first step is to understand what you need and want in your IT system. This will help you better evaluate your current systems and determine what changes are necessary. The next step is to evaluate the cost of these changes. It’s important to think about how much time and money it will take for you to make these changes, as well as how much value they will provide. You should also consider the long-term cost, including any maintenance costs that may be involved with future updates or upgrades.
Build and implement your technology stack
The first step towards building your technology stack is deciding what you want to build. What is the idea? What problem are you trying to solve? This would help you identify which technologies are needed for your project.
The next step is figuring out the resources you need for the project. This would help you identify which technologies can be used in the project. It also helps in identifying whether or not there are any limitations in using a certain technology for your project.
Finally, we have a look at different ways of implementing a certain technology into our stack and how they work best with other technologies that we have already identified.
Nonprofit technology stacks to consider
Marketing tools stack
The marketing stack for your nonprofit is an essential part of your marketing strategy. It includes the different tools and channels you use to promote your cause.
There are three main types of content that nonprofits typically produce:
- Content that is created specifically to raise awareness or support a cause
- Content that is created with the intent to educate or inform potential donors about a particular issue
- Content that is created with the intent to help potential donors make a decision about donating money or time.
Fundraising tools stack
A fundraising tools stack is a set of tools that nonprofits use to fundraise. The stack includes online, offline, and digital marketing tools.
The purpose of a fundraising tool stack is to help nonprofits do what they do best: raise money for their cause. These stacks can be used by any nonprofit organization and can be adjusted depending on the needs of the organization.
A Content Management System (CMS)
Content management systems are a necessity for any organization that needs to be able to manage and publish content. There are many CMSs out there but the one you choose will depend on your needs and the type of content that you’ll be publishing.
WordPress is a popular choice for those who want to have an easy-to-use CMS. It’s free, easy to set up, and has many plugins which can help make it do more than just publish blog posts. Some other popular choices include Drupal, Joomla, and Squarespace (though these may require some technical knowledge).
Volunteer Management System
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, but it can be difficult for organizations to manage the influx of volunteers.
Here are some steps to help you build a volunteer management system for your nonprofit:
- Make sure that the organization has a clear mission statement and vision
- Create a database of all the volunteers, including their skills and interests – Create an online volunteer signup form for people who want to volunteer
- Send emails about volunteering opportunities regularly and make sure that each email includes what the specific needs are – Have volunteers fill out online surveys after they have completed their service so that you can better understand what they liked or didn’t like about it.
The volunteer management system is a software that helps to manage and organize the volunteers for your nonprofit. It can be used for many things, such as tracking volunteer hours, assigning tasks to volunteers, and even sending notifications.
If you are looking to build a volunteer management system for your nonprofit, there are many options that you can choose from. Some of them include VolunteerSpot, AgileCRM, VolunteerMatch and more.