The technology funding landscape

The good news is that technology has become far more affordable over the past few years. The foundations that have historically supported conservation work of all types are increasingly willing and able to fund strong technology proposals from environmental groups. And, slowly, new sources of technology funding for the nonprofit sector are emerging.

The bad news is that the days of slapping together a wish list of hardware and software and calling it a "technology proposal" are coming to a close. Increasingly, technology proposals must be longer-term and strategic, with the same emphasis on goals, outcomes, and sustainability and evaluation that are expected in today's philanthropy world.

With this background in mind, we offer a few tips on technology funding, and some links to some excellent resources--there are a lot of folks thinking about this particular issue, and so we encourage you to explore the wealth of funding-related resources available online.

Five tips on technology funding

1. Technology is an ongoing operating expense, not a one-time capital cost

You don't write grant proposals just for your phone bill. And you shouldn't write proposals just for computers. It's a harsh truth. Technology is not a one-shot capital investment. It's a fundamental cost of doing social change work. A good medium-term goal for any organization should be to build real technology costs into your overhead costs, so that you're fundraising for technology with every grant that you write.

2. Develop appropriate technology plans

Before you can raise money, you have to have a plan. Few funders will fund technology without a strong technology plan that makes the case for how technology will help you achieve your mission, and how this fits into your organization's long-term capacity-building work.

Having a good technology plan is even more important if you're going to build technology expenses into your overhead cost, rather than attempting to fundraise reactively--or even retroactively, as you cope with one technology crisis after another.

A plan doesn't have to be long and complex, but it does have to be done thoughtfully, with appropriate internal and external expertise, and solidly connected to your overall mission and strategy.

ONE/Northwest can help with our Technical Assessment and Strategic Technology Planning services. Contact us to find out more about how we can help you do the planning that will help you raise the money.

In addition, we strongly recommend that your organization develop an overall Communications Plan. A Communications Plan will help you better identify your technology needs and integrate your online and offline outreach work.

3. The best technology funders are often right under your nose

Because technology should be treated as an integral part of achieving your mission, the funders most likely to fund technology for your organization may well be the funders who are already supporting your mission. An increasing number of funders in the Northwest (and elsewhere) realize that effective activists need good technology tools to do their jobs.

We encourage you to talk with your program officer about their foundation's technology funding policies. It may be easier than you think to receive support for improving your technology infrastructure -- if it is integrated with your program work.

Conversely, it is difficult to "get in the door" with most foundations solely on the basis of technology funding. Because most foundations are interested in your program work, making strong connections between your program and your technology infrastructure is essential.

4. Do your homework, and keep an eye out for new resources

Even with uncertainty on the stock market, new sources of funding with a high-tech bent are emerging rapidly. Keep your eye out for new funding opportunities at a national and regional level, especially if you're in a metro area with a significant high-tech community, or in a rural area that may benefit from "digital divide"-focused initiatives.

We've found that the Benton Foundation's Communications Toolkit is an excellent resource for keeping abreast of larger-scale developments in the national technology funding community. And of course, ONE/Northwest will keep you informed of what's happening in the Northwest conservation community.

The Brainerd Foundation maintains a list of resources and NW Conservation Funders -- many of whom are extremely tech-savvy.

5. Don't overlook your major donors

An increasing number of major donors have a high-tech background. Many like to fund tangible things that have an immediate impact on a group's well-being. These folks are very likely prospects for a technology-related special appeal.

Approaching major donors been a very successful technology fundraising strategy for many of the smaller groups with whom we've worked, and can also be used to match or supplement an outside technology grant.

Related Articles

Northwest Conservation Funders

A brief list of major Northwest conservation funders.

Budgeting For Technology

Our companion article on how to budget for technology expenses

For more information

Technology Funding

An excellent series of articles on technology funding from Marc Osten and Michael Stein.

Benton Foundation's List of Communications Technology Funders

Summary information on national-scale nonprofit technology funding initiatives, and part of an excellent larger nonprofit technology resource.