Fundraising for Technology

Will a foundation or corporate giving program fund software or hardware, including tablets or smart phones, for a nonprofit or NGO? Yes, if, say, the foundation is focused on helping children with disabilities, and you can show exactly how the purchase and use of software or hardware helps/would help children with disabilities - not just saying "They need these" but "Here's how these tools will help increase their literacy, their job prospects, their cognitive abilities, etc." Otherwise, funders won't be interested, as they will see it as an administrative cost - and they don't like funding administrative costs.

Technology can help an animal shelter better track their animal in-take process and get animals ready for adoption more quickly. Technology can help make a professional theater better track ticket buyers who might be good prospects for donations. Technology can help a program supporting homeless teens to better identify trends and needs. Make your pitch for funding based on what technology will allow you to do regarding your organization's clients - not so much about what the technology is.

A corporation doesn't want to fund the purchase of 10 tablets for your organization - but a corporation would love to fund a resource that helps, say, homeless families, and if you can show exactly how the purchase of those 10 tablets will allow that, then funders will be much more attracted to such.

My colleague Mary Cahalane is a fundraising consultant, and one of my favorite blogs of hers is about the importance of storytelling in fundraising. It says, in part:

Fundraising is always about feelings. What’s the goal today? Not the action yet; the feelings that could lead to action. This is where you can use emotional triggers. But take a moment to decide which to use before you begin...

You want your readers feel frustrated and itch to solve the problem. Then you can show them how they can solve it...

Find stories of the people you help, instead. Pull the audience in by making that character human. It’s the little touches that make it work. Since you’re using words, paint a picture – her shy smile, his rough hands.

Aim for empathy, not pity. (Because you want this to be personal – something the reader can’t push away.) This is probably my favorite part of writing for fundraising – the chance to connect donors to beneficiaries. To bring everyone to a level human place, where empathy and caring reign. Give your donors the gift of a story, not statistics. Make your request in human terms and you’ll be more likely to succeed.

Your best bet for funding technology (and most any other kinds of funding) is local businesses and institutes. Your fundraising staff and board should participate in this fundraising process as well. They, along with staff, should identify the largest businesses in the community in terms of profits and the largest for-profit companies in terms of number of employees. If there are other companies in the area that are experiencing record profits or companies that are trying to address not-so-great public relations, they should be approached as well. Board and staff must research the key contacts at these businesses regarding community relations and philanthropy and then think about the best way to make the first, and personal, approach. Staff may need to organize an open house at your organization, so that these and other potential funders can come onsite and see your work first hand. In all of these interactions, the answers to those bullet points need to be readily available, both as talking points by staff and the board and in written material on your web site and in a ready-to-share written proposal.

Can you try crowdfunding to raise money for some or all of your technology needs? Yes - but you need to still adhere to all of the aforementioned advice. Here is more specific advice regarding crowdfunding successfully.

Remember: funders want to invest in success, not answer pleas of desperation. Show the difference your organization makes in the community or towards its mission. Have your expenses in writing and ready for review, so that you can demonstrate transparency. Be able to justify any expenses, not just those you are fundraising for.

There is a possibility that a company may be willing to donate their product to you outright - tablets, for instance, or smart phones - but you need to make sure its a product you can actually use AND that the company will provide you with customer support - and they may want you to pay for that support annually. Ask questions clearly - and don't be afraid to say no to a product donation if it truly won't meet your needs.

Before you go looking for the magical database of grants, invest time and energy identifying the largest employers in your area and getting to know the staff that make decisions about corporate philanthropy. Invite them to your events and don't ask for anything - just let them witness your organization's great work. Invite their employees to volunteer. Cultivate a relationship. Money comes from relationships as much, if not more, than a funding proposal. Also, make sure your volunteers know how your organizations uses tech and how lack of tech holds back your organization - you may have a volunteer that has a connection with a company that would love to fund your immediate tech needs.

Also see:

Basic Fund-Raising for Small NGOs in the Developing World
A free guide on how to raise money for small non-governmental organizations working in the developing world. This is NOT a guide for nonprofits in the USA, Canada, Western Europe, or other "developed" countries; it's a guide with information specifically for NGOs that are in Africa, parts of Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Central and South America.
Nonprofits & NGOs: you MUST give people a way to donate online
You are losing money if people cannot donate to you via your web site.
14 simple things to do to your web site to attract more donors
And I mean it - these are SIMPLE things.
Don’t Just Ask for Money!
If you want more donations, you have to do more than ask for donations.
Mission-Based Groups Need Use the Web to Show Accountability
And to show credibility!
Crowdfunding for Nonprofits, NGOs, Schools, Etc.: How To Do It Successfully
You aren't going to get a financial windfall, but it is possible to crowdfund successfully.
Stages of Maturity in Nonprofit Orgs Using Online Services
What does a networking technology-savvy nonprofit organization look like? To help nonprofits think about networking tech standards they should pursue, and possible goals for the future, I've created this assessment of the states of maturity for a nonprofit organization's use of networking/online technologies.

Return to Nonprofit Tech & Tech4Good / Tech4Impact Resources

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