Technological advances have a profound influence on the way we live in today’s world. Practically all human endeavors in our time are based on a set of machines and systems that support today’s society and make it work. If we look at the world of business, we will see that it is difficult for an organization to survive without a website and other technologies that are essential for the business to run smoothly. Not even non-profit institutions are left out of the benefits of technology; and this is the purpose of this post: we will talk a little about the role that new technologies play in the third sector. As already mentioned, technological development in recent decades has been so great that there are few social activities that do not benefit from some modern technological tool. In this text, we will focus on observing this in non-profit entities. We will talk about how computerization and technology have helped philanthropic institutions to advance their social causes.
How can digital media technology contribute to the third sector?
The Internet has revolutionized the ways we communicate; today, with digital media (blogs, social networks, messaging apps, live broadcast programs, etc.) it is possible to interact with thousands of people from all over the world. Since digital media has shortened the distances between people, they have also started using these communication channels to seek and offer solutions, promote their businesses and, thus, reach a larger audience. It was no different for third sector organizations. They now have the possibility of reaching more people through social media, showing their work and the projects they carry out to a much wider audience. And this is essential; especially because philanthropic institutions survive on the basis of volunteer work and donations. And in the latter case (donations), if communication is done well, fundraising is likely to be higher, considering that the sample size of donors is larger, which covers both national and international territory . Therefore, the contribution made by social media is quite clear: it has expanded the communication channel of third sector institutions and helped them reach a greater number of people. An association that, for example, uses a tool like Instagram to showcase its projects and the cause it works for, has its work reverberated beyond the borders of the place where this work actually takes place.
Expand fundraising with new online donation platform technologies
Still on the subject of technology in the third sector, we will now talk about online donation platforms , which are more efficient tools for receiving contributions. In fact, this second technology is, so to speak, a consequence of the first (digital media), which we discussed in the previous topic. Online donation systems are a way to facilitate contributions from people who live in other states or even in other countries and want to help a social project that they learned about through social media or a YouTube video, for example. So, instead of resorting to bank transfers, which are time-consuming and require a series of bureaucratic precautions, non-profit organizations have the option of using online donation systems and, thus, making everything simpler and more practical for the donor, who can make their contribution in a matter of seconds. The platforms are above all tools for practicality and convenience for the person who is going to help a social project. Because, as we said, donations can quickly be completed using different payment options and in different currencies. Having technology like this, combined with good communication and project promotion work, is essential to increasing fundraising.
How to use IT infrastructure in your third sector institution
So far, we have tried to explain how third sector organizations can benefit from certain technologies to better develop their work. We have discussed how digital media can be used by these entities and how having a system to receive online donations can make all the difference. However, in order to enjoy the benefits that these technologies offer, these entities need to have some infrastructure to work with them. By infrastructure, we are not referring here to a super IT department with the most modern equipment. But it is at least important to have some qualified professionals (albeit in small numbers), with good computers and systems to help control internal and external demands, even if they are volunteers or partners.
Examples of technology that can be used by the third sector
Finally, it is time to go a little deeper and mention some technological solutions that already exist and are widely used by private companies and the public sector, but which can also be applied to the work of a foundation, an NGO, an association, and third sector entities in general. In fact, at the beginning of this text we already mentioned some system options that are important and should be used when we talk about digital media and online donation platforms. However, there are other important technological solutions. Check out some examples:
- The use of cloud computing;
- Websites;
- Blogs;
- Smartphone applications ;
- Systems for internal management.
These are some of the solutions that third sector organizations can use to further their social causes. The proper use of, we wouldn’t say all, but some of these suggestions, will quickly bring about changes and satisfactory results in the functioning of the social project.
* Text produced and distributed by Link Nacional to subscribers of the Blog Content solution .
0 Comments