Data Handling and Digital Readiness in Civil Society

A Global Study by TechSoup
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Key Questions

How do civil society organizations handle data? How do they keep it safe? And how did the COVID-19 pandemic impact data practices in the sector?

These were among the questions that researchers asked nonprofits around the globe as part of the TechSoup Data Handling and Digital Readiness Global Study. The result is the largest study of its kind and a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the sector.

Study Details

The study, fielded in the summer of 2020, was one of the largest ever. It led to insights into the data handling practices and digital readiness among nonprofits worldwide. It also helped to identify ways that organizations like TechSoup can help nonprofits advance their digital transformation journeys and enhance the positive impact we all can have on this critical sector of society.

The study was commissioned by TechSoup and supported in part by a grant from Okta for Good. It surveyed 11,758 civil society organization technology decision-makers in 135 countries and across 41 languages. To further explore insights, the detailed report (PDF) takes a deeper dive into the data.

 

Key Findings

Thanks to our partners, the survey touched every corner of the globe and collected a vast amount of data on IT resources, digital readiness, data management, and the impact of COVID-19. These are some key findings.

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Tech Budgets

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The costs of IT are expected to increase over the next two years for nonprofits. Most IT product and service decisions are made at the staff level, with a median purchase size of $375 requiring approvals. The number of employees working on an IT team is limited, and on average, volunteers outnumber paid IT staff.
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Transition Readiness

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Three-quarters of nonprofits see the benefit in using and investing in technology, but only a quarter have a defined strategy for achieving digital readiness. Of that quarter, only about half have the resources to implement their strategy.
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Pandemic Pivot

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The large negative impact of COVID-19 affected work streams across organizations — prompting rethinking of how they work. Most program delivery, fundraising, and marketing were negatively impacted, while internal communications improved. COVID-19 prompted digital adoption mostly in cloud-based apps and communication tools, along with hardware and desktop apps. Nonprofits with a defined digital strategy have generally seen less negative mission impact from COVID-19.

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Nonprofit Needs

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The adoption of cloud-based services, cybersecurity tools, and other digital resources could be accelerated by a number of factors. These include increased funding, access to IT consultants and staff to facilitate digital transformation, staff skills development or training, and increased awareness of digital tools available.

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Survey Partners

To connect with a rich variety of nonprofits around the globe, including frontline organizations that are doing some of the most critical work, TechSoup worked with an inspiring group of survey distribution partners. These included the TechSoup Global Network partners, BoardSource, Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy, Civicus, Institute for the Development of Social Investment, Technology Association of Grantmakers, RNW Media, Transparency and Accountability Initiative, and WINGS.

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