IT Budgeting for Non Profits

This presentation argues that preparation of an IT budget is a critical step both toward controlling IT costs and increasing the usefulness of IT systems.

Abstract: Since technology began to find its way into nonprofits, budgeting for it has been a problem.  Many nonprofits still have no distinct IT budget or budgeting process, let alone separate capital, operations, and support budgets. This presentation argues that preparation of an IT budget is a critical step both toward controlling IT costs and increasing the usefulness of IT systems.  Through the use of standards, templates, and industry experience, nonprofits can develop IT budgets with relative ease, and should.

Purpose of Presentation: The purpose of this presentation is to encourage nonprofit managers to develop and follow IT budgeting strategies and practices, resulting in more effective systems and better control of costs. By presenting IT budgeting as a processand using budget templates, attendees should be able to initiate this process in their own organizations.

Goals and Objectives:

Attendees will:

1. Know and apply Total Cost of Ownership & IT Life Cycle concepts in their agencies
2. Learn the 6 steps to developing an IT budget
3. Have spending standards against which to compare their budgets

Checklist for a Healthy IT System

This presentation will detail and explain a checklist of concrete tasks nonprofits can undertake to improve their systems, as well as suggest how to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Abstract: Computer systems used by nonprofits rarely get the planning, auditing, and steady improvement that they need.  Taking simple, inexpensive steps often leads to major improvements, but few nonprofits know where to start.  This presentation will detail and explain a checklist of concrete tasks nonprofits can undertake to improve their systems, as well as suggest how to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Purpose of presentation: Nonprofit organizations often suffer with low-quality, high-maintenance systems that sap both productivity and resources.  The purpose of this presentation is to name and explain in general terms the concrete steps that nonprofits should take to improve their systems without greatly increasing costs, which will lead to better planning and decision-making.  The presentation will also encourage nonprofits to improve their systems functionally, rather than simply maintain them.

Goals and Objectives:

Attendees will:

1. Understand how to create a checklist
2. Understand how to use the checklist
3. Identify at least two things to start doing when they get back to work
4. Identify one thing to stop doing when they get back to work
5. Implement the multi-domain approach to system improvement

Technical Decisions for Non Technical Managers

A combination of increased literacy, good decision making processes, and effective use of technical resources and peers leads to better, faster decisions, even for non-technical managers.

Abstract: Nonprofit managers are ever more often called on to make decisions about technology, but few have any background or training in information systems. Lack of confidence and, in some cases, skill often lead to slow and ineffective decision-making as well as flawed decisions and, in some cases, no decisions at all A combination of increased literacy, good decision making processes, and effective use of technical resources and peers leads to better, faster decisions, even for non-technical managers

Purpose of Presentation: The purpose of this presentation is to provide a road map for nonprofit managers faced with making decisions about technology, explaining the factors that need to be considered in such decisions, how to avoid common pitfalls, ways to judge the value of proposed technology, and resources for validating decisions. The presentation will also explain some of the reasons that decisions about technology are particularly difficult and risky for nonprofit organizations.

Goals and Objectives:

Attendees will:

1. Learn how to apply good decision-making skills to technology
2. Understand how to factor long-term costs and benefits into technology decisions
3. Know where to turn for advice and assistance
4. Find out how to avoid the most typical problems nonprofits have with technology decisions

IT Staffing Strategies

The purpose of this presentation is to show, via statistics, slides and stories, why IT staffing is such an area of confusion and frustration for nonprofits, as well as to suggest creative ways to make IT staffing more effective and productive.

Purpose of Presentation: IT staffing problems are usually blamed on the difficult personalities and unrealistic expectations of IT workers, but the problems are generally more structural than personal. The purpose of this presentation is to show, via statistics, slides and stories, why IT staffing is such an area of confusion and frustration for nonprofits, as well as to suggest creative ways to make IT staffing more effective and productive. People will come to this presentation wondering how they can find the right person to meet their technical needs. They should leave this presentation thinking about how to structure a team of (usually part-time) staff to work together to meet those needs, and only when the structure has been developed, think about finding the right people to fill it.

Goals and Objectives:

Attendees will:

1. Clearly understand the variety of IT roles and the differences between them.
2. Gain an understanding of average costs of IT workers
3. Be able to set a realistic IT staff budget
4. Learn what motivates most IT workers
5. Learn how to develop meaningful, stimulating objectives and goals for IT workers
6. Leave feeling more optimistic and in control of IT staffing planning

IT Sustainability

Over 80% of IT projects fall short of their long-term goals. Today’s question is: How can we build systems that are sustainable and renewable?

Abstract: Nonprofits today use technology extensively, but their systems fall apart under stress: when a key person leaves, when funding drops, when computers fail, or as the world of technology changes. Over 80% of IT projects fall short of their long-term goals. Today’s question is: How can we build systems that are sustainable and renewable?

Goals and Objectives:

Attendees will:

1. Understand key components of sustainability
2. Learn what key players can do to foster sustainability
3. Learn next steps to sustainability

IT Fundraising for Nonprofits

This presentation will help attendees identify and overcome some of the barriers associated with securing funds for IT projects always remembering that mission sells technology.

Abstract: Allocating appropriate resources to Information Technology (IT) has been a problem for nonprofits in terms of funds, people, and organizational attention. For many nonprofits technology acquisitions are treated in a zero-sum manner where every dollar spent on technology is a dollar not spent on programs. “Unkind” inkind (i.e., donated computers) may not do the job. This presentation will help attendees identify and overcome some of the barriers associated with securing funds for IT projects always remembering that mission sells technology.

Purpose of Presentation: The purpose of this presentation is to

increase the confidence of nonprofit managers to secure funding for IT-related initiatives by improving understanding of writing technology proposals and expanding the range of options available.
Identify what makes IT fundraising so challenging,
Systematically review techniques targeted specifically at the challenges.
IT initiatives often have a clear return on investment (ROI); by learning how to present this data, attendees should find it easier to secure funding.
Tie technology to mission

Goals and Objectives:

Attendees will:

1. Understand how IT-related proposals differ from non-IT proposals
2. Develop methods for writing more effective proposals.
3. Recognize issues and possible strategies for rethinking the allocation of their organization’s resources budgeted for IT
4. Learn about additional resources to assist them with their technology funding search
5. Become vigilant about viewing all technology proposals as enhancers to you mission.

IT Security

This presentation takes a step by step approach to define the threats and suggest affordable protections from them.

Abstract: Most nonprofit organizations know that they must protect their information systems but don’t know where to start or how much to spend. This presentation takes a step by step approach to define the threats and suggest affordable protections from them.

Purpose of Presentation: The purpose of this presentation is for attendees to understand what threats to IT Security they face, and know in general terms how to reduce the risk to their organizations.

Goals and Objectives

Attendees will:

1. Define the threats they face (and those they don’t)
2. Learn how to address each threat
3. Plan at least two security improvements to implement on returning to their offices.