{"id":54288,"date":"2025-02-18T14:25:04","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T19:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/?p=54288"},"modified":"2025-06-11T12:51:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T16:51:44","slug":"digital-first-steps-for-your-small-charity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/en\/charity-life\/digital-first-steps-for-your-small-charity\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital First Steps for Your Small Charity"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 2025 and you\u2019re probably well aware of the increasing need for charities to move towards digital.\u00a0 In our latest research, in the\u00a0Digital Skills Report 2023<\/a>, 60% of charities reported that they will find it harder to do what they do without improving their digital capabilities.<\/p>\n

Without a digital transition the charitable sector, and our communities that rely on them, are at risk. This threat is biggest for small charities who make up the majority of our charitable landscape. In our new blog series, we\u2019ll be publishing bitesize pieces from our upcoming eBook on Digital First Steps for Your Small Charity. In this first blog, we will discuss getting into the right mindset and developing digital goals that serve your mission and purpose.<\/p>\n

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Getting Everyone On Board<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Digital transformation requires more than just new tools; it requires a shift in mindset. Many of us working in fundraising, program delivery etc. may not see it as our role to adopt digital. But, taking ownership of it collectively is where it becomes transformative. An I.T. consultant that is brought in can offer support but they cannot ensure long-term adoption and continued digital transformation the same way a cultural shift within the organization can.<\/p>\n

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Establish a Cross-Functional Team:<\/h3>\n

They don\u2019t have to know everything but establishing a team that can dedicate time and has the authority to drive implementation across the organization would be important for a project as big as digital transformation.<\/p>\n

Get the buy-in of your Leadership:<\/h3>\n

To get time and budget, you\u2019ll need the buy-in of leadership. Explain\u00a0why<\/em>\u00a0digital solutions are necessary and the consequences of inaction. Highlight both explicit costs (like cybersecurity risks) and implicit costs (missed opportunities and inefficiencies).<\/p>\n

Involve Your Staff:<\/h3>\n

Top-down initiatives rarely succeed without employee buy-in. Educate staff on the need for change and involve them in finding the solutions. Getting feedback from all staff reveals overlooked areas and prevents siloing.<\/p>\n

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As you may imagine, digital transformation is not a one-and-done type of project. Ensure you regularly ask for feedback to ensure the process is working for everyone.<\/p>\n

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2. Define Your Goals and Scope<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In tandem with getting buy-in, you need to have a clear vision. In other words, what are people buying\u00a0into<\/em>?<\/p>\n

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Assess Your Current State:<\/h3>\n

Identify your current challenges and associated tech stack. If you\u2019re in the early stages of digitization, you can take a step back and analyze your manual processes. Dividing your organization into functional areas can make this a more manageable task:<\/p>\n