BACKGROUND

Leaders in the nonprofit community recognize that making full use of technology requires access to the appropriate software products. Based on initial technology assessments and grant making experience, it appears that the absence of resources and information regarding a variety of software products could be a key, limiting factor. A first step in addressing any challenge was to gather and analyze information on current software use in the sector.

In August 2000, a survey was mailed to 900 nonprofit organizations throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties. In order to reach groups beyond the applicants of the Fund, 720 surveys were mailed to organizations identified by the Milwaukee Foundation, and the National Society of Fund Raising Executives sent another 200 surveys to its members.

Groups could respond either in writing or via email on the Fund’s web site. As an incentive for organizations to complete the survey, those who responded by 9 August 2000 were eligible to win $250 for purchasing software of their choice. Sarah Dean, of the Faye McBeath Foundation, pulled Zink the Zebra as the winning entry.

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
Approximately 200 organizations returned the survey (a 22% response rate), which provides a significant base of informationon current and planned software use. The respondents reflect a diversity of mission, size and software applications.

The missions of the organizations ranged across the nonprofit sector, with the largest single grouping in human services. The breakdown of respondents by type, in decreasing order, reflects the spectrum of Fund applicants.
 

Broadly, the response rate among organizations according to annual budget size was representative, as well, particularly in the Nonprofit Management Fund’s audience of organizations with annual budgets under $3 million.

SOFTWARE TYPES

For membership software, 46/23% of the organizations rely on Access and 10/5% use GiftMaker; however, 106/53% indicated that they do not use any  membership software.
 

Regarding database management, 89/45% organizations responded that Access  was the preferred software program,  while 76/38% organizations use Excel to track information.  Furthermore, 24/12% organizations meet their database needs with a combination  of  Access and Excel.
 

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES IN USE

When queried about  “which technology resources have been most useful in your organization?” responses varied from those that did not cite any resources to those which have internal information technology departments.

At the low end of the scale are those organizations which noted that the staff  “have not used any [resources] but could sure use help!”  and “resources for consulting needed.  Using tech support from [software] programs.”  Another respondent lamented “none at the present time - they want to ‘sell’ you products, not support or training.”

In the middle range are numerous organizations that report taking advantage of a collection of resources, such as “Internet user groups, resellers, peers” and “friends/associates/consultants”. This group tends to rely on expertise from Board Directors or volunteers, and supplements those efforts with paid consultants for special work, such as database, network, and web design.

Based on this group of respondents, nonprofits in Milwaukee are taking advantage of classes and sending their staff to learn new skills.  Common responses on the survey included: “hands on training”; “1 day workshops, usually Pryor Resources”;  “Nonprofit Center Classes/Seminars”; and “UWM”.  One group reported using a trade journal for gaining insight on the best technology practices in the sector.

A few organizations identified their own help desk or a MIS department as the most useful resource.  Others commented on the availability of their parent organization; some pay annual fees for technical support from vendors.

Of all resources identified, the Internet, email, and on-line chat rooms  were among the most commonly mentioned resources.  Several  groups specifically noted that they have received assistance from www.compumentor.org, an on-line resource.

2. What is your organization's annual revenue category for the current fiscal year?

3. Which software program do you use for accounting?

4. Which software program do you use for fund development?

5. Which software program do you use for membership?

6. Which software program do you use for other database applications?

7. Do you plan to purchase software programs during the next 12 months?

8. To which software user groups, if any, do you belong?

9. Which technology resources have been the most useful to your organization?