Tech Essentials
Andy Wolber
andy@highwayt.org
@highwayt

http://highwayt.org/resources

www.checkvist.com

“IT accounts, on
average, for nearly
7% of a company's
operating expenses.”
Source: “More Bang for the IT Buck,” McKinsey Quarterly, 2003 Number
2.

Technology
Budget
Source: Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management Study, 2008. Survey of 330
nonprofit organizations.
<=20 staff >20 staff
43% 60%

http://nptechsurvey.wordpress.com/

83% of nonprofits
spend less than 4%
of their budget
on technology.
Source: Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management Study, 2008. Survey of 330 nonprofit organizations.

Technology
Plan
Source: Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management Study, 2008. Survey of 330 nonprofit organizations.
<=20 staff >20 staff
32% 71%

www.nten.org/research

22% of nonprofits
have a technology
committee.
Source: Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management Study, 2008. Survey of 330 nonprofit
organizations.

By Joni
Podolsky
Edited By
Holly Ross
Katrin
Verclas
Alison Levine

http://hwyt.me/ICTHub

Technology Strategy and Planning
Process
Preliminary
Assessment
Inventory
Staff skills
assessment
Current and prior
year IT operating
costs
Initial list of potential
projects
Any additional
relevant background
materials (e.g.,
technology usage
policies)
Meeting 1:
Envision
1. Ensure agreement
on I.T. “Current
Reality”
2. Identify processes
for obtaining
additional information
needed
Meeting 3:
Prioritize II
Select strategy and
sequence
Detailed review of
resources required
Project
Prioritization
Identify and
categorize projects
Research high-level
details on alternative
solutions
Meeting 2:
Prioritize I
Classify projects into
categories, e.g.
- “Quick wins”
- Strategically
essential
- Need more info
Identify
Implementation
Sequence and
Resources
Draft implementation
plan
Select resources
(internal vs. external,
build vs. buy)
Define RFI/RFP
processes
Detailed
Implementation
Planning
Cost details
Assign specific
responsibilities
Timetable
Identify key
issues/risks
Meeting 4:
Act
Finalize plan
Implementation
kickoff
Identify
circumstances
required for
committee to
reconvene

Tech Essentials

techguide.npowermichigan.org

Computer

$800+
1-year
warranty
5-year life
$1,300+
3-year
warranty
3-year life
www.toshibadirect.com: NB305 (left); www.dell.com: Vostro (middle), Dell Latitude E6410 (right)
$400+
1-year
warranty
3-year life

1 2 3 4
5

1 2 3 4
5

Internet &
Basic
Infrastructure

Standard DSL download speed (1.5 Mbps)
Standard DSL upload speed (384 kbps)
T1 Line (1.5 Mbps)
download & upload
“symmetrical”

Standard DSL download speed (1.5 Mbps)
Skype-to-Skype Video (384 kbps)
Skype Voice (64 kbps)
Standard DSL upload speed (384 kbps)

www.LogMeIn.com

Left: HP Mediasmart Home Server EX485, including 750Gb hard drive, $600. Right: NAS Device
(Synology Disk Station 207+, $340) plus 2 hard drives (Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm, 500Gb, $130 x 2).

www.mozy.com/non-profit

Printing &
Imaging

Laser
printe
r
Inkje
t
Networke
d
copier
Colo
r
laser
Total Cost: Hardware + Replenishables + Maintenance + Ease of Use

www.hpeprint.com

http://hwyt.me/ScanSnapS1300

Training &
Support

Office.Microsoft.com

www.microsoft.com/atwork/

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/

Voice

www.FreeConferenceCall.com

Office
Software

http://hwyt.me/OfficeAtHome

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

www.idealware.org

Collaboration
Systems

www.sherweb.com

www.google.com/nonprofits/

docs.google.com

URL
API

www.MeetingWizard.com

www.dimdim.com

Databases

53
%
Source: Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management Study, 2008. Survey of 330
nonprofit organizations.
23
%
41
%

List functional requirements (3 meetings, 1 hour
each)
Identify options (up to 4 hours per
participant)
Discuss alternatives; narrow list of options (2
meetings)
Get product
details
Vendor
demos
Calls to real
users
User
visits
Decisio
n

1 2 3
4 5

www.salesforcefoundation.org

http://www.verticalresponse.com/non-profits/

www.ConstantContact.com

http://www.eventbrite.com/npo

Website
& Storytelling
Tools

http://www.dreamhost.com/hosting-nonprofit.html

www.wordpress.com

www.WildApricot.com

https://www.paypal.com/nonprofits

http://www.e-benchmarksstudy.com/

www.allforgood.org/posting

www.delicious.com/highwayt

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