“We have a ton of tools that all do the same thing!”
I recently had a conversation with a nonprofit, and they lamented that they don’t have any visibility into their technology tool stack.
Over the years, they purchased tools to solve the problems they were facing. But because they lacked visibility into their existing tool set, they couldn’t do proper needs assessments for new tools.
As time went on, these purchases began to stack on top of each other to form an expensive conglomerate of duplicate functionality.
Their problem is, in part, that they haven’t attached technology decisions to their mission statement.
Foundational Principle
Technology is not a deterministic solution, it does not always produce a repeatable outcome for a given input.
When you buy tools only to solve specific problems, without considering your nonprofit’s mission statement, you’re only kicking the can down the road.
Sure, you may be alleviating your current pain, but you’re also creating a management nightmare to deal with in the future.
But when you apply technology holistically, from the top down, it becomes a mission multiplier.
The tools that you bring in end up working together in an ecosystem that helps your organization create exponential impact for the Kingdom of God.
What Mission-Aligned Technology Looks Like
Clarity comes at the intersection of purpose and direction.
Your organization’s mission is the source from which everything else flows, including technology decisions. When you have a strong mission as a guide, you can be proactive with where you’re going.
Buying tech tools only to solve current problems is inherently reactive.
I don’t mean to suggest that it’s never appropriate to solve problems with software, but it should be the exception, not the rule.
Most nonprofits don’t need more tools, they need clearer thinking.
Instead, you should look ahead, anticipate future challenges, and build/buy solutions to solve them, based on where you’re going, not where you are.
This is easier said than done. But operating from a position of strength (through foresight) will ensure you’re in the best position to make the right decisions.
Considering your nonprofit’s mission and how technology will drive increased impact is the first step to getting the necessary foresight.
Putting Your Mission Statement To Work
What’s the point of having a mission statement if it doesn’t affect how you operate? Here are three exercises to help you get your technology direction on track.
1. Clarify your mission
How clear is your nonprofit mission statement? Does it really explain what your organization does and who it serves?
First, write down your mission statement and simplify it to its most basic form.
For example, take the following mission statement for a fictitious nonprofit:
At Prophet Nonprofit, our mission is to bring hope and healing to those suffering from emotional trauma by connecting them with biblical counseling and compassionate community support. We exist to ensure that no one walks through their pain alone, providing Christ-centered care, trusted resources, and a safe space for restoration.
Here’s the condensed version:
Prophet Nonprofit’s mission is to bring Christ-centered healing to those in emotional pain by connecting them with biblical counseling and a supportive community.
Here’s the test: If you asked an average employee or volunteer to explain your nonprofit’s mission statement, would they come up with something close?
Seriously, go ask around, see what they say. Does it properly describe what your organization does?
If they can’t give you something close, your mission isn’t clear enough. It’s going to be extremely difficult (i.e. impossible) to make aligned decisions or create a compelling strategy.
2. Map the technology you already use
“Technology” simply refers to every software tool, platform, and digital process used in your organization.
How well do these things align with your mission statement? Is it clear how these technology assets benefit your organization?
If you cannot find a clear connection, then it’s possible that these “assets” are actually liabilities.
List your top five most-used technology tools (e.g. your website, productivity applications, etc) and rate them on a scale of 1-5 based on how well they support your mission.
Ask yourself: “Does this tool clearly help what my organization is here to do?”
Write down any alignment gaps you see.
Try and resist the temptation to rate everything as a five, meaning that it perfectly aligns and supports your mission. The point is to look at your tech stack with a critical eye and discover areas to improve.
If this is difficult, you may need an external expert to look at your organization with a fresh set of eyes.
3. Create mission-focused decision criteria
With the other two exercises complete, you should now have a good understanding of where you are.
You have clarified your mission and made it pointed and specific. You have evaluated your top technology tools based on how well they support your mission.
Now, take these new insights and develop 2-3 questions that filter technology decisions through your mission.
What were the common factors in the tools that best supported your mission? How can you ensure that future technology tools will be just as supportive?
Think about how these tools affect what your organization does and who it serves
Wrapping it up
Using technology tools without understanding how each one aligns with your mission creates expensive problems that damage your ability to help others. Throwing more money at problems and buying more tools to solve those problems isn’t always the answer. Without clearer thinking to know which tools will create the most impact, you’re setting your nonprofit up for failure.
Bringing clarity to your technology doesn’t have to be complicated. Clarify your mission, evaluate your existing tools based on that mission, and develop criteria for future decisions. These are important steps to make sure that technology is a mission multiplier for the Kingdom of God.
Photo by Anton Savinov on Unsplash
