Making Technology Funding Possible

Businesses and nonprofits at every level are increasingly called on to provide management information. Technology may not be the sole answer to these information requests, but it nevertheless has become a very important piece of that answer.

Technology can no longer be relegated to secondary planning or fund seeking approaches. It must be a major part of every grant seeker's long term planning and every grant provider's expectations.

Why then is it so difficult for grant seekers to properly account for and express their technology needs? And why are funders so reluctant to invest in technology programs?

Below are four principles that outline how organizations can enable the technology funding machine.

Create technology guidelines

Technology must be a core guideline in your budget planning. Integrating technology as a fundamental resource in your budget ensures that you'll be able to get the job done in the future.

Information needs are dynamic. If you relegate technology as a minor resource, you won't be able to meet future information demands.

Prepare for and accept technology's price tag

Technology is at the core of every organization. But, because of sticker shock, technology is often seen as an "only if we can" expense. Technology upgrades, staff training, and support costs end up being neglected. Organizations are then left to react to dynamic information needs.

Technology can be expensive, especially with new hardware and software setups. Instead of ignoring it, you need to accept it as the price of effective program execution.

Technology acquisition doesn't have to be scary. It just needs to be a standard budget item.

Adopt a technology mindset

The best antidote for technology anxiety is to see it as a mission enabler. Technology planners should devise metrics to measure return on investment.

Calculate cost benefit ratios for your industry. Learn the different technology lifespans. If your back office server is making "bad" noises, find out if it's reached it's max livelihood.

Ignoring technology won't make it go away. The only competitive organizations will be those who embrace technology for what it is—a tool to reach mission goals.

Evaluate and explain

Always keep your eye on your program's mission. The only way to effectively evaluate technology is to measure it in terms of objective program outcomes.

Ask the question "is this goal worth the investment?" Be honest and realistic about expected outcomes. As you implement technology solutions, keep track of costs and the benefits gained from those costs.

By focusing on technology as a primary and helpful resource—instead of a burden—grant funders are more likely to have confidence in your ability to carry out your mission. Confidence that equates to more funding dollars.

 

Written by: Frank J Klein - CIO

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