Technology Planning. Where Do I Start?

Technology planning can be a stumbling block to realizing the full potential of integrating technology into any organization. New companies and organizations have emerged to aid you with this critical step in building your organization's capacity. Below are resources for you to use as you begin your technology planning.

• TechSoup's Technology Planning section will will help you think through your priorities in order to use technology in a way that directly furthers your mission.
• Get started using StargazerNET.net's Emporium of nonprofit resources and their Collaboratorium of technology ideas.
• Seven Steps to Building Electronic Communities by Philippa Gamse and Terry Grunwald, provides guidelines to help nonprofit managers assess your organization's readiness to network, as well as methods to attract and sustain user interest.
• Why Your Organization Needs a Technology Plan, from Coyote Communications, addresses obtaining staff buy-in and reasons to computerize or upgrade.
• ONE/Northwest helps assess the technology needs of environmental nonprofits in the Northwest. However, their Organizational Assessment forms are a helpful tool for any nonprofit.
• Progressive Technology Project's Resources for Organizers includes technology assessment and planning tools (available in .PDF format) to help your organization think strategically about technology.
• Technology @ Your Fingertips, from the Department of Education, describes the necessary steps to identify technology needs, consider options, acquire technology and implement a technology solution that will serve your organization.
• While you're planning for technology, consider using InnoNet's Workstation for Innovative Nonprofits, a free, online tool to build program and evaluation plans as well as fundraising proposals and budgets.