30 Nonprofit IT Influencers to Follow in 2021
The rush to digitalize operations induced by the pandemic and remote work has driven transformation in nearly every industry. Organizations needed to be able to support distributed operations at a time when customer expectations were climbing rapidly, with social distancing guidelines enhancing demand on certain products and services. For nonprofits, an industry already accustomed to doing more with less, this combination was poised to put a significant strain on operations.
But it was a blessing in disguise. The shift to digital has encouraged many organizations to make modernization efforts that they may have been hesitant to jump into before. Nonprofits have changed not only the way they achieve their missions, but also how their staffers maintain operations. Now that this infrastructure is in place, nonprofits are better positioned to get the most out of emerging IT tools, driving innovation in the sector. To help navigate these new horizons, BizTech has compiled a list of 30 leaders, authors and organizations that are standing at the forefront of these efforts. If you’re on the list, spread the news and grab our IT influencer cover image for your social media pages or websites.
Allison Fine is an author and activist for using technology for social good. She's a nonprofit futurist who frequently wades into topics such as automation and artificial intelligence, and how organizations can use these technologies to build resiliency for the future in a particularly precarious time.
As the founder and executive director of Nonprofit Tech, Alnisa Allgood is an enthusiast for nonprofits, technology, web design and social media. Her Twitter and LinkedIn accounts are chock-full of practical technology advice and strategies for nonprofits.
Amy Neumann is the founder of Resourceful Nonprofit, an organization that helps supply nonprofits with tools and resources to get the most out of technology. In addition to being an advocate for diversity and inclusion in nonprofits, Neumann is also a thought leader on using artificial intelligence for the sector.
Education is at the heart of technology use in the nonprofit sector, and NTEN is a group focused exclusively on that. CEO Amy Sample Ward has established herself at the forefront of tech use in the industry, most recently around the area of ethical technology.
Beth Kanter leads the nonprofit tech conversation on Twitter, her blog and LinkedIn. She provides practical advice for nonprofit IT leaders and tech insights on both foundational and emerging tech.
Brigit Pauli-Haack specializes in web strategy and coding for nonprofits. In addition to her extensive customer service management knowledge, Pauli-Haack also leads the conversation in site editing and security. She runs the Gutenberg Times, an aggregator of news about the Gutenberg WordPress Block Editor, which has been downloaded by tens of thousands of users.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy is a go-to source for the latest news and trends in the nonprofit sector. From new strategies for engaging donors to optimizing technology, nonprofit professionals can stay on top of everything that’s happening in the industry. The platform also offers webinars and other resources.
A leader in the nonprofit tech space, Classy uses its blog to share the latest research, insights and trends that can help nonprofits use technology to advance their missions.
Diversity in technology has been thrust into the spotlight, and that’s true of the nonprofit sector as well. Code2040 aims to work toward the proportional representation of technologists of color across industries. The organization provides mentorship and resources to develop talent.
The Community IT Innovators Nonprofit Technology Topics podcast is a one-stop shop for nonprofit IT professionals. The podcast is formatted like a series of webinars and has something for every level of technology expertise. Recent episodes have delved into cybersecurity, collaboration tools and IT management.
Knowing about technology and its benefits is one thing, but successfully applying that knowledge is another. This is where Debra Askanase shines. The social impact senior manager at NetSuite, Askanase's Twitter feed is packed with advice and best practices for organizations looking to expand their use of technology.
Farra Trompeter is partner and chief growth officer at Big Duck, a communications firm that specializes in helping nonprofits get their message out. In addition to promoting digital communication trends through Big Duck, the former NTEN board member is vocal about topics ranging from conducting online audits to using data to better understand audiences.
Harlan Yu is a technologist and executive director of Upturn, an organization that works to advance equity and justice in the design, governance and use of technology. Yu, who is also an alum of the Center for Information Technology at Princeton University, explores how organizations can use artificial intelligence equitably and the positive use of technology throughout society, among other tech-related topics.
Julia Campbell is the founder of a nonprofit marketing company and a frequent voice on LinkedIn and Twitter. She uses her website to tout the ways that technology and digital tools can improve nonprofit marketing and fundraising efforts.
Justin Wheeler, CEO of Funraise, has dedicated his career to helping nonprofits grow. The technologist develops and blogs about the latest tools to help organizations raise money and grow their donor pools.
Kiki L’Italien is the founder of Association Chat, a popular online destination and podcast for association professionals. The conversation often dives into different tech-driven topics, such as using digital tools to build community. L'Italien serves as a thought leader among associations.
Kivi Leroux Miller is editor of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide, a site that highlights the latest trends in digital marketing and fundraising — particularly related to email and messaging — and numerous other tech-adjacent topics.
The National Council of Nonprofits is an advocacy organization that helps nonprofits connect the dots between policy and practice. This includes details on the latest trends, as well as tools organizations can take advantage of. Trends covered include cybersecurity and proper use of donor data.
For organizations looking to get the most out of their fundraising software, Network for Good in the place to be. Using tech for fundraising is the organization's specialty, but it also provides thought leadership and resources for tech efforts such as digital transformation and enabling a distributed workforce.
The Nonprofit Leadership Podcast tackles the most critical topics in the sector today, from enabling a remote workforce to properly managing your organization's website. Hosted by industry veteran Rob Harter, listeners can expect to learn how to better lead a nonprofit organization, including the technology that can future proof your mission.
Nonprofits need tools, tips and practical advice when it comes to technology, and that’s what Nonprofit Tech for Good delivers. The blog tracks the best nonprofit tech out there and doesn’t shy away from the latest trends.
Steve Heye is a nonprofit technology expert working for NetSuite’s social impact team. In addition to promoting grants that the team gives to various organizations, Heye is active in conversations on such topics as data resilience and digital transformation.
Finding the right tech to boost a nonprofit can be challenging, but it’s equally important to find the right people to incorporate that tech. Taproot Foundation connects nonprofits and social change organizations with passionate, skilled volunteers who share their expertise pro bono, including those well versed in technology.
Nonprofits are known for having limited resources, and this is where an organization like Tech Impact comes into play. This technology nonprofit offers help to other nonprofits facing challenges in managing technology. Founded in 2003, the organization is backed by big names in both tech and finance, and helps more than 200 organizations nationwide.
Looking for a source for nonprofit IT that incorporates, well, just about everything? Look no further than TechSoup: This blog and Twitter feed offer how-to’s and advice on just about every aspect of nonprofit IT, from cloud to artificial intelligence.
TechBridge is a nonprofit that helps equip other nonprofits with the technology they need, with the broader goal of fighting poverty. The organization’s 20-year history makes it deeply embedded in the sector.
TAG is an active community of professionals responsible for aligning technology with the philanthropic objectives of their organizations. The membership group puts out multiple reports per year on topics such as cybersecurity and building IT strategy.
If you’re looking for a way to get all the news from the nonprofit sector, check out The NonProfit Times. Posts on the cloud, social media, data and more mix with front-page nonprofit news on this website, which is a go-to for leaders in the industry.
Tony Martignetti is the creator and host of Nonprofit Radio. Along with tech, he also talks data, talent sourcing and all things nonprofit, both on his show and via his Twitter feed.
Identity plays a prominent role in many industries, and nonprofits are no different. The intersection of gender and philanthropy is where The Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy resides, exploring this relationship with frequent technology crossover. The institute also has a podcast on the topic, called Philanthropy Plugged In.
