Resources

Plain technology guidance for mission-driven teams.

A growing mix of short Voluntech guides and curated links for nonprofits, schools, libraries, and civic organizations.

Start here

Make the project small enough for a volunteer to finish.

Writing a good volunteer project

A strong project ask names one outcome, the current situation, the tools involved, who will answer questions, and what success looks like. If the work sounds like an ongoing job, split it into a smaller first project.

  • Replace "fix our data" with "clean and document one spreadsheet used for monthly funder reports."
  • Replace "redo our website" with "make program hours, eligibility, and contact details easier to update."
  • Replace "help with security" with "turn on multi-factor authentication and document account recovery."
Prepare a project ask

Security

Cover the basics before buying new tools.

Most small organizations reduce a lot of risk by using password managers, multi-factor authentication, software updates, secure backups, and basic phishing awareness. Start with the accounts and files that would hurt most if lost.

  • Turn on multi-factor authentication for email, finance, donor, and admin accounts.
  • Use a password manager so staff are not reusing passwords.
  • Keep at least one backup separate from day-to-day devices.
CISA Secure Our World

Security

Write down who can access what.

Nonprofits often inherit accounts from former staff, board members, or volunteers. Keep an owner list for critical systems, remove access when roles change, and make account recovery part of onboarding and offboarding.

  • Review admin users quarterly.
  • Separate shared public inboxes from personal staff accounts.
  • Know where domain, website, email, and donation credentials live.
FTC cybersecurity guidance

Websites

Make essential information easy to find.

A useful nonprofit website does not need to be complicated. Prioritize current program information, eligibility, location, hours, contact methods, donation paths, and the few pages staff can realistically maintain.

  • Put services, hours, and contact details near the top.
  • Use plain page titles and short paragraphs.
  • Remove stale news, broken links, and PDF-only content when possible.
W3C accessibility introduction

Accessibility

Accessibility is part of serving the public.

Accessible content helps people using screen readers, keyboards, captions, small screens, low bandwidth, translated pages, or older devices. It also tends to make sites clearer for everyone.

  • Use real headings in order.
  • Write meaningful link text.
  • Check color contrast and keyboard navigation.
Learn accessibility basics

Data

Clean data beats clever dashboards.

Before building reports, make sure the source data is understandable. Define columns, pick consistent values, remove duplicate records, and decide which information is sensitive enough to limit or delete.

  • Create a short data dictionary for important spreadsheets.
  • Use consistent names for programs, locations, and statuses.
  • Keep personally sensitive information only when it has a clear purpose.
TechSoup digital assessment resources

Planning

Assess the organization, not just the tool.

Technology projects work better when teams understand their current capacity: staff time, budget, skills, policies, data, security, and maintenance. A lightweight assessment can reveal what to fix first.

  • List your core systems and who owns each one.
  • Identify the process that wastes the most staff time.
  • Choose one improvement that can be completed in weeks, not years.
TechSoup assessment resources

Tools

Check nonprofit discounts before paying retail.

Many nonprofits, libraries, and foundations can access donated or discounted software and services. Check eligibility before committing to long subscriptions, especially for productivity, design, security, and infrastructure tools.

  • Confirm eligibility and administrative fees.
  • Buy only what staff can actually adopt.
  • Plan ownership before setting up new accounts.
TechSoup technology access

Community

Learn from nonprofit technology peers.

Good technology decisions are not only technical. Nonprofit peers can help with governance, equity, staffing, accessibility, vendor choices, and realistic adoption plans.

  • Ask what similar organizations already use.
  • Look for practices that fit your team size.
  • Include the people affected by the system before choosing it.
Explore NTEN

Have a resource to suggest?

Voluntech will keep this page practical and selective. Send tools, guides, templates, or examples that help small organizations make better technology decisions.

Suggest a Resource