Now in our seventh year of collecting and reporting on these nonprofit technology spending and practices data, this research provides not only the benchmarks you and your organization can use for assessing and planning your technology budgets and strategies, but also provides valuable benchmarks for the nonprofit sector as a whole in gauging the maturity and effectiveness of technology strategies and use.

Download the complete report here.

With NTEN’s strategic outcomes in mind, this report examines: technology staffing levels, technology budgets, overall organizational approach to technology decisions, as well as technology oversight and management practices.

Key findings from this year’s survey:

When it comes to building community and increasing brand awareness, some organizations hire communications, marketing, and engagement staff to handle these activities. And that makes sense -- someone needs to be charged with keeping a close eye on the organization’s community growth.

But building awareness for your important work in an increasingly cluttered space can’t be the responsibility of just one person or even a department. When an organization embraces the culture of creating and empowering all staff to become “brand ambassadors,” authentic and exponential growth starts to happen.

One running theme that echoes behind any new technology tool introduced to the public, or new trend identified for nonprofit operations, or new idea brought up by your staff is the concept of “risk and reward.”

What kind of risks would your organization be taking if you adopt that new social network into your communications? What is the risk of not adapting to a changing technology culture? How can we be sure that the rewards outweigh the risks?

This issue of NTEN:Change presents variations on that theme: tips and quizzes, inspiration and cautionary tales, examples and humor, all from peers and experts in the nonprofit and technology communities.