We don’t need another piece reminding nonprofit leaders that tech matters. Nonprofit CEOs know that digital systems shape service delivery, fundraising, and security; boards recognize the need to invest in them.
What many haven’t accepted, however, is that tech is now a legitimacy issue. How you govern your data, your tools, and your AI choices increasingly signals whether your organization is trustworthy, resilient, and mission-aligned. Risks that once seemed distant are becoming urgent in practice, showing up in the minutiae of vendor contracts, tales of botched AI rollouts, and a growing number of cyber incidents.
Across the world, civil society organizations are confronting digital threats that go well beyond outdated software or staff fatigue. Governments are censoring platforms. Donor data is being seized. Cyberattacks target service providers and advocacy groups alike. These aren’t outliers; they’re common and cautionary tales. And they’re coming closer to home.
Boards don’t need to learn the tactical ins and outs of AI, cybersecurity, or CRM migrations. But they do need to own the big picture and focus on policies, because tech leadership matters more than tech tools. No platform will make an organization resilient without governance aligned to values, risks, and responsibilities. Boards that sidestep these questions leave organizations vulnerable, both operationally and reputationally. Those that take them seriously reinforce trust and signal readiness to everyone who matters: clients, communities, staff, funders, and the public.
With Nonprofits Under Pressure, Boards Must Step Up on Tech Now | TechPolicy.Press
