Lea Remigio

Here are some ideas for contributing to funder-provided technical assistance projects and make them successful.

• Devote an interested staff member to be the point person for the project. Depending on the nature and scope of the project, this person may not need to be particularly technical in nature or skillset. Many people have a knack for software or data management (especially younger people) and would welcome the opportunity to grow their skillset. It’s likely that just a portion of their total time could be sufficient to support the project, but if you do this, be mindful of carving out time from their regular job duties to do the project-related work. Set aside specific days or hours each day. Help them protect that time to limit it to the IT project tasks.
• If the project is large and your budget allows, hire a devoted employee. Or find a consultant if the project has a short timeline (a year or less). Like I pointed out above, think hard about what skills you want this person to have. All too often I’ve seen job postings that attract highly technical applicants for a position that doesn’t demand it. It is easier to teach people technology than it is to teach soft skills such as patience, attention to detail, compassion, and an ability to listen to people.
• Form a technology committee that meets monthly or even quarterly. Include management personnel and support staff. Rotate people through the committee periodically to bring in fresh ideas on an annual or biennial basis.
• Survey system users to find issues and gaps. Task your devoted resource with taking action on the issues whenever feasible. It’s more demoralizing for users to send their survey responses into a black hole than it is not to survey at all.
• Consider sharing a staff member or project resources with like-minded nonprofit organizations that share the same funder. Don’t allow confidentiality challenges or competition for funding to get in the way.
• Document your workflow processes and procedures.
• Prioritize information systems training. Make a point of having outgoing staff train their replacements in the necessary systems whenever possible.
• Provide the funder with feedback – both critical and success stories.