An inevitable move to “online only” fundraising is leading a digital-first shift that will change how nonprofits operate, according to a new report on global nonprofit trends conducted by Salesforce.org. This increased demand for secure computer equipment, coupled with the continued need to control expenses, has many nonprofits turning toward electronic recycling companies like eLoop for sustainable answers for their increased technology needs.

According to the 2021 Nonprofit Trends Report by Salesforce.org, among the biggest issues of concern for global nonprofit employees include:

• Controlling expenses

• Adapting to remote/virtual programs

• Implementing new technology tools and solutions

• Hosting, creating content, and promoting virtual/online events

Due to changes in the workforce following Covid-19 and the resulting economic contractions, nonprofits are expected to continue to expand their dependence on technology, including a continued shift toward increased remote or hybrid work.

In the U.S., 86% of respondents to the Salesforce survey said going virtual was likely, and within three years, the majority of nonprofits surveyed expect to be doing the majority of their work online. This includes relying more on technology to run their operations and fundraising 100% online. To accomplish this transition, the adoption of technology and data acumen for nonprofits must hasten. This monumental shift to a digital-first approach will likely dramatically change the nonprofit sector landscape as it evolves from peer-to-peer and in-person events to greater digital interaction, including offering donors greater access to secure information on-demand, the report found.

Salesforce interviewed nearly 1,250 respondents around the world for this report on the current status of nonprofits.

The nonprofit sector is one of the largest in the U.S. economy, representing 10 percent of the country’s workforce or 12 million jobs. Nonprofits also spend nearly $2 trillion annually, and donors are becoming more focused on fiscal transparency and accountability; grantors want to know that their investments are being used wisely. While nonprofits have never had more ways to gather the information grantors want to see, they are often behind on the adoption of new technology, a reality that’s less sustainable as digital resources become increasingly vital to the success of any modern organization, according to Forbes magazine. Outdated or nonfunctioning computers cannot track program outcomes efficiently and often use compromised security measures, leaving nonprofits exposed to hacking and other cyber attacks, resulting in lost productivity and potential data breeches of sensitive donor information.

Nonprofits can become more secure—and save significant money—by choosing to upgrade their antiquated and failing hardware with high quality, remanufactured computers from eLoop, supplies a number of area nonprofits with certified, business grade IT equipment at about half the cost of new computers. Switching to remanufactured computer equipment is also on target with the ethical and sustainable mission of most nonprofits.

“As Zoom calls become a standard way for today’s nonprofits to connect with their employees, and donors demand greater online access to see where their money is going, fast and secure hardware is now more than ever a significant driver of their performance,” says Ned Eldridge, eLoop’s CEO and owner. “But faced with limited budgets, many nonprofit IT decision-makers have delayed upgrading their computer systems due to the high cost of new equipment and other complications that go into a successful technology refresh. At eLoop, we not only provide nonprofits with the high quality equipment at a much lower cost, we also ensure that their old equipment is recycled in a secure, safe and sustainable manner.”

To help train nonprofit leaders to bridge the technology gap, Robert Morris University’s Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management offers a wide range of courses focusing on technology. 

Organizations looking to purchase cost-efficient remanufactured computer equipment can click here.