Reliable Networks: Overcoming IT Resource Gaps for Not-for-Profits

At a time when the nonprofit sector is notably struggling to attract and retain volunteers, a common IT issue is increasingly rearing its ugly head: a lack of resources needed to maintain digital systems. 

When we hear the term ‘IT issues’, we tend to think of problems directly stemming from the technology itself, don’t we? Things like bugs in software, for example. But the truth is that many of the most common IT issues experienced today – especially by not-for-profits who naturally want to be more focused on their mission than their systems – come from secondary causes. People, for example. 

What do we mean by that?

Well, here at Reliable we work closely with many not-for-profit organisations across the UK. And one of the most frequent IT-related complaints we hear is that they simply don’t have the time, the skills, and sometimes just the basic interest needed to properly maintain and optimise digital systems. 

That brings us to the second instalment of our ‘Common IT issues’ series: lack of resources. 

The state of support in the third sector

So, why has a lack of resources become one of the most common IT issues nonprofits are facing today? One reason is that it’s becoming harder to find and retain volunteers. 

The fact is that volunteer numbers in the UK have been in steady decline for the past two decades. According to the 2024 Present Struggles, Past Origins report by the VCSE Data and Insights National Observatory, a third of not-for-profit organisations are struggling to retain volunteers, and 40% are now finding that they don’t have the resources they need to meet their primary objectives… never mind to keep a watchful eye on their technology, and constantly tend to their digital systems. 

And IT definitely needs to be monitored. 

Needy IT

We’re constantly being told that technology is smart. It’s clever. It’s advanced. And so, naturally, we approach it as if it’s a teenager; we’re there if it wants us, but on the whole, it’s capable enough of taking care of itself. In reality though, that’s not the case. Technology may be smart. It may be clever. It may be advanced. But it’s also incredibly needy. It needs constant hand-holding to deliver results. 

The thing with IT is it requires a decent amount of upkeep if it’s going to continue working efficiently and seamlessly within your organisation. Otherwise, it can become pretty bothersome. 

The challenge of limited resources

Nonprofits frequently face constraints on resources such as time, budget, and staff. This limitation makes it difficult to give IT systems the attention they need. Both staff and volunteers are usually more focused on fulfilling the organisation’s mission, leaving little capacity for maintaining and optimising technological infrastructure. This can cause various problems, including… 

1. Slow systems

Systems can become laggy and prone to failures without consistent updates and patching. This leads to downtime, reducing the overall productivity and efficiency of the organisation.

2. Security risks

When software isn’t kept up-to-date – and when settings aren’t adapted as needs evolve – vulnerabilities can appear which increase your risk of a breach. 

3. Missed opportunities 

Modern tech provides numerous tools that can help nonprofits increase their impact, but a lack of resources can mean there’s no time to investigate and implement these tools.

Overcoming the issue

So how can today’s nonprofits resolve this frustrating IT-related issue? The obvious answer, of course, is to bring in more support. But with the cost of living crisis forcing many to pause their volunteering efforts, this simply isn’t possible. We need to explore other, more suitable options. 

In this scenario, the smartest solution is to consider managed IT support. Offloading day-to-day IT activities and ongoing digital maintenance tasks onto a trusted partner and dedicated team of experts, it’s the easy way to keep your tech at peak efficiency while you focus on what really matters.  

If this is something you’re interested in, get in touch with us. Here at Reliable, we can take over the tech side of things, working behind the scenes to ensure your IT systems work for you.