Changing Technology Funding Practices
From Boxes and Cables to Connected Communities: the strategic
use of technology in Canada’s voluntary sector
The Internet and other networked technologies have become central
to the ways Canadian voluntary organizations work with each other
and work for the communities they serve. Of course, these new
ways of working have led to both changing funding needs for voluntary
sector organizations and new challenges for Canadian grantmakers.
As one of the projects of the Voluntary Sector Initiative, the
Changing Technology Funding Practices project has listened to
grantmakers and grantseekers alike, in a series of conversations
about the strategic use of technology to achieve the mission work
of the voluntary sector. From those conversations, some common
needs were identified and tools developed to address those needs,
such as: how to make compelling requests for technology funding,
how to assess needs, how to plan upgrades and to determine cost-effectiveness.
These tools consist of:
- Beyond the Box: thinking strategically about technology
grantmaking in Canada’s voluntary sector - a
concise background paper that looks at the challenges facing
grantmakers in funding technology, and offers some guidelines
for grantmakers in assessing technology funding requests.
HTML Version | PDF
Version (712 KB)
- Technology Toolkit - a comprehensive collection
of materials for grantmakers and grantseekers alike.
HTML version | PDF
Version (387 KB)
- Technology Grantmaking - A Business Case for Strategic
Thinking - a presentation designed for “champions”
of the strategic use of technology in compelling presentations
to grantmakers about why support for the strategic use of technology
is critical to achieving program objectives.
MS Powerpoint Version
(1,645 KB) | PDF
Version (584 KB)
* Notes for the presentation slides are included in the
downloaded PowerPoint presentation. To view the file online
simply click on the powerpoint link. To download the file, right
click on the PowerPoint link and select Save Target
As...This will allow you to Save
the PowerPoint file to your computer. Choose "Notes Page"
from the "View" pull-down menu in PowerPoint once
you have downloaded the file.
- Not-for-profits and Technology - A Business Case
for Strategic Thinking - a presentation designed for
grantseekers to make smart and compelling cases for technology
funding support to grantmakers.
MS Powerpoint Version
(1,622 Kb)| PDF
Version (541 KB)
* Notes for the presentation slides are included in the
downloaded PowerPoint presentation. Choose "Notes Page"
from the "View" pull-down menu in PowerPoint once
you have downloaded the file.
- Plug and Play Slides - six condensed slides
from the two business cases, which can be inserted into other
presentations on issues addressing the voluntary sector.
MS Powerpoint Version (706
KB)| PDF Version (195 KB)
* Notes for the presentation slides are included in the
downloaded PowerPoint presentation. Choose "Notes Page"
from the "View" pull-down menu in PowerPoint once
you have downloaded the file.