In the social impact sector, being "scrappy" is often badge of honor. Nonprofits routinely stretch every dollar to ensure maximum funding goes directly to their programs. However, when it comes to technology, this efficiency-first mindset can accidentally lead to underinvestment, disjointed tools, and missed opportunities.
On a recent episode of the
Charity Charge Show, host Grayson Harris sat down with
Adam Eads, Director at
TechSoup, and
Kelly Ricker, Chief Operating Officer at the
Global Technology Association for IT Channel Leaders (GTIA). They discussed a powerful new grant collaboration designed to change the narrative around nonprofit technology. By funding the enrollment of 100 new organizations into the TechSoup Plus platform, GTIA and TechSoup are helping social entrepreneurs bridge the gap between simply
having access to software and truly
adopting it—with a specific focus on navigating the rapidly changing landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Key Takeaways
- Acquisition vs. Adoption: Securing a software discount is only step one. True digital transformation requires ongoing education to help staff effectively integrate and use those tools to advance their mission.
- The 1% Philanthropy Gap: Less than 1% of global philanthropic funding is currently directed toward technology. Foundations must begin viewing operational tech investments as essential infrastructure rather than compliance-heavy "overhead."
- AI is a Mindset Shift, Not an IT Problem: Successfully implementing AI isn't about transforming nonprofit leaders into computer scientists. It is a change-management exercise focused on small, daily operational wins that free up time for community work.
- Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Learning: Because every nonprofit operates at a different stage of digital maturity, technology training cannot be one-size-fits-all. It must be modular, bite-sized, and meted out exactly where the organization stands.
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About Charity Charge
Charity Charge
is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the
Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to
bookkeeping,
gift card disbursements, and
state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at
charitycharge.com.
What is The Charity Charge Show - Nonprofit Podcast?
The Charity Charge Show features candid conversations with nonprofit executives, founders, and social impact leaders about what it actually takes to run a mission-driven organization: funding, operations, leadership, and the lessons nobody puts in the annual report.
The show is hosted by Stephen Garten, founder and CEO of Charity Charge, a Public Benefit Corporation founded in 2015 in Austin, Texas. Charity Charge provides financial tools built exclusively for nonprofits, including a credit card underwritten to the organization's EIN with no personal guarantee and no annual fee.
More than 3,000 nonprofits have used Charity Charge to manage their spending.
Learn more at www.charitycharge.com