Network of Non-Profit Digital Support

The latest work from NPC (New Philanthropy Capital) on data for impact makes a strong argument- Most charities don’t need “more data”. They need more useful data. NPC notes three consistent blockers: • unclear outcome definitions • inconsistent data collection across teams • lack of time to interpret insights It’s a reminder that data maturity is rarely about tools - it’s about shared understanding. What’s one data point you wish your organisation tracked more clearly? Gain free training on digital, data and design tools from The Curve at Third Sector Lab.

Recent analysis shows the UK charity sector is being urged to help address the digital divide and accelerate AI adoption - but many organisations are still lagging in infrastructure, skills and data quality. Thought prompt: If your organisation had unlimited budget, what one digital inclusion issue would you fix first (for staff, volunteers or service-users)? Then ask: What could you start improving today with the resources you already have? (Feel free to comment your answer.)

So many digital projects get stuck because the initial question wasn’t the real question. A few examples we hear a lot: • “We need better reporting.” Often means: “We’re not collecting the right data.” • “We need a new website.” Often means: “People can’t find what they need.” • “We need more digital skills.” Often means: “We don’t have time or structure to learn.” Pause and ask: “What problem are we really trying to solve?” This single question can save months of work and redirect effort to where it matters. Ask your question to a professional and gain 1:1 advice for free from Digital Candle.

When we sit with charity teams, one theme comes up over and over: it’s not the technology slowing things down - it’s unclear processes. Some signs: • work gets redone because people interpret tasks differently • the same question is asked multiple times • decisions depend on whoever happens to be in the room • onboarding new staff feels harder than it should A quick way to improve things is to take one process - just one - and write down the steps as you currently understand them. Not the ideal version. - The real version. Then ask the team where the friction points are. You’ll be surprised how much clarity this can unlock. Which process in your organisation could use a rewrite? If your team would benefit from structured help mapping or improving a process check out Dovetail Network and Design Hops!

If your charity is stuck on a digital decision - from CRM selection to social media strategy to tech prioritisation - it can help to get a fresh outside perspective. With Digital Candle, you can book a free one-hour consultation with a digital expert who’s seen plenty of charity-tech questions before. Here’s how you can get the most out of that hour: Begin by clearly describing what you’re trying to achieve and what’s blocking you. Use the session to explore your options: what tools or paths exist, what’s realistic with your resources. Agree on one practical next step you can take after the call. The expert won’t know your organisation inside out - but that’s exactly what makes this useful. You get an impartial-lens on a problem you live with day-to-day. If you’ve been waiting for a moment to push your digital agenda forward, this could be it. (Link in comments.)

Join us tomorrow for a fully funded training session on Practical User Research & AI for Charities. We are delighted to have Tori Ellaway, Head of Digital Practice at CAST Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology leading the session. See you at 11am! Link to register in the comments

Charities spend an average of 1 day per week per staff member on admin and reporting. Imagine if digital tools cut that in half. Follow the link in the comments to learn more about the free tools we have, to support you. #DigitalTools #ThirdSectorSupport

Across the sector, we’re seeing a familiar pattern: charities try to solve deep organisational challenges by introducing new digital tools, but the underlying structures stay the same. A new system is brought in to fix capacity issues, but workflows remain unclear. A website is redesigned, but there is no plan for long-term ownership. A data dashboard is funded, but reporting is still shaped by manual processes and siloed teams. The result isn’t failure of technology - it’s a mismatch between tools and the conditions they’re placed into. The organisations making progress aren’t just adopting new platforms. They’re changing: • how decisions are made • who owns what • how learning is shared • how maintenance is resourced • how users shape the work So the useful question isn’t “Which tool should we use?” but “What needs to change internally for any tool to succeed?” If your organisation has seen digital progress because of a structural or cultural shift -not just a tech purchase - that’s learning many others would benefit from. What changed for you, and what difference did it make?

🧩 One of the trickiest parts of any digital project isn’t the tech itself — it’s choosing the right partner. We’ve seen again and again that the success of a website, CRM or digital strategy often comes down to the fit between charity and agency. But most of us only start looking for a partner when the clock is already ticking. That’s why we want to highlight Dovetail, part of our network. They’re independent and non-biased, built simply to make this stage easier. 🔎 On Dovetail you can: Search from 250+ tech-for-good partners (from freelancers to large agencies) Filter by type of work (CRM, website, apps, digital strategy, comms, etc.) See partners’ experience, sector knowledge and scale Compare by cost ranges — from pro bono offers, through low-budget projects, to major builds 💡 They also share practical guides — how to write a clear brief, run a fair selection process, and set realistic budgets. It’s a resource charities often don’t realise they need until they’re at crunch point. But knowing it exists beforehand can save so much stress, time and budget later. As one user put it: “I use the platform weekly whilst trying to find decent partners to work with The Wildlife Trusts on new projects.” ✨ Sometimes the most helpful thing isn’t a new tool or a new skill, but simply finding the right people to work with. 💬 For those who’ve been through this: what’s the one detail you wish you’d known before picking a digital partner? #DigitalForGood #CharityTech #ThirdSector #Partnerships

The biggest digital mistake most charities make? They assume people will come to them. But your audience already has habits, trusted channels, and daily routines. Your job is to show up there. Here’s the insight: Digital isn’t about choosing the “right platform.” It’s about understanding the ecosystem your audience already lives in — and embedding your message there. HR managers aren’t scrolling TikTok for wellbeing resources. They’re on LinkedIn, reading posts from their peers. Young people aren’t hunting down charity websites. They’re already on TikTok, listening to creators they trust. Parents don’t sign up for a dozen new mailing lists. They open their school newsletter every week. 👉 This isn’t about chasing trends or stretching your team across every channel. It’s about mapping audience behaviour first, then matching your effort to where the people already are. That’s the shift most nonprofits miss. If you only do one thing this month: 📍 Ask “Where does my audience already spend their time?” 📍 Then go there, in a format that feels natural to them. Everything else is just noise.